HOW TO AVOID CROWDS AT YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

If you're planning to visit Yosemite National Park this summer, you might want to plan your visit very carefully. In the summer months, the park infamously witnesses incredibly high levels of tourism, which results in major traffic congestion and delays.

Last year, visitors were stuck in their cars for up to four hours at peak times, SFGate reported. The issue, at the time, was twofold. The park decided not to use a reservation system, which in the past helped cap daily visits, for the first time after the pandemic. 

Additionally, nature was to "blame," at least in a few areas. Due to the heavy snowfall that hit Yosemite last spring, a few roads were still closed in the summer, including Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road, and visitors who would typically use these routes were being redirected onto other roads, resulting in more intense traffic. Plus, snowfall impacted tourism as well. As USA Today noted, the historic snowfall over last year's winter allowed the park's peak waterfall season to extend past its usual ending in late May. As local hotel owners told SFGate, many guests who had originally booked trips during March, April, and May rebooked them for the summer.

This year, though, crowding conditions are a little less complicated at the park, but you should still plan ahead to avoid traffic jams and large crowds. To help visitors enjoy the beauty of Yosemite

without getting stuck in traffic, the park has put out a few advisories via its website and social media, alerting visitors to traffic jams and road closures and giving advice on how to best navigate the area.

For starters, reservations are back this year, and you should make one if you're planning to either drive into or through Yosemite National Park with your own car. However, you're only required to make a reservation on some specific peak dates and times, including from July 1 through August 16 from 5 am to 4 pm daily and from August 17 through October 27 from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. If you plan to visit after peak hours, you're not required to make a reservation, but the park encourages you to avoid arriving after 4 pm. You can learn how to make a reservation right here. 

Another way to avoid crowds is to arrive early (before mid-morning, especially on weekends) and stay late. If possible, visitors should plan to visit the park during the week instead of weekends. This is valid for all entrance stations and popular areas, including Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. 

To prevent road congestion, visitors are also encouraged to ride a YARTS bus to access the park. If you do, however, decide to drive your own car, the park advises you to park it for the entire duration of your stay instead of moving it from site to site. Free shuttles are available to get you around Yosemite Valley. As a disclaimer, though, shuttles will likely be full during busy days, and additional wait times are therefore likely. Riding a bike or walking is another good option if you want to avoid traffic and do not want to wait for a bus. Also, guess what: If you ride a YARTS bus to access the park, you do not need a reservation.

You should also stock up. Make sure you grab enough food and water with you—if there are significant delays, you want to be prepared. The park also advises visitors to follow the popular evergreen travel advice and use restrooms whenever they are available.

If you're not sure about the current conditions in Yosemite and are worried about traffic and delays, the park has your back. For current traffic conditions, text "ynptraffic" to 333111, and you'll get all the latest updates to help you better plan your visit.

For more information, you can visit Yosemite's website.

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Serena Tara is a Staff Writer at Thrillist reporting on travel as well as space- and astronomy-related news and trends. With more than five years of experience in digital journalism, she has written and reported on a wide variety of topics, from news and politics to culture, fashion, and lifestyle. Her work has appeared in Salon.com, Marie Claire, New York Magazine's Bedford+Bowery, among other outlets. She holds a master's degree in Digital Journalism from NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

2024-07-02T18:56:11Z dg43tfdfdgfd