Visiting Yosemite in October means you do not have to reserve an entrance slot for the park. The reservation system begins in May and ends on September 30.
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The 2022 peak hour reservation system was designed to make traffic more manageable during the summer season. It ends September 30, 2022. So if you're planning a visit in October cross that logistical point off your list. Feel free to be more spontaneous with your travel plans.
October in Yosemite is one of the best times of year to be in the park. The number of visitors has severely decreased, making crowds much more manageable. The roads will be clear of traffic and the parking lots more accessible.
Please note that to drive into Yosemite National Park between May 20 and September 30, 2022 during peak hours (6:00 am–4:00 pm) you must have a reservation, which costs $2. You do not need a reservation to enter before 6:00 am or after 4:00 pm. See the nps.gov page for the latest details.
If you are into light activity and sightseeing, a medium-weight jacket over layers will suffice. Just in case, bring a hat and gloves to ward off the night chill. Day hikers or treaded walking shoes are necessary whether you are walking a valley trail on a ranger-led hike or heading up steeper trails.
Yosemite enthusiasts usually visit the Park during off season months. Fall which starts towards the end of September is one of the best months for hiking and a great time to visit when summer crowds decline dramatically after the Labor Day holiday when children start heading back to school.
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.
You should plan to spend around $130 per day on your vacation in Yosemite National Park, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $40 on meals for one day and $41 on local transportation.
Weekdays (Monday-Thursday) are historically least crowded during the summer season in June, July, and August. Weekends attract more tourists and vacationers.
However, the vast majority of visitors show up during the 5-month period from May to October, which means that from November to April, the park is largely crowd-free and wonderfully quiet. If you visit Yosemite National Park during March and April or October and November, you'll avoid the crowds.