United States, North America
The best time to visit Yosemite
The waterfalls peak in spring, the high country opens in summer, and the calendar punishes anyone who mixes them up.
- Best months
- May to Jun and Sep
- Think twice
- No month is a write-off
- Quietest
- January
- Cheapest
- January
The straight answer
The best time to visit Yosemite is May and June for peak waterfalls, or September for warm, uncrowded days with the high country open; Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are typically open only from about late May or June into November.
Go in May and June if the waterfalls are the point, which for most first-timers they should be. Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil, Vernal, and Nevada run at full thunder with the Sierra snowmelt, typically peaking in May and June, and the Mist Trail earns its name. Many of the smaller falls shrink to a trickle or dry up by late summer.
Go in September if you want the whole park. The high country along Tioga Road, including Tuolumne Meadows and Olmsted Point, typically opens sometime between late May and late June depending on snowpack, and stays open into November until the first big storm. September pairs that full access with thinning crowds, warm days, and cool nights, though the Valley waterfalls are low by then and wildfire smoke is possible.
July and August are the busiest months and the hottest in Yosemite Valley, with highs near 90F (32C). Yosemite did not use a timed-entry reservation system in 2026, after requiring one on peak days in recent years; these rules have changed from year to year, so check the park's current entry rules before you go. Winter is quiet and lovely in the Valley, with snow on Half Dome, skiing at Badger Pass, and the famous mid to late February Horsetail Fall firefall when conditions line up.
Yosemite, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryQuiet valueCool in the Valley, highs near 49F (9C), snow possibleQuiet Valley, snow-dusted granite, and skiing and snowshoeing at Badger Pass. Tioga and Glacier Point roads are closed; chains may be required.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryTradeoffsCool, highs near 55F (13C), storms possibleThe Horsetail Fall firefall draws big crowds for about two weeks in mid to late February, when clear skies and flow allow. Otherwise quiet.CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchQuiet valueMild, highs near 59F (15C), showersWaterfalls start to build and the Valley is uncrowded. High country still closed.CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilGoodMild, highs near 65F (18C)Waterfalls running strong, dogwoods starting to bloom, and crowds still moderate outside spring break weeks.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayBestWarm, highs near 73F (23C)Peak waterfall season and green meadows. Tioga and Glacier Point roads may open late in the month in lighter snow years. Memorial Day weekend is very busy.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneBestWarm, highs near 82F (28C)Waterfalls still strong, and the high country usually opens during the month. Crowds build fast after school lets out.Hotels for June →CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyTradeoffsHot in the Valley, highs near 90F (32C)Everything open and everything crowded. Tuolumne Meadows is at its best, but Valley traffic and parking are at their worst and wildfire smoke is possible.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustTradeoffsHot, highs near 89F (32C), wildfire smoke possibleThe high country is the escape; Yosemite Falls is often low or dry by now. Smoke can reduce views some years.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberBestWarm, highs near 82F (28C), cool nightsFull road access with summer crowds fading after Labor Day. Waterfalls are low, but hiking conditions are excellent.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberGoodMild, highs near 72F (22C), cold nightsFall color in the Valley from black oaks and maples. The high country can close early if a storm arrives.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberQuiet valueCool, highs near 58F (14C), first stormsTioga and Glacier Point roads typically close during the month. Quiet Valley and lower prices; carry chains.CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberQuiet valueCool, highs near 48F (9C), snow possibleSnow on the granite walls and a quiet Valley, except the holiday week. Badger Pass typically opens when snow allows.CrowdsPrice
Book Yosemite for May.
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- Hotels for May
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in YosemiteOpens a hotel search for Yosemite in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in YosemiteWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in YosemiteTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Yosemite for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to Yosemite
The Valley walls
El Capitan, Half Dome, and Cathedral Rocks rise thousands of feet from a mile-wide valley floor. Few places on Earth concentrate this much granite drama.
Waterfalls in spring
Yosemite Falls drops about 2,425 feet in three tiers, among the tallest in North America, and in May it is loud enough to hear across the Valley.
Giant sequoias
Mariposa Grove holds hundreds of mature giant sequoias, including the Grizzly Giant, among the largest trees on Earth.
The high country
Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Pass open a second, subalpine Yosemite of granite domes, lakes, and meadows, far from Valley crowds.
Things to do, and when to do them
Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls
Best in May and June, when the spray soaks you on the granite steps. Start early; it is the most popular hike in the park.
Glacier Point
The best view of Half Dome and the Valley. The road is seasonal, typically open from late May or June into November.
Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Road
The high country, typically open from late May or June into November depending on snow.
Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
Park at the welcome plaza and take the seasonal shuttle, or walk in off-season.
Half Dome
The cables are typically up from late May to mid October, and a permit, awarded by lottery, is required to climb them.
Tunnel View
The classic view of El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome at the Valley's west end. Best in late afternoon light or after a storm clears.
Lower Yosemite Fall
An easy loop to the base of Yosemite Falls, thundering in spring and often dry in late summer.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Horsetail Fall firefall
Mid to late February, on clear evenings
Sunset can light the thin fall on El Capitan's east edge orange. It needs water flow and clear skies, and the park puts special parking and viewing restrictions in place.
Peak waterfall season
Typically May and June, varies with snowpack
Big snow years push peak flow later and higher; low snow years peak earlier.
Tioga Road opening
Usually late May to late June, varies with snowpack
The opening date varies widely and the park does not predict it; plowing updates start around mid April.
Fall color in Yosemite Valley
Mid October into early November
Black oaks, bigleaf maples, and dogwoods turn around the Valley meadows.
Beat the crowds
- Enter the park before 8am in summer; parking in the Valley fills by mid morning on busy days, and the free Valley shuttle is the way around.
- Visit midweek. The park's own analysis found that most weekdays kept available parking, while weekends and holidays are where congestion builds.
- Spend summer days in the high country along Tioga Road or at Wawona and Hetch Hetchy instead of Yosemite Valley.
- Book in-park lodging and campgrounds the moment they open for your dates; they sell out quickly for summer.
Open or closed
- Yosemite is open all year, but Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are seasonal: typically open from late May or June until the first major storm in November. Opening dates vary widely with snowpack.
- Timed-entry or peak-hours reservations have been required in some recent years and not in others. Yosemite did not use a timed reservation system in 2026. Check the park's current entrance rules before any trip.
- Half Dome cables are typically up from late May to mid October, and a permit, awarded by preseason and daily lottery, is required to climb them.
- Winter storms can require tire chains on park roads at short notice, even in the Valley; carry them from November through March.
- Wildfires can close roads, trails, and entrances in summer and fall. Check current conditions the week you travel.
With kids in tow
- Lower Yosemite Fall, the Valley meadows, and Mirror Lake are easy walks for young kids, and the Junior Ranger program runs all year.
- The Mist Trail is steep, wet, and busy. Kids who hike well can manage Vernal Fall footbridge; the full loop is for older children.
- The Merced River in the Valley looks inviting but runs dangerously cold and fast in spring and early summer. Keep kids out until late summer's lower flows, and even then choose calm spots.
- For homeschool families, late April, May, and September offer weekday quiet with the park's geology, glaciers, and sequoias on full display.
Getting there
- Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) is about 90 minutes to the south entrance; San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento are roughly three and a half to four and a half hours away.
- From Texas, fly to Fresno with one stop or nonstop to San Francisco or Sacramento and drive. Pair it with San Francisco or Napa for a full California trip.
- YARTS buses connect Yosemite Valley to Merced, where Amtrak trains stop, and to gateway towns, a good way to avoid parking stress.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
Yosemite for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where Yosemite makes our ranked list.
Yosemite timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit Yosemite?
May for waterfalls, September for full park access with fewer crowds. June combines strong waterfalls with the high country usually open, but it is busy.
When does Tioga Road open?
Usually between late May and late June, varying with snowpack, and it typically closes in November with the first major storm. The park does not predict opening dates in advance.
Do you need a reservation to visit Yosemite?
It depends on the year. Yosemite required reservations on peak days in some recent seasons but did not use a timed reservation system in 2026. Check the park's current entrance rules before you travel.
When are Yosemite's waterfalls at their best?
Typically May and June, as the snowpack melts. By August many falls, including Yosemite Falls, are low or dry.
What is the cheapest time to visit Yosemite?
November through March, outside holiday weeks. Lodging in the Valley and gateway towns is at its lowest, and the Valley stays open all winter.
When is the Yosemite firefall?
Mid to late February, on clear evenings when Horsetail Fall has enough water. The park uses special viewing and parking restrictions during that window.
Weighing alternatives
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