Yosemite

Yosemite Valley is the most famous landscape in California: a deep granite canyon with El Capitan and Half Dome on its walls and waterfalls pouring over its rim. It sits in the Sierra Nevada about 190 to 200 miles from Palo Alto. That is close enough for a weekend and too far for a relaxed day trip, so this guide treats it as an overnight.

Entry rules at Yosemite have changed almost every year recently, so this page starts with what the National Park Service says for 2026. It then covers fees and the routes in from the Bay Area. After that come road seasons and a plan for a short visit. Dates in this guide come from NPS pages we checked in late October 2026. Conditions change fast in the mountains, so check again the week you go.

Entry rules for 2026

For several summers Yosemite required a reservation to drive into the park at peak times. That changed for 2026. According to the NPS reservations page, Yosemite announced in February 2026 that it would no longer use a timed reservation system this year. The park says it will keep managing traffic actively and asks visitors to plan for heavier traffic on weekends and holidays.

What that means in practice:

• You do not need a timed entry reservation to drive into the park in 2026. You still pay the entrance fee at the gate or buy a pass in advance.
• Campgrounds, lodging inside the park and wilderness and Half Dome permits are separate and still need bookings, often months ahead.
• Without reservations, summer weekends and holidays can bring long lines at the entrance stations and full parking in the Valley. Arrive before 8 a.m. or visit midweek.
• The park could bring back a reservation system for 2027 or for special events such as the February Horsetail Fall "firefall". Watch the NPS page if you plan a trip early next year.

Entrance fees

The NPS fees page lists these entrance fees:

Visitors 15 and under enter free. The page also lists a $100 nonresident fee for each non-US resident aged 16 and older, charged on top of the standard entrance fee. It does not apply to people entering with an annual or America the Beautiful pass. If you are hosting international visitors in Palo Alto, budget for this or buy them the nonresident annual pass if they plan to visit several parks.

Routes from Palo Alto

All routes start by crossing the bay and heading east through the Central Valley. Two main highways lead into Yosemite Valley.

Highway 120 via the Big Oak Flat entrance

The usual route from the Bay Area. Cross the Dumbarton or San Mateo Bridge, take Interstate 580 east over the Altamont Pass, then Interstate 205 and Highway 120 through Manteca and Oakdale. The road climbs steeply at Priest Grade past Groveland, enters the park at Big Oak Flat and drops into the Valley. It is about four to four and a half hours. The NPS listed 15-minute weekday delays on Big Oak Flat Road for fire safety work in late October 2026.

Highway 140 via the Arch Rock entrance

Highway 140 runs from Merced through Mariposa and then follows the Merced River canyon to the Arch Rock entrance. It is the lowest road into the park, so it is usually the best choice in winter when snow hits higher routes. From Palo Alto it takes about the same time as Highway 120 or a little longer.

Highway 41 via the South entrance

Highway 41 from Fresno enters near Wawona and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. It makes sense if you are coming from the south or want to start with the sequoias.

Fill your tank before you enter the park. Gas inside is limited and expensive. There is no practical transit from Palo Alto, though Amtrak and YARTS buses connect from Merced. If you would rather not drive, Yosemite tours from San Francisco run day and overnight trips, which you can reach by Caltrain.

Roads and seasons

Yosemite changes completely with the seasons. So does what you can reach.

• Spring (April to June): the waterfalls are at their peak from snowmelt. Yosemite Falls, Vernal Fall and Bridalveil Fall are loud and full. Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road may still be closed early in the season.
• Summer (July to August): the high country opens fully, but the Valley is crowded and many waterfalls slow to a trickle by late summer.
• Fall (September to November): quieter, with cool nights and fall color on the Valley floor. The high roads close with the first big snow.
• Winter (December to March): snow on the Valley rim, ice on the falls and far fewer people. Badger Pass offers skiing in good snow years. Chains may be required on any park road.

Road status in late October 2026

The NPS conditions page (updated October 23, 2026) listed:

• Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road open, with no overnight parking along either. Both normally close for the winter after the first major storm, often in November. They reopen in late spring.
• Mariposa Grove Road open only to vehicles with a disability placard. Everyone else takes the free shuttle from the welcome plaza, which runs from about late April through November.
• Hetch Hetchy Road open from sunrise to sunset, closing when it snows or snow is forecast overnight.
• Weekday delays of about 15 minutes at the El Capitan Bridge, where a stabilization project is under way.

For current conditions, call the park at 209-372-0200. In winter, carry chains even with four-wheel drive. Our Lake Tahoe guide explains how California chain controls work.

A short first visit

With one or two days, focus on Yosemite Valley and add one viewpoint above it.

1. Stop at Tunnel View on the Wawona Road for the classic view of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome.
2. Walk the short paved trail to Lower Yosemite Fall.
3. Hike the Mist Trail to the footbridge below Vernal Fall, or on to the top of the fall if you are fit. Expect wet steps in spring.
4. Drive up to Glacier Point, when the road is open, for a view across Half Dome and the high Sierra.
5. Spend the evening in El Capitan Meadow watching climbers' headlamps on the wall.

If you hike at home, our hiking guide lists trails near Palo Alto that make good training for the Mist Trail's steep granite steps.

Where to stay

Lodging inside the park books up far in advance and includes historic hotels, the Valley lodge, tent cabins and campgrounds. If you cannot get a room inside, the gateway towns are the usual answer: Groveland on Highway 120, Mariposa or El Portal on Highway 140 and Oakhurst or Fish Camp on Highway 41. You can compare hotels near Yosemite or search lodging in Mariposa and Groveland for your dates. El Portal is closest to the Valley, about 20 minutes away. Staying outside the park means a drive in each morning, so leave early to beat the lines at the gate.

Frequently asked questions