As summer travel heats up, Californians may be considering a trip to Yosemite National Park.
The state’s largest national park, spanning 1,200 square miles, offers a varied landscape with meadows, valleys, and the granite fortresses of El Capitan and Half Dome.
First protected in 1864 and championed by one of the nation’s most famous conservationists, John Muir, Yosemite National Park is not only vast, but exceedingly popular.
Drawing more than 4 million visitors per year, according to the National Park Service, during the summer, the park’s visitor numbers really pick up. From June to August in 2025, summer visits climbed 39% compared with 2021, recording more than $2.1 million in visits, according to a recent report.
If you are planning a trip to Yosemite National Park this summer, here is what to look for.
Time-entry reservations not required
Earlier this year, the National Park Service (NPS) announced it would not require timed-entry reservations at Yosemite National Park in 2026, even during the peak summer months.
The system, developed to manage visitor flow at park entrances, was scaled back in 2025 before being eliminated this year. The National Parks Conservation Association credits the park’s reservation system for enabling a record number of visitors in 2024, with visitors “raving about the lack of traffic, ease of parking, uncongested trails and ability to enjoy nature.”
In May, multiple news outlets reported hour-long waits and filled-up parking lots at some of the park’s most popular attractions.
Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla from California condemned the National Park Service’s decision to remove the timed entry system at Yosemite National Park, raising concerns from visitors and businesses experiencing “heightened traffic, long wait times, and parking scarcity due to Yosemite’s limited traffic management and visitor resources,” according to a news release.
“In March of 2026, just a couple of months ago, a 45% increase in visitation compared to the same time last year,” said Padilla in a statement. “My constituents are reporting to me bumper-to-bumper traffic around the valley floor, hiking trails backed up with people, and parking lots full in the early mornings, resulting in visitors illegally parking off roads, in meadows.”
Padilla secured a commitment from the Department of the Interior (DOI) nominee for Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Kevin Lilly, that the National Park Service will continue to monitor Yosemite wait times throughout peak visitor season and invest in NPS infrastructure and capacity.
How to beat the wait
The NPS offers advice on how to make the most of your visit to Yosemite National Park. Visitors should “plan visits early,” especially over weekends and during the holidays. Aiming for midweek visits, will result in lower congestion at the park and offer “greater parking availability.”
Visitors can also use shuttles or public transportation. Yosemite offers a free shuttle service throughout Yosemite Valley. Check the park website for real-time traffic conditions, seasonal updates, and trip-planning tools. Visitors can receive current traffic updates in Yosemite by texting ynptraffic to 333111 when the park is extremely busy, according to NPS.
If all else fails, create a Plan B outside the busy Yosemite Valley and explore other hiking and sightseeing options.
What reservations are still required
While you don’t need a reservation to enter for a day visit, visitors need a campsite or lodging reservation if they plan to stay the night, according to the National Park Service website. A wilderness permit is required for overnight hiking, and for climbing Half Dome when the cables are up.
There are also permits for holding a wedding at the park, for scattering remains at certain locations, among others.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Yosemite ditches timed entry. What to expect this summer.
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Roseann Cattani, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
