Tuolumne (rhymes with “follow me”) County, located 2 ½ hours east of the San Francisco Bay Area, is a pristine, scenic expanse reaching from the foothills into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Gold was discovered in Tuolumne County in 1848, setting off the major gold rush of 1849.
The main highways leading to the picturesque drive from San Francisco and East Bay Area are Highways 108 and 120 from the west and Highway 49 from the north. The CA Highway 120 entrance to Yosemite National Park is considered the “front door” of the park for the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and other surrounding areas provide natural vistas and settings for hiking, water skiing, horseback riding, rafting, camping, snowmobiling, boating, snow skiing, fishing and other outdoor activities. Historic hotels, golf courses, numerous and varied dining establishments, historic saloons, wineries and a hard cider distillery, train rides, casinos, museums, two state historic parks, live theatre and many bed-and-breakfast inns are among the many other attributes that make the county a year-round vacation destination.
Visit Tuolumne County operates one year-round Visitors Center and one seasonal, with friendly, knowledgeable staff who can help you plan your visit:
Sonora, CA:
193 S. Washington St.: Open Monday-Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm; Saturday and Sunday 10:00am - 3:00pm
Groveland, CA:
18990 CA-120: Inside the Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum. Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10:00am - 2:00pm (Seasonal; May-October)
Area information is also available at the Chinese Camp Store and Tavern at 13750 CA-120, Chinese Camp, CA
Or, call us at (800) 446-1333 for help planning your trip and to get your FREE Tuolumne County Inspiration Travel Guide.
Visit Tuolumne County is the official Tourism Bureau of Tuolumne County, California. As the role of the Destination Marketing/Management Organization (DMMO) has evolved, Visit Tuolumne County has adopted the following statements to incorporate multiple areas of involvement.
Mission Statement:
To enhance economic growth by increasing tourism to Tuolumne County.
Vision Statement:
The VTC is the premiere authority for marketing Tuolumne County’s tourism assets and is looked to for leadership in all areas of destination management.
Strategic Statement:
As an effort to align with DMMO trends, the VTC takes an active role in industry conferences, accreditation programs, continued education, multi-year planning and strategic partnerships. The VTC will always look for ways to build on past and current success.
Community Statement:
The VTC supports the community through a Community Sponsorship program to leverage marketing dollars and assist various groups in their promotion of tourism. Additionally, the VTC Team takes pride in being a part of Tuolumne County by volunteering talent and resources to help make a vibrant and thriving community.
Inspiration Statement:
The VTC Team appreciates the specialness of this place we live and is passionate about and inspired by High Sierra Adventures, Yosemite Explorations and Gold Country Discoveries that abound throughout Tuolumne County.
