Do you Need Reservations for Yosemite in 2026?
Peak hour entrance reservations will NOT be required in 2026. Instead, the park service will be relying on a variety of other methods for managing traffic and parking availability during busy days.
Tips for Planning the Best Yosemite Experience
- Try to visit the park during off-peak times if your schedule allows it. This includes early spring, late fall, winter, and non-holiday, mid-week rather than weekend days, if possible.
- Purchase your Park Pass in advance. Keep the lines at the entrance gates moving by paying for your park pass in advance online.
- Learn more about different entrance pass options and purchase a Standard Pass on the NPS website.
- Sign up for traffic updates by texting ynptraffic to 333111. As parking for different regions of the park fills, NPS sends alerts via text message so that you can choose to visit a different destination. If you sign up to get these alerts before your trip, they will also give you a feel for when different areas fill so that you can plan ahead.
- Plan an extra early start for popular destinations like Yosemite Valley or Glacier Point. Even the Mariposa Grove parking area can fill on the busiest days. Fortunately, if you stay in a Redwoods cabin in Wawona, you will
- (a) already be inside the park when you wake up, giving you a head start to get to various park destinations and
- (b) There is a lot to explore close to your cabin in Wawona.
More on the Yosemite Park Entrance Reservation Requirement for 2026
For the most up-to-date and detailed information on Yosemite Entrance Reservations, visit the NPS site.
