Entrance Reservations - Yosemite National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (2024)

Information is subject to change. This will be updated as soon as any information changes.

Entrance Reservations Basics

Do I need a reservation to visit Yosemite?

Yes, if you are driving a vehicle into or through Yosemite National Park between 5 am and 4 pm (peak hours) during the dates listed above, you must have one of the following with matching photo ID:

• Reservation for a Yosemite National Park campground (Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Camp 4, Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, or Porcupine Flat. Reservations for campgrounds outside the park do not provide access to Yosemite during peak hours.)

• Reservation for Curry Village,Housekeeping Camp,Yosemite Valley Lodge,The Ahwahnee,Wawona Hotel, White Wolf Lodge, and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge

• Private lodging or vacation rental inWawona, Yosemite West, or Foresta
  (Reservations for lodging or vacation rentals outside the park and in communities other than these three do not provide access to Yosemite during peak hours.)

• Yosemite wilderness permit

• A Half Dome permit

• Commercial use authorization

• Special use permit

Driving through the park without stopping requires a reservation if entering the park between 5 am and 4 pm.

Payment of the vehicle entrance fee, which is valid for three days, is required. For those with an overnight reservation or Half Dome permit, the fee is valid for three days or the duration of the overnight reservation (whichever is longer), starting with the first day of the reservation. Credit cards are the only form of payment accepted for entrance fees. If you enter the park via YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) buses, bicycle, on foot, or on horseback, or if you visit Hetch Hetchy, you do not need a peak-hours reservation to enter the park. Park entrance fees still apply.

What types of reservations are available?

There are two kinds of peak-hours reservations: those valid for the full day and those valid for arrival in the afternoons (on all three days). (Anyone with or without a reservation can also arrive before 5 am or after 4 pm.) Peak-hours reservations are valid for up to three consecutive days.

Do I need a reservation to drive into the park on weekdays?

If you are visiting anytime from July 1 through August 16, you need a reservation to drive into the park every day of the week if entering the park between 5 am and 4 pm.

If you are visiting anytime from April 13 through June 30 or August 17 through October 31, you need a reservation to drive into the park on every Saturday and Sunday, and every holiday (May 27, June 19, September 2, and October 14) when entering the park between 5 am and 4 pm. A reservation is required on these days even if your first day in the park is on a non-reservation day.

Do I need a reservation to drive into the park during non-peak hours (before 5 am or after 4 pm)?

No. If you enter Yosemite before 5 am or after 4 pm, you do not need a reservation. You can remain in the park during peak hours if you arrive during these non-peak hours. If you are planning to arrive after 4 pm, please do not arrive at a park entrance station until after 4 pm. Do not try to arrive early. Vehicles blocking roads will be cited.

To arrive at the nearest Yosemite entrance at 4 pm, leave the following towns at or after these times:

• Mariposa (Hwy 140): 3:15 pm (or El Portal at 3:55 pm)
• Oakhurst (Hwy 41): 3:30 pm (or Fish Camp at 3:55 pm)
• Groveland (Hwy 120 from the west): 3:25 pm (or Buck Meadows at 3:40 pm)
• Lee Vining (Hwy 120 from the east): 3:40 pm

The $35/car entrance fee applies and is valid for three consecutive days for visiting Hetch Hetchy and for driving into other areas of the park during non-peak hours. However, paying the entrance fee does not allow entry during peak hours without a reservation.

Camping or sleeping in a vehicle is only allowed in a campsite you have reserved via Recreation.gov.

If I arrive without a reservation and pay the entrance fee to enter the park during non-peak hours, can I arrive during peak hours on the same or following days?

No. The $35-per-car entrance fee is valid for three consecutive days for visiting Hetch Hetchy and driving into all other areas of the park only during non-peak hours. Paying the entrance fee does not allow entry during peak hours (5 am to 4 pm) if you don’t have a valid reservation.

If I arrive without a reservation and pay the entrance fee on a day when reservations aren’t required (in spring or fall), can I drive into the park on either of the following two days if a reservation is required?

No. You must enter the park before 5 am or after 4 pm on days when a reservation is required. If you don’t have a reservation, the $35-per-car entrance fee is valid for three consecutive days for visiting Hetch Hetchy and driving into other areas of the park only during non-peak hours. Paying the entrance fee does not allow entry during peak hours (5 am to 4 pm) if you don’t have a valid reservation.

When can I enter the park if I have an afternoon-only reservation?

These reservations are valid to drive into the park at noon or later every day. This applies to all three days of the reservation. You can also drive into the park before 5 am or after 4 pm.

I want to drive through the park without stopping. Do I need a peak-hours reservation? How can you limit access to a state highway?

Yes, a peak-hours reservation is required to drive into the park between 5 am and 4 pm on days when a reservation is required, even if you’re just passing through. If you enter the park before 5 am or after 4 pm, you can continue driving through the park (or stay and recreate) during peak hours on the day you enter the park.

Tioga Road, which is part of the continuation of Highway 120 through the park, is not and has never been a state highway within park boundaries. Originally built as a private mining road, philanthropists purchased the road and donated it to the National Park Service, which has improved and maintained the road ever since. The National Park Service is solely responsible for providing road maintenance, as well as law enforcement and emergency services, along all roads within Yosemite National Park.

I have an annual or lifetime pass that gives me free entrance. Do I need a reservation to drive in during peak hours?

Yes. These passes cover the park entrance fee. A $2 non-refundable reservation fee still applies to peak-hours reservations.

Do I need a reservation to drive into the park if I have a reservation for a campground or lodging accommodation located outside of Yosemite National Park?

Yes. You must have a peak-hours reservation to drive a vehicle into the park unless you arrive before 5 am or after 4 pm.

Making and Using a Reservation

How and when do I get a peak-hours plus reservation to visit Yosemite?

Peak-hours reservations are only available via Recreation.gov. Reservations go extremely quickly. Establish a Recreation.gov account first, log in to your account, and obtain a reservation beginning at 8 am Pacific daylight time on the appropriate day. Reservations are available during two periods:

• On January 5 for all arrival dates (April 13–October 27); these remain available until all are taken.
• Seven days in advance (e.g., make a reservation for an arrival date of October 27on October 20).

Peak-hours reservations are valid for three consecutive days (including arrival date).

Each user can make one reservation for each three-day period. For example, if a user makes a reservation for a Friday arrival (valid Friday through Sunday), the user won’t be able to make a second reservation for an arrival that Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The reservation holder must be in the arriving vehicle and show photo ID at the entrance station.

If you don't have computer access, you can call 877/444-6777 to make a reservation.

On Recreation.gov what does it mean that reservations are not yet released?

If you try to find availability on Recreation.gov and it says reservations are “not yet released,” it means no more reservations are available until seven days in advance, promptly at 8 am PDT.

How much does a peak-hours reservation cost?

A peak-hours reservation costs $2 and is non-refundable. This is collected by Recreation.gov and is separate from the park entrance fee. You need one reservation per vehicle. Each reservation is valid for everyone inside the vehicle.

How long is my peak-hours reservation valid?

Your peak-hours reservation is valid for up to three consecutive days starting on the first day of the reservation (but is no longer valid or necessary on the second or third day if those are days when a reservation isn’t required). For example, if you get a reservation for a Saturday, it’s valid for Saturday through Monday (if Monday is a day when a reservation is required).

Your reservation for in-park lodging or camping, a Half Dome permit, or a wilderness permit allows you to enter the park 24 hours per day for the duration of your reservation or for three days (whichever is longer).

If you have a reservation for lodging or camping outside the park for more than three days, you will need more than one peak-hours reservation and will pay the entrance fee for each three-day period you visit Yosemite. If you will be visiting more than three days, you may want to purchase an annual pass. Or, if you already paid the entrance fee, you can use the receipt(s) toward an annual pass. For $70, you can purchase a Yosemite annual pass (covers entrance fees at Yosemite for 12 months). For $80, you can purchase an interagency annual pass (valid for entrance fees at all national parks).

Why is the entrance fee valid for three days instead of seven days?

In response to public and gateway community feedback, we temporarily shortened the period the entrance fee is valid during the reservation periods in 2021 and 2022 to increase the number of reservations available, ultimately providing more opportunities for people to visit. This change was successful, so we are temporarily applying this timeframe again during the 2024 peak-hours plus reservation season.

Almost 90% of visitors not staying overnight inside the park visit for three or fewer consecutive days. The three-day reservation also allows peak-hours reservation holders to first enter the park on any day during their reservation (with the seven-day reservation in 2020, reservation holders were required to arrive on the first day).

If you will be visiting more than three days, you may want to purchase an annual pass. Or, if you already paid the entrance fee, you can use the receipt(s) toward an annual pass. For $70, you can purchase a Yosemite annual pass (covers entrance fees at Yosemite for 12 months). For $80, you can purchase an interagency annual pass (valid for entrance fees at all national parks).

Annual pass holders will still need to obtain a peak-hours reservation to drive into the park during peak hours, on days when reservations are required, from April 13 through October 27, 2024.

I have a reservation inside the park that is longer than three days. Do I need to pay the entrance fee twice?

No. If you have a reservation for one of the following, your entrance fee is valid for the duration of your reservation or three days (whichever is longer):

• A Yosemite National Park campground

• Reservation for Curry Village,Housekeeping Camp,Yosemite Valley Lodge,The Ahwahnee,Wawona Hotel, White Wolf Lodge, orTuolumne Meadows Lodge

• Private lodging or vacation rental inWawona, Yosemite West, or Foresta
  Yosemite wilderness permit

Does the reservation system eliminate delays at entrance stations?

No. Even with reservations, you may encounter delays at entrance stations. If you have a daily reservation, try to arrive before 8am to avoid the longest delays.

If you don’t have a reservation, you must arrive after 4 pm or before 5 am. If you don’t have a reservation, please wait until after 4 pm to drive to the entrance station. If you have an afternoon reservation, please wait until after noon to drive to the entrance station.

Do I have to arrive on the first day of my peak-hours reservation?

No. One of the benefits of the three-day reservation is that you don’t have to arrive on the first day of your reservation. However, your peak-hours reservation is still valid for up to the three consecutive days starting with the arrival date on the reservation (i.e., if you arrive on the third day of your reservation, you can only use it for that day).

What if my group is arriving in more than one vehicle during peak hours?

A peak-hours reservation is required for each vehicle (or motorcycle) that enters the park during peak hours. The person whose name is on the reservation must be in the vehicle with a valid photo ID.

Groups with lodging or camping reservations, wilderness permits, and Half Dome permits may arrive in more than one vehicle. An occupant in each vehicle must provide a copy or photo of the photo ID belonging to the person who made the reservation (as well as a copy of the reservation) to be permitted to enter.

Can I give or sell my reservation to someone else?

No. Reservations and entrance fees are non-transferable. Peak-hours reservations are only valid for the person who made the reservation and for the vehicle transporting that person.

Visiting Without a Reservation

A reservation is required to drive into or through the park during peak hours (5 am to 4 pm). A reservation is not required to drive into or through the park before 5 am or after 4 pm. If you enter through an entrance station before or after peak hours, you can remain in the park during peak hours. However, don’t arrive at Yosemite without a reservation if you plan to stay overnight inside the park. Camping or sleeping in a vehicle is only allowed in a campsite you have reserved via Recreation.gov.

If you are planning to arrive after 4 pm, please do not arrive at a park entrance station until after 4 pm. Do not try to arrive early. Vehicles blocking roads will be cited.

Are same-day reservations available? Can I wait at the entrance station and enter the park if people with reservations don’t show up?

Reservations are not available at entrance stations. You can check Recreation.gov before you arrive to the park to see if any reservations have become available due to cancellation.

How can I bide my time while waiting until my noon reservation is validor until the reservation requirement ends at 4 pm?

Spend time in the beautiful national forests and enticing gateway communities just outside of Yosemite!

Highway 41 Corridor

• Sierra National Forest
• Mariposa County(Fish Camp)
• Madera County(Oakhurst and Bass Lake)

Highway 140 Corridor

• Sierra National Forest
• Mariposa County

Highway 120 (west of Yosemite) Corridor

• Stanislaus National Forest
• Mariposa County(Buck Meadows and Coulterville)
• Tuolumne County(Groveland and Sonora)

Highway 120 (east of Yosemite) Corridor

• Devils Postpile National Monument
• Inyo National Forest
• Mono County(Lee Vining,June Lake,Mammoth Lakes)

If you are planning to arrive after 4 pm, please do not arrive at a park entrance station until after 4 pm. Do not try to arrive early. Vehicles blocking roads will be cited.

To arrive at the nearest Yosemite entrance at 4 pm, leave the following towns at or after these times:

• Mariposa (Hwy 140): 3:15 pm (or El Portal at 3:55 pm)
• Oakhurst (Hwy 41): 3:30 pm (or Fish Camp at 3:55 pm)
• Groveland (Hwy 120 from the west): 3:25 pm (or Buck Meadows at 3:40 pm)
• Lee Vining (Hwy 120 from the east): 3:40 pm=

Can I enter the park overnight?

Yes. Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day. A reservation is only required to drive into the park between 5am and 4 pm.

A campground reservation is required to camp or sleep in a vehicle anywhere in the park.

Reservation Management

Why was this pilot selected for 2024?

• This pilot tests a more flexible reservation system requiring reservations only on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and holidays during the early and late busy seasons. It also increases the number of reservations available, fully testing a reservation system during a time without pandemic restrictions or major construction.
  • In evaluating management strategies to pilot in summer 2024, park managers considered many different factors including public comments, opportunities to improve visitor experiences, opportunities to protect resources, opportunities to test new ideas, as well as which strategies were operationally feasible to implement by this spring.
  • This pilot provides an opportunity to test a peak-hours system under regularly-anticipated peak-season volumes while also spreading out entries across the day. Requiring reservations only on weekends during the early and late part of the summer allows the park to test whether a less restrictive system could address issues during those times of year.
  • This pilot also provides an opportunity to test other smaller modifications like hours of the reservation system, afternoon entries, by-pass lanes to address queues, higher vehicle volumes than under previous tests, and better messaging. All these changes have the potential to improve resource condition and visitor experiences.

How much is the park limiting vehicle access to Yosemite under the peak-hours plus reservation system?

The number of peak-hours reservations is determined by the number of parking spaces in Yosemite Valley coupled with roadway capacity in the Valley, and correlated with entrance station data from previous years to estimate number of vehicles going to other areas of the park. Aside from the Tioga Road, all highways that enter Yosemite National Park meet in Yosemite Valley.

If the reservation system is based on Yosemite Valley capacity, why is the entire park included?

All areas of Yosemite have been operating at or near capacity for several years. Allowing the same number of vehicles into the park and redirecting them other areas would cause the same parking and traffic issues seen in Yosemite Valley.

How long will the peak-hours plus reservation system be in place?

A reservation is required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park on some or all days from April 13 through October 27, if driving into the park between 5 am and 4 pm as follows:

• April 13–June 30: weekends and holidays (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays— May 27 and June 19)
• July 1–August 16: seven days per week
• August 17–October 27: weekends and holidays (Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays—September 2 and October 14)

Is the peak-hours plus reservation system permanent?

This is a pilot system designed to allow park visitors to experience Yosemite without excess vehicle traffic and to manage parking demand the upcoming coming busy season. Yosemite National Park is currently evaluating past reservation pilot systems and other strategies to develop a permanent solution in the Yosemite Visitor Access Management Plan. Learn more about the plan and how to get involved at go.nps.gov/vamp.

What is the long-term strategy for reducing congestion and crowding?

Traffic congestion has been a major issue for about six decades, seriously impacting visitors’ experience in Yosemite, and is a source of frequent complaints. One of the five goals of the park's 1980 General Management Plan is to "markedly reduce traffic congestion." The Merced River and Tuolumne River Plans (both finalized in 2014) address congestion and crowding in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, respectively. This year’s peak hours plus system provides both data and a test case as one pathway to a permanent solution for this persistent issue. Long-term implementation of strategies to reduce congestion and crowding will include public and stakeholder input.

Why are reservations needed?

Horsetail Fall

Historically, the sunset backlight on Horsetail Fall was little known. However, in recent years, visitation around this event has increased dramatically. For example, on February 19, 2022, 2,433 visitors viewing Horsetail Fall gathered in areas mostly lacking adequate parking and other facilities. In prior years, visitors have spilled onto riverbanks, increasing erosion and trampling vegetation. As riverbanks filled, visitors moved into the Merced River, trampling sensitive vegetation and exposing themselves to unsafe conditions. Some undeveloped areas became littered with trash, and the lack of restrooms resulted in unsanitary conditions.

Peak Season

The park has seen increasing impacts to natural and cultural resources, diminished quality of visitor experiences, increased visitor and staff safety concerns, and a heavy strain on the park’s facilities and ability to perform daily operations. The NPS believes that managed access and related strategies are needed in high-demand areas where other strategies have not been sufficient to ensure high-quality experiences, visitor safety, and resource protection.

What is managed access?

Managed access is a suite of tools that help pace the timing and volume of visitation into areas to optimize access, ensure quality experiences, and protect resources. Examples of managed access include reservation systems, timed and ticketed entry, campground reservations, and more. Some examples of managed access strategies that have been in place for many years include wilderness and Half Dome permits.Managed access and related strategies are not a standalone solution. This plan will carefully evaluate many different tools and techniques that would be most effective to help Yosemite improve how visitors get to and experience the park’s significant resources and features.

Have managed access strategies been used at Yosemite National Park before?

• Reservation systems were enacted in previous years (2020-2022) to accommodate visitor use during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• There are many other examples of managed access strategies that have been in place for many years, including day use permits and a lottery system for access to the Half Dome cables in Yosemite National Park

How can I provide comments about this system?

You may always contact us. The superintendent’s office receives all comments about the reservation system.