YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
“No temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite…
Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life…as if into this one mountain mansion Nature had gathered her choicest treasures.”
— JOHN MUIR (FULL ACCOUNT HERE)
Welcome to the Ultimate Yosemite Trip Planning Guide
Beautiful mountain landscapes await you in Yosemite National Park! Enjoy the gorgeous high alpine meadows, spectacular and iconic rock formations, clear and calm rivers, and wildlife galore, as well as some of the best outdoor adventures on the planet.
Whether you are a casual traveler or an avid outdoorsman, find your adventure among the stunning granite peaks of Yosemite. It’s your turn to experience this enchanting place — it’s your turn to discover its magic.
YOSEMITE AT-A-GLANCE
Location: California
What It’s Famous For: Towering granite peaks and massive waterfalls.
Highest Elevation You Can Reach by Road: 9,945 feet above sea level (Tioga Pass)
Established: October 1, 1890 — this is national park #3
Size: 760,000 acres
Crowd Levels: High, with around 3.3 million visitors each year — this is the 8th busiest national park.
COMMON YOSEMITE TRIP PLANNING QUESTIONS
Where is Yosemite, and how do I get there?
Yosemite is in California, about 1.5 hours from Fresno, 3 hours from Sacramento, and 3.5 hours from San Francisco.
I suggest flying into Fresno or driving the scenic Highway 120. In this article, I share details about the best airports and roads in the area.
Is Yosemite open year-round?
Yosemite is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — but that doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to do everything you’re hoping to do.
Learn more about the weather, hours, and common closures that may affect your trip to the park.
How many days should I spend in Yosemite?
You’ll want at least three full days in Yosemite, but if you have four, you’ll get to see a lot more!
See my recommendations for the amount of time to spend in the park, as well as how to split your time between multiple parks.
When is the best time to visit Yosemite?
If you’re just getting started with your Yosemite trip planning but are unsure of the best time to go, I’ve got you covered!
Here are my suggestions if you’re hoping to:
- Beat the crowds: May or October
- Travel during the summer: June
- Go backpacking: July or August
- Save money: October
- Have a unique adventure: February
This article provides a month-by-month breakdown of what to expect in Yosemite — including information on weather, closures, crowds, and which points of interest will be open.
THINGS TO DO IN YOSEMITE
12 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Tenaya Lake
- Bridalveil Fall
- Sentinel Dome
- The Mist Trail
- Mirror Lake
- Lower Yosemite Fall
- Valley View
- Tunnel View
- Olmsted Point
- Glacier Point
- Mariposa Grove
This popular article outlines each can’t-miss spot in detail. You’ll learn about the important things you need to know about each stop, and driving directions are included.
The Best Things to Do In Yosemite:
IF YOU LOVE RANGER PROGRAMS
- Wildlife talks
- Evening programs
- Guided tram tour
IN WINTER
- Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing
- Tubing
- Ice skating
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO HIKE
- Rafting
- Guided tour
- Scenic drives
IN A WHEELCHAIR
- Bike the valley
- Big Trees Loop
- Lower Yosemite Fall
This massive list of things to do in Yosemite will cover the travel needs of your entire group.
In addition to the items mentioned above, it also includes high adventure activities, things to do with a dog, biking, things to do with kids, best hikes, and more. There’s something for everyone!
The Best Easy Hikes
Looking for good beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, or wheelchair-friendly trail options? This list details the best hikes in Yosemite.
Dog-friendly Activities
Learn about all the places you can bring your dog in and around Yosemite.
The Mist Trail Guide
The Mist Trail is one of the most iconic hikes in Yosemite. Prepare to get wet as you make your way up the side of a waterfall!
Bear Safety 101
Yosemite is bear country, so be sure to read up on best practices for avoiding bears and reacting to bears!
PS – bear spray is illegal in California, so disregard those instructions.
YOSEMITE ITINERARY
Do you LOVE to have a plan while traveling?
You’ve probably been spending a lot of time and money to make your trip possible. But don’t forget about the most important part — the day-to-day details!
When you get to Yosemite, will you have all the information you need to confidently navigate around the park and avoid the crowds?
This hour-by-hour itinerary will make sure you see the best of the park — no more research needed!
LODGING IN YOSEMITE
Where Should I Stay?
This article provides information on the gateway towns and lodging options in the Yosemite area.
All About Camping
Learn all about the campgrounds in Yosemite and how to snag a site.
GETTING AROUND YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Cars
You can drive to most viewpoint and trailhead parking areas with your own car. All points of interest along the Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road can be accessed by car.
To get to most activities in Yosemite Valley, you’ll want to park your car in one of the large day-use parking areas and take the free park shuttle to each activity. Besides the day-use parking, other parking lots in Yosemite Valley are extremely small or non-existent, so it doesn’t make sense to drive your car to each place separately. If you don’t want to use the shuttle, you can bike around the valley instead.
You’ll also need to take a free park shuttle to visit the Mariposa Grove near the park’s South Entrance.
Be advised that traffic jams are extremely common in Yosemite and parking lots are almost always filled to capacity! If you’d like some help planning your day so that you can navigate the shuttle or get parking without having to circle parking lots, take a look at this itinerary.
Oversized Vehicles
Yosemite is very popular for tour buses and RVs, but finding parking can be a real challenge. In the middle of the day, it may be nearly impossible to find parking in these parking lots with a big vehicle, so definitely pack your patience!
As you do your Yosemite trip planning, take a look at these tips for visiting Yosemite in an RV to get an idea of what you can expect.
Planning a trip to Yosemite can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Yosemite Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
Thanks for using the Ultimate Yosemite Trip Planning Guide
You may also be interested in one of these nearby national parks:
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Death Valley National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Disclosure: This Yosemite Trip Planning Guide may contain affiliate links, which means that (at no extra cost to you) I receive a small compensation if you make a purchase. I don’t recommend anything that I don’t personally love and use myself! Thanks for your support. — Ash