National Park · California
Granite walls, giant sequoias, and waterfalls that thunder in spring and vanish by late summer.
Field briefing
Yosemite changes fast with season and elevation.
Before you go
A peak-season entry reservation is often required, so check before you go. The valley is warm and easy; the high country needs real layers and, for any overnight, a bear canister. Half Dome and other big days carry permit lotteries, so plan months out.
The landmarks worth the trip. Tap any photo to enlarge.
Conditions, crowds, and what each season asks you to pack.
60-70F
Cool and variable, valley highs 60-70F. Waterfalls peak with snowmelt in May and June.
Pack Rain shell, waterproof footwear, and layers; high country is still snowed in.
80-90F
Warm and dry in the valley, highs 80-90F. Tioga Road and the high country open up.
Pack Sun protection, water, and a reservation plan for entry and lodging.
65-75F
Mild and quiet, highs 65-75F. Waterfalls are low or dry; crisp clear air.
Pack Layers for cold nights; bear canister for any backcountry trip.
45-55F
Cold and snowy, valley highs 45-55F. Tioga and Glacier Point roads close.
Pack Chains for your tires, traction, and full insulation.
A steep, wet 7-mile classic that is busiest and best in late spring.
A 14-16 mile day with cables on the final dome; a permit lottery is required.
A drive-up overlook of the valley and high country, open late spring through fall.
Put the access rule first: shuttle, parking, timed-entry, or reservation windows should decide the order of the day. For one day in Yosemite, make Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls the non-negotiable, add Half Dome only if the first stop runs clean, and keep Glacier Point as the flexible finish.
Turn Yosemite's conditions into water, pack, and sleep-system decisions.
Build around conditions
Let season, elevation, and weather set the plan.
Plan your trip
4 quick tools, already seeded for Yosemite. Tune the numbers around temperature swings, footing, layers, and how much margin the route needs.
Start with the gear decisions Yosemite changes: water, footing, weather, and overnight needs. The checklist is there once your route and dates are set.
Kit Authority
Yosemite packing list
0 of 22 packed. Check items as you pack, then take this list to the store, trailhead, or campsite.
Pack planning
Use this as a constraint check while you are still shaping the trip. The active checklist becomes useful once your route, dates, and sleep plan are set.
Checklist mode
22 items, grouped for the trip you are actually taking.
The buying guides that match what Yosemite asks of your kit. Each one has our current top picks across budget and use case.
Stay strategy
Sleep where the first morning stays simple.
Stay strategy
Yosemite lodging is a distance decision. Sleep in Yosemite Valley when your trip depends on early starts for the Mist Trail, Glacier Point Road access, or shuttle-free evenings. Use El Portal, Mariposa, or Oakhurst when in-park rooms are gone and you can absorb the morning drive.
Compare base options
Compare each base by the first morning: where you park, what you ride, and how many decisions happen before the trail or viewpoint.
Choose the valley if your itinerary is built around waterfalls, Half Dome logistics, or avoiding a long gateway commute before a hard hike.
El Portal keeps the drive shortest from the west. Mariposa gives more services and value, but the commute becomes part of every day.
Book campground windows as seriously as lodging. Valley sites solve classic hikes; Tuolumne and high-country sites fit a Tioga Road trip only after seasonal opening.
Use the exact trailhead quota as the trip anchor. Overnight food must fit in an approved bear canister, and snow can keep high routes unrealistic well into summer.
Book by objective
Valley for waterfalls and Half Dome, Wawona for Mariposa Grove, high country only after Tioga opens.
Check roads
Do not assume Glacier Point or Tioga Road is open just because the valley is warm.
Camping reservations
Campground systems change by season and sometimes by individual campground. Start with the official park camping page, then confirm open dates, reservation windows, and permit rules before booking.
Reviewed June 6, 2026
Booking window
Check the official park camping page before choosing dates.
Where to book or verify
Use this first for current campground status and park-specific rules.
Check for federal campground, backcountry, tour, and permit inventory tied to this park.
Use this for wilderness permits, timed systems, tours, and other park-specific reservations.
Plan the handoff from arrival to shuttle.
Parking, pedestrian entrances, and shuttle timing decide how calmly the first morning starts.
Getting there
Fly in
Fresno Yosemite (FAT) is the closest airport, about 2.5 hours from the valley; many visitors also drive in from the Bay Area or Sacramento.
Shuttle access
A car gives the most freedom, but the free valley shuttle covers the main sights once you arrive.
Car strategy
In peak season you may need a timed-entry reservation in addition to the entrance fee, and Tioga Road across the high country is closed by snow from roughly November to May.
Pair this with lodging: sleep where the park transfer is simple, especially if your route needs an early start.
In recent peak seasons Yosemite has required a timed-entry reservation on top of the entrance fee during busy summer and holiday periods. The exact dates change year to year, so confirm on the park website before your trip.
Waterfalls peak with snowmelt in May and June. By late summer many, including Yosemite Falls, slow to a trickle or dry up entirely, so come in late spring for the full show.
Yes. An approved bear-resistant canister is required for overnight backcountry trips in Yosemite. Store all food and scented items inside it, away from your tent.
Nearby parks
Kings CanyonA glacier-carved canyon deeper than the Grand Canyon, giant sequoias, and a roadless High Sierra backcountry.
SequoiaHome of the General Sherman, the largest tree on Earth, in a high Sierra forest of giant sequoias.
Death ValleyThe hottest, driest, lowest national park in the country, where below-sea-level salt flats meet 11,000-foot peaks.