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Yosemite National Park: reservations, fees, camping and weather
Yosemite National Park, California: what you need to book, what it costs, and when the weather is mildest. Checked November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter?
No timed-entry reservation in 2026. The park says it is managing traffic and parking instead, and recommends weekday visits.
Fees and passes
$35 per private vehicle (7 consecutive days).
Non-US residents aged 16+ pay an extra $100 per person on top of the entrance fee, unless they have an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
An America the Beautiful pass covers entrance at every national park. US citizens and residents get free entry on national park fee-free days.
Camping: how to book
Campgrounds are reserved on Recreation.gov and sell out fast in summer. Many Recreation.gov campgrounds open on a rolling window months ahead and sell out within minutes; if yours is full, set up a cancellation alert.
Campgrounds on Recreation.gov (16)
| Campground | Sites | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuolumne Meadows Campground | 309 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Upper Pines Campground | 240 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Crane Flat Campground | 151 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Hodgdon Meadow Campground | 108 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Bridalveil Creek Campground | 107 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Wawona Campground | 99 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| North Pines Campground | 99 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Yosemite Creek Campground | 76 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Lower Pines Campground | 75 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| White Wolf Campground | 74 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Camp 4 | 68 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Porcupine Flat Campground | 56 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Tamarack Flat Campground | 54 | Campground | Book ↗ |
| Tuolumne Horse Campsites | 4 | Horse | Book ↗ |
| Bridalveil Creek Horse Campsites | 3 | Horse | Book ↗ |
| Wawona Horse Campsites | 2 | Horse | Book ↗ |
From Recreation.gov's official data (RIDB), November 2026. Campgrounds run by park concessioners and some first-come sites aren't on Recreation.gov, so check the park's camping page too. When can I book?
Permits and lotteries
- Half Dome: Preseason lottery in March (results mid-April) plus a daily lottery two days ahead while the cables are up. Dates →
Official planning pages
The park's own pages for the things that change: conditions, closures, camping and permits.
Key dates
- Wed 11 Nov 2026 National parks fee-free day: Veterans Day Confirmed
- December 2026 · exact dates not announced 2027 national park fee-free days announced Expected
- 1 Mar – 31 Mar 2027 Half Dome preseason lottery Expected
Weather by month
| Month | Camping weather | Avg high | Avg low | Precip. | Snow | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor · 12 | 48°F | 28°F | 7.0 in | – | 9 h 47 m |
| February | Poor · 32 | 51°F | 30°F | 6.5 in | – | 10 h 42 m |
| March | Good · 62 | 57°F | 34°F | 5.5 in | – | 11 h 49 m |
| April | Great · 99 | 63°F | 38°F | 3.2 in | – | 13 h 06 m |
| May | Great · 100 | 70°F | 44°F | 1.9 in | – | 14 h 09 m |
| June | Great · 100 | 80°F | 51°F | 0.5 in | – | 14 h 43 m |
| July | Good · 71 | 89°F | 57°F | 0.3 in | – | 14 h 29 m |
| August | Good · 72 | 89°F | 57°F | 0.2 in | – | 13 h 34 m |
| September | Great · 96 | 83°F | 51°F | 0.4 in | – | 12 h 20 m |
| October | Great · 100 | 71°F | 41°F | 1.6 in | – | 11 h 07 m |
| November | Good · 71 | 56°F | 32°F | 4.0 in | – | 10 h 02 m |
| December | Poor · 17 | 46°F | 28°F | 5.6 in | – | 9 h 31 m |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Yosemite Park HQ, CA weather station (4,018 ft). Higher trails are colder; temperatures usually drop about 3–5°F per 1,000 ft. "Camping weather" is our simple score: best with highs of 62–82°F, nights above freezing and under 3 in of precipitation. It rates weather only, not road closures, snow on trails or crowds. Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th. About NOAA normals ↗
Questions
Do I need a reservation to enter Yosemite National Park?
No timed-entry reservation in 2026. The park says it is managing traffic and parking instead, and recommends weekday visits.
How much does it cost to enter Yosemite?
$35 per private vehicle (7 consecutive days). Non-US residents aged 16+ pay an extra $100 per person on top of the entrance fee, unless they have an annual or America the Beautiful pass.
When is the weather mildest at Yosemite?
Using NOAA averages at the park's weather station, average highs are between 60°F and 85°F in April to June, September to October. July is warmest (about 89°F) and December has the coldest nights (about 28°F).
Sources: Yosemite fees and passes (nps.gov), NOAA station data. Rules change; always check the official park site before you go.
Tell us where and when. A planner gets back to you within 24 hours with a day-by-day plan, the exact booking dates and links, and help booking. From $49.
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