About All ToursValley Floor ToursFrom San FranciscoHiking ToursPrivate ToursTours for SeniorsGlacier Point ToursSelf-Guided Audio ToursGiant Sequoias Tours Directions Hours & Fees
Find Tours 
Yosemite National Park operates 24 hours a day year-round, charging a $35 entrance fee per vehicle for a seven-day pass. The main gates never close, but the Hetch Hetchy Entrance restricts access to daylight hours.
Yosemite National Park operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station restricts access to daylight hours, opening at sunrise and closing at sunset. Visitors arriving between 9 am and 5 pm from April through October face heavy traffic delays at the main gates.
| Day | Hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday–Sunday | 24 hours | Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station limits access to daylight hours only. |
The park never closes for national or religious holidays. Seasonal weather dictates interior access, forcing the closure of Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road from November through May or June. High-country routes remain blocked until spring snowmelt allows plows to clear the asphalt.
Standard park entry costs $35 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. Motorcycles cost $30, while individuals arriving on foot or bicycle pay $20. Non-US residents face an additional $100 surcharge per person. Bring a credit or debit card, as entrance stations do not accept cash.
US citizens and residents receive free entry in 2026 on Presidents Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Flag Day (June 14), Independence Day weekend (July 3-5), the NPS 110th Birthday (Aug 25), and Constitution Day (Sept 17).
Planning your visit to Yosemite? Find tours with free cancellation and skip-the-line options.
View All ToursMay and June provide the optimal window for visiting Yosemite. High-country snowmelt pushes waterfalls like the 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls to their peak volume while clearing snow from Tioga Road. Millions of people crowd the valley from April through October, creating heavy traffic congestion that makes arriving before 9 am or after 5 pm essential for securing a parking spot.
A typical visit lasts anywhere from a single day for a quick highlights tour to a full week for extensive hiking and backpacking. Your timeline depends heavily on whether you stick to the valley floor or venture into the 94 percent of the park designated as roadless wilderness. Arriving before 9 am or after 5 pm helps maximize your time and bypass long delays at the entrance gates.
Arrive at the park gates before 9 am or after 5 pm to bypass heavy traffic. Valley roads gridlock from April through October when millions of people visit. Leaving San Francisco early in the morning helps secure a parking spot before the lots fill.
Download offline Google Maps or the official NPS app maps before entering the park. Cellular service drops completely across most of Yosemite's 1,200 square miles. Relying on live navigation will fail once you leave the main highway.
Pack tire chains in your vehicle if visiting between November and March. Park rangers rigorously enforce this rule as mountain roads ice over quickly. Many scenic routes, including Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road, close entirely due to snow.
Store all food and scented items in designated metal bear-proof lockers at night. Leaving wrappers or snacks inside your vehicle is illegal. Black bears will shatter car windows and tear through interiors to reach a single forgotten cooler.
Wear sturdy hiking boots and pack a rain jacket. Trails near Yosemite Falls and the Mist Trail blast hikers with heavy water spray during the May and June peak flow. Granite rocks near the riverbanks remain dangerously slick even when they appear completely dry.
No vehicle reservations are required to enter the park in 2026. You only pay the standard entrance fee at the gate. Arrive before 9 am or after 5 pm from April through October to avoid severe traffic delays.
Standard passes cost $35 per private vehicle, $30 per motorcycle, and $20 for pedestrians or cyclists 16 and older. These tickets remain valid for seven consecutive days. Non-US residents face an additional $100 per person surcharge. Entrance stations refuse all cash payments, accepting only credit or debit cards.
US citizens and residents can enter without paying on six specific dates in 2026. These include Presidents Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Flag Day (June 14), Independence Day weekend (July 3-5), the NPS 110th Birthday (Aug 25), and Constitution Day (Sept 17). Expect extremely heavy crowds on these holidays.
Yosemite admits visitors 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with one major exception. The Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station operates only from sunrise to sunset. Winter weather forces the closure of Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road from November through May or June, blocking access to high-country sights.
Carrying bear spray is illegal everywhere inside Yosemite. Rangers prohibit this item to protect both wildlife and visitors. You must instead rely on proper food storage, moving all scented items from your vehicle into metal bear-proof lockers at night to prevent animals from breaking your car windows.
Dogs cannot walk on dirt hiking trails. You may bring leashed pets onto paved paths, into campgrounds, and across parking lots. The paved eastern portion of the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail accommodates dogs, but owners must keep them away from steep drop-offs.
You must carry tire chains in your vehicle if visiting between November and March. Park rangers enforce this mandate because mountain roads quickly turn icy and hazardous. Failing to use chains can leave you stranded in freezing temperatures.
Browse verified tours with free cancellation and instant confirmation.
Find Tours