I’m excited to help you decide how to spend three days in Yosemite National Park.
Our passion for travel and national parks sparked in 2013 with a road trip through California. At the time we were in the thick of building our careers, and didn’t have much vacation time. I recall thinking we were really pushing the envelope by taking a 10-day trip.
We flew into Los Angeles, drove up Highway 1 to Monterey, went east to Yosemite National Park, then Napa, and finally ended in San Francisco. Out of ten days, we only spent a half day in Yosemite! We arrived mid-day in the valley, hopped on a last-minute valley tour, drove to Glacier Point, and then drove out of the park to Tenaya Lodge where we stayed for the night. That’s it!
We still laugh about it when we think back on that trip. As travel newbies, we didn’t know the trip highlights would be the scenery along Highway 1, or the awe-inspiring beauty of Yosemite. We started traveling though, which is what counts. That ten-day trip was the gateway to more intentional travel, and spending more time appreciating the natural world around us.
Fast forward nine years, and we decided to help my retired in-laws realize a bucket list trip to California. The expanded 14-night itinerary was similar to our 2013 trip, but we allocated more time in the right places (well, except for going to Napa). This time we would be spending three nights in Yosemite with lodging at Yosemite Valley Lodge! We were thrilled to have a “do-over.”
Looking back on our September 2022 visit to Yosemite, we learned so much! We split our time across three amazing areas of the park, including Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Valley, and Tuolumne Meadows/Tioga Road.
What to Do in Yosemite National Park
Day One: Mariposa Grove & Yosemite Valley
We left beautiful Monterey and drove to Oakhurst where we grabbed lunch at South Gate Brewing Company and stocked up on groceries. Side note: I recommend stocking up on groceries before entering the park due to limited food services. We entered Yosemite National Park from the South Entrance (there are 5 different entrances) on Highway 41 around 2:30p. We used our America the Beautiful park pass, which I highly recommend if you are visiting multiple national parks in a year period.
My in-laws were excited to see giant Sequoia trees on this trip, so we headed straight to the Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza to see the largest grove of Sequoias in Yosemite. There is ample parking, flush toilets, a gift shop, and a covered waiting area for the free shuttle at the Welcome Plaza. We waited around 15-minutes to catch a shuttle, and had an 8-minute ride back to the grove.
There are a several hikes of varying length and difficulty you can do through Mariposa Grove. We took the Grizzly Giant Loop Trail which took us past the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Grizzly Giant, and the California Tunnel tree. We turned around after the California Tunnel Tree to enjoy the view from the opposite direction, which turned out to be good advice. This hike was around 2-miles total, and there is some elevation gain. Be sure to bring water (Nalgene bottles are perfect!), sun-protection, proper footwear (like these), and salty snacks. We love this backpack to carry our supplies when we hike!
We departed the Welcome Plaza around 4:45p to head to Yosemite Valley. Our visit was in mid-September, and there were several active fires nearby with noticeable smoke as we approached the valley. Note: fire season in Yosemite runs approximately late June through October/November.
We stopped at one of the “must-see” scenic overlooks in the park, Tunnel View, for some quick pictures before entering Yosemite Valley. It was fun to see my in-law’s reactions to the views as we made our way into the park. The magnitude and beauty of Yosemite Valley will take your breath away. El Capitan is a sight to behold along with the Merced River flowing through. Take your time to pull over at the many areas to enjoy the sights as you make your way through the valley.
We finished day one with a speedy check-in to Yosemite Valley Lodge and dinner at the cafeteria-style Base Camp Eatery (serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner), which is right next to the lodge.
Day 2: Exploring the Valley
For our second day we had a bit of a split itinerary. My husband and I were determined to get in a “good” hike during our visit, while my in-laws took their pre-scheduled valley tour and enjoyed less strenuous activities in the valley (of their own choosing). I’ll detail each out, depending on what you are up for!
Strenuous Hike to Clark Point
We grabbed coffee and a light breakfast at the Base Camp Eatery, and then packed up for a day of hiking using my husband’s new Osprey backpack, while I used my trusty waist pack. We headed to Lower Yosemite Falls first. Sadly, the falls were not flowing due to the time of year. However, the views were still amazing. We enjoyed seeing a bunch of deer as we walked to the Visitor Center to get our passport book stamped (#5 for the year!), and spoke to a ranger about possible hikes.
I had my sights set on the popular Mist Trail, but unfortunately it was closed for repairs during our visit. The ranger suggested we hike to the Vernal Falls Footbridge, and then go on to Clark Point via the John Muir Trail if we felt up to it. This would give us views of Vernal and Nevada Falls, about 4 miles total, she said.
After some delayed shuttles, we arrived at the Happy Isles Trailhead and headed out. There is a lot of elevation gain on this trail, even to the Vernal Falls Footbridge. We arrived at the footbridge huffing and puffing. We had not fully adjusted to the change in elevation, having come from Monterey the day before. The falls were barely visible due to low flow, but still pretty.
We decided to proceed to Clark Point via the John Muir Trail. Wow, more elevation gain and many switchbacks on the hike up! We stopped frequently to catch our breath, but it felt good to move our bodies. Eventually we reached the top and were rewarded with a gorgeous views, including Nevada Falls. By then it was lunch time. We enjoyed the views while eating our PB&J sandwiches. Not a bad deal!
After food, water, and rest we began the descent. Honestly going down was worse because my knee started bothering me.
Back at the trailhead, we had logged 5 miles total with 1500 feet in elevation gain. This took us 4 hours to complete, including time for lunch and pictures. If you do this hike be prepared for the elevation gain and plan accordingly with supplies, footwear, water, food, etc. This was a pretty strenuous hike in our opinion and should be taken seriously.
To celebrate not dying, we headed to the The Ahwahnee (arguably the nicest hotel in Yosemite Valley) to check our their bar area. I heard they had good drinks, snack-y food, and a patio with views. Yes, please.
Folks, let me tell you we were not disappointed! We ordered a ginger margarita, peach mule, and sourdough bread with salted butter. Everything was delish, but the the ginger margarita was over the top. It was a bit of a splurge for us, but a memory we will not forget as we sat in the sun (and maybe took our boots off).
Less Strenuous Things to do
While we were scaling a mountain, my in-laws were enjoying the two-hour valley tour. There are various tour options in Yosemite, a great way to explore and let someone else do the driving. Tours sell out, especially during the busy summer season, so consider booking ahead of time.
Afterwards they grabbed some lunch and then did the easy, 1-mile Cook’s Meadow Loop trail. This easy trail has great views of Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, Half Dome, and Sentinel Rock. They also visited Lower Yosemite Falls, and enjoyed spending time in the valley.
Other low-key things you can do in the valley:
- Check out all the amazing waterfalls, including Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls. Peak waterfall viewing is in Spring.
- Walk to Mirror Lake, an easy 2-mile out-and-back hike. Keep in mind the lake may be dry during the late summer and early fall months. The lake was dry during our September visit.
- Look for climbers on El Capitan.
- Take a scenic drive to see the jaw-dropping view at Glacier Point. The road to Glacier Point was closed during our visit, sadly.
- Check out Yosemite Museum, completed in 1925, to learn more about the park and indigenous Miwok tribe.
- Raft or take a swim in the Merced River. See more information here.
To finish off Day Two we met back at the nearby Mountain Lounge for dinner. After a day of exploring we devoured our meals. Needless to say it was an early night!
Day Three: Scenic Drive Along Tioga Road & Tuolumne Meadows
After a light breakfast at the Base Camp Eatery, the four of us left around 8:15a to head towards Tuolumne Meadows via Tioga Road. As we left the valley we stopped at another “must-see” scenic pull off, Valley View. The cover photo was taken at this amazing view point.
We knew it would be a long scenic drive along Tioga Road. To help us enjoy the drive and learn more about the park, we downloaded the Yosemite Driving Tour via the Gypsy App, which provided narration at various points along the way. Side note: we used the Gypsy App narrated tour for our drive up Highway 1 from Pismo Beach to Monterey and enjoyed it even more!
You will be struck by the sheer magnitude of the park as you drive along to Olmsted Point (pull over!), and the gorgeous Tenaya Lake. Be sure to take advantage of all the places to pull over. It’s worth it!
We arrived at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center around 10:30a, a bit delayed due to construction on Tioga Road. After a quick pit stop we prepared to hike the easy, 1.6-mile out-and-back Soda Springs Trail, leaving our car parked at the Visitor Center. Oh my gosh, what a beautiful hike through the meadow. It was a clear, sunny day in the low low 60’s. Simply perfect! We went to Parsons Lodge and saw the soda streams. The soda streams were a little underwhelming, but an interesting phenomenon to see. We highly recommend this trail due to the views.
Back at the Visitor Center around 11:40p we ate a picnic lunch out of the van. A park ranger recommended another short hike for us to check out, taking the Lyell Canyon Trail to Twin Bridges from the Dog Lake Trailhead. The weather was beautiful so, why not?! We departed the Visitor Center and continued east towards the Tioga Road entrance. In the midst of gawking at the amazing scenery, we missed our turn into the parking area for the trailhead, so we drove out the east entrance and back in, to the Wilderness Center and Dog Lake Trailhead.
There was plenty of parking, and we headed off on the trail. You will quickly feel as though you are walking into a fairy tale. Guys, it was SO. BEAUTIFUL. We had experienced beautiful scenery, but this was somehow next level. Do yourselves a favor and add this short, 1.5-mile hike to your list. It’s a fairly easy trail with some rocky areas, but very manageable for the in-laws. The Lyell Canyon Trail is much longer if you are looking for more of a challenge, but we just turned around after we got to the twin bridges.
Views along the trail to Twin Bridges
Back to the car, we headed towards Yosemite Valley with a quick stop at Lembert Dome around 2:45p. We encountered more significant construction delays, and arrived back in the valley around 4:30p.
At this point we were all a bit tired, cranky, and hungry. We parked at Curry Village and went to the Curry Village Pizza Deck for dinner. The place was pretty busy, but we were able to get a picnic table to eat at. All the dining here is outside, but luckily you can get pizzas to go if the weather is bad, or you wanted to take it back to your lodging. The food was good, and reasonably priced.
We dropped my in-laws at Yosemite Valley Lodge, and decided to drive around the valley more to take photos. Swinging Bridge is a gorgeous place to check out in the valley. There is a picnic area and you can walk down to the sandy beach area along the water. One can easily appreciate Yosemite’s beauty just from the valley. I got some cool pictures with sunset approaching.
Departure Morning
The next morning we were up early to pack and depart for our next destination, Napa.
Depending on how quickly you need to leave, you may be able to squeeze in a few more sights as you depart. We made a quick stop to Bridalveil Falls, although the parking lot was closed for renovations. Our last stop was at El Capitan Bridge, where we saw a huge group of mule deer crossing the Merced River with El Capitan in the background. Crazy beautiful, and a lovely way to close out our amazing visit to Yosemite National Park.
Now you have a better idea of what to do in Yosemite National Park and how to spend your time. Let’s chat about planning your trip!
Planning Your Visit
In 2021, Yosemite saw 3.3 million visitors. This is a very popular national park. Visiting Yosemite takes some advance planning, maybe even up to a year in advance! Here are important considerations as you plan your trip.
Park Fees
There is a fee to enter Yosemite National Park. The fee amount depends on the type of vehicle and amount of passengers you have. Check out the NPS website for the most updated information on park fees. If you plan to visit multiple national parks within a year’s period, consider the $80 America the Beautiful park pass. There are also special park passes for those in the military, 4th-graders, and seniors!
Map of the Park
Yosemite National Park is huge! Did you know there are five entrances to the park? As you plan your visit, be sure to check out the National Park Service maps of Yosemite National Park. Familiarizing yourself with the park areas will help you decide where to stay and what to do in the park. We stayed in Yosemite Valley because it was fairly central to everything we wanted to see.
Where to Stay
Inside the Park
Note: If you want lodging in Yosemite, you will want to make reservations up to a year in advance, especially if you are visiting during the peak summer months.
Our recommendation is to stay in Yosemite Valley, if it makes sense based on what you want to do in the park. Yosemite Valley Lodge, the Ahwahnee, and Curry Village are lodging options located in the valley. From the valley you can easily do day trips to Tuolumne Meadows, Hetch Hetchy, Mariposa Grove, etc. Or, you could possibly stop at these areas of the park on your way into, or, out of the park.
Knowing what you want to do in the park will help you decide where to stay. Familiarize yourself with the areas of the park before you decide where to stay.
To get an idea of all lodging options in the park, see the NPS website. To learn more and book lodging, including campgrounds for RVs, make sure you are booking through the appropriate website, here.
If you are trying to book accommodations less than a year in advance, check the website frequently for cancellations. The cancellation policy is very generous, and cancellations occur all the time. Because of this, you may find more availability by booking one night at a time versus a block of nights.
Be aware there are limited dining options inside the park. We encourage you to pick up groceries (such as water, snacks, fruit, etc.) before entering the park. We did have a small mini-fridge in our room, and ate several meals of PB&J sandwiches during our stay.
Outside the Park
Lodging options outside the park are available if you can’t find lodging inside the park. Depending on where you are coming from, there are various towns around the Yosemite entrances you could check out, listed here. Check out places like Wawona, El Portal, Fish Camp, Lee Vining, etc.
During our May 2013 visit, we enjoyed our stay at Tenaya Lodge, which is near the south entrance of the park (convenient to Mariposa Grove).
When to Visit
While Yosemite is open year-round, the busiest months are June through September. Keep in mind some park areas may be closed because of weather in certain times of the near. Be sure to check the NPS Yosemite website for updates on closures or alerts that may impact your visit as your trip approaches. For example, during our September stay popular places were closed including the Mist Trail, Glacier Point Road, and the Bridalveil Falls parking area, all for repairs/roadwork.
We were though pleasantly surprised at the low crowd levels during our visit. Note: we often visit parks during shoulder seasons specifically to avoid crowds. Parking was ample, even in the most popular areas.
The weather was sunny and comfortable, despite some haze in the valley due to smoke from area wildfires.
Despite the low crowds and great weather, the waterfalls were either very small, or not flowing at all. If you want to see thundering waterfalls, spring time is better. The waterfalls were amazing during our May 2013 visit!
Another consideration is wild fires. Fire season in Yosemite runs June through October/November. The risk of fires during this time increases. Mariposa Grove, for example, was closed for a period of time in 2022 due to nearby fires.
In a nutshell, there are always tradeoffs when you travel. Be it crowds, weather, fires, lodging/airfare costs, etc., we try to travel on the shoulder seasons because the tradeoffs are worth it to us. Do what is best for you and adjust your expectations accordingly.
Just Go!
Yosemite National Park is a top-rated park for a reason. We hope this park will make your list of top parks to visit in the coming months.
Did you know we visited six national parks in 2022? Read more about our trips and get itinerary ideas for Rocky Mountain National Park, Badlands National Park, and New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Need more time for adventure? Read more on taking a leave of absence from work, including how to request one!
Coming soon on the blog, we’ll be sharing a bit more about us and who we are, some of the things we’ve learned in 2022, and a look forward to exciting adventures in 2023!
We’re so glad you are here!
If you’ve been to Yosemite, what are your favorite things to do and see in the park? Tell us in the comments!
