Yosemite National Park Trip Planner | The Ultimate Guide

Are you planning a trip to Yosemite National Park? Then, this Ultimate Yosemite Trip Planning Guide is for you!
I’m talking you through everything you need to know to plan an amazing trip to Yosemite National Park, including the best way to get to Yosemite, where to stay when you visit, the best things to do in Yosemite National Park, and more!
Yosemite National Park is very large, but it is one of the most visited national parks in the country, which means it can get really crowded, and timing is super important. So, if you’re overwhelmed planning your trip, get your hour-by-hour Yosemite Itinerary: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yosemit...
This Yosemite Itinerary gives you an hour-by-hour guide that will help you navigate through Yosemite National Park. You’ll also receive lodging suggestions, adjustments, and itinerary updates based on the current conditions in the park.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Yosemite National Park Trip Planner
00:53 The Basics of Yosemite
02:11 Plan for the Right Time of Year
05:02 Yosemite is Open Year-Round
05:32 How to Get to Yosemite
10:50 Yosemite Weather Disclaimer
12:22 How Many Days to Spend in Yosemite
13:37 Best Places to Stay in Yosemite
18:21 Things You Don’t Want to Miss in Yosemite
21:31 Yosemite Valley Offers Many Food Choices
22:30 Expect Early Mornings and Late Evenings
24:18 Prepare for the Weather
24:57 Bear Spray is Prohibited
25:45 Dirt In My Shoes
⭐️ In Video Links:
Yosemite National Park Official Website: www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm
Yosemite National Park Itinerary: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yosemit...
My goal is to make national park trip planning easy!
⭐️ Yosemite Ultimate Trip Planning Guide: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yosemit...
⭐️ The Best Things to Do in Yosemite: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/the-bes...
⭐️ 12 Things You Can't Miss in Yosemite:
www.dirtinmyshoes.com/12-thin...
Connect with Ash at Dirt In My Shoes
KZbin: @DirtInMyShoes
Podcast: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/podcast
Website: www.dirtinmyshoes.com
Instagram: / dirtinmyshoes
Facebook: / dirtinmyshoes

[@personalgrowth4192]

We just came back from Yosemite trip June 17 to 21, 2024. It was amazing! I purchased your itinerary and it was super helpful. We wanted to challenge ourselves a bit more, so we hiked the Mist trail to Nevada falls and combined Sentinel dome with Taft point into a loop. It was tough! I would say you have perfect amount of hiking as is. Also really appreciate your advice on when to start the day and where to park the car. We were never stuck in traffic. The falls were amazingly full! Tioga road just opened a few days before we came! We stayed at Cedar lodge in El Portal and it was great location! It was wonderful time to visit and I am so grateful for your work! When we were leaving Yosemite on Friday afternoon out of the southern entrance, there was like a mile long line of cars trying to enter. This is the only time we witnessed how crazy it can get.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

That is fantastic -- thank you so much for sharing! I'm glad that you didn't have to deal with all of the crazy crowding and that the itinerary was so helpful!

[@Naxyy80]

I’m going in two weeks! Thank you so much for illuminating us with this information

[@DirtInMyShoes]

You are so welcome!

[@amber.miscellaneous]

Thanks for sharing! I’ll be visiting next week 5/7/24 and this has been super helpful.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Have fun!

[@destinationdero]

Great tips for Yosemite. Have a great week

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Thank you! You too!

[@jessicam6043]

Finding your videos very helpful as we plan our upcoming trip, so thank you! 😊 Do you think you'll make a video covering Sequoia/King's Canyon National Parks, too? Would love that!

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Thank you! And I do have plans for Sequoia Kings...hopefully sometime soon!

[@johanbouwer9138]

thanx for the straight forward without the waffel. ill be there june 8th!

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Happy to help!

[@JillianCampsArizona]

Very nice. I agree, need to go in the summer if you want to see everything. I’m going soon and still many roads are closed because of the snow. Ugh!

[@DirtInMyShoes]

Just the Tioga Road is closed at this point. Crossing my fingers that they'll get it open for you!

[@MrLebron1988]

These is great ! These was just uploaded I was trying to get tickets for May 23-26 but they are sold out 😢!

[@DirtInMyShoes]

You'll want to try for the last-minute ones. Good luck!

[@009Nela]

Great video! We are coming around 20 of May and we have booked Wawona camp, now I see it's maybe not the best :/ do you know is there a shuttle from there?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

You'll want to see if the YARTS bus stops there at this time of year!

[@kyemoreno]

Do you happen to know how the wilderness permits work? I understand that they give you the option when campsites are full to camp overnight wherever along the trails that you book, but are you not allowed to have your car with you? Like is it truly backpacking, where you leave your car elsewhere in the park and have to hike to your spot with everything? Or can you just drive to anywhere in the park, and set up for the night with the wilderness pass. Any information would be appreciated!

[@DirtInMyShoes]

You get a permit for a specific trailhead in Yosemite, and yes, you leave your car and backpack into the wilderness. You cannot camp from your car in Yosemite unless you are in a designated campground. If you want to go backpacking, you can find the answers to your questions here: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildfaq.htm

[@RogerKirkhart]

Hi Ash, We're planning to come in October (21st) for a few days. What can we expect regarding weather, road conditions and falls being active? Thanks! Looking forward to your Itinerary help too.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

You'll find all that information here: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/the-best-time-to-visit-yosemite-national-park/

[@dmerth]

Did you mention the need for reservations to get in the park? I didn't see that but they are needed for certain dates this summer.

[@DirtInMyShoes]

It's in a separate video!

[@kittyrisam3405]

Is camp 4 located near yosemite valley?

[@DirtInMyShoes]

It's in Yosemite Valley, kind of near Lower Yosemite Fall.

[@ImpactedMexican]

Was unable to secure tickets for a campsite or a pass day! Screw Yosemite this year!! :)

[@DirtInMyShoes]

It's extremely competitive...always :(

[@matthewstorm5188]

The easiest way to get a camping reservation is to find a cancellation. Even for the valley, you can find a cancellation pretty much every day. Admittedly, this doesn’t work as well if you have a planned trip. But if you are flexible on dates, you can usually always find SOMETHING.

[@donniereiter3646]

Horrible tip : Never go to Yosemite in the summer are you seriously. It’s hell going there in the summer and there is bumper to bumper traffic. Go in the winter or spring months before Memorial Day . That your best bet is

[@fab261]

Some people don't have other choices than going in summer. Also, there are just parts of the park that won't be open before june

[@DirtInMyShoes]

I visit in the summer all the time and don't get stuck in the bumper to bumper traffic. Does it happen? Yes. But if you time things well, you won't get stuck in it :) Plus, summer is the best time to go if you love to hike!

[@learnedempowerment]

​@@DirtInMyShoes are there any traffic trends throughout an average summer day? I'm one of those that can only go summer

[@DirtInMyShoes]

@@learnedempowerment Absolutely! That's what you'll get with my Yosemite Itinerary: www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yosemite-itinerary/ I literally sit in the park and watch the parking lots every time I visit :)

[@matthewstorm5188]

Going in winter or spring severely limits your options as far as activities. At that time, Tioga Pass Road is still closed, which means you are not able to access the high country. This is actually a favorite part of the park for many. And it is virtually always inaccessible before Memorial Day. Glacier Point is also not accessible in winter or even a good part of spring. Of course, even if you are content to stay in the valley, if you like to hike, you could be limited. Basically all of the trails climbing out of the valley are going to be snowbound. Many are not closed per se. But hiking is going to be more difficult and more involved. Also, some trails (like the Mist Trail) are closed. And the Half Dome Cables are down.