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Getting to Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is accessible by automobile
all year, 24 hours per day. Reservations are not required to enter.
However,
reservations for accommodations are strongly recommended if you wish
to spend the night in the park).
Airlines and trains can get you to central
California, close to Yosemite, but you will have to arrive in the park by
car or bus.
Automobile
Be sure to check
road conditions prior to arriving in the park. The dates listed below
for each road are approximate and can vary from year to year. You can also
view a road map of the park (a new window will open).
If you're using an online map service, simply use
Yosemite's ZIP code (95389) as your destination. Yosemite National Park
covers nearly 1,200 square miles--we don't have a simple address.
You may drive in and around Yosemite Valley
(though use of shuttle buses in Yosemite Valley is strongly encouraged).
Find out where to park by viewing
this basic map of
valley roads, day visitor parking, and shuttle bus information.
Finally, if you are planning on driving your own
vehicle into the park anytime from October through April, it is a good
idea--and often required--that you carry tire chains. Chains can be rented
or purchased in the communities of Oakhurst (Highway 41), Mariposa
(Highway 140), and Groveland (Highway 120) just outside the park.
There are five entrances to the park:
- South Entrance can be approached along
Highway 41 North from Fresno. The Wawona Road continues into
Yosemite Valley
(Open all year, although chains may be required anytime from October
through April)
- Arch Rock Entrance can be approached along
Highway 140 West from Merced. The El Portal Road continues into
Yosemite Valley.
(Open all year, although chains may be required anytime from October
through April)
- Big Oak Flat Entrance can be approached along
Highway 120 West from Modesto and Manteca. The Big Oak Flat Road
continues into Yosemite Valley and to the Tioga Road.
(Open all year, although chains may be required anytime from October
through April)
- Tioga Pass Entrance can be approached along
Highway 120 East from Lee Vining and Highway 395. (Open late
May/early June through October/November; overnight parking not permitted
beginning October 15th.)
- Hetch Hetchy Entrance along the Hetch Hetchy
Road can be approached from the Evergreen Road immediately west of
the Big Oak Flat Entrance and provides access to Hetch Hetchy Valley.
(Open all year, although it may close for periods during and after
storms and chains may be required anytime from October through April)
- Glacier Point Road,
while not providing entrance to the park, provides access to Glacier
Point (late May/early June through October/November; overnight parking
not permitted beginning October 15th) and to the Badger Pass ski area in
winter (December through March).
- Mariposa Grove Road,
is a two-mile road from South Entrance to the Mariposa Grove of Giant
Sequoias. This road is open usually from sometime in April through
November, depending on conditions. When this road is closed, you can
walk up the road to the Mariposa Grove.
Public Transportation
Commercial airports
Fresno-Yosemite International
About 2.5 hours south of Yosemite Valley, via Highway 41.
Merced Airport
About 2 hours west of Yosemite Valley, via Highway 14
Modesto City-County Airport
About 2 hours west of Yosemite Valley, via Highway 120.
Mammoth Lakes Airport
About 2.5 hours east of Yosemite Valley (when the Tioga Road is open), via
Highway 120 East.
San
Francisco International
About 5 hours west of Yosemite Valley, via Highway 120.
Oakland International
About 4 hours west of Yosemite Valley, viaHighway 120.
Sacramento International
About 4 hours northwest of Yosemite Valley, via Highway 120.
Reno/Tahoe International.
About 4 hours northwest of Yosemite Valley (when the Tioga Road is open),
off of Highway 120 East.
Bus and Train service
Visitors can ride Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) or VIA Adventures buses from gateway communities outside the park into
Yosemite Valley. YARTS buses also connect with Amtrak and Greyhound
service in Merced.
Amtrak provides a
combination of train and bus service to Yosemite Valley.
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