Do I need a reservation to visit Yosemite?

No, you don't need a reservation to visit Yosemite. However, if you plan to spend the night in Yosemite, you should have a reservation for lodging, camping, or backpacking.

Accordingly, do you need reservations to visit Yosemite National Park?

Reservations are not required to enter Yosemite National Park, but we strongly recommend that you make reservations for lodging, camping, and backpacking. You can pay the park entrance fee upon arrival (there's no need to pay it in advance).

One may also ask, does it cost money to drive through Yosemite? Yosemite National Park Changes Entrance Fee to Address Infrastructure Needs & Improve Visitor Experience. Effective June 2018 the park entrance fee will be $35 per vehicle or $30* per motorcycle. An annual park pass will cost $70.

Similarly one may ask, what is the best month to visit Yosemite National Park?

May

How do I get reservations for Yosemite?

To make a reservation, visit Recreation.gov and follow the instructions below.

Search for Yosemite National Park.
Enter the dates you want to camp.
Click on "filters" so you can improve search results.
Enter "group size" and check "reservable online."
Select "camping" to limit your search to campground reservations.

37 Related Question Answers Found

Can you just drive through Yosemite?

Auto Touring. All of the roads in Yosemite National Park are scenic, but the most famous scenic drive is along the Tioga Road, a 46-mile (62 km) drive from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass. Some typical driving times from Yosemite Valley: Wawona/Mariposa Grove: about an hour.

Can I sleep in my car in Yosemite?

Within Yosemite National Park, you may not sleep in your car or RV except in a campsite that you're registered to stay in (except at Camp 4, where sleeping in cars is not allowed because it's a walk-in campground). Sleeping in your car along the side of the road is also not allowed.

How many days do you need at Yosemite?

To make the most of such a short visit, use the guide to one day in Yosemite. If you can stay for a weekend, try the Yosemite weekend getaway planner. If you only plan to do a few hikes and drive around to see the sights, three days is enough to see most everything.

Which entrance to Yosemite is best?

Your most direct route to Yosemite is through the Big Oak Flat Entrance or the Arch Rock Entrance, which is located southeast of Big Oak Flat. To enter through the Big Oak Flat Entrance, you will take I-580 east to I-205 east to Highway 120 east via Manteca, Calif.

Are there bears in Yosemite?

American black bears found in Yosemite National Park have long been of intense interest to park visitors and managers. Seeing one of the approximately 300 to 500 black bears in Yosemite can evoke excitement, awe, and fear. If visitors spot a bear while in the park, it is a black bear-not a brown or grizzly bear.

Is driving to Yosemite dangerous?

Driving is dangerous: Yosemite, like anywhere, can be a dangerous place to drive, even in perfect conditions.

How much does it cost to visit Yosemite?

Yosemite Entrance Fees

Description	Good For:	Cost
Individual (on foot, horseback, or bus)	7 Days, Yosemite National Park	$15
Motorcycle	7 Days, Yosemite National Park	$30
Automobile	7 Days, Yosemite National Park	$35
Yosemite Pass (automobile)	1 Year, Yosemite National Park	$70

Where should I stay when visiting Yosemite National Park?

Best Yosemite National Park Hotels & Lodges

Lodging in Yosemite National Park. The best Yosemite hotels are located in the park itself.
El Portal & Midpines Lodging. El Portal and Midpines are the closest towns to Yosemite Valley.
Groveland Lodging.
Mariposa Lodging.
Fish Camp Lodging.
Oakhurst Lodging.
Lee Vining Lodging.

Is Yosemite busy in October?

October in Yosemite one of the best times of year to be in the park. The number of visitors has severely decreased, so the crowds are much more manageable. Another perk to visiting this time of year is most of the trails are open, giving you hundreds and hundreds of miles of trail to choose from.

Can you do a day trip to Yosemite?

The best Yosemite day tours

There are day trips you can take from nearby towns, or even from San Francisco! Here are some of the best Yosemite day trips: Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Trip from San Francisco. Yosemite and Glacier Point Day Tour.

How do I rent a cabin in Yosemite?

Redwood Cabins Yosemite

At The Redwoods In Yosemite near Wawona, guests can choose from over 125 Yosemite cabins for rent. The Redwoods have cabins in three categories: economy, standard and premium. Many of the economy cabins cost around $150 or more per night during peak season, while others are over $300 per night.

How is the drive from San Francisco to Yosemite?

San Francisco to Yosemite Road Trip

Yosemite is about 170 miles away from San Francisco and about a 4 hour drive. So, we recommend starting your day as early as 5am or 6am to have a full experience in the park.

How far is Napa from Yosemite?

152 miles

How crowded is Yosemite in September?

Fall, winter and spring are all great times to visit Yosemite. Spring (April, May, June) is one of the best times to visit Yosemite Valley because the crowds are low and the waterfalls are at their peak. Fall (September, October, November) has great temperatures and nice foliage in Yosemite Valley.

How crowded is Yosemite?

Last year over 5 million visitors crowded into the Park, and 2017 is likely to produce a visitor record that spikes even higher. More than 75 percent of those millions of visitors all cram into tiny, vulnerable Yosemite Valley.

How can I get from San Francisco to Yosemite?

The best – and perhaps quickest – way to get from San Francisco to Yosemite is to simply hop in a car and drive. Whether you have your own car or are renting one from San Francisco International Airport, you'll want to head about three hours east to Mariposa for the best route into the park.

Is Yosemite crowded in August?

The best time to visit Yosemite National Park with mostly pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds is either from mid-May until early-June or from late September until mid-October. But still, try to visit mid-week and not on weekends. July and August are always ridiculously busy.