South-gate base for the Yosemite tour.
Drive over Tioga Pass on the way in — Mono Lake's tufa towers, Tenaya Lake, Olmsted Point, Tuolumne Meadows. Wed 2 Sep is the guided Yosemite Highlights tour: Tunnel View, Glacier Point and the Valley floor, with no driving or parking to worry about.
Tip: Optional trim: Oakhurst really only needs the pre-tour night. After the tour you could drive straight on to Kings Canyon and free a night for a Gold Country stop (Columbia / Sonora) on the way home.
Oakhurst, or Fish Camp / Bass Lake for something quieter.