Visiting Yosemite National Park

Jennifer Melroy
Last Modified January 24, 2024
First Published on October 31, 2020

Planning a trip to Yosemite National Park and need some help planning your trip?

Here is the National Park Obsessed guide for visiting Yosemite National Park, California.

The Quick Guide to Visiting Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park Basics

Region: Pacific-West / West Coast / Pacific

Park Size: 748,436 acres (1,169.43 sq miles) (3,028.81 sq km)

Location: Tuolumne, Mariposa, Mono, and Madera counties

Closest Cities: Mariposa, California

Busy Season: May to October

Visitation: 4,422,861 (in 2019)

How much does Yosemite National Park Cost?

Yosemite National Park costs the following:

7-day Passenger Vehicle Pass – $35
7-day Motorcycle Pass – $30
7-day Individual Pass – $20

An annual Yosemite National Park Pass costs $70 but it is not recommended you buy this pass. For an extra $10 you can get an American the Beautiful Pass. This $80 pass offers free admission to all 116 fee-charging National Park Units.

When is Yosemite National Park Open?

Yosemite National Park is open year-round, but some roads will close for winter.

Are dogs allowed in Yosemite National Park?

Yes, pets are welcome in Yosemite National Park but are limited to developed areas such as roads, parking areas, picnic areas, and some campgrounds. Pets are not allowed on the trails in the park. Please review the Yosemite Pet Policy before bringing your dog to Yosemite.

Where are Yosemite National Park’s visitor centers?

Yosemite Valley Visitor Center – Open Year Around

Yosemite Museum – Open Year Around

Happy Isles Art and Nature Center – Open April to October

Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center – Open May to September

Ansel Adams Gallery – Open Year Around

Pioneer Yosemite History Center – Open Year Around

Land Acknowledgments for Yosemite National Park

The National Park known as Yosemite National Park sits on Northern Paiute, Western Mono/Monache, Me-Wuk (Southern Sierra Miwok), and Me-Wuk (Central Sierra Miwok) land.

Thank you to the Native Land Digital for making the Indigenous territories accessible to all. They have mapped the known territories to the best of the current knowledge and is a work in progress. If you have additional information on the Indigenous nations boundaries, please let them know.

Native Land Digital is a registered Canadian not-for-profit organization with the goal to creates spaces where non-Indigenous people can be invited and challenged to learn more about the lands they inhabit, the history of those lands, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together.

Where to stamp your National Parks Passport Book in Yosemite National Park?

The National Park Passport Book is the BEST and cheapest National Park souvenir. Every National Park Obsessed person should have one of these books.

If you are new to the National Parks, you can learn more about the National Parks Passport program here or jump right in by ordering:

The ever-popular Classic National Parks Passport
- Get 15% Off Your Next Order at the America’s National Parks Online Store with Code: NATIONALPARKOBSESSED at Checkout
Or get the National Park Obsessed’s National Park Passport & Journal

IMPORTANT: Do NOT stamp your government-issued passport.

There are 20 official stamps for Yosemite National Park. Here is the list of National Park Passport Stamps you can get in Yosemite National Park: