Comfortable

Yosemite National Park

CA ·1,189 sq mi · Est. 1890 ·4.1M visitors (2024)

#4 Best National Parks for Hiking #2 Best National Parks for Rock Climbing #5 Best National Parks for First-Time Visitors

Updated February 2026

Overview

Yosemite packs world-class rock climbing, thundering waterfalls, and ancient sequoias into a valley so iconic it defined American wilderness conservation. With 4.1 million visitors but a surprisingly manageable congestion index of 3.7, the park's 1,200 square miles absorb crowds well if you know where to go. The catch: Half Dome permits sell out instantly, and summer parking turns into a blood sport. April offers the sweet spot of peak waterfall flow without July's chaos.

When to Go

The sweet spot is May — good weather meets manageable crowds. Peak season hits in July.

Peak waterfall flow as snowmelt floods every drainage. Tioga Road opens by month's end, and dogwoods bloom before summer crowds arrive.

Monthly crowd levels — click a month for details

Low Moderate High Peak

Seasonal Closures

Tioga Road (Highway 120 East): Typically closes due to snow; usually open by Memorial Day

Glacier Point Road: Typically closes November through May due to snow

Wawona Road: Occasionally closed for avalanche control

How Busy Is It?

How Yosemite compares to all 62 national parks

Busier than 31% of national parks

QuietBusy

Moderate

More crowded trails than 28% of parks

QuietBusy

Moderate

Higher campsite pressure than 25% of parks

EasyTough

Moderate

How this park ranks

Annual visitors per trail mile

LowestHighest

Annual visitors per campsite

LowestHighest

Notable Trails

Yosemite has more trail mileage than 94% of national parks, with 750 miles across 800 maintained trails.

The difficulty split leans moderate to strenuous; only 25% of trails are rated easy.

Easy 25%Moderate 50%Strenuous 25%

Hikers climbing the side of Half Dome via the cables

Camping

15 campgrounds with 1493 total sites. About 7% are first-come, first-served.

A wood sign at the entrance to a campground reads, Bridalveil Campground.

Bridalveil Creek CampgroundReservable

115 sites·$36/night·Seasonal

Camp 4 kiosk building and bulletin board

Camp 4 CampgroundReservable

61 sites·$10/night·Seasonal

A wood sign at the entrance to a campground reads, Crane Flat Campground

Crane Flat CampgroundReservable

151 sites·$36/night·Seasonal

A wooden sign reads Hodgdon Meadow Campground. A kiosk is located at the entrance to the campground.

Hodgdon Meadow CampgroundReservable

105 sites·$36/night·Seasonal

View all 15 campgrounds

7/10

Glacier Point Road and Tuolumne Meadows area offer skiing in winter

Who It's For

First Time Park Visitors10/10Photographers10/10International Visitors10/10Families Teens9/10Couples9/10Experienced Hikers9/10Families Young Kids8/10Solo Travelers8/10Casual Hikers8/10Adventure Seekers8/10

Planning Your Trip

Getting There

Nearest city: San Francisco, CA (195 mi). Fly into FAT.

In-Park Services

Gas available ·Lodging available · Cell: limited

Gateway Town

Mariposa, CA / Oakhurst, CA, full amenities

Featured In ?Rankings based on data-driven scoring across all 62 national parks.

#4Best National Parks for Hiking #2Best National Parks for Rock Climbing #5Best National Parks for First-Time Visitors #4Best National Parks for International Visitors

Stories

Thornton Lake Trail vs Half Dome: Which Trail Should You Hike?Two iconic trails in two different parks. Thornton Lake Trail in North Cascades and Half Dome via Sub Dome in Yosemite, compared on distance, elevation, difficulty, and overall experience.10 National Park Trails With the Most Elevation GainGlacier's steepest climbs ranked by vertical feet, from lung-burners to summit scrambles that earn every inch of elevation 10 Longest Trails in the National ParksThe ten longest trails in the national parks all happen to be at Crater Lake, from a half-mile stroll to a 33-mile sufferfest 10 Best Loop Trails in the National ParksThe finest loop hikes in the national parks, from Bryce Canyon's hoodoo amphitheaters to backcountry routes most visitors skip 10 Most Demanding Trails in the National ParksThe national park trails that test your conditioning, patience, and ability to keep moving when your legs start negotiating for rest breaks 8 National Parks With the Most TrailsEight parks where trail networks measure in hundreds of miles and you could hike every weekend for years without repeating routes 8 National Parks With the Most to DoThese eight parks pack more activities into one trip than most national parks offer in three seasons 8 National Parks With the Most Dramatic ElevationThese eight parks drop from alpine summits to valley floors, coastlines, or lava fields — offering more vertical relief than entire mountain ranges 8 National Parks With the Most CampgroundsThese parks lead the country in campground volume, spreading hundreds of sites across varied terrain and seasons 10 Best Waterfall Hikes in the National ParksCrater Lake's waterfalls and water features deliver what postcard views can't: solitude, old-growth forests, and geological oddities worth the walk 10 Best Lake Hikes in the National ParksGlacier National Park dominates this ranking for a reason: glacier-carved basins, alpine lakes, and water so cold it hurts to touch 8 National Parks With Every Kind of TrailEight parks where you can hike coastal cliffs, desert slots, alpine ridges, and cedar forests without changing your parking spot The California National Parks Road TripEight California parks share April's mild weather and accessible trails—here's how to pick between deserts, mountains, and coasts The 8 Oldest National Parks in AmericaThe eight oldest national parks, ranked by establishment date, from Yellowstone's 1872 debut to Petrified Forest's stone trees 8 national parks with the most waterfallsEight parks where waterfalls define the landscape, from Yosemite's iconic drops to North Cascades' glacial cascades almost nobody sees Yosemite vs Sequoia & Kings Canyon: which park should you visit?Two Sierra Nevada parks, one valley packed with granite icons, one forest full of the world's largest trees 8 national parks with the most paved trailsFrom Acadia's carriage roads to Yellowstone's geothermal boardwalks, these parks prove accessibility doesn't mean sacrificing scenery 8 parks perfect for college grads this summerEight national parks that reward ambition, stay open past dark, and don't require a trust fund to enjoy 8 historic lodges in national parks worth the splurgeEight historic lodges where the architecture rivals the landscape and reservations open months in advance 8 parks with the best visitor centersEight parks where the visitor centers are worth planning your day around and ranger programs translate geology into stories Angels Landing vs Half Dome: which trail should you hike?Yosemite has two trails that define what it means to go vertical in the Sierra. Half Dome sends you up the park's most iconic granite monolith, a 16.5-mile e...10 best alpine lake hikes in the national parksGlacier's alpine lakes dominate this list for good reason: glacial water, dramatic cirques, and scenery worth the suffering 10 best wildflower hikes in the national parksGlacier owns the wildflower conversation. These ten trails deliver alpine meadows, cirque lakes, and blooms so dense they look unreal.8 national parks with backcountry campsites worth the permit waitEight parks where the backcountry permit lottery protects terrain worth the wait, from Glacier's alpine basins to Denali's zone system 8 national park campgrounds that book out in minutesEight national park campgrounds that vanish in minutes, and what makes them worth the digital cage match 10 best ridge hikes in the national parksTen ridge hikes where exposed granite, ocean views, and actual scrambling separate the peak-baggers from the parking lot crowd 7 national parks where September is better than JulySkip the July crowds. These seven parks are better in September: cooler temps, thinner crowds, same trails

Gateway Cities

Las Vegas, NV351 mi / 6.4h drive Los Angeles, CA354 mi / 6.4h drive San Francisco, CA203 mi / 3.7h drive

Road Trips

Yosemite is a stop on this road trip:

California's Greatest Parks6 parks · 1,200 miles

Compare Yosemite

See how Yosemite stacks up against other national parks — crowds, trails, and more.

Compare Yosemite

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Yosemite National Park?

The best month to visit Yosemite is May, based on a balance of weather, crowds, and accessibility. Peak visitation is in July. The park has 5 comfortable months for visiting.

How crowded is Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite is moderately crowded, with a congestion index of 3.7/10. The park receives 4.1M visitors annually across 1,189 square miles.

How many trails does Yosemite National Park have?

Yosemite has 750 miles of trails across 200 easy, 400 moderate, and 200 strenuous routes. Popular trails include Half Dome via Sub Dome, Yosemite Falls Trail, Mist Trail to Vernal Fall.

Can you camp at Yosemite National Park?

Yes, Yosemite has 15 campgrounds with 1493 total sites. Some sites are available first-come, first-served.

Is Yosemite National Park open year-round?

Yes, Yosemite is open year-round, though some roads and facilities may close seasonally. The park's climate is classified as temperate_alpine.

Nearby Parks

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks95 mi away

Pinnacles National Park130 mi away

Death Valley National Park163 mi away