United States, North America

Yosemite in May

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.

BestWarm, highs near 73F (23C)

Three Brothers above Yosemite Valley — YosemitePhoto: Glenn Scofield Williams, CC BY 2.0

The straight answer

May is one of the best months of the year to visit Yosemite. 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.

Weather: Warm, highs near 73F (23C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 4 of 5

What May is like in Yosemite

May is peak waterfall season, with warm days near 73F (23C) and green meadows across the Valley. Yosemite Falls, Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall are at full power. In lighter snow years, Tioga and Glacier Point roads may open late in the month, but that varies widely. Crowds are building, and Memorial Day weekend, the last Monday of May, is very busy.

This is one of the best months to go, and it suits families, hikers and first-time visitors. Avoid the holiday weekend if you can. Keep kids well away from the Merced River, which runs dangerously cold and fast now.

Make the most of May

What is especially good about Yosemite this month.

Peak waterfall season

Snowmelt sends the falls to their fullest. Big snow years can push the peak later into June.

The Mist Trail at its wettest

The spray from Vernal Fall soaks you on the granite steps, a classic Yosemite experience.

High country may open

In lighter snow years, Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road can open late in May. Check the park's plowing updates.

Half Dome cables go up

The cables typically go up in late May, but you need a lottery permit to climb.

What to pack for May

A rain jacket or poncho for waterfall spray
Sturdy hiking shoes with good grip
Layers for cool mornings and warm afternoons
Sunscreen and a hat

Our timing tip

Visit on weekdays and enter before 8am, and skip Memorial Day weekend when Valley parking fills early.

Book Yosemite for May.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Yosemite
Opens a hotel search for Yosemite in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for May
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Yosemite
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Yosemite
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Yosemite for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in May

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.

Things to do in Yosemite

Full guide

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.

Tickets and tours →

Glacier Point

The best view of Half Dome and the Valley. The road is seasonal, typically open from late May or June into November.

Tickets and tours →

Tuolumne Meadows and Tioga Road

The high country, typically open from late May or June into November depending on snow.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Park at the welcome plaza and take the seasonal shuttle, or walk in off-season.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Half Dome

The cables are typically up from late May to mid October, and a permit, awarded by lottery, is required to climb them.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

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.

Tickets and tours →

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.

Know before you go

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.