Sneaky Ways To Visit Yosemite National Park Without A Reservation

Yosemite National Park sees around 4 million visitors annually, around 75% of whom go between May and October. With overcrowding becoming an issue, the National Parks Service (NPS) has introduced a reservation system. The problem for visitors is that Yosemite is so popular that even getting a reservation can be tricky. The NPS itself states, "It is very difficult to get campground, lodging, or entrance reservations from spring through fall ... If you think you're doing something wrong because you can't find a reservation, you're probably not ... Most likely, there are just no more reservations available." That's not very comforting.

If you miss out, there are some crafty ways to enter Yosemite, from snagging a lodging cancelation to joining a tour. While we'll detail each of those tips here, the easiest way is still to visit Yosemite outside of reservation season. In 2024, reservations are required to enter or drive through the park on some dates between April 13 and October 27, from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.

However, you only need daily reservations from July 1 to August 16. Before and after these dates, reservations are required on weekends and holidays only. And you can enter the park after 4 p.m. on any given day. So, visit outside of reservation times, and your spontaneous trip to Yosemite will be back on. Not possible? Sit tight: We have solutions.

While it's pretty tough to get an overnight reservation within Yosemite, if you manage to book somewhere, you don't need a separate entry permit (though you do have to pay the entry fee). Campground reservations open around five months ahead for many popular sites. The reservations get snapped up extremely quickly, so you'll need to log on to the system as soon as possible. As sites cost $36 or less per night, camping is one of the best ways for budget travelers to experience Yosemite.

If camping is not your thing, places like Yosemite Valley Lodge, Wawona Hotel, and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge get you into the park without an entry permit. Campgrounds and other lodgings are very popular, so move fast. However, people cancel their reservations often. You can set a cancellation alert or keep checking your dates on recreation.gov. Paid apps can also scan for cancellations at NPS sites.

Finally, adventurous types can get a wilderness permit or a permit to climb the famous Half Dome instead of an entrance reservation. A limited number of permits is issued for both, some via a lottery system months in advance and others on a first-come-first-served basis closer to the date. Wilderness permits allow you to camp in a backpacker campground for one night before and after your trip, and wild camping is permitted in the backcountry. Backpacker campgrounds are near popular Yosemite sites like North Pines and White Wolf. Win!

Enter Yosemite by public transport, and you won't need a reservation. The YARTS bus heads into and out of Yosemite several times daily from nearby communities, including El Portal, Mariposa, and Sonora. Your bus ticket includes the entry fee to Yosemite. Once in the park, you can take the free shuttle to trailheads. You probably want to book YARTS buses in advance, as they can fill up. No place on the YARTS bus? Book a tour of Yosemite instead. Not all tours include entry reservations, so check carefully before you buy! And, of course, make sure the tour covers the must-dos in Yosemite, like a visit to Tunnel Valley and Lower Yosemite Falls.

Another solution to the Yosemite reservation issue is to visit the Hetch Hetchy area in the northwest of the park, where no reservations are needed. It's not exactly that Yosemite visitors are sleeping on Hetch Hetchy; the NPS admits that parking lots can become full, leading to long delays in accessing the area. However, if you manage to get a spot (turn up early — the road opens at sunrise), you can do breathtaking hikes in blissful relative solitude. One of Yosemite's most adventurous trails leads out to Rancheria Falls; it's a 13-mile round-trip, so it could be an overnight hike if you have a wilderness permit. AllTrails users praise the trail's gorgeous views and lack of crowds.