Yosemite National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the United States for a reason. The rock formations such as the sheer-faced El Capitan and the dramatic Half-Dome are truly awe-inspiring.
There are also several spectacular waterfalls including the Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls and the smaller, but no less incredible, falls along the Mist Trail. You can easily spend your time on the Yosemite Valley floor gazing up and around you, but if you want to get closer to the action, there are hiking trails for all levels of experience and fitness.
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Yosemite National Park at a Glance
⭐ State: California
⭐ Main attractions: Incredible rock formations; waterfalls
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Yosemite National Park Travel Guide
Use these free guides to help you plan your trip to Yosemite National Park. Click on the links below to go to detailed guides and answers to your questions.
How to Plan a Trip to Yosemite National Park
This guide will help you with what you should AVOID doing when you plan a trip to Yosemite National Park.
Here are my top travel tips for Yosemite National Park
Read More: 10 TIPS FOR VISITING YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
There is a timed entry permit system for most of the year.
Entrance Fee for Yosemite National Park
There is an entrance fee for the park. Find the latest fees on the NPS website.
To avoid long lines and save money, if you are planning to visit more than just Arches National Park this year, it can be great value to purchase an America The Beautiful pass.
The one-year pass includes entrance at sites managed by the National Park Service, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers. It covers the fee for entrance for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person.
Get an America The Beautiful pass here.
There are other types of passes available for seniors, veterans, etc.
Read More: NATIONAL PARKS PASSES
Yosemite National Park Visitor Center
There is several Visitor Centers.
ℹ️ Yosemite Valley Welcome Center is located next to Village Store and is open all year.
ℹ️ Yosemite Exploration Center (formerly Valley Visitor Center) has the Spirit of Yosemite film and exhibit areas detailing the park’s geology, plant and animal life, history, rock climbing, etc.
ℹ️ Yosemite Museum is open all year.
ℹ️ Valley Wilderness Center is open May to October.
ℹ️ Happy Isles Art and Nature Center is open May to September.
ℹ️ Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center (formerly LeConte Memorial Lodge) is open late May to early September).
Best Tours In and Around Yosemite National Park
🎧 Get a self-guided audio tour of Yosemite National Park
Where to Stay Inside Yosemite National Park
There are a lot of options for places to stay in Yosemite National Park. They are all are managed by Yosemite Hospitality, and range from simple tent cabins at the High Sierra Camps to deluxe rooms at The Ahwahnee. Reservations are available 366 days in advance and are strongly recommended.
🛏️ The Ahwahnee is Yosemite’s only luxury hotel. It’s located in Yosemite Valley and is open year-round.
🛏️ Yosemite Valley Lodge is a traditional lodge near the base of Yosemite Falls and is also open year-round.
🛏️ Wawona Hotel is an historic Victorian lodge in the southern part of the park near the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and is open seasonally.
⛺ Curry Village has traditional cabins and canvas-sided tent cabins in the heart of Yosemite Valley and is open seasonally.
⛺ Housekeeping Camp units offer a laid-back, open-air experience in Yosemite Valley on the banks of the Merced River and is open seasonally.
⛺ White Wolf Lodge has traditional cabins and canvas-sided tent cabins 30 miles from Yosemite Valley with easy access to High Sierra hikes and is open seasonally.
⛺ Tuolumne Meadows Lodge has canvas-sided tent cabins 50 miles from Yosemite Valley and is open seasonally.
⛺ High Sierra Camps. There are five different camps spaced six to ten miles apart to provide overnight lodging and dining on wilderness trips. Reservations are by lottery.
⛺ Glacier Point Ski Hut is a winter lodge that offers bunks with spectacular views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley, and is accessible by a 10.5-mile cross-country ski trip.
⛺ There are 11 campgrounds inside Yosemite National Park. Reservations are required for all campgrounds from approximately April through October. Reservations are extremely difficult to get. Make a reservation as soon as they become available! There are three first-come, first-served campgrounds available in in late fall, winter, and early spring.
Where to Stay Near Yosemite National Park
There are plenty of options near the park as well.
Read More: BEST VACATION RENTALS YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
➡️ Find a hotel near Yosemite on Expedia.
➡️ Find a different vacation rental near Yosemite on VRBO.
How to Get To Yosemite National Park
The most common ways to get to Yosemite National Park are to drive or fly into one of the nearby airports and pick up a rental car there. Unlike most parks, you can also get there by public transportation.
Read More: HOW TO GET TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
✈️ If you’re looking for a flight, find a good deal on Skyscanner
The Nearest Airports for Yosemite National Park
There are several airports that you can fly into/ out of. This guide tells you about all the airports near Yosemite National Park with the pros and cons of each of them.
Read More: ALL THE AIRPORTS NEAR YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
This is the closest airport to Yosemite National Park.
Read More: CLOSEST AIRPORT TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
✈️ If you’re looking for flights, use Skyscanner to scan the Internet for the cheapest deals.
How to Get Around Yosemite National Park
There are several free shuttles in Yosemite National Park, as well public (paid) bus routes into the park. While these will get you to many places in the park, you’ll need your own vehicle to get everywhere.
🚗 If you need a rental car, find one on RentalsCars.com
The Best Time to Visit Yosemite National Park
The park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. However, the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station is open only during daylight hours (approximately) and some roads, notably Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road and Mariposa Grove, are closed due to snow from around November through May or June.
A quick summary of the best time to visit the national park for different interests and priorities.
Read More: BEST TIME TO VISIT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Take a look at what the park’s like in each season and month to help you decide when to visit Yosemite National Park.
Read More: WHAT TO EXPECT IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
How Long to Spend in Yosemite National Park
How many days you should go to Yosemite National Park for depends on when you have time off, how much time you have, your budget, and your interests. I recommend at least three days, and longer if you want to explore all of the different areas in the park.
Travel Insurance for Yosemite National Park
In addition to working out the logistics of your trip using this travel guide, Yosemite National Park planning should also include travel insurance. Protect yourself against trip cancellation, loss or theft of your property, or any medical emergencies.
A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You can compare Travel Insurance plans here or get a quote right now:
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About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.