This place is a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life and the peace you'll find in the high sierras. Yosemite is best known for its waterfalls, but inside it you'll find deep valleys, grand meadows, giant sequoias, giant granite rocks, and more.
Current Park Alerts
Live from the National Park Service · Official park site →
Plan Your Visit
Hours & Season
Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Entrance Fees
- $35 – Entrance - Private Vehicle
- $30 – Entrance - Motorcycle
- $20 – Entrance - Per Person
- $0 – Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
- $100 – Nonresident
Weather
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)
Things to Do
Visit the Yosemite Exploration Center
The Yosemite Exploration Center features interactive displays and exhibits highlighting Yosemite's many stories and resources. Bring the family and learn more about Yosemite's history, the people who originally called this place home, as well as more about meadows, animals, and sequoias!
Watch the "Spirit of Yosemite" Film
The park film, The Spirit of Yosemite, is shown daily on the hour and the half hour in the theater behind the Yosemite Exploration Center. The first showing is at 9:30am, and the last showing is at 4pm.
Become a Yosemite Junior Ranger
Kids can become a Yosemite Junior Ranger by taking a self-guided handbook with them as they travel around the park and complete the activities that are the best fit for them. The Yosemite Junior Ranger handbook is available for free at visitor centers. When you are done, share your booklet with a park ranger at any Yosemite visitor center during operating hours to receive your badge.
Rock Climbing in Yosemite
Yosemite is one of the world's greatest climbing areas. Climbers here can enjoy an endless variety of challenges--from the sustained crack climbs of the Merced River Canyon to pinching crystals on sun-drenched Tuolumne Meadows domes to multi-day aid climbs on the big walls of the Valley. Yosemite is not just a climber's playground, however: its walls and crags are an integral part of a larger ecosystem, protected as Wilderness.
Scenic Driving in Yosemite
All of the roads in Yosemite National Park are scenic, but the most famous scenic drive is along the Tioga Road, a 46-mile (62 km) drive from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass. The road is typically open from late May or early June through sometime in November.
Wildlife Safety in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park supports more than 400 species of vertebrates including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The high diversity of species is the result of diverse habitats in Yosemite that are largely intact. The park’s rich habitats range from thick foothill chaparral to conifer forests to expanses of alpine rock. Animals feel at home in each location.
Getting There
Address: PO Box 577 Yosemite National Park CA 95389
You can drive to Yosemite year-round and enter via Highways 41, 140, and 120 from the west. Tioga Pass Entrance (via Highway 120 from the east) is closed from approximately November through late May or June. Hetch Hetchy is open all year but may close intermittently due to snow. Please note that GPS units do not always provide accurate directions to or within Yosemite.
Get driving directions → Official NPS directions →Where to Stay – Campgrounds
Upper Pines Campground
236 sites · $36/night
Upper Pines is located near the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic fea…
Hodgdon Meadow Campground
100 sites · $36/night
Hodgdon Meadow Campground is conveniently located along the Big Oak Flat Road at the Big Oak Flat Entrance. At an elevation of 4,900 feet (1,219 m), the campgr…
North Pines Campground
81 sites · $36/night
North Pines is located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic fe…
Lower Pines Campground
74 sites · $36/night
Lower Pines is located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Valley is centrally located in the park and boasts some of Yosemite’s most iconic fe…
Wawona Campground
95 sites · $36/night
The Wawona Campground is located along the South Fork Merced River close to historic Wawona. At an elevation of 4,000 feet (1,219 m), the campground is located…
Tuolumne Meadows Campground
289 sites · $36/night
Tuolumne Meadows Campground is Yosemite’s largest, and is located along the Tioga Road, with some areas located near the Tuolumne River. At 8,000 feet (2,600 m…
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to enter Yosemite National Park?
The entrance fee for Yosemite National Park is $35. See Plan Your Visit above for vehicle, per-person, and annual-pass rates.
Do I need a reservation or permit to visit Yosemite National Park?
Some entry windows or activities at Yosemite National Park require a reservation or permit. Check the Current Park Alerts and Things to Do sections above, and confirm on the official NPS site before you go.
When is Yosemite National Park open?
Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
What are the best things to do in Yosemite National Park?
Popular things to do in Yosemite National Park include Visit the Yosemite Exploration Center, Watch the "Spirit of Yosemite" Film, Become a Yosemite Junior Ranger, Rock Climbing in Yosemite. See Things to Do above for photos and details.
Are there campgrounds in Yosemite National Park?
Yes — Yosemite National Park has 16 campgrounds, including Upper Pines Campground, Hodgdon Meadow Campground, North Pines Campground. See Campgrounds above for site counts, fees, and booking links.