Is it better to stay in Yosemite?

Staying Inside of Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is a large national park, and it can take several hours to drive between the sights. I recommend staying inside the park if you want to have more opportunities for sightseeing without the crowds.



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How Many Days Should You Spend in Yosemite? For the best experience, plan on spending three days in Yosemite, especially if you like hiking. Three days gives you enough time to hike a few trails, explore Yosemite Valley, drive Tioga Road to Olmsted Point, and visit Glacier Point and Taft Point.

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With so much to see and do in Yosemite, it can be difficult to know where to start, which is why planning an itinerary is essential. We recommend taking 3 days in this beautiful national park, though you can make it work if you have more or less time.

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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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Plan trips during the mid-week - Yosemite Valley is most popular on weekends and holidays, which can mean significant traffic congestion, especially on Saturdays. To avoid crowds, consider planning a trip to Yosemite Monday through Thursday.

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The winner: The opportunities for wilderness adventure in Yellowstone are many, but Yosemite has it all, from gentle trails along the floor of the valley to spine-tingling ascents of its rock faces. Plus, Yosemite remains open to many activities through the winter, while Yellowstone goes into bear-like hibernation.

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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.

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A 3 day Yosemite itinerary allows for enough time to experience the best of Yosemite Valley, as well as some of the other areas of the Park, like Tuolumne Meadows, Tioga Road, or Wawona. However, it is possible to experience a taste of what this amazing Park has to offer, even if you only have 1 or 2 days.

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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.

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Go for a Nighttime Nature Walk in Yosemite National Park A couple of popular nature walks include a visit to Lower Yosemite Falls or Bridalveil Fall (scheduled to reopen to the public in 2022). For those who enjoy more structure, Yosemite Conservancy also offers an easy 1-2 mile round trip nature walk at sunset.

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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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While this national park tends to be one of the hardest to visit due to its high demand, it includes scenic beginner hiking trails for budding explorers. Don't feel pressure to become a pro at all things outdoors before planning your trip to Yosemite National Park.

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