By the Numbers

30%

increase in visitors between 2000 and 2019

1 million

more visitors per year in 2019 than in 2000

3 hours

time some visitors were stuck in traffic, when reservations were halted in 2023

An entrance reservation is required at select periods in February and between April - October, 2024.

At more than 750,000 acres, Yosemite is the third-largest national park in California, yet many visitors travel to Yosemite Valley, a small but view-packed area. For years, the Valley has been plagued by traffic, full parking lots, and long lines for restaurants, bathrooms, and visitor centers, while trails and overlooks are crowded with people struggling to get the same photograph.

My own trips back to Yosemite using the reservation system reminded me of the park decades earlier. With reduced traffic, getting into the park was simple. The trails were not congested, so you could more easily see and appreciate the park’s natural beauty. It was a better experience — and one that we could make normal again.

Former superintendent Mark Butler

Park

Yosemite National Park

With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it’s no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.

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Know Before You Go

Yosemite Entrance Reservation Dates, 2024

  • February 10 - 25: required 24 hours per day on Saturdays, Sundays, and Monday, February 19.

  • April 13 - June 30: required between 5am - 4pm Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (May 27 and June 19).

  • July 1 - August 16: required from 5 am - 4pm, daily.

  • August 17 - October 27: required from 5am - 4pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (September 2 and October 14).

Planning Your Visit

  • Reservations for 2024 are open and available at recreation.gov (sign in required)

  • Each reservation is valid for a three-day visit to the park

  • If your chosen date is sold out, be aware that 30% of reservations for any particular day will be held back and only made available seven days before that date. This is to help facilitate more spontaneous last-minute trips.

  • These last-minute reservations are made available each day at 8am (PT) for the following week.  However, be warned that demand is high and these reservations are taken almost immediately.

  • Note: the park does not require reservations for entrance after 4pm

  • The reservation costs $2

  • There is a separate $35-per-car park entrance fee

Know Before You Go A Visitor’s Guide to National Park Reservations Arches, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Shenandoah, Yosemite are among those addressing the long-term challenges of overcrowding with smart solutions to visitor use management.

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