visiting-yosemite

Yosemite National Park Travel Guide: how to plan a trip?

Yosemite National Park is one of the most remarkable natural parks of California, where rock faces, roaring waterfalls, granite monoliths and soaring peaks create a breathtaking landscape. Due to Yosemite Park’s immense size, it can be a challenge to plan a visit. So here’s a travel guide where you’ll find tips on things to see, best trails, tours, excursions and overnight stays in the park and in the surrounding area.

How to get there? Park entrances.

Yosemite National Park has a significant size and can be accessed through the following four entrances:

  • North Gate: From Groveland (Big Oak Flat Information Station). Coordinates
  • West Gate: From the town of Mariposa (Arch Rock Entrance). Coordinates
  • South Gate: From Oakhurst. Coordinates
  • East Gate: From Lee Vining (Tioga Pass Entrance). Coordinates

Yosemite is always open and accessible by car. The North entrance is the quickest route for those coming from San Francisco (about a 3-hour drive), the West entrance is suitable for those coming from Monterey (here’s my itinerary from Monterey to Yosemite) and the Big Sur area, the South entrance is closest to Mariposa Grove, the forest of giant sequoias in the Wawona area, and the East entrance allows access to the park via the Tioga Pass Entrance, taking the scenic Tioga Road and visiting Mono Lake and the beauties of the Eastern Sierra.

An important note: Once you have reached the park entrance, it will still take some time to reach Yosemite Valley, the most interesting and attraction-rich area. Here are the distances from the various entrances to Yosemite Valley:

  • From West Gate: 16 miles
  • From North Gate: 24 miles
  • From South Gate: 31 miles
  • From East Gate: 63 miles

Road Closures

There are three roads that close during the low season due to heavy snowfall. The closure period usually lasts from November until the end of May, sometimes even into June:

  • Tioga Road (Highway 120), whose closure not only prevents access to the park from the east entrance but also hinders crossing the Sierra Nevada via Yosemite National Park, necessitating a longer detour.
  • Glacier Point Road, the road that leads to the breathtaking viewpoint of Glacier Point, one of the most scenic spots in Yosemite National Park, unfortunately becomes inaccessible during the low season.
  • Mariposa Grove Road, the road that leads to Mariposa Grove, home to the Giant Sequoias. Usually, this road reopens earlier than the other two, around April. The South Entrance, however, remains open.
    For more details, please read our article on visiting Yosemite in winter, where we also suggest alternative routes during the closure period. The other park roads and entrances remain open year-round.

For more details, please read our article on visiting Yosemite in winter, where we provide suggestions for alternative routes during the closure period. The other park roads and entrances remain open year-round.

Getting to Yosemite by bus

The Yosemite Valley is accessible by bus service, and during the summer, other areas of the park are also served by public transportation. The main operators are Amtrak, Greyhound, and YARTS, which allow you to reach the park from nearby towns such as Merced, Mariposa, Midpines, Sonora, Groveland, El Portal, Fish Camp, Oakhurst, and others.

Once you have reached the park, you can use the free shuttles to visit the main points of interest in Yosemite Park. This option may not appeal to hardcore road trip enthusiasts, but it has the advantage of saving you the hassle of traffic and parking issues, which are quite common for visitors to Yosemite in the summer (we’ll discuss this shortly).

Ticket prices

Attention: Reservation may be required to access the park during certain times of the year. For more information, please refer to our in-depth guide.

At the park entrances, you can purchase the entrance ticket, which grants you access to Yosemite for one week. Here are the prices:

  • Private non-commercial vehicles: $35 per vehicle
  • Motorcycles: $30 per vehicle
  • Individual entry (on foot, bicycle, etc.): $20 per person

If you plan to visit other national parks, consider purchasing the America the Beautiful Pass, which will save you money on various entrance fees.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Yosemite is during the summer and early fall months (July, August, September, and October) when all roads and entrances are open, allowing for a full exploration of the park. However, keep in mind that this is also the busiest period, especially in Yosemite Valley, where you may encounter traffic and limited parking.

If you’re visiting the park during this time, it’s recommended to arrive early in the morning or consider using the park’s shuttle services (we’ll discuss them shortly) to help navigate the crowds.

During the winter season, Yosemite receives heavy snowfall, but the park remains open with the aforementioned limitations. Many people actually prefer visiting during this time for the beautiful snowy landscapes it offers. For more information, refer to our article on planning a trip to Yosemite in winter.

Getting around the park: cars and shuttles

You are free to explore the park with your own car, stopping at its main viewpoints or parking near trailheads. However, there is also the option of using the park’s complimentary shuttle service. There are several shuttles available, and here is a list of the ones I find most useful (for the complete list, refer to the official page):

  • Yosemite Valley Shuttle (operates year-round from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM): serves the eastern side of Yosemite Valley, making stops at hotels and major viewpoints in the valley.
  • El Capitan Shuttle (mid-June to early October from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM): stops at El Capitan, the Four Mile trailhead, and the Valley Visitor Center. UPDATE: Currently, this shuttle appears to be no longer active.
  • Mariposa Grove Shuttle (from March 15th to November 30th, but dates may vary each year): provides transportation to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias from the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza (near the south entrance).

How to visit Yosemite?

Here are some helpful articles to organize a visit to Yosemite National Park: the main things to see, the best areas to stay, how to plan according to the season, and more.

things to do in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Road Trip: 15+Must-Visit Places and Unforgettable Experiences

More than 3 million people travel every year to visit Yosemite National Park, the first “conservation area” designated by the United States back in 1864. Yosemite National Park is part …
where to stay in yosemite national park

Where to Stay in Yosemite: Hotels Inside and Around the Park

As one of the most visited natural attractions in California, Yosemite National Park plays an important role. Named a “national park” in 1890, it is one of the great treasures of …
Yosemite in winter

Yosemite in the Winter and Fall: How to Get To the Park and Plan Your Visit

Yosemite Park is one of the most beautiful and most visited national parks in America, but if you want to go there during the winter and fall, organizing a trip …
yosemite vs sequoia

Yosemite or Sequoia National Park? Some advice for those who don’t know how to choose between the two

Yosemite or Sequoia National Park? As you plan your West Coast Road Trip, you never want to get to the point where you ask yourself this question! If you google …

Tours and trails

Here are some insights on the best trails to explore in the park and the organized tours available for guided exploration of the park.

Yosemite Valley hikes

Yosemite Valley: Hikes Not to Be Missed

Covering an area of just over 1158 mi², Yosemite National Park is really hard to visit exhaustively, especially if you’re short of time and haven’t made up your mind yet. …
yosemite guided tours

Yosemite Tours: One-Day and Multi-Day Tours Departing from San Francisco and from the Park

Often, when organizing a road trip across the U.S., even when it’s done with great attention to detail, it is still possible to underestimate aspects related to travel and timing.  …

Popular attractions and best views

Yosemite Half Dome Hike

Half Dome: Climbing the Most Beautiful Peak in Yosemite National Park

When someone says Yosemite, the words that come to mind are nature, beauty, adventure, soaring heights, silence, grandeur. But most of all, when you hear say Yosemite, you think El …
Tioga Pass Road

Tioga Pass Road: The Scenic Road through Yosemite

It is common knowledge that moving from one place to another in America requires a bit of patience. You often find yourself traveling along very long and straight roads, and …
Yosemite falls trail

Yosemite Falls: The Highest Waterfalls in North America

In Yosemite National Park there are many waterfalls. Some are small and not too high. Others are majestic and imposing. One of the most popular waterfalls is the famous Yosemite …
glacier point yosemite

Glacier Point: Breathtaking Views of Yosemite Valley

Glacier Point is one of the most popular viewpoints in Yosemite National Park and offers unparalleled views of Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls and the famous Half Dome peak. It is …
Mariposa Grove yosemite

Mariposa Grove: In the Presence of the Giant Sequoias of Yosemite

Visiting the parks in the Sierra Nevada is one of the best experiences of a California road trip and the West Coast in general. The magnificent mountain landscapes that characterize …
Horsetail Falls firefall

What is the Best Time to See the Firefall of Horsetail Fall?

Horsetail Fall is one of the most spectacular and photographed waterfalls in Yosemite, especially during a particular time of the year when the water flowing from the rocks takes on …