The ultimate guide for visiting Yosemite National Park

If I had to recommend only one destination for travelers who travel to the United States and love outdoors it would definitely be to visit Yosemite National Park in California. Stunning landscapes, mountains, forests, waterfalls, lakes and wildlife. Visiting Yosemite National Park is an amazing experience.

Yosemite is the temple of nature, as described by naturalist John Muir who was one of the people who promoted the foundation of Yosemite National Park in 1890. There is no easy way to describe the greatness of Yosemite. Even if you see photos of the park, you have to visit it to understand its immensity.

How to get to Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is located about 300 km east of San Francisco and it is a must stop in any West Coast road trip. These are the different ways you can get to Yosemite:

• By car

The best way to visit Yosemite is by car. The park has parking lots at different points and the routes to the park are great. In my opinion this is the best option to visit Yosemite since it allows you to visit the park at your own pace and stop whenever you want without depending on a tour schedule.

I always recommend using rentalcars.com, a website that compares prices of all rental companies and usually offers a lower price than by booking directly with the rental company.

• Bus

If you don’t have a car, you can also get to Yosemite by bus. YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transit System) buses have several routes to Yosemite from different cities in California such as: Merced, Sonora, Mammoth Lakes and Fresno.

If you are staying in San Francisco you can take an Amtrak train or a Greyhound bus to Merced and get on the YARTS that will leave you at Yosemite visitor center. More information about prices, schedules and routes of the buses at yarts.com.

Another option is to book this private transfer offered by GetYourGuide. They have pickup points at different hotels in San Francisco.

Yosemite offers a free shuttle service to move within the park between the different areas. For more info about transport in Yosemite check put the official site.

• Tours to Yosemite

If you can’t rent a car or you simply don’t want to worry about transport you can join a tour. Most tours start at San Francisco, here are some options:

1-day tour to Yosemite + Sequoias: a 1-day tour that starts in SF and stops by the Giant Sequoia trees before returning.

Yosemite + Alcatraz: a 2-day combo that combines Yosemite with San Francisco’s iconic prison. Includes transportation to Yosemite, entrance ticket to Yosemite and ticket for Alcatraz.

2-day tour to Yosemite: if you have time I strongly suggest you take this tour as you’ll have more time to see Yosemite. It includes the transportation to and from San Francisco and a stay at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.

Best time to visit Yosemite

You can visit Yosemite at any time of the year. Each season has its advantages depending on what you like to do.

• April-May: Spring is the best time to visit Yosemite and see the waterfalls at their peak.
• June-August: Summer is the best time for those who want to go hiking in Yosemite. It is also the most popular season in terms of visitation so it can be a bit crowded, specially on weekends.
• September-November: During autumn most of the routes and trails remain open (unless a lot of snow falls) and you will be able to visit the park with very few visitors. At this time the waterfalls barely have water. The autumn foliage is beautiful and September is a great month for hiking.
• December-March: During winter some access routes to the park close so always check the conditions of the routes on the official Yosemite website. Most of the hiking trails also remain closed in winter due to the snow but the good thing is that you will see a unique landscape with all the snowy mountains and there will less people visiting the park.

Entrance fees to Yosemite

There are several types of passes and tickets to enter Yosemite. Tickets can be purchased online or directly when entering the park. The options are:

• 7-day pass per vehicle (up to 15 people): USD$35 per vehicle
• 7-day pass per person if entering on foot or bicycle (over 16 years old): USD$20 per person
• Annual pass: USD$70 per person

There are also free entrance days within the year. You can check all the info at Yosemite website.

How many days should you visit Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite is huge and the number of days will depend on the activities you want to do and the time you have.

If you visit by car, I recommend a 3-day stay to explore the park at your own pace and enjoy the scenery.

Where to stay in Yosemite National Park

Many people travel to Yosemite from San Francisco and go back that same day to sleep in the city. I don’t recommend doing this because it is not a short trip and you will spend a lot of time driving and seeing only a small part of the park. The best thing is to sleep at least 1 night in the park or near it.

Accommodation inside Yosemite National Park

If you want to spend a night inside the park you need to book a place as soon as possible, specially if you’re traveling during summer. If it’s too late and everything is booked (as I experienced) you can still find a place to stay near Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite offers visitors different lodging options, from luxurious hotels to cheap motels, cabins and campsites. Waking up and being surrounded by the mountains of Yosemite is a unique experience.

Suggested accommodation in Yosemite National Park:

• Cozy Hideaway: cabins located at West Yosemite. They have a capacity up to 3 people, kitchen and amazing views from the park. Check out prices and more details for Cozy Hideaway.
• Yosemite Vista: beautiful 3-bedroom cabin offering mountain views and a deck with a private hot tub. Check out prices and more details for Yosemite Vista.
• Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite: a beautiful lodge located in the middle of the mountains offering modern amenities, and a full-service spa. Check out more details for Tenaya Lodge.

Accommodation near Yosemite National Park

Another option is to sleep in any of the cities located near the access points to the park where you can find a lot of accommodation options with different categories and prices. You will have to drive everyday to the park but it is a great option.

There are 5 entry points to Yosemite: Hetch Hetchy Entrance, Big Oak Flat Entrance, Arch Rock Entrance, South Entrance and Tioga Pass Entrance. Some nearby cities where you can stay (as long as you have a car to go to the park every day) are: Mariposa, Oakhurst and Sonora.

These are some of the suggested accommodations near Yosemite:

• Sonora Country Inn: This is the hotel where I stayed some years ago. It is located about 1 hour from Big Oak entry. The drive is a bit long but the landscapes you see are worth it. You can find restaurants and some shops at the city. This hotel is around USD$60 per night (double room). Check out prices and more details for Country Inn Sonora.
• Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn: A hotel with all the amenities located at Oakhurst, about half an hour away from the South entrance. Check out prices and more details for Best Western Plus en Oakhurst.
• Best Western Plus Yosemite Way: A budget option located at the town of Mariposa. It is around a 45-minute drive to Yosemite’s South entrance. Check out prices and more details for Best Western Plus en Mariposa.

What to see in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park covers an area of 3,029 km so there are obviously many places to see. The main attractions are located in the area of Yosemite Valley.

↣ Main areas in Yosemite National Park:

• Yosemite Valley: Yosemite Valley is where many of the famous cliffs and waterfalls are located. I will detail each place you can visit below.
• Mariposa Grove: located in the southern area of the park, Mariposa Grove is where you will find more than 500 giant sequoias!
• Crane Flat: a pleasant forest and meadow area located near the Tuolumne and Merced Groves of Giant Sequoias.
• Tuolumne Meadows y Tioga Road: Tioga Road is a 47-mile scenic drive that crosses Yosemite. The Tioga Road is open from May or June through October or November. Tuolumne Meadows is a large meadow surrounded by peaks and domes. During summer Amtrak trains and YARTS buses have a service to Tuolumne Meadows.

• Half Dome: the symbol of Yosemite. Half Dome is a 1440 metre high granite dome. You can hike or rock-climb to the top.

• If you hike: follow the park’s recommendations: bring enough water, use the right clothes and shoes, stay on the established trail, inform someone of where you’re going and when you plan to return. Make noise so you prevent an encounter with bears as they won’t come close to the trail if they hear noise.
• Visiting Yosemite with your pet: In case you were wondering if you could bring your dog, the answer is yes! dogs in Yosemite are allowed. Visit Yosemite National Park website to know exactly which places in the park are dog friendly.
• Where to eat at Yosemite: There are different restaurants and shops inside the park where you can eat. Check out Yosemite’s website to see the location of all the restaurants. There are also stores where you can buy groceries, drinks and souvenirs. Most of them are located close to the camping sites.
• Yosemite has a service of free shuttles that take you throughout Yosemite Valley. You can park your car and use the shuttles to move around. More information here.

Yosemite National Park was one of my favorite visits in California and I’ll definitely plan to go again soon. A real temple of Nature which grand scale beauty will make you feel tiny.

I hope this guide for visiting Yosemite National Park helps you plan your trip. If you have any questions please comment below or send me an email.

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