Entrance - Non-commercial Groups
$300.00The per-person fee is $20 to a maximum of $300 per vehicle. People 15 years and younger are free.
CA
Yosemite National Park
Trailie
Build your Yosemite itinerary
Tell Trailie your dates, pace, and interests — get a day-by-day Yosemite National Park plan with hikes, drives, and must-see stops.
Yosemite at a glance
- Best time
- January–May, October–December
- Trip length
- 3–5 days
- Don't miss
- Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point
- Nearby city
- Mariposa, CA
Explore this park
About Yosemite National Park
Granite icons, waterfall hikes, and seasonal road access matter here.
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
Weather Information
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)
Entrance Fees
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$300.00This fee is valid for seven consecutive days. For any nonresident there is an additional fee of $100 per person for anyone 16 years or older. A commercial use authorization is required.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$200.00This fee is valid for seven consecutive days. For any nonresident there is an additional fee of $100 per person for anyone 16 years or older. A commercial use authorization is required.
Nonresident
$100.00Each non-US resident aged 16 and older visiting Yosemite National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$35.00This fee is valid for seven consecutive days for a non-commercial car, pickup truck, RV, or van with 15 or fewer passenger seats. This fee covers the vehicle and everyone inside of it. Per-person nonresident fees still apply.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$30.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers. Per-person nonresident fees still apply.
Entrance - Per Person
$20.00This fee is valid for seven consecutive days for people entering on foot, a bicycle, a horse, or a non-commercial bus or van. People 15 years and younger are free.
Commercial Entrance - Per Person
$20.00The fee is $20 per person for any resident 16 years or older. For any nonresident the fee is $100 per person for anyone 16 years or older. This fee is valid for seven consecutive days.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
FreeAn educational fee waiver is available for educational and scientific groups that are accredited or tax-exempt for educational purposes planning a trip for educational or scientific purposes related to Yosemite that is not primarily recreational.
Operating Hours
Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Hetch Hetchy
Hetch Hetchy area is only open from sunrise to sunset (except for permitted backpackers). All day visitors must exit Hetch Hetchy by sunset. The road is also closed to all vehicles (including backpackers) from sunset to sunrise.
- MondaySunrise to Sunset
- TuesdaySunrise to Sunset
- WednesdaySunrise to Sunset
- ThursdaySunrise to Sunset
- FridaySunrise to Sunset
- SaturdaySunrise to Sunset
- SundaySunrise to Sunset
Entrance Passes
Annual Entrance - Park
$70.00Annual pass providing free entrance to Yosemite for 12 months from the date of purchase for US citizens and permanent residents.
Common questions
Planning Yosemite
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics.
Yosemite has Recreation.gov reservations including Yosemite National Park Wilderness Permits and Half Dome Permits (4 total on Recreation.gov). About 4.3 million recreation visits were recorded in 2025. Confirm current rules on Recreation.gov and the Permits tab before travel.
See Permits tab →
