Updated May 1, 2025
Dreaming of a Yosemite getaway—waterfalls tumbling over granite cliffs, sunrise at Tunnel View, and moonrise at Glacier Point? Get the answers to some frequently asked questions about visiting Yosemite National Park and the surrounding area in 2025.
Are reservations required to enter Yosemite in 2025?
It depends on the date that you’re visiting. Reservations will be required to drive in or through the park on select dates between May 24 and September 1, 2025, including:
• May 24 through May 26 (Memorial Day weekend): A reservation is required from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday through Monday.
• June 15 through August 15: A reservation is required from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day.
• August 30 through September 1 (Labor Day weekend): A reservation is required from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday through Monday
Dates not noted above, including May 27–June 14 and August 16–August 29, do not require a reservation.
Yosemite officials say the reservation system makes park entry smoother for visitors and park employees by reducing wait times at entrance stations and easing problems caused by overcrowding.
Whether or not you need a reservation for your chosen dates, you will also need a valid park entrance pass to enter Yosemite. You can purchase an entrance pass at any of Yosemite’s five entrance stations, or if you already own an America the Beautiful or Yosemite annual pass, just show it to the attendant at the entrance kiosk.
How do I get a reservation for Yosemite?
Starting on May 6 at 8 a.m. PDT, reservations for all reservable summer 2025 dates will be available on Recreation.gov. Simply create a free Recreation.gov account or log in to your existing account, check for availability on the dates when you’d like to visit, pay the $2 reservation fee, and book.
Each reservation is valid for three consecutive days including the arrival date, so reservation holders are free to drive in and out of the park for three consecutive days. Every person in the reservation holder’s vehicle is covered under one reservation. If your family or group is traveling in two vehicles, the reservation system allows you to make two reservations for any three-day period (but no more than two).
Reservations sell out quickly, so your best bet is to reserve as early as possible. If the dates you want are already gone, don’t despair. You’ll have a second chance later: Additional slots will be released seven days before each reservable date. For example, if you try to book for June 15 and it’s already full, check back on June 8 at 8 a.m.
Are there any exceptions to the reservation policy? What if I already have a hotel or campground reservation, or a wilderness permit?
Exceptions apply to visitors with in-park lodging or camping reservations, Half Dome permits, or wilderness permits. Anyone who holds one of these does not need an entry reservation.
Simply show your lodging/camping reservation, Half Dome permit, or wilderness permit when you pass through any park entrance station. (Note that lodging and campground properties must be inside the park, not in neighboring communities.)
Additionally, visitors who want to spend the day in Yosemite but don’t have an entry reservation can also enter the park on a YARTS bus or on an authorized guided tour.
Also, no reservations are required to visit the Hetch Hetchy region of Yosemite, which is isolated from the rest of the national park by one in-and-out access road. The Hetch Hetchy entrance station is open from sunrise to sunset daily, although entry may be delayed on busy days because of limited parking capacity.
Can I enter Yosemite outside of the reservation hours of 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.?
Yes. If you arrive at a Yosemite entrance station before 6 a.m. or after 2 p.m., you may drive in without a reservation. To arrive at the nearest Yosemite entrance at 2 p.m. from neighboring towns, the National Park Service recommends that you utilize the following timetable:
- From Mariposa (Hwy 140): Leave at 1:15 pm (or El Portal at 1:55 p.m.)
- From Oakhurst (Hwy 41): Leave at 1:30 pm (or Fish Camp at 1:55 p.m.)
- From Groveland (Hwy 120 from the west): Leave at 1:25 p.m. (or Buck Meadows at 1:40 p.m.)
- From Lee Vining (Hwy 120 from the east): Leave at 1:40 p.m.
What if I’m just driving through the park on Highway 120, not stopping to visit any sites in Yosemite?
You still need an entry reservation for the specified dates, or you can drive through the park before or after the 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. reservations window.
Should I hold off on making my summer vacation plans, or book now?
Don’t wait. Yosemite is America’s sixth-most visited national park, with 4.1 million visitors entering the park in 2024, according to the National Park Service. Spring and summer are the park’s busiest months, and lodgings in and near the park book up fast, so plan your trip as early as possible.
Besides Yosemite Valley, what else should I see in the park?
At seven miles long and one mile wide, Yosemite Valley covers only a tiny fraction of Yosemite National Park’s 1,169 square miles of terrain. Yet an estimated 95 percent of visitors never venture beyond it. Whether you want to take a sightseeing drive, score an eye-candy picnic spot, or take a day-long trek in remote wilderness, don’t miss visiting Yosemite’s other scenic regions.
North of Yosemite Valley, lush Tuolumne Meadows is one of the Sierra Nevada’s largest subalpine meadows, a vast expanse of green that’s bisected by the Tuolumne River. Take your pick from dozens of trails that start from this road, from easy strolls to giant sequoia groves—Merced Grove and Tuolumne Grove—to more challenging hikes to alpine lakes, historic mining sites, and roaring waterfalls on the Tuolumne River.
The park’s northwest corner holds Hetch Hetchy, a deep blue reservoir in a valley that’s considered a “twin” to Yosemite Valley. In April and May, wildflowers bloom in profusion and Hetch Hetchy’s waterfalls spill over massive cliffs. In the park’s southern reaches, you’ll find the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite’s largest sequoia grove with 500 astoundingly huge and ancient trees.
Nearby, Glacier Point Road leads to a multitude of hiking trails and a knock-your-socks-off vista at Glacier Point, encompassing a banquet of High Sierra peaks and precipices. In the winter months, skiers and snowshoers play in the snow at Badger Pass Ski Area.
What can I do outside of Yosemite or in nearby towns?
Here’s Yosemite’s best-kept secret: The amazing scenery doesn’t stop at the park boundaries. Without entering any of Yosemite’s five entrance stations, you can fly-fish in rivers or streams, admire wildflowers, hike to high-alpine lakes, and snap selfies by glistening waterfalls.
Fit these plans into your itinerary: Hike along the beautiful South Fork Tuolumne River to Carlon Falls, east of the town of Groveland and Buck Meadows. Admire spring wildflowers on Hite Cove Trail, east of the town of Mariposa. Snap selfies by glistening cascades along the Lewis Creek National Recreation Trail near Oakhurst. Go whitewater rafting on the wild and scenic Merced River near Mariposa or the Tuolumne River near Groveland. See the amazing tufa spires and vast waters of Mono Lake near Lee Vining, or head south on U.S. 395 to hike in the alpine wonderland of June Lake and Mammoth Lakes.
Yosemite’s gateway towns also offer a fascinating glimpse into the Sierra Nevada’s rich culture and natural history. See more than 10,000 artifacts from Yosemite’s rock-climbing pioneers at Mariposa’s Yosemite Climbing Association Museum and Gallery. Marvel at the dollar-bill-lined ceiling at Groveland’s Iron Door Saloon. Stop in to Oakhurst’s Fresno Flats Historic Village & Park to learn about rural life in the 1860s, or take a ride on Fish Camp’s historic Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Learn about Mono Lake’s amazing geology and bird life in Lee Vining, then marvel at its quirky upside-down house.
How do I book lodging in and near the park?
For in-park lodging—ranging from a no-frills tent cabin at Curry Village to an elegant room at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel—check availability at Yosemite Hospitality’s website. A short drive from the park, the gateway communities of Mariposa, Groveland, Lee Vining, and Oakhurst offer an astounding array of lodging options. Go glamping in the safari-style tents at Wildhaven in Mariposa. Sleep in a retro-styled Airstream at Midpines’ AutoCamp. Plan an indulgent overnight at Oakhurst’s Château du Sureau, relax in the hummingbird-filled gardens at Lee Vining’s El Mono Motel, or sleep in modernized Gold Rush luxury at the Groveland Hotel.
If you’re wondering about driving times from these towns to Yosemite, keep in mind that you can always ditch your car and ride in a comfy YARTS bus. But if you’d rather drive, here’s an overview: On Yosemite’s south side, Fish Camp is only 10 minutes from the park’s South entrance, and Oakhurst is 30 minutes.
On Yosemite’s west side, Mariposa and Midpines are nearest to Yosemite’s Arch Rock entrance, about a 45-minute drive, and Groveland is 45 minutes from the Big Oak Flat entrance. On the park’s east side, Lee Vining is just 15 minutes from the Tioga Pass entrance.
Is Yosemite National Park fully open right now?
Only some of Yosemite’s roads are open year-round. In the spring, Yosemite Valley is accessible via Highway 140 from Mariposa, Highway 41 from Oakhurst, and Highway 120 West from Groveland. Highway 120 East, also known as Tioga Pass Road, is typically closed until mid-June due to snow. Glacier Point Road is typically closed until mid-May due to snow. Hetch Hetchy Road is open all year but may close intermittently in winter and spring due to snow. If you wish to visit Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, or the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, check Yosemite’s road closures page for updates on November–June road closures.
How can I enjoy a great Yosemite trip while minimizing my impact on the park?
A few simple choices will make you a good steward of Yosemite:
• Visit on off-peak days—weekdays instead of weekends and holidays.
• Use the YARTS bus system to enter the park, then utilize the free shuttle buses or ride a bike around Yosemite Valley. You’ll be amazed at how much you can see and do without your car.
• Avoid arriving at park entrances and popular sites during the “rush hours” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You’ll enjoy Yosemite even more during the quieter hours—early morning, late afternoon, or early evening.
• Read and learn the Nature Rules and Responsible Travel Code principles, and keep them in mind as you travel.
Will government layoffs affect my trip to Yosemite?
Less than two percent of the park’s peak-season staff were impacted by layoffs. Most guest services in Yosemite—lodging, restaurants, retail shops, shuttle buses, tram tours, bike rentals, and more—are staffed by the park concessionaire, Yosemite Hospitality, a division of Aramark. This private company is not affected by government layoffs.