Yosemite National Park
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more. — nps.gov
Yosemite National Park at a glance
- State
- California
- Established
- October 1, 1890
- Size
- 761,748 acres
- 2025 visits
- 4,278,413
- Busiest-park rank
- #5 of 63
- Entrance
- $35 / vehicle
Best time to visit
When is Yosemite quiet?
Yosemite is busiest in August and quietest in January. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, May is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 4,278,413 recreation visits, the #5 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: JanuaryBusiest: August
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Yosemite
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.
Visiting several parks this year? The pass calculator shows whether the America the Beautiful pass pays off.
Reservations · 2026
No reservation needed in 2026
Timed entry reservations
“Yosemite National Park today announced it will no longer use a timed reservation system in 2026.”
Things to do
Things to do in Yosemite
- Visit the Yosemite Cemetery10-60 Minutes · All year
The Yosemite Cemetery is full of stories, told and untold. Some of those laid to rest here are well-known figures in the history of the park. Some spent their entire lives in Yosemite and are now almost forgotten.
- Visit the Yosemite Museum30 Minutes · All year
Open year-round, the Yosemite Museum has displays that interpret the cultural history of Yosemite's native Miwok and Paiute people from 1850 to the present, demonstrations of stone tool making, basket-weaving, beadwork,…
- Ride a Bike in Yosemite Valley1-6 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
Cycling is a great way to experience the park and allows you to cover more ground during your time here. You can rent a bike, bring your own, or borrow one through the bike share program (2-hour limit). Hand-crank and…
Reservation/permitFee - Become a Yosemite Junior RangerAll year
Kids can become a Yosemite Junior Ranger by taking a self-guided handbook with them as they travel around the park and complete the activities that are the best fit for them. The Yosemite Junior Ranger handbook is…
- Go Skiing at Badger PassWinter
The Badger Pass Ski Area is open from mid-December through March (weather and conditions permitting). You can downhill ski, cross-country ski, go tubing, or snowshoeing all from this historic winter resort.
Fee From a short walk to the base of a waterfall to a multi-day hike deep into the Yosemite Wilderness, taking a hike is one of the best ways to experience Yosemite's spectacular scenery. Yosemite has an extensive network…
Yosemite has a long history of inspiring visitors to create art. From world-renowned artists like Ansel Adams and Chiura Obata to everyday people who love art for fun, pausing to create something beautiful is a special…
Reservation/permitFeeYosemite is one of the world's greatest climbing areas. Climbers here can enjoy an endless variety of challenges--from the sustained crack climbs of the Merced River Canyon to pinching crystals on sun-drenched Tuolumne…
Show all 13 things to doShow fewer
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Arts and Culture26
- Astronomy44
- Auto and ATV33
- Backcountry Camping51
- Backcountry Hiking43
- Biking44
- Birdwatching48
- Boating27
- Camping60
- Climbing26
- Fishing41
- Food46
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Horse Trekking32
- Horseback Riding25
- Ice Skating2
- Living History8
- Museum Exhibits36
- Paddling32
- Scenic Driving30
- Skiing23
- Snow Play17
- Snow Tubing3
- Snowshoeing24
- Swimming17
- Tubing4
- Wildlife Watching53
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Yosemite
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March).
Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Yosemite
You can drive to Yosemite year-round and enter via Highways 41, 140, and 120 from the west. Tioga Pass Entrance (via Highway 120 from the east) is closed from approximately November through late May or June. Hetch Hetchy is open all year but may close intermittently due to snow.
Please note that GPS units do not always provide accurate directions to or within Yosemite.
PO Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA, 95389 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Yosemite
- Kings Canyon National Park91 mi~2 h drive (est.)
- Sequoia National Park109 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Pinnacles National Park130 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Death Valley National Park163 mi~4 h drive (est.)
- Lassen Volcanic National Park208 mi~5 h drive (est.)
- Channel Islands National Park268 miChannel Islands is not reachable by road
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: Sacramento (115 mi) · San Jose (129 mi) · San Francisco (190 mi)
Road trip
Pinnacles & Yosemite
2 parks, about 130 miles between them (~3 h of driving, estimated).
Yosemite is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Yosemite National Park
FAQ
Yosemite, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Yosemite National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in May, the quietest shoulder-season month. August is the busiest month on average, and January the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Yosemite National Park?
- $35 / vehicle. Also: $100 nonresident fee (16+). An America the Beautiful annual pass covers entrance fees at every national park, and waives the nonresident fee.
- Do you need a reservation for Yosemite National Park in 2026?
- No. Yosemite National Park today announced it will no longer use a timed reservation system in 2026. (nps.gov, checked October 1, 2026). Some tours, permits and campgrounds may still need booking.
- What are some things to do in Yosemite National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 13 things to do in Yosemite National Park, including Visit the Yosemite Cemetery, Visit the Yosemite Museum, Ride a Bike in Yosemite Valley, Become a Yosemite Junior Ranger, Go Skiing at Badger Pass. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Yosemite National Park become a national park?
- Yosemite National Park was established as a national park on October 1, 1890.
- What is the closest national park to Yosemite?
- Kings Canyon National Park, about 91 miles away in a straight line (roughly 2 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.Yosemite National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Yosemite National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/yose.
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