fast trip fresno ca

CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE AUTO EXTRAVAGANZA

Verdi requiem at the walt disney concert hall, eagle mountain casino, try your hand at lady luck & strike it rich, yosemite sugar pine moonlit dinner & train, leisure in laughlin, featuring the beautiful aquarius casino resort, experience the beauty & wonder of morro bay, stroll along the beach and boardwalk, explore the beauty & grandeur of yosemite national park.

Best Tours & Travel has over 45 years of experience providing Central Valley residents with reliable group transportation. Our friendly and experienced tour & charter staff has built strong relationships with area hotels, casinos, theme parks, museums, state, and national parks, and many other venues to provide you with a superior travel experience . No matter your destination, Best Tours & Travel will bring your group’s itinerary to life.

Check out our NEW upcoming tours for Summer/Fall 2024!

Our Featured Trips

Our trips are updated frequently, check back every week for more trips and tours . Please note that all tours and trips at the time of purchase are non-refundable. Limited seats.

Leisure in Laughlin with Oatman at the Aquarius Hotel Casino Resort

May 12-14, 2024.

Pismo Beach Car Show

June 1, 2024.

Verdi Requiem at the Walt Disney Concert Hall

June 8, 2024.

Strike It Rich at Eagle Mountain Casino

June 11, 2024.

Beat the Heat in Morro Bay

June 12, 2024.

Concours D’Elegance Auto Extravaganza

June 16, 2024.

Check out our complete list of upcoming tours!

“Best Tours is a community-minded company with their clients’ best interest at heart. RMHCCV is so fortunate to partner with Best Tours in offering first-class transportation at our events and for our donors. We are so grateful to work with Jasmine and the entire Best Tours team in fulfilling our mission of providing a ‘home away from home’ and resources for families of children that are hospitalized.”

“I have been working with Jasmine and Best Tours in Central California for nearly 10 years. As a professional sports organization, it is extremely important that our fans, staff, and players receive a first-class traveling experience. Jasmine and her team have always lived up to that experience! From the drivers to the office staff I have always been treated with care and honesty. One of the most important aspects of a positive traveling experience is open communication and I feel that Jasmine is always accessible and extremely responsive. Best Tours has given professional sports in Central California a first-class feel and an enjoyable traveling experience. Secondly, flexibility is also extremely important as there are continuous last-minute changes in terms of travel and Best Tours has always been so flexible and easy to work with. I give them a 10/10 in terms of customer experience!”

“We have been using Best Tours for our Youth Group trips for over 8 years and well over 25 different trips with them. These trips have been up to the mountains, down to Southern California, or to the Coast, and we have had excellent service every single one. We have never had a single issue with any of our trips. The busses are always spotless, drivers are punctual and friendly, and most importantly, our drivers are always incredibly safe. It is an absolute joy to work with Best Tours every time we need a trip planned out. I have recommended them to other churches and they have had a similar experience. If you are in need of a reliable, friendly, and safe bus company, Best Tours should be your first and only choice.”

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“I have used Best Tours in the past for a few different events. I have always been extremely happy with the service, transportation, and staff. I have always dealt with Jasmine. She is a pleasure to deal with no matter the timing of the event or short notice. One trip I have used Best Tours for was a golf tournament in Stockton, CA. I would rent a bus and a group of my friends would take the bus from my house to the tournament. The driver was always on time and the bus was always clean. The bus ride ended up being a part of the trip. I still have numerous people come up to me and ask when we are going on the bus again. They usually don’t even bring up the golf tournament. I tried them the first year, but I ended up using them multiple years in a row. I have also rented buses to take groups of teenagers to events. As you can imagine, teenagers are a rowdy group and the drivers were always accommodating and tolerant, which I greatly appreciate. I would recommend Best Tours for any travel plans you might have. They are the Best!”

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Home » Travel Guides » United States » California (CA) » 15 Best Day Trips from Fresno

15 Best Day Trips from Fresno

Fresno is located in California and the city’s location places it virtually in the middle of the state.

Although the coast is a few hour’s drive away, it’s still easy to day trip out to some of the most spectacular shorelines in the United States. At the same time, the inland natural wonders of places such as Yosemite National Park or the Sierra National Forest are much more easily accessible than if you base yourself in the more traditional Californian cities of LA or San Francisco.

Those big cities too are easily reachable on day trips from Fresno, and you can explore so much of California, be it the coast, the theme parks, or the wild areas of outstanding natural beauty that the state is famed for.

There’s a lot do from the city, so to help inspire your travels in California, here are the best day trips from Fresno.

1. Yosemite National Park

The name Yosemite conjures images of wild landscapes and beautiful vistas. Because this area of natural beauty is quite simply so spectacular, it’s become a must visit national park in the United States for many travelers to the country.

Yosemite is located just a two-hour drive away from Fresno, making it the perfect day trip. It’s so vast and so enthralling that you may find that you have to return time and time again to even begin to appreciate the scale of this place.

With a huge area that encompasses over a thousand square miles of untouched land, there is certainly a lot to see in Yosemite National Park.

The place to start is Yosemite Valley, where you can get your first taste of the glorious landscapes that await you. This is mountainous terrain and some of the best sights are the huge, distinct peaks – including the likes of El Capitan and Cathedral Peak.

Yosemite could well be the best day trip from Fresno, so don’t miss out.

2. Hume Lake

Hume Lake is found just an hour to the east of Fresno and offers some dramatic vistas over shimmering water.

This huge lake is found within the protected area of Sequoia National Forest – another vast area of pristine wilderness in the Californian interior.

The lake is actually man-made; it sits behind a dam that was created in the early 20th century. Hume Lake today provides an extensive recreation area, where you can hike, fish, kayak and do much, much more too.

3. Kings Canyon National Park

Kings Canyon National Park is also found an hour to the east of Fresno, in the towering Sierra Nevada mountain range.

The park is known for its huge mountain peaks, and, of course, for the enormous canyon that cuts through it.

Kings Canyon is absolutely spectacular to see, and reaches depths of up to a mile. The canyon was carved out by a glacier – as was much of the surrounding landscape – and as much as you can try, it’s difficult to comprehend the slow process that created the extravagant sight you see today.

4. Sequoia National Park

Sequoia National Park is named for the tall sequoia trees that are found throughout the region.

Located to the south of Kings Canyon, this is an easy but rewarding day trip to make from Fresno.

The giant forest within the park is home to some of the world’s tallest trees, including the iconic General Sherman tree, which – at just over 80 meters high – can claim to be the tallest in the world.

Not to be outdone, Sequoia National Park is also the home of the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. Mount Whitney stands at a staggering 4,400 meters and is truly a sight to behold.

5. Mono Hot Springs

Mono Hot Springs is a two-hour journey east of Fresno and situated in the beautiful surrounds of the Sierra National Forest.

These natural hot springs offer a relaxing retreat away from city life; you can bathe in the geothermal waters all day long while simply staring around the encompassing forest.

There are six separate pools in the area; the hottest of them can reach extreme temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius.

6. Huntington Lake

Huntington Lake is also found within the protected confines of the Sierra National Forest and offers visitors the chance to experience the serene lakeside peace that’s found here.

Like many of the lakes in central California, this is man-made, created in the early 20th century as hydroelectric power was harnessed to fuel development in the area.

Now, Huntington Lake is the perfect place to hike, bike and camp, while the water and wind conditions are particularly renowned for their suitability for sailing pursuits.

7. Bakersfield

Directly south of Fresno is the large city of Bakersfield. This vibrant, inland city is known for its culture, music, and food, and is fast becoming an alternative destination to visit in California.

Aside from the bars and restaurants, Bakersfield is also home to some intriguing museums.

The Kern County Museum offers visitors an insight into the significant local history and the origins of the city, while the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History gives you the chance to explore the region’s geology and the natural forces that have shaped California into such a striking place.

8. Los Padres National Forest

The beautiful mountains and landscapes of the Los Padres National Forest are found towards the coast. This is the dividing range that separates coastal California from inland California, and it’s a dramatic place to visit.

There are extensive hiking trails through the national forest and you are guaranteed to stumble upon epic views wherever you choose to walk. If you don’t fancy making the drive back to Fresno, you can even stay overnight at one of the many campsites to truly experience this wilderness.

Close to Los Padres National Forest on the Californian coast, is the iconic location known as Big Sur. For decades, Big Sur has been a renowned stop on road trips and for travelers exploring the state. From Fresno, it’s easy to make a day trip here.

Big Sur is a truly dramatic piece of coastline. In California, it’s unique, because much of it remains almost completely undeveloped. There are few other coastal locations offering such striking, windswept and rugged cliffs, where there is little else to see except for crashing waves.

10. Pinnacles National Park

Just inland from the Big Sur coastline can be found the extraordinary remains of an extinct volcano.

The leftovers of this volcanic landscape are a dramatic sight to see. As well as being a beautiful area of wilderness, the park has become the home of a huge array of wildlife.

Rock climbers flock here too because the unusual rock formations provide the perfect playground for their sport.

11. Monterey

Located on the coastline above Big Sur is the city of Monterey. Overlooking the expansive Monterey Bay, the city couldn’t be more picturesque and is just a two and a half hour drive from Fresno.

It’s also incredibly historic; Monterey was founded by the Spanish and was a part of their Californian colony, before becoming part of Mexico and eventually the United States of America.

You can see many of the state’s original and now preserved government buildings, while today, the cultural scene here is flourishing and lively.

12. Santa Maria

South of Big Sur, on the coast towards Los Angeles, is the city of Santa Maria. Here you can find some outstanding natural scenery, from the coastline to the tall sand dunes.

For food lovers, this is also a city that needs to be visited, as Santa Maria is home to some of the best BBQ restaurants in the state.

In the surrounding valleys, there are many well-regarded wineries; the landscape and climate are perfect for cultivating excellent grapes to be turned into premium bottles of wine.

13. Sacramento

Sacramento is three hours directly north of Fresno and makes for an interesting day trip. This large, inland city is, in fact, the capital of California, although it always seems to be overshadowed by the better-known cities of San Francisco or Los Angeles.

This is the center of the state and here you can experience local life in a different manner to what might be found along the coast, or even in Fresno.

Visit the State Capitol Museum, explore Downtown, and find out what this fast-growing city is all about.

14. San Francisco

San Francisco is one of the most popular destinations to visit in California, and from Fresno, it’s just under three hours away.

It’s a long day trip, but start early and you can experience all of the iconic sights that the city has to offer.

Check out the spectacular skyline, visit the Golden Gate Bridge, the lively waterfront and piers, and, of course, ride a tram.

If you have time, make a trip over to Alcatraz to see one of the world’s most infamous prisons.

15. Los Angeles

Los Angeles is California’s other iconic city. Although it’s a bit further away – to the south – than San Francisco is to Fresno, it’s still worth the long drive to see first-hand what exactly draws so many people to LA.

Visit the famous Hollywood sign in the hills, explore the neighborhoods of the rich and famous, or if you are looking for a thrill, take a trip to one of the many theme parks in the Anaheim area for a wild day out from Fresno.

15 Best Day Trips from Fresno:

• Yosemite National Park
• Kings Canyon National Park
• Sequoia National Park
• Mono Hot Springs
• Huntington Lake
• Bakersfield
• Los Padres National Forest
• Pinnacles National Park
• Santa Maria
• San Francisco
• Los Angeles

Long lines for cheap gas, "it's worth the wait"

by Sophia Lesseos

FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — One Fresno gas station has people happily waiting in long lines to save a quick buck.

EZ Trip, located off of Shaw and West Avenues, has some of the lowest-priced gas in the Valley.

Fresno County's average gas price is $4.42 a gallon, according to AAA Gas Prices, but with EZ Trip's regular unleaded, you're saving over a dollar at $3.37 a gallon.

"When you have one vehicle, and you're commuting back and forth, this right here is a lot cheaper than anywhere else you're going to find," said Raymond Gallardo pumping gas.

Gallardo said he lives in Madera and works in Fresno. Even though there is an EZ Trip in Madera, he said this particular one-off Shaw and West is cheaper.

It's 22 miles back and forth from Madera," he said. "I'm saving in a week $30 - $40 buck, and that helps a lot, especially when working on a budget.

[RELATED] 2x Narcan given by officers after crash, man saved

While inflation in California for energy, food, and rent has grown 19% since 2020 , according to the California Legislative Analyst's Office, people say they are willing to wait for the savings.

"I take my daughter to work, I take my grandkids to school, so the gas kind of goes pretty quick," said Sonia Espinoza pumping gas. "So this is the cheapest, and I live nearby, so it just makes it easier."

Even though this gas station sees hundreds of cars filling up a day, that doesn't seem to be an issue.

"You got to orchestrate a little bit, a little side shuffles, but we get in here," said Gallardo.

Cheap gas is hard to come by in California, the highest average price for gas in the state right now is $5.63, according to AAA.

The 50 best fast food restaurants in Fresno

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1 In-N-Out Burger

2 In-N-Out Burger

3 The Habit Burger Grill

4 triangle drive in, 5 five guys.

Track your travel spending and split costs with friends

Plan your trip. Keep your budget organized. Split the cost between tripmates. Wanderlog does it all.

6 Rubio's Coastal Grill

7 in-n-out burger, 8 chick-fil-a, 9 chipotle mexican grill, 10 in-n-out burger, 11 mcdonald's, 12 el pollo loco, 13 mcdonald's, 15 panda express.

Don’t forget to pack anything

Stay organized with a to-do list, packing list, shopping list, any kind of list.

16 Carl’s Jr.

17 del taco, 18 carl’s jr., 19 popeyes louisiana kitchen, 20 carl’s jr., 21 sonic drive-in, 22 wendy's, 23 jimmy john's, 25 popeyes louisiana kitchen.

All travel reservations in 1 place

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26 Arby's

27 carl’s jr., 29 wendy's, 30 jack in the box, 31 wendy's, 32 carl’s jr., 34 carl’s jr., 35 mcdonald's.

Perfect for road trips

See time and distance between places, and optimize your route to get the most of your day.

36 Fosters Freeze

37 el pollo loco, 38 carl’s jr., 39 carl’s jr., 40 carl’s jr., 42 port of subs, 43 wienerschnitzel, 44 jersey mike's subs.

Collaborate with friends in real time

Plan along with your friends with live syncing and collaborative editing.

47 Port of Subs

48 fosters freeze, 49 carl’s jr., 50 carl’s jr., popular road trips from fresno, what's the weather like in fresno.

It depends on when you visit! We've compiled data from NASA on what the weather is like in Fresno for each month of the year: see the links below for more information.

• Weather in Fresno in January
• Weather in Fresno in February
• Weather in Fresno in March
• Weather in Fresno in April
• Weather in Fresno in May
• Weather in Fresno in June
• Weather in Fresno in July
• Weather in Fresno in August
• Weather in Fresno in September
• Weather in Fresno in October
• Weather in Fresno in November
• Weather in Fresno in December

All road trips from Fresno

• Fresno to San Francisco drive
• Fresno to Los Angeles drive
• Fresno to Las Vegas drive
• Fresno to San Diego drive
• Fresno to Yosemite National Park drive
• Fresno to Monterey drive
• Fresno to Greater Palm Springs drive
• Fresno to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park drive
• Fresno to Sedona drive
• Fresno to Sacramento drive
• Fresno to Santa Barbara drive
• Fresno to San Simeon drive
• Fresno to San Jose drive
• Fresno to Santa Cruz drive
• Fresno to Grand Canyon National Park drive
• Fresno to Napa drive
• Fresno to Phoenix drive
• Fresno to Paso Robles drive
• Fresno to Tucson drive
• Fresno to Anaheim drive
• Fresno to the Death Valley National Park drive
• Fresno to Calistoga drive
• Fresno to Page drive
• Fresno to Carlsbad drive
• Fresno to Santa Monica drive
• Fresno to Zion National Park drive
• Fresno to Reno drive
• Fresno to Santa Clarita drive
• Fresno to Moab drive
• Fresno to Temecula drive

Explore nearby places

• San Joaquin
• Tranquillity
• Cantua Creek
• Shaver Lake

All related maps of Fresno

• Map of Fresno
• Map of Clovis
• Map of Sanger
• Map of Biola
• Map of Selma
• Map of Kerman
• Map of Friant
• Map of Kingsburg
• Map of Reedley
• Map of Madera
• Map of Laton
• Map of Riverdale
• Map of Prather
• Map of San Joaquin
• Map of Dinuba
• Map of Traver
• Map of O Neals
• Map of Tranquillity
• Map of Auberry
• Map of Hanford
• Map of Lemoore
• Map of Raymond
• Map of Mendota
• Map of Cantua Creek
• Map of Shaver Lake
• Map of Coarsegold
• Map of North Fork
• Map of Chowchilla
• Map of Firebaugh
• Map of Visalia
• Map of Ivanhoe

Fresno throughout the year

• Fresno in January
• Fresno in February
• Fresno in March
• Fresno in April
• Fresno in May
• Fresno in June
• Fresno in July
• Fresno in August
• Fresno in September
• Fresno in October
• Fresno in November
• Fresno in December

Looking for day-by-day itineraries in Fresno?

Get inspired for your trip to Fresno with our curated itineraries that are jam-packed with popular attractions everyday! Check them out here:

• 1-Day Fresno Itinerary
• 2-Day Fresno Itinerary
• 3-Day Fresno Itinerary
• 4-Day Fresno Itinerary
• 5-Day Fresno Itinerary

Best fast food in nearby cities

• The best fast food restaurants in Visalia

Best restaurants in nearby cities

• Where to eat: the best restaurants in Visalia

• Itinerary + map in one view
• Live collaboration
• Auto-import hotels and reservations
• Optimize your route
• Offline access on mobile
• See time and distance between all your places

Best Fast Food in Fresno, CA

Fast food restaurants in fresno, establishment type, online options, traveler rating, dietary restrictions, restaurant features.

• Coffee & Hot Drinks
• Fountain Drinks
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Food & Snacks
• Groceries & Dairy
• Tobacco Products
• Promos & Specials
• Other Services
• Store Locations
• Business Opportunities
• Products & Services
• Debit/Credit/EBT Card Issue
• Customer Service
• Fuel (Gas or Diesel)

Fastrip History

Fastrip started in 1968 as a small dairy store in Bakersfield, California. At first, we only offered dairy products and a limited variety of grocery items. Within a few years, we added gas and expanded our grocery selection. Following the success of our first location, we started expanding and taking our concept of the great selection, great value, and great customer service throughout the Bakersfield area. Following our growth in Bakersfield and Kern County, we expanded north into Fresno, Sacramento, and Chico areas. We also went south and east into the High Desert, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Coachella. We saw an opportunity in Arizona and opened four locations; Bullhead has two locations, Casa Grande and Nogales stores. Our focus was always to look for underserviced markets where we could bring added value to our customers. Today we have 54 locations in California and Arizona, with all our stores offering a complete selection of grocery items, quality gasoline, all the snacks and drinks you want, and 24-Hour convenience.

What sets Fastrip apart from other convenience stores is our commitment to offering our customers a complete assortment of grocery items. Not only do we carry the products everyone expects at a convenience store (drinks, snacks, candy, coffee, etc.), we feature great prices on all the "fill-in" grocery items needed between weekly shopping trips - milk, bread, cereal, bacon, and eggs. And, if our customers run out of any other grocery item (sugar, flour, salt, cake mix, green beans), they will find it stocked at Fastrip for a good price. Instead of going to the supermarket and spending 15-20 minutes parking and walking to get milk and eggs, our customers come to Fastrip and are in and out of the store in two minutes. We are a convenient Mini Grocery Store. We save our customers time and money.

Take a Fast Trip to the Fastrip........

80-year-old stabbed to death by son in Sanger, police say

SANGER, Calif. (KFSN) -- A man has been arrested after Sanger Police say he told them he killed his father.

An employee at a Fastrip gas station on Academy Avenue called 911 about a man who wasn't coming out of the restroom.

When officers arrived, they found 46-year-old Gilbert Canales with blood on his clothes.

"We found that he was covered in blood, he also had a knife in the restroom with him, he made this spontaneous statement that he just killed his father," said Sanger police chief, Greg Garner.

He then reportedly told police that he killed his father, 80-year-old Roel Canales.

That led police to a home on Diamond near DeWitt at about 3:30 am Wednesday.

Police found Roel with several stab wounds. He was declared dead at the scene.

Roel Canales, a father of six, lived in the northern California city of Hollister before moving to Sanger.

Some of his children were not ready to speak on camera but shared photos and say Roel recently went on his first cruise for his 80th birthday in January.

They also tell me he was a man of god and was heavily involved at his local church.

Neighbors telling Action News this type of violence is rare.

"It has never happened here, it's a quiet neighborhood, we've been living here for almost 6 years, and nothing happened like this."

Authorities found a weapon at both the gas station and the home.

Gilbert was taken into custody and faces multiple charges, including murder.

This is Sanger's first homicide of the year.

Sanger police added there is no threat to the public.

They also say the motive for the attack, is still unknown.

"Random violence is not on the rise here in Sanger, and most of our violence is related to domestic situations, in-home crime, victims, who knew each other, and in this case, this was obviously a son of a father, it's not a random act as I mentioned, but it doesn't make it any less tragic," said Chief Garner.

A GoFundMe has been created by family members.

For news updates, follow Brianna Willis on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

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Passport renewal can be a pain. What to know about applications, appointment wait times.

There are many reasons why someone may need a new passport . Whether it's because your last one was damaged or it was expired , you'll want to have a valid passport before you travel. And you'll need one if you have an upcoming international trip.

Applying for a passport can feel a little heavy on the bureaucracy thanks to all the documents and forms you need. And once you've applied, the wait time to get it may be longer than expected.

If you are looking to apply for or renew a passport, here is a guide on how to get one and how quickly you can expect it to come.

How to get a passport?

The process for passport application varies depending on your situation.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

According to the U.S. Department of State, you should apply in person if:

• You are applying for your first passport.
• You are applying for your child who is under 16.
• Your previous passport was issued when you were under 16.
• Your previous passport was lost, stolen or damaged.
• Your previous passport was issued over 15 years ago.

In these cases, you must fill out form DS-11 (that can be found online ) and print it to apply in person.

If none of the above apply, you may be able to get a new passport by mail. According to the State Department, you are eligible to renew by mail if:

• You have your most recent passport (and it is not damaged) and can submit it with your application.
• Your most recent passport was never reported lost or stolen.
• Your most recent passport was issued in the last 15 years.
• Your most recent passport issued when you were 16 or older.
• Your most recent passport is issued to your current name, or you can present a document – such as a marriage certificate or divorce papers – as evidence of a legal name change.
• "It was not limited to less than the normal 10 year period of validity for an adult passport due to multiple passport thefts or losses, or due to issues with passport damage or mutilation."

In these cases, fill out form DS-82 (that can be found online ).

What do you need to get a passport?

According to the USAGov, if you are applying for a passport for the first time as an adult , you must bring the following:

• Application form (form DS-11)
• Proof of citizenship (such as birth certificate) and government-issued photo ID (such as driver's license)
• Photocopies of both citizenship document and photo ID
• Passport photo

According to the USAGov, these are the documents you will need if you're renewing :

• Renewal form (form DS-82)
• Your most recent passport 

If your name has changed since your last passport, you will have to provide legal documentation to verify, such as a certified copy of your marriage certificate or a court order of name change.

How fast can I get a passport?

Expedited processing time is two to three weeks for passport applications applied on or after Dec. 18 2023, according to the State Department.

Processing time does not include mailing time. It could take up to two weeks from your application day for your passport to be "in process." 

As of May 2024, routine processing time is six to eight weeks .

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From " How to find cheap flight? " to " What is the smallest country? " to " What is the largest state in the US? ", we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our  Just Curious section  to see what else we can answer for you.