What time of day is Yosemite least crowded?

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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Visit midweek, rather than on the weekend. Even beyond the standard weekend crowding, Saturdays and holiday weekends are “particularly busy,” according to Yosemite's website. In a reply to a Facebook comment from July 6, Yosemite wrote: “It is much quieter on weekdays — especially during the middle of the week.”

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Top Travel Recommendations
  1. Arrive early and stay late, and visit Yosemite during the week instead of on weekends. ...
  2. Ride a YARTS bus to enter the park.
  3. If you drive, park your car for the duration of your stay. ...
  4. Free shuttles can help you get around Yosemite Valley, but they will be full on busy days.


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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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Historically, June, July and August are the busiest months at Yosemite. That said, here are a few factors that make even the most touristy season approachable and appealing. Many people visit Yosemite just for the day, driving Tioga road to see the spectacular views.

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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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How Many Days Should I Spend In Yosemite? Plan on spending two to four days in Yosemite if you want enough time to see all the amazing sights. This will give you plenty of time to see Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and enjoy some hiking trails.

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Drive the Valley Floor Loop Driving the Valley Floor Loop is a fantastic way to see a range of Yosemite's most famous sights. Visitors can stop at Yosemite Falls (option to walk the 1-mile Lower Yosemite Falls trail), El Capitan Meadow, Sentinel Bridge, Valley View, and various other pull-offs along the way.

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There is so much amazing wildlife, incredible morning weather, and some of the most unique and commanding mountain views in the world. Spending one day in Yosemite National Park is enough for the best highlights of the park. If you only have one day in Yosemite in Winter, check out my guide to Yosemite in Winter.

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The rainy period of the year lasts for 7.8 months, from September 30 to May 24, with a sliding 31-day rainfall of at least 0.5 inches. The month with the most rain in Yosemite Lakes is February, with an average rainfall of 3.7 inches. The rainless period of the year lasts for 4.2 months, from May 24 to September 30.

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American black bears found in Yosemite National Park have long been of intense interest to park visitors and managers. Seeing one of the approximately 300 to 500 black bears in Yosemite can evoke excitement, awe, and fear. If visitors spot a bear while in the park, it is a black bear-not a brown or grizzly bear.

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Within Yosemite National Park, you may not sleep in your car or RV except in a campsite that you're registered to stay in (except at Camp 4, where sleeping in cars is not allowed because it's a walk-in campground). Sleeping in your car along the side of the road is not allowed.

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Tunnel View Wawona Road leads visitors into the park's hub from the park's south entrance. Along with Glacier Point, Tunnel View is widely considered to be the most popular viewpoint in all of Yosemite.

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If you're looking for massive cascades that leave you speechless, Yosemite wins the prize. If you're not too fussed about height but you still want to enjoy the serenity of the water (with the added bonus of being able to see falls no matter what time you visit), go with Yellowstone.

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