Can you drive through Yosemite in November?

You can drive your car into and around Yosemite, although some roads are closed from around November through May/June and tire chains may be required on open roads from around October through April (depending on conditions). You can use public transportation to get to and around Yosemite all year.



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While Yosemite Valley and Wawona remain accessible by car all year, the Tioga Road is closed (usually by sometime in November). Once closed for the season, vehicles are not permitted between Crane Flat and Tioga Pass, including in the Tuolumne Meadows area.

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While all but the last two of the waterfalls listed below are in Yosemite Valley, both Yosemite Valley and many other areas of the park have waterfalls both big and small. Flows: approximately November through July, with peak flow in May.

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One of the advantages of having Thanksgiving in Yosemite is that November is a quiet time of year. In the summer, the valley is full of tourists and accommodation is expensive and sells out routinely. In November, all of these problems are mitigated and visitors can enjoy a choice of accommodation at a lower price.

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The cool season lasts for 3.1 months, from November 21 to February 25, with an average daily high temperature below 61°F. The coldest month of the year in Yosemite Lakes is December, with an average low of 38°F and high of 54°F.

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Avoid Yellowstone in July and August if crowds and heat are not your game. Yosemite National Park sees its absolute peak crowds during July and August. You will need to book lodging – including campgrounds – and any guides, activities or tours well in advance. These are also the hottest months to visit the park.

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Simply driving into the Valley and back out is around 14 miles (depending on the entrance route you choose) and takes approximately 30 minutes, but travelers can easily make an entire day out of their drive through Yosemite Valley, stopping at each of the lookouts and taking time to explore.

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Be an early bird to avoid crowds. Try to visit the Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove by 9am or earlier. Then you can head to Tioga Pass road trails and views and in and around Tuolumne Meadows, they are less crowded, and you'll be able to find yourself alone even during peak hours.

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Strolling through Yosemite Valley in autumn provides many scenic views filled with fall foliage, such as this image of El Capitan and the Merced River. Glacier Point is one of many popular destinations for a spectacular sunset experience. Fall is also big wall climbing season in Yosemite.

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Fall Color Daytime temperatures are mild and perfect for hiking. Less visitors in the park compared to the summer months provide a feeling of solitude. Fall color typically starts late September into early October in Yosemite Valley.

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Yosemite in autumn is most notable for the absence of two things: raging waterfalls and raging crowds. If you don't mind the former, you'll certainly appreciate the latter. Those famous Yosemite Valley crowds start thinning out after Labor Day and don't recover again until the following May.

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To Get There. Car: The Glacier Point Road is open to cars approximately late May through October or November, depending on conditions.

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