If you’re looking for advice on visiting Yosemite, one of the best resources is fellow travelers. Real advice on forums like Reddit and from travel blogs is often recent, so it can be more up-to-date than books and other planning tools.
This article shares the best advice on visiting Yosemite from people who do it often. We’ll share where to go, what time to visit, and special tips just for RVers camping at the park.
Best Advice for Visiting Yosemite National Park:
Yosemite is consistently among the top ten most popular national parks in the country, so it’s a very busy park. If you can plan your trip to avoid the most popular times, that will lead to a more pleasant visit. During peak times and seasons, you’ll find lines for everything from entering the park to finding a parking spot to eating and riding the shuttle.
Best Time of Day
During crowded seasons, the earlier you can get out to explore, the better. You’ll find shorter entrance lines and more parking if you hit places early in the morning. Temperatures are also cooler, and for longer hikes, you’ll want to get an early start anyway.
The other option is to visit sites after 4 pm. People who are at Yosemite for a day trip will be heading home by then, so you may find fewer crowds at popular spots like Glacier Point.
The hours from 10 am to 3 pm tend to be the busiest at the park, and you may have to wait for shuttles, parking spots, and traffic.
Another advantage to early-morning or later-afternoon hours is that you get some great lighting for pictures and you can catch the sunrise or sunset.
Best Season to Visit
Summer is definitely the busiest season. In fact, now Yosemite requires reservations to enter the park during the summer. On Memorial Day weekend, every day from June 15 to August 15, and Labor Day weekend, you need an entry permit to drive in the park between 6 am and 2 pm. Some permits go on sale May 6th, and others are released 7 days in advance of each date. You do not need a permit if you have lodging or camping reservations inside the park, or if you have a wilderness or Half Dome permit.
Redditors and other people giving advice say that if you can visit Yosemite during the shoulder seasons (fall and spring), you’ll find fewer crowds. After Labor Day, crowds are down as kids go back to school. However, you’ll likely still get summer weather for about another month or so, and you can enjoy the park with fewer people. If you visit later in the fall, you’ll be treated to the park’s colorful fall foliage and beautiful opportunities for pictures.
The park’s famous waterfalls are usually at their fullest in late spring. If you plan your trip before Memorial Day, you may also find fewer crowds. You can enjoy the falls, and many hikes are open for the summer.
Yosemite also has lots to do during winter. There are some drives and other sites which close for the winter, but there is ice skating in Curry Village, and the park even has a ski resort at Badger Pass. You can also sled, go snowshoeing and hiking, and do other winter activities in the park. You can find the roads that are open during your visit on the Yosemite NPS road conditions website.
Best Locations
Yosemite covers 1,169 square miles – a space nearly the size of Rhode Island. Also, much of the park features winding mountain roads with steep climbs. Both of these facts mean that it can take a long time – up to 2 hours or more – to get to different areas of the park. You’ll want to keep driving time in mind while exploring Yosemite, and you’ll want to plan your hikes and activities around a certain area each day to prevent too much time on the road.
The park has five main regions, so plan to focus your activities on one region at a time.
One of the best locations to visit on your Yosemite trip is the Yosemite Valley. You can see some of Yosemite’s most famous sights, like Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and Half Dome, from the valley. Yosemite Village and Curry Village both have lots of restaurants, shops, visitor centers, lodging, camping, and amenities like showers and laundry. Curry Village has an outdoor pool that’s open in summer. You can rent bikes to get around the valley, and that’s one of the best ways to get around and see the views. There are also places to splash in the Merced River and bridges where you can take amazing photos of the park. If you want to treat yourself, head to the Ahwahnee Hotel for brunch or dinner with striking views.
You can tackle Glacier Point and Wawona in one day. Glacier Point is a popular place to watch the sun set over Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley. Wawona has an impressive Mariposa Grove of giant sequoia trees you can wander through. Visitors can also learn about the history of the area around Wawona and the people who lived there. The Southern Sierra Miwok traveled through the meadows and forests for seasonal hunting and gathering. In the mid-1800s, white settlers arrived and built a hotel and services for those visiting the area. The Wawona Hotel is one of the oldest mountain resort hotels still operating in the U.S.
Tuolumne Meadows is a beautiful alpine area with serene hiking trails to lakes or by the Tuolumne River. This area is less crowded than most of the park, so you may be able to escape the crowds.
Hetch Hetchy is another less-crowded region of the park that has hiking trails and views of the reservoir. And Tioga Road is a drive through the high Sierras that gives you views of the back of Half Dome, Tenaya Lake, and access to hiking trails.
Best Hikes
There are countless hikes throughout Yosemite, and it’s a challenge to narrow them down! Here are a few to get started, however. Also, dogs are not allowed on any unpaved trails at Yosemite, which covers most hiking trails.
- Lower Yosemite Falls – The walk to Yosemite Falls is an easy one. It’s 1.2 miles round-trip, with just 59 feet of elevation gain. This is a popular spot, and you may have trouble parking during the busy season. Because the trail is paved, dogs are allowed. People using wheelchairs and strollers will find a smooth path to the bottom of the falls.
- Mist Trail – Information on the Mist Trail can be deceiving, and it’s actually a great option for families. It’s listed on AllTrails as a challenging 6.4-mile trail with a 2,280-foot elevation gain, which is true if you go all the way to Nevada Falls. But there is a footbridge about 1 1/2 miles after the start of the hike that makes a good turning point for younger kids. You can also hike to Vernal Falls and turn around there. This is an extremely popular hike and can get crowded.
- May Lake – The hike to May Lake off Tioga Road is 2.3 miles long and has 485 feet of elevation gain. You’ll get gorgeous views of granite peaks and a sparkling blue lake that reflects the 10,000-foot-tall Mount Hoffman.
- Mirror Lake – The Mirror Lake Loop is 5 miles long, but relatively flat with just 301 feet of elevation gain. For part of the hike, you’ll be looking up at Half Dome directly from its base. You can also see Tenaya Canyon, Mount Watkins, and Washington Column. The lake is usually fullest in spring and early summer, and by late summer is often a meadow instead of a lake.
- Dog Lake & Lambert Dome – This is a 4.8-mile trail with 685 feet of elevation gain. You’ll get some uphill at the beginning of the hike, then go around the lake. Some parts of the trail could be wet or muddy, especially in late spring and early summer.
- North Dome via Porcupine Creek – This is a challenging trail that goes 10.4 miles and has 2,349 feet of elevation gain. You’ll start in the forest, and the hike will share stunning views of Half Dome and Indian Ridge Natural Arch.
- Cathedral Lakes – The Cathedral Lakes Trail is in the Tuolumne Meadows area, and is 9.5 miles with 1,663 feet of elevation gain. The trail climbs 1,000 feet in about 3 1/2 miles, so it’s relatively challenging. The higher elevation can also be challenging for some people. But the beautiful alpine lake, with mountains rising sharply behind it, makes the trek worth the effort.
- Four Mile Trail – The Four Mile Trail is actually 9.7 miles round-trip, and has 3,418 feet of elevation gain. It begins at the valley floor, and switchbacks all the way up to Glacier Point. It’s a challenging hike, but you’ll get amazing views across the valley, and of Half Dome, El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, and other iconic Yosemite landmarks.
Advice for First-Time Visitors
People giving advice online note that Yosemite features a variety of elevations and ecosystems, so you’ll want to make sure you pack layers. During the summer, you’ll want clothes for warm weather, but you’ll also want a rain jacket, plus some warmer layers for early mornings and later in the evening. Depending on your elevation, you may even want hats, mittens, and a winter jacket for chilly evenings around the campfire. You’ll definitely want warmer clothes for the other three seasons, along with some clothes for warm afternoons.
The free shuttle system through the valley is very good. It stops at lots of places, and you’ll likely find a stop near where you want to go. The shuttle prevents the hassle of trying to find parking spaces throughout the park on busy days.
If you plan to stay outside the park, remember that the distance to the park entrance isn’t necessarily the distance to the places you want to go. For example, Yosemite Valley is at least a 30-minute drive from the nearest park entrance. If you decide to stay outside of the park, you’ll want to know the driving distance to your actual destination, not just the distance to the park itself. Otherwise, after a long day of exploring, you could end up with a long drive as well!
Suggested Itinerary
One Reddit thread shared a suggested five-day itinerary. Spend two days doing hikes in the valley – the Four Mile Trail and the Mist Trail to Nevada Falls, if you’re up for some challenging treks. Or you could try Lower Yosemite Falls and Mirror Lake. You could also raft the Merced River, bike the Valley Loop, or swim at Sentinel Beach one of those days. Do one day of driving Tioga Road, with a hike like North Dome or Cathedral Lakes along the way. Spend one day along Glacier Point Road, where you could hike Taft Point and Sentinel Dome. Make sure to stop at the Glacier Point lookout as well. Then, spend one day at Mariposa Grove and the Wawona area.
For Kids
If you have kids or want a less strenuous trip, spend a day in the valley checking out Lower Yosemite Falls, biking, floating the Merced River, or checking out the Happy Isles Art Center. Spend a day on Tioga Road. You can swim and picnic at Tenaya Lake and enjoy the drive. Spend a day at Mariposa Grove and the Wawona History Center. Then, spend one last day in the valley doing whatever you didn’t do on the first day.
A Three-Day Itinerary
RVshare published our own itinerary for a shorter trip to Yosemite.
- Day 1: Arrive at the Arch Rock Entrance, visit Yosemite Valley & Tunnel View for great pictures, hike the Mist Trail, and camp or stay at Curry Village.
- Day 2: Begin at Glacier Point, hike either Panorama or Four Mile Trail, picnic by the Merced River, and rest at the Hodgdon Meadow campground.
- Day 3: Drive Tioga Road, stop at Olmsted Point, hike the North Dome Trail if you’re up for the challenge, and enjoy the Mariposa Grove.
Advice for RVing to Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a popular RV camping destination. You can absolutely bring your RV to the park, and there aren’t too many drives or activities that are limited by an RV. However, there are some things to know to help you prepare for a trip.
- Plan for parking – There is limited parking for oversized vehicles in various areas of the park. Parking fills up quickly, so you’ll want to get there early to grab a spot.
- Driving rules – Most roads are ok for RVs and trailers, but Wawona Road, Big Oak Flat Road, El Portal Road, Glacier Point Road, Mariposa Grove Road, and Hetch Hetchy Road have restrictions on vehicle sizes or on driving travel trailers. Tioga Road is closed during the winter season, along with a few other high-elevation roads.
- Know your towing capacity – Make sure you know (and stick to!) the towing capacity for your vehicle. Tioga Pass, especially, is a steep grade, and you don’t want to overload your rig.
- Know your own capacity – Know your driving skills and limits. If you feel unsure about driving a steep mountain road in your RV or trailer, skip it.
- Take it slow – Don’t gauge your speed by other traffic on steep roads like Tioga. Towing a trailer or driving a large RV will naturally slow you down, and your vehicle may overheat. Plan to use turnouts frequently to let cars behind you pass.
- Have a breakdown plan – In the more remote areas of the park, it can take several hours for help to arrive. Also, cell service isn’t reliable in some of those farther-flung places. Have a plan if you break down, and keep extra food, water, and layers in your vehicle in case you need them.
- Know when you need chains – If you’re visiting from October through April, be ready to put chains on your vehicle if it’s snowy or icy.
Advice on Where to Stay in Yosemite
Many Redditors advise visitors to stay inside the park, if possible. The driving distance to the park, coupled with the distance to popular sights once you’re inside, can mean you’ll be driving a long way each day if you stay outside the park. If you do stay outside the park, don’t check your distance to Yosemite National Park in general. Check your distance to the exact location in the park you want to visit, like Glacier Point or Yosemite Falls. That way, you’ll get a more accurate driving time. Also, remember to arrive at the park early to avoid long lines, and to get an entry permit.
Lodging and campgrounds inside Yosemite National Park can often be cheaper than nearby towns. There are many third-party sites that claim they can book you a spot, but the official booking site for lodging at the park is Travel Yosemite. Tent cabins at Curry Village are inexpensive and can be easier to reserve than camping spots, if you find campgrounds booked up. Yosemite Lodge is close to lots of park activities and makes a good home base. Some visitors note that it could stand to be renovated, but rooms are clean and serviceable. The Ahwahnee Hotel has more expensive, upscale rooms for a fancier stay.
If you do want to stay in hotels or campgrounds with more amenities outside the park, Mariposa, Groveland, and Oakhurst are all small towns and communities outside the park. One Reddit advisor recommended Tenaya Lodge at Fish Camp near the south entrance – this places you closest to Wawona and that area. Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort, Rush Creek, Yosemite Cedar Lodge, and Autocamp Yosemite come recommended by many Redditors.
Also, if you’re more after a stay in the Sierras, and Yosemite is just a part of that bigger plan, you can stay near Bass Lake. The lake is about 20 minutes from the south entrance to Yosemite. You can swim, boat, and fish at the lake, enjoy nearby hikes, and make a day trip to Yosemite part of a longer stay in the mountains.
RV camping in Yosemite National Park
RV camping is one of the most convenient ways to explore Yosemite. You can stay close to the sights you want to see, but you’ll still have a comfortable bed each evening after a long day out. In fact, we compiled a complete list and descriptions of campgrounds in Yosemite.
Here are a few tips for camping inside the park:
- There are no hookups – None of the campgrounds within park boundaries have hookups, although select campgrounds do have dump stations. Many campgrounds just outside the park offer hookups and more upscale amenities.
- Most campgrounds allow RVs – RVs and trailers are allowed at almost all campgrounds, so you have a variety of options for camping.
- You need a reservation – If you’re visiting the park from April through October, you will need a reservation to stay at a park campground.
- Be bear aware – When you’re set up for camp, practice bear safety. You can store food and smellable items in your hard-sided RV if the windows, doors, and vents are closed and food is out of sight. Do not leave ice chests or any food, drink, sunscreen, lotion, or other scented items outside your RV. This includes strapping items to the RV. Be sure to check shelters, tents, chair cup holders, and other spaces.
- Top off your gas tank – Fuel up before you enter the park. There are no gas stations in Yosemite Valley, but there are some near various park entrances and on some major park roads. However, gas inside the park is more expensive, and you can save some money by gassing up before you arrive.
- Bring bug spray – Along with sunscreen, make sure you have bug spray to ward off pests. You may also want a bug zapper or two to put around your RV if you plan to relax outside.
Hopefully, this article has provided some helpful advice on visiting Yosemite! If you’d like to get a similar experience, but without the crowds at the park, check out our list of destination dupes for Yosemite.
