If you are trying to get to most of the National Parks, add Yosemite to your list. After visiting many national parks, I found Yosemite to be one of my top five. Learn what to see and what to do as you plan a vacation to Yosemite National Park.
Vacation Time at Yosemite
Yosemite is beautiful in any season. When my husband, sisters, and I visited in October, it was great weather for hiking. Arriving late in the year increases your chances of getting snow because of the elevation. It did snow while we were there in mid-October, but only in the 9,000-foot mountain areas.
In the Spring, there are many waterfalls in Yosemite. We were quite limited since many waterfalls had dried up by fall. If we head back to Yosemite, it will be spring, and we will see the waterfalls. The summer, of course, is wonderful in Yosemite, but you may have to deal with heavy traffic, large crowds, and hot temps.
Getting There
We flew into Sacramento, picked up some groceries, and drove to Yosemite. It was a 3-hour drive to the park. Keep in mind that you will drive slower once in the park. You can also fly into Reno or Fresno and arrive at other park Entrances or drive there from your state. If you like to hike and see the park, you will be driving to the hikes or taking the bus because there is much to see.
Housing
If you want to stay 3-6 days I recommend staying in the National Park. Reserve your rooms one year in advance. It was worth it not to drive in and out of the park on mountain roads. We could get up, and we were there. We drove to some of the viewpoints and also took the National Park bus. Everything is central in the villages such as shops, groceries, and restaurants. It felt like being at camp for a week.
I loved staying in the park and enjoying the sunsets and beauty around me. I walked out my door, looked up, and I was in Yosemite. We ended up staying in Yosemite Village. Although it wasn’t the most modern or economic place to stay, the convenience was worth it.
If you stay out of Yosemite, there are nearby towns that have housing/hotel options. If you make it a day trip, you may only see one section of the park or the highlights.
Meals
There was a small refrigerator in our room, so we kept some perishable food on hand. We mostly ate breakfast in our room, packed a lunch, and ate dinner at the lodges/village restaurants. They even have a Starbucks in the park. If you need to use a microwave, they have one in the lodge check-in area.
It will save you some money if you plan to eat a few meals on your own. We ate oatmeal, protein bars, and fruit for breakfast with coffee or tea. We packed sandwiches, cheese, crackers, and beef jerky for lunch, with fruit, veggies, and nuts.
Hikes
You will want to go on some hikes. Here is the link to the Yosemite National Park Map. If you go in the winter, many roads will be closed because of snow and ice.
Glacier Point allows you to see the famous Half Dome rock formation. At the top, you can walk around and see it from many vantage points. Get there early because the parking spots fill up. Another hike we went on for a bit and turned around was Panorama View hike. We would have loved to do the whole hike but lacked the time, so we hiked part of it and turned around. It was worth the views.
The May Lake hike was also pretty. At the end of the hike, you get to May Lake, which is nestled in the mountains. This hike is jagged and rocky but not difficult. The road to the May Lake trailhead is bumpy, and an SUV is best.
Sentinel Dome was a fun morning hike. The views at the top are amazing. Again, parking fills up, so get there early.
Bridal Falls is another popular, easy hike that is flat and across the way from El Cap. Many people were on this easy hike with good views.
El Captain Area– This is the most famous rock climbing wall in the world.
El captain can be seen from the road and is fun to get close to. As you look up, you can see the rock climbers. Bring your binoculars so you can see them climbing. If it is a full moon, check out El Cap at night. Another hiker gave us this tip. As the moon shines on El Cap at night, you can see the features of the rock face. We took some great pictures of the moon shining on the rock and the lights from the rock climbers.
El Captain Meadow is pretty and even prettier in the summer with the blooms and colors.
We also went for some night walks under the moonlight and saw some pretty skies. It can get chilly at night or early in the morning, so dress accordingly with a hat and gloves.
There are many more trails and hikes, such as the lower Yosemite fall trailhead and the mist trail we didn’t even get to explore. You could hike for a month if you wanted to.
Tuolumne Grove is a hike with giant tree groves. It’s magical walking through the forest looking up. This trail is paved. If you get tired, turn around.
Mariposa Grove Trailhead is a must-see to experience the giant Sequoia trees. This area was almost burnt down by fire. Again, the trail is paved, and you can check out their welcome center. They have a bus that takes you to the start of the trail to save you time. This has a huge parking lot and is very popular in the southern part of Yosemite.
View Points
Don’t miss the Tunnel View- This is where you can see the grand splendor of Yosemite come together, as well as Half Dome. Sunset is beautiful.
Yosemite Valley view can be seen partially in the valley. It’s also fun to look down and see the villages and Valley from the top from Glacier Point.
Olmstead Point is a pretty view and a small hike if you are into climbing. Sit and enjoy the view if you don’t want to hike.
Stop at Tenaya Lake for a picnic lunch. The views and water are great places to take a few pictures.
We drove by the Meadows on Tioga Road, but they were not blooming in the fall. The next day, it snowed, and this area was closed. The elevation is high.
I hope you can see the beautiful wonders of Yosemite National Park. It is better than the photos and magnificent. Plan your next National Park vacation for 2025 or 2026. Plan a year ahead of time, book your place to stay, and don’t miss an opportunity to see this National Park or my other top 4 National Parks.
Links to Top 4 Parks
Links to past blogs on these National Parks are my favorites. Glacier National Park, White Sands National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Arches National Park
This is a podcast we enjoyed while driving through the park. We were learning about the sequoia trees. Presidential Podcast Fieldtrip on Yosemite.
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