Yosemite National Park: visitor guide

Yosemite is open year-round, 24 hours a day, but what you can reach changes with snow. The entrance fee is charged per vehicle and covers seven days; a motorcycle or walk-in rate is lower (2026 estimate — check the current figure on the National Park Service site before you travel).

In recent years the park has used timed-entry reservations during busy periods, and camping or lodging inside the park requires its own booking. Rules change year to year, so confirm whether a reservation is needed for your dates before you set off. Cell coverage in the valley is patchy and there is none on many trails.

There is no commercial airport inside the park. Most travellers fly into San Francisco (about 3–4 hours by car), Fresno (about 2.5 hours), or Sacramento, then drive. From the Bay Area the usual route is Highway 120 through Groveland or Highway 140 along the Merced River; Highway 140 is the lowest and least likely to be affected by snow.

If you would rather not drive, YARTS runs seasonal buses into the valley from Merced (with an Amtrak connection) and from towns on the east side when Tioga Pass is open. Inside the valley, a free shuttle loops the main sights, which saves hunting for a parking space in summer.

Distances are long and mountain roads are slow. Fill the tank before you enter, carry water, and check road conditions in winter, when chains may be required.

Late spring is the waterfall season. Snowmelt from the high country feeds Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall, and May and June give the biggest flow. The trade-off is wet trails, cool nights and lingering snow on high routes.

September is the sweet spot for many visitors: the summer crowds thin after Labor Day, the weather is dry and warm, and most trails and the Tioga Road are still open. July and August are the hottest and busiest months, with valley temperatures often above 30 °C and full car parks by mid-morning.

Winter is quiet and cheap, with snow on the valley floor and skiing at Badger Pass when conditions allow, but Tioga Pass and Glacier Point Road are closed and some services shut. Whatever the season, aim to be in the valley at sunrise or after 4pm, when day-trippers leave and the light is best.

Yosemite sits in California's Sierra Nevada, within reach of several other stops. Lake Tahoe is north along the Sierra crest, and Mono County and the Eastern Sierra lie over Tioga Pass when it is open. The Gold Country towns on Highway 49 make a slower, cheaper base on the west side.

San Francisco is the most common city base for a Yosemite trip, and the Bay Area gives you a wider choice of flights and car hire. If you are building a longer US itinerary, Yosemite pairs naturally with a California coast drive or a flight to the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone.

Book lodging or a campsite as early as you can; in-park beds and pitches sell out months ahead for summer. Gateway towns such as Groveland, Mariposa and Oakhurst are cheaper and only 30–60 minutes from the valley entrance.

Park once and use the shuttle. Drive in before 8am or after 4pm to avoid the worst queues at the entrance stations. Carry more water than you think you need, wear shoes with grip for granite slabs, and never swim above a waterfall — the current and the drop are both stronger than they look.

Bear country rules are strict: store food in a bear box or your car boot, never leave snacks in a tent, and keep your distance from wildlife. Summer thunderstorms build in the afternoon on high ground, so start big hikes early.