Yosemite National Park, in California’s Sierra Nevada, is open 24 hours a day all year and, in 2026, no longer requires a timed reservation to enter. The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle for seven days, but every visitor aged 16 and over who is not a US resident must also pay a $100 surcharge, unless entering with an annual pass. This page works out what an international visitor actually pays, presents the waterfalls and their season, the seasonal roads, the shuttles and the valley’s climate month by month.
Yosemite combines with a tour of the West: see our California travel guide, our page on the best time to visit California and our San Francisco guide.
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Yosemite: key facts
- Opening: « open 24 hours per day, 365 days per year »; some roads are closed by snow from about November to May or June — checked on 24 October 2026 on nps.gov
- Reservation: the park « will no longer use a timed reservation system in 2026 » — checked on 24 October 2026 on nps.gov
- Entrance fee: $35 per private vehicle (7 days), $30 per motorcycle, $20 per person on foot or by bicycle (free up to age 15); $100 surcharge per non-resident aged 16 and over; no cash — checked on 24 October 2026 on nps.gov
- Half Dome: permit required, awarded by lottery (pre-season in March, then a daily lottery)
- Entry requirements: see entry requirements for the United States
How much does Yosemite entry cost for an international visitor?
The official entrance fees page says every non-US resident aged 16 and over must pay « a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee) », unless entering with a park annual pass or the America the Beautiful pass. The America the Beautiful non-resident annual pass costs $250; the Yosemite-specific annual pass ($70) is reserved for US citizens and permanent residents. US citizens and permanent residents pay only the standard entrance fee. We worked out the cost for a few typical cases of a visit by car for non-residents:
| Car with… | Entry + non-resident surcharges | With a non-resident America the Beautiful pass |
|---|---|---|
| 1 adult | $135 | $250 |
| 2 adults | $235 | $250 |
| 2 adults and 2 children under 16 | $235 | $250 |
| 3 adults | $335 | $250 if the pass covers passengers (to be checked) |
| 4 adults | $435 | $250 if the pass covers passengers (to be checked) |
Key takeaway: for a couple visiting only Yosemite, entry comes to $235; the non-resident annual pass ($250) becomes worthwhile as soon as you string together several national parks subject to the same surcharge, or from three adults if it does cover all occupants. The official page does not detail how far the pass covers the holder’s passengers: check with the National Park Service before buying. Payment is by bank card or mobile payment only.
Tickets, passes and reservations: official or reseller?
The entrance fee is paid at the entrance station or online through the National Park Service’s official services. Resellers mostly offer organized excursions from San Francisco, with transport and a guide: compare the price with the cost of a car rental plus the official entrance fee, and check whether the $100 non-resident surcharge is included. Lodging in the park and campgrounds are also booked through official channels.
What to see in Yosemite
Yosemite Valley
The valley holds the best-known landscapes: the wall of El Capitan, the dome of Half Dome and the big waterfalls. This is where the free shuttles run and where most services are. The Tunnel View viewpoint, at the western entrance to the valley, offers the overview.
The waterfalls and their season
| Waterfall | Height | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Yosemite Falls | 740 m (2,428 ft) | Peak flow in May; flows from about November to July, often a trickle or dry from August |
| Bridalveil Fall | 190 m (623 ft) | Flows all year, peak flow in May |
| Vernal Fall | 97 m (318 ft) | All year, peak in late May or June |
| Nevada Fall | 180 m (591 ft) | All year, peak in late May or June |
The waterfalls depend on snowmelt: coming in August or September often means finding Yosemite Falls dry. May and June are the months when they are at their strongest.
Glacier Point, Tioga Road and Tuolumne Meadows
Glacier Point overlooks the valley and faces Half Dome; Tioga Road crosses the high country to the meadows of Tuolumne Meadows. Both roads are seasonal: the park says that roads are closed by snow « from around November through May or June ». On October 23, 2026, the conditions page showed them open, with no overnight parking allowed. Check the road conditions page before you go.
The Mariposa giant sequoia grove
Near the south entrance, the Mariposa Grove is home to giant sequoias. It is reached mainly by a free shuttle from the Welcome Plaza, which runs from April 15 at the earliest to November 30 at the latest, depending on snow.
Half Dome: a lottery permit
The final ascent of Half Dome is made on cables, normally installed the Friday before Memorial Day (late May) and removed after the second Monday in October. The permit is awarded by a pre-season lottery (applications from March 1 to 31) and then by daily lotteries two days before the date. A maximum of 300 hikers a day, including about 225 day hikers; fees of $10 per application and $10 per person if successful — checked on 24 October 2026 on nps.gov.
Getting there and getting around
- By car: the most flexible option; the NPS notes that tire chains may be required from October to April. Our United States page gives the general driving rules.
- YARTS: paid buses; the Highway 140 line from Merced runs all year, those from Fresno (Highway 41) and Mammoth Lakes (Highway 120 East) only in summer.
- Amtrak: train + bus combination to the valley, with the leg after Merced provided by YARTS.
- Valley shuttles: free, every 12 to 22 minutes (main route) or 8 to 12 minutes (east valley), from 7 am to 10 pm.
Source: National Park Service, « Public Transportation » page, consulted on 24 October 2026.
Yosemite Valley climate month by month
| Month | Max temp | Min temp | Precipitation | Sunrise (15th) | Sunset (15th) | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.6 °C (47 °F) | −1.9 °C (29 °F) | 177 mm (7.0 in) | 07:12 | 17:03 | 9 h 51 |
| February | 10.7 °C (51 °F) | −1.0 °C (30 °F) | 165 mm (6.5 in) | 06:48 | 17:37 | 10 h 49 |
| March | 13.7 °C (57 °F) | 0.8 °C (33 °F) | 139 mm (5.5 in) | 07:09 | 19:05 | 11 h 56 |
| April | 17.3 °C (63 °F) | 3.1 °C (38 °F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 06:23 | 19:34 | 13 h 11 |
| May | 21.4 °C (71 °F) | 6.9 °C (44 °F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) | 05:48 | 20:01 | 14 h 13 |
| June | 26.9 °C (80 °F) | 10.6 °C (51 °F) | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 05:36 | 20:21 | 14 h 46 |
| July | 31.8 °C (89 °F) | 14.1 °C (57 °F) | 7 mm (0.3 in) | 05:48 | 20:19 | 14 h 31 |
| August | 31.7 °C (89 °F) | 13.8 °C (57 °F) | 4 mm (0.2 in) | 06:13 | 19:51 | 13 h 37 |
| September | 28.3 °C (83 °F) | 10.8 °C (51 °F) | 10 mm (0.4 in) | 06:40 | 19:06 | 12 h 26 |
| October | 21.6 °C (71 °F) | 5.2 °C (41 °F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 07:06 | 18:21 | 11 h 14 |
| November | 13.3 °C (56 °F) | 0.3 °C (33 °F) | 103 mm (4.1 in) | 06:38 | 16:47 | 10 h 09 |
| December | 7.7 °C (46 °F) | −2.3 °C (28 °F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) | 07:06 | 16:40 | 9 h 34 |
Destination de Voyage calculation: the gap between maximum and minimum reaches nearly 18 °C (32 °F) in July (31.8 °C / 89 °F by day, 14.1 °C / 57 °F at night): pack a warm layer even in summer. The months from December to March add up to about 620 mm (24.4 in) of precipitation, often as snow, while almost nothing falls from June to September. The day lasts 14 h 46 in mid-June, against 9 h 34 in mid-December. For the rest of the state, see the best time to visit California.
Entry requirements and safety
For passport, visa and ESTA rules, see entry requirements for the United States.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the $100 surcharge per non-resident aged 16 and over in your budget.
- Planning to pay in cash: the park accepts only bank cards and mobile payment.
- Coming in August for the waterfalls: Yosemite Falls is often dry from August.
- Counting on Tioga Road or Glacier Point in spring or winter: these roads close with the snow.
- Heading for Half Dome without a permit: it is required when the cables are up.
- Parking overnight along Tioga Road or Glacier Point Road: it is forbidden.
What to see nearby
Yosemite fits into a tour with San Francisco and the island of Alcatraz, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to book to enter Yosemite in 2026?
No: the National Park Service says the park no longer uses a timed reservation system in 2026. It advises arriving early, especially on weekends and public holidays.
How much does it cost to enter Yosemite for a foreign tourist?
$35 per vehicle for seven days, plus $100 per non-resident aged 16 and over, i.e. $235 for a couple in a car, unless entering with an annual pass ($250 for the non-resident America the Beautiful pass).
When to see the Yosemite waterfalls?
In May and June: Yosemite Falls reaches its peak flow in May and is often dry from August, according to the National Park Service.
Can you visit Yosemite in winter?
Yes, the park is open all year, but some roads, including Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road, close with the snow, and tire chains may be required from October to April.
How do you get to Yosemite without a car?
With the YARTS buses (Merced line all year, Fresno and Mammoth Lakes lines in summer) or the Amtrak train + bus combination; in the valley, the shuttles are free.
Do you need a permit for Half Dome?
Yes, awarded by lottery: pre-season from March 1 to 31, then daily lotteries two days before the hike.
Our sources
- National Park Service, Yosemite (nps.gov/yose): Fees & Passes, Reservations, Conditions, Hours & Seasons, Public Transportation, Waterfalls and Half Dome Permits pages, consulted on 24 October 2026
- NOAA, National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 monthly normals, Yosemite Park Headquarters station (USC00049855, Yosemite Valley); values converted to °C and mm
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the coordinates of Yosemite Valley (15th of each month, year 2027, clear horizon)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.
