Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) has begun daily bus service from Groveland, Calif., to Yosemite National Park. Pine Mountain Lake Airport (E45) serves the Groveland area and, through the cooperation of local pilots and residents on the airport, a pilot can fly into E45, hitch a ride to town, connect with the new bus service, spend the day in the park and return to Groveland that evening.
Daily service is scheduled to depart Groveland at 9:18 a.m., arrive at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center at 11:12 a.m., depart the visitor center at 5:10 p.m., and arrive in Groveland at 7:03 p.m. All times are approximate.
Weekend and holiday service is expanded with three possible departure times and return times. Leave Groveland at 8 a.m., 9:18 a.m., 12:40 p.m. Return trips leave the park’s visitor center at 10:40 a.m., 5:10 p.m., 7:10 p.m.
The fare for this service is $12 round trip ($8, 62 and older) and includes admission to the park. One way fare is half, $6 ($4). With each paid adult fare one child rides free. Purchase tickets from the bus driver.
Once in the valley you can connect with Yosemite Park shuttles and tours in Yosemite Valley, including the free shuttle which services each YARTS stop within Yosemite Valley. There is also a free shuttle available in the Tuolumne Meadows area that stop at many trail heads.
For more information on YARTS call 877-989-2787 or YARTS.com.
Now to the part about getting from E 45 to Groveland, about 5 miles. Local airport residents, most of them pilots, have agreed to provide transportation with prior arrangements. Call Larry Jobe at Yosemite Area Realtors to make arrangements (209-962-5501) or email him at larryjobe1@gmail.com. It takes about 10 minutes to drive to town, he says.
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