The Complete 3-Day Itinerary in Yosemite National Park
When it comes to national parks, Yosemite is truly unbeatable! From lush meadows to sky-high waterfalls and jaw-dropping granite walls, Yosemite National Park has something for everyone. As one of the most popular destinations for adventure lovers, this 3-day itinerary in Yosemite National Park will take you through its most breathtaking landscapes, ensuring you make the most of your visit.
Overview of the 3-Day Itinerary in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is truly one of a kind and undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking places on the planet. Though, I might be a bit biased! Nested in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, it’s the perfect destination for a long weekend getaway from San Francisco. Plus, anyone living on the West Coast is just a short flight from the San Francisco airport. This makes this itinerary in Yosemite not only convenient but also ideal for adventurers from near and far!
Established in 1890, Yosemite National Park spans over 1,187 square miles of stunning beauty. Once home to the Ahwahneechee tribe, the park gained national attention in the 19th century thanks to naturalist John Muir, who advocated for its preservation. Today, Yosemite is a bucket-list item for adventure lovers and nature enthusiasts alike.
Each year, millions plan their itinerary in Yosemite National Park to experience the great outdoors in one of the most scenic national parks in U.S. With iconic landmarks like El Capitan and Half Dome, Yosemite is a haven for rock climbers and hikers. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, exploring lush meadows, or enjoying the views from Glacier Point, there is no shortage of magic here. In addition, if you prefer to explore areas off the beaten path, you can head in the north east part of the national park. I talk more about it in the sections below.
How to get to & around Yosemite
Although the most popular route to get to Yosemite is from San Francisco, you can also start your itinerary in Yosemite on the east side by using the Tioga Pass Entrance.
If you’re driving from San Francisco, you can either use the Big Oak Flat Entrance or Arch Rock Entrance. Keep in mind, that Arch Rock Entrance is the most popular entrance to Yosemite National Park. So, during peak months traffic can be greater and longer waiting time should be expected. As we stayed in Mariposa while visiting the national park, we decided to use Arch Rock Entrance.
Additional entrances are Hetch Hetchy and South Entrance. Depending on where you start your itinerary in Yosemite, these entrances might be more convenient for your trip.
Once you enter Yosemite and secure a nearby parking spot, you can use a shuttle bus to explore the rest of the national park.
You don’t have a car or want to use public transportation? You can reach Yosemite Valley by booking with Yarts bus.
Reservations and Entrance Fee in Yosemite
Yosemite National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. As such, every year many visitors enter the park and in order to manage the inflow, the park has introduced a reservation system during the peak months.
Reservations don’t apply to all national parks. In fact, when we visited Olympic National Park or North Cascades National Park, we only had to present the entrance pass.
Below is everything you need to know to plan your itinerary in Yosemite:
- When is a reservation in Yosemite required? Between April and October. Every year the dates change slightly, so make sure to check the government website before your visit.
- How much in advance should I book a reservation? As early as you know your itinerary in Yosemite. We, for instance, reserved it 3-4 months in advance. If you want to book it closer to your visit, there might be nothing available unfortunately.
- What if I wasn’t able to get a reservation? In that case you can still enter the national park, but only before 5 am or after 4 pm.
- If I have a reservation, do I also need an entrance ticket? Yes, the two things are separate. The reservation is required to avoid overcrowding and helping the rangers manage the people overflow. Whereas an entrance ticket is required for all the national parks at any time of the year.
Best time to visit Yosemite
There is no wrong time to visit Yosemite. However, planning an itinerary in Yosemite during winter months might be a bit of a challenge. In fact, while Yosemite Valley usually remains open for visitors, Glacier Point and Tioga Road tend to close early in the season, as soon as the first snowflakes fall down.
If you’re planning your itinerary in Yosemite in the shoulder season, make sure you check the alerts on the official website so that you’re well prepared before your visit.
We visited in summer and all the roads were accessible. If you’re planning to drive through Yosemite to the Death Valley, as we did, Tioga Road is the shortest route but mainly open in the summer months.
Where to stay in Yosemite
Within Yosemite National Park boundaries, you can either stay at lodges or book at a campground.
While there are several lodging options for you to choose from, they are often quite expensive and sell out during the weekends as well as from spring to fall periods.
My favorite way of exploring Yosemite is by staying at one of the 13 campgrounds. Also in this case, reservations are highly competitive and sell out within minutes of being released. Some of the campground release reservations up to five months in advance. As cancellations occur all the time, if you were unable to secure a camping spot, check at later dates. For example, if you are planning your itinerary in Yosemite around July, you should look into reserving in March.
Also, keep in mind that you are only allowed to sleep in your vehicle if you are registered in a campsite.
Tips for visiting Yosemite
After planning a 3-Day Itinerary in Yosemite myself, I want to share my tips with you for a better experience:
- Make sure you get a reservation if visiting during the peak summer months. Otherwise, you’ll have to enter the park before 5 am or after 3 pm.
- Book a campground or a lodge within the national park boundaries. We missed on this and had to drive every day 1 hour to enter the park.
- Enter the national park early in the morning to enjoy the morning glow and Yosemite Valley before the crowds come in.
- Don’t miss a sunset from Glacier Point or Tunnel View. If you have some extra time, check a short hike for magnificent views during the golden hour.
- You don’t like crowds? Then, check some of the longer hikes like Upper Yosemite Falls or head towards Tioga Pass. Most of the crowds concentrate around Yosemite Valley. As soon as you leave it you’ll notice much more tranquility and freedom.
Day Hikes on a 3-Day Itinerary in Yosemite
There are so many beautiful places to visit on a 3-Day Itinerary in Yosemite. Unfortunately, you might need a bit more than that to explore it fully. Below I compiled a list of the world class hiking trails you can visit while in Yosemite. We ourselves haven’t done them all but plan on returning soon to explore more of this area.
Most of the hikes below can be completed within the day, but there are also many wonderful backpacking trips for a longer stay in the wilderness. Some fantastic options are 2-Day trips to Cathedral Lakes or a 3-Day trip on Yosemite Valley Rim.
Remember to follow the leave no trace principles while outdoors and respect the surrounding wildlife and nature.
Best Hikes in Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point
| Trail | Where | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation Gain | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower Yosemite Falls | Yosemite Valley | Easy | 1.9 km / 1.2 miles | 17m / 55 ft | 25/30 min |
| Vernal Fall | Yosemite Valley | Moderate | 5 km / 3.1 miles | 345m / 1,131 ft | 2-2.5 hours |
| Upper Yosemite Falls | Yosemite Valley | Difficult | 10.6 km / 6.6 miles | 992m / 3,254 ft | 5-6 hours |
| Half Dome Trail | Yosemite Valley | Difficult | 26 km / 16 miles | 1,475m / 4,800 ft | 10-12 hours |
| Taft Point | Glacier Point | Easy | 3.7 km / 2.3 miles | 108m / 354 ft | 1-1.5 hours |
| Sentinel Dome | Glacier Point | Easy | 3.2 km / 2 miles | 120m / 400 ft | 1-1.5 hours |
| Four Mile Trail | Glacier Point | Moderate | 7.7 km / 4.8 miles | 975m / 3,200 ft | 3-4 hours |
In addition to these more popular hikes, there are plenty located in Wawona and Mariposa Grove, Hetch Hetchy and Tuolumne Meadows.
Best Hikes in Wawona and Mariposa Grove
| Trail | Where | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation Gain | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wawona Meadow Loop | Wawona | Easy | 5.6 km / 3.5 miles | mostly flat | 2-3 hours |
| Grizzly Giant Loop Trail | Mariposa Grove | Easy | 3.2 km / 2 miles | 90 m / 300 ft | 1.5-2 hours |
| Mariposa Grove Trail to Wawona Point | Mariposa Grove | Moderate | 12.4 km / 7.8 miles | 360 m / 1,200 ft | 4-6 hours |
These are in my opinion the best hikes when visiting this part of the Yosemite National Park. But, if you’re looking into more hiking, there are many more trails you can walk on.
Best Hikes in Hetch Hetchy and Tuolumne Meadows
| Trail | Where | Difficulty | Distance | Elevation Gain | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lookout Point Trail | Hetch Hetchy | Moderate | 3 km / 2 miles | 207 m / 680 ft | 1.5-2 hours |
| Smith Peak | Hetch Hetchy | Difficult | 21 km / 13 miles | 1,128 m / 3,700 ft | 7-8 hours |
| Parsons Lodge & Soda Springs | Tuolumne Meadows | Easy | 2.4 km / 1.5 miles | mostly flat | 1 hour |
| Cathedral Lakes | Tuolumne Meadows | Moderate | 12 km / 7.6 miles | 305 m / 1,000 ft | 6-7 hours |
Things to do in 1 Day in Yosemite National Park
Spend the morning exploring Yosemite Valley, walk the Cooks Meadow Boardwalk and cool down along the Merced River, if visiting on a hot day.
Continue by taking the short walk to Bridalveil Fall for breathtaking views of the waterfall.
Later continue your drive to Tunnel View, one of the most amazing viewpoints in Yosemite. Here, you’ll admire the breathtaking Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome.
Next, continue by driving up to Glacier Point overlook. If you thought that views cannot get any better, you might have to rethink it when you get there. At sunset the golden glow makes the surrounding mountains even more magnificent.
Plan a hike for your Day 2 in Yosemite
On our second day, we decided to do a full-day hike to Upper Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America. This hike is 10.6 km (6.6 miles) long for 992 meters (3,254 ft) of elevation gain and 5-6 hours of total round trip hike.
Don’t underestimate this hike and if possible avoid hiking during the hot hours of the day. This hike follows a series of switchbacks up to Oh my Gosh Viewpoint, after which it gets steep and uphill. Although you might wonder “Why am I doing this to myself?” most of the way up, it will be enough to turn around to understand the reason. You’ll have in front of view the most iconic views of Yosemite Valley!
If you want to do another hike, refer to my list above for more ideas.
On Day 3 explore the less touristy area of Yosemite National Park
Although Yosemite Valley is often crowded, it will be enough to head north east on the Tioga Road to explore the off the beaten path areas of the park. Enjoy the vast views over Tuolumne Meadows and go on a short hike like Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge for a peaceful scenery.
Before heading in this direction, check that Tioga Road is open as with snow it might become inaccessible.
