Routes at a glance
| From | How | Time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Car | 3.5–4 hours | Via Highway 120 (Big Oak Flat entrance) or Highway 140 |
| San Francisco | Guided day tour | 14–15 hours return | No driving or parking to arrange |
| San Francisco / Oakland | Amtrak train + YARTS bus | About 6–7 hours | Train to Merced, then the bus up Highway 140 |
| Fresno airport (FAT) | Car | About 2.5 hours | Via Highway 41 and the south entrance |
| Los Angeles | Car | About 6 hours | Via Fresno and Highway 41 |
| Lake Tahoe | Car | 4–4.5 hours | Via Highway 395 and Tioga Pass, summer and early autumn only |
| Merced, Mariposa, Oakhurst | YARTS bus | 1–3 hours | Seasonal routes; check the timetable |
Which entrance?
Highway 140 through Mariposa and El Portal (Arch Rock entrance) follows the Merced River at the lowest elevation and is the least likely to have snow. Highway 120 from the west (Big Oak Flat) is the most direct from the Bay Area. Highway 41 (South entrance) comes from Fresno and Los Angeles and passes Mariposa Grove and Tunnel View. The Tioga Pass entrance on the east side is open in summer and early autumn only.
From about November to April you may be required to carry snow chains on any of these roads, even in a rental car.
Entry fees and reservations
The park charges an entrance fee per vehicle, valid for seven days; the America the Beautiful pass covers it. In addition, Yosemite has at various times required a reservation to drive into the park during peak hours on busy dates — in summer, on some spring weekends and during the February “firefall”. The system has been changed or dropped from one year to the next, so check the National Park Service’s Yosemite pages before you book anything.
Getting around locally
- Free shuttle buses circle the eastern end of Yosemite Valley; park once and use them.
- Car parks in the valley fill by mid-morning in summer. Arrive early or come by YARTS bus.
- Bikes can be rented in the valley, which has about 19 km (12 miles) of flat cycle paths.
- There is no petrol in Yosemite Valley; the nearest pumps inside the park are at Crane Flat and Wawona, and at El Portal just outside.
- Mobile signal is limited to the valley’s developed areas. Download maps before you arrive.
