Yosemite National Park gets 3.5 million visitors in a year. It is one of the crowning jewels of California and America. From majestic granite cliffs, incredible waterfalls, huge Sequoia trees to places such as Half Dome and El Capitan, it is a must-see beauty.
Here is your detailed guide to plan a stress-free trip to Yosemite National Park.
When to visit Yosemite National Park?
Summer (June to August)
This is one of the best seasons in terms of great weather but also one of the busiest and crowded times to visit, making accommodation very expensive. The waterfalls are full and you can get drenched from the mist if you hike the Mist Trail (highly highly recommend). Temperatures are between 70F and 90F but it is always good to check the weather if you are planning to be in higher elevations because thunderstorms are common even in the summers.
Fall (December to February)
Fall is a great shoulder season to visit Yosemite. The fall foliage is super beautiful around this time. Temperatures are tolerable between 50F to 70F but it gets cooler in the night.
Winter (December to February)
During this season Yosemite transforms into a magical winter wonderland. Snow covered granite cliffs are a sight to behold. It is also the time when many roads close down such as Glacier Road and Tioga Pass so not all parts of the park are accessible. The most accessible part of the park is the Yosemite Valley area and Badger Pass skiing area. Temperatures can be between 30F and 50F and drop below freezing temperatures in the night.
Spring (March to May)
Spring is wildflower season in Yosemite National Park like in many different places. Waterfalls are gushing as the snow melts down. Temperatures can be between 50F and 70F and it’s a great time to visit the park before the summer crowd starts pouring in.
Yosemite National Park Reservation Requirements
All reservations for entry to Yosemite National Park can be made on recreation.gov.
- February – Reservations are required to enter Yosemite on February 10–11, February 17–19, and February 24–25, 2024 for the Horsetail/ Firefall season. If you already have lodging reservations at The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village, Wawona Campground, Hodgdon Meadows Campground, Camp-4 Campground, and Upper Pines Campground then you won’t need an additional reservation.
- April to June – From April 13th to June 30th, A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (May 27 and June 19).
- July to August – From July 1st to August 16th, a reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day.
- August to October – From August 17th to October 27th, a reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (September 2 and October 14).
Where to stay in Yosemite National Park?
Accommodation in Yosemite Valley
Ahwanee Hotel ($$$)
This is a gorgeous 4-star hotel with a perfect location in the valley close to all the major attractions in Yosemite. Make sure to book this hotel in advance to get the best prices. Hotel rooms can be upwards of 300 USD per night.
Yosemite Valley Lodge ($$)
This is personally my favorite 3-star hotel that is located very conveniently in Yosemite Valley. The rooms are clean and cozy with many restaurant and shopping options around. Hotel rooms can be upwards of 200 USD per night.
Half Dome Village – aka Curry Village ($)
Half Dome Village has many types of options that include tent cabins, wooden cabins and modest standard rooms. Based on the type of accommodation, bath is shared or private. This can cost in the range of 100 USD per night making it an excellent affordable choice for travelers.
Due to the affordability factor, this place gets sold out really fast so you have to check in advance.
Camping
Visit www.recreation.gov website to make campground reservations. Some of them require reservations to be made 5 months in advance. You check the opening dates and reservation requirements of each campground here. Upper Pines Campground requires a reservation throughout the year.
Accommodation outside Yosemite Valley
There are abundant accommodation options outside of Yosemite Valley which cost way less but you would have to drive 10 to 30 miles to get to the valley area from these places. Here are some of the areas to look for accommodations.
- El Portal (15+ miles from the valley) – hotels and RV parks such as Yosemite View Lodge, Yosemite Cedar Lodge, Indian Flat RV park etc.
- Yosemite West (17+ miles from the valley) – lots of affordable lodging including many cabins and condominiums, hotels etc. See Yosemite West Lodging for some of these options.
- Wawona (27+ miles from the valley) – known for lodging options such as Wawona Hotel, several vacation rentals, lodges etc.
- Fish Camp (35+ miles from the valley) – this is further south of Wawona and has many hotel options and cabin stays including Tenaya at Yosemite, a gorgeous upscale 3-star mountain resort.
- Groveland (45+ miles from the valley) – this area is quite far from the Yosemite entrance (1+ hr) but has lots of hotels, Inns, bed and breakfasts, hostels and many gorgeous cabins that you can rent on Airbnb or Vrbo.
- Oakhurst (48+ miles from the valley) – some of the standard hotels such as Holiday Inn Express and Best Western Plus are in Oakhurst. You can get a room in the area for less than 100 USD per night making it an attractive budget option.
Best Things to do in Yosemite National Park
Always plan to arrive the evening or night before a weekend so that you have enough time to explore the best of what Yosemite National Park has to offer.
1. Catch a gorgeous Yosemite sunrise
Depending on the season, catch a breathtaking Yosemite sunrise! If you are visiting in the winter and Glacier Road is not open, then the following places offer a beautiful sunrise on a clear day.
- Tunnel View
- Valley View
- Mirror Lake
If you are visiting during a season when roads are all open, consider the following spots.
- Glacier Point
- Taft Point
- Sentinel Dome
2. Enjoy a good Yosemite breakfast
Personally for me, we always carry these little MTR Poha (flattened and flavored rice mix) boxes that can be ready in 2 mins with hot water for breakfast. We also love to take a good loaf of sourdough bread and some spreads. Oats that requires just hot water is also a wholesome breakfast option. This is especially useful when we need to hit a hiking trail early in the morning and don’t have the time for a sit-down breakfast.
You can have a hot cup of coffee to-go while watching the sunrise, pack up some picnic food to enjoy with the view. But if you are the kind of person that would love to sit down and enjoy a nice breakfast, the following places in Yosemite Valley have good options.
- The Majestic Yosemite Hotel Dining Room aka The Ahwanee Dining Room (has Vegan options)
- Basecamp Eatery (has Vegan options)
- Starbucks Yosemite (has Vegan options)
- Degnan’s Deli
- Curry Village Coffee Corner
- Yosemite Lodge Food Court
3. Hit the Hiking Trails
Yosemite has endless number of hiking trails. Based on your preferred length and difficulty, here is something for everyone.
Easy
- Glacier Point Trail (0.5 mi)
- Lower Yosemite Falls Trail (1.2 mi)
- Sentinel Meadow Cook’s Meadow Loop Trail (2 mi)
- Mirror Lake Loop (5 mi)
Medium
- Columbia Rock Trail (2.2 mi)
- Vernal Falls Trail (3+ mi)
- Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Loop (5+ mi)
- Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Trail (6+ mi)
Hard
- Vernal and Nevada Falls via Mist Trail (6+ mi)
- Upper Yosemite Falls Trail (6+ mi)
- Four Mile Trail (9+ mi)
- Clouds Rest Trail (13+ mi)
- Half Dome Trail (16+ mi)
4. Enjoy a beautiful sunset
The following places are beautiful sunset locations in Yosemite National Park on a clear day. Note that some of them are closed during the winter. Tunnel View and Valley View are always accessible.
- Tunnel View
- Valley View
- Taft Point
- Glacier Point
- Sentinel Dome
- Olmsted Point
5. Relax by a Lake
Yosemite is home to many beautiful lakes and you should definitely spend some time relaxing by one of them. You can even do a lakeside picnic.
Tenaya Lake, Mirror Lake, Merced Lake, Cathedral Lake are all stunning lakes to relax at or hike around!
If you have more time, here are some more places to check out.
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Hetch Hetchy Valley
- Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
- Scenic drive through Tioga Pass (when it opens)
Hope you enjoyed this detailed weekend guide on visiting Yosemite National Park. If you like this type of content, then subscribe below for more 🙂
