The Perfect 4 Day Yosemite Itinerary for Adventurers
(And what to do if you have a fifth day!)
Published on August 11th, 2025
Yosemite National Park is considered to be one of the crown jewels of the National Park System, and from the moment you first step foot in this park it’s easy to see why. We first visited back in 2022 and have made many return trips since. Spanning over 750,000 acres, this incredible park can be intimidating to tackle, so we’ve compiled all of our favorite spots into a guide to help you get exploring!
- Quick Info
- Guide Overview
- When to Visit
- Getting to the Park
- Where to Stay
- Where to Eat
- Full Guide
- Day 1: Tunnel View and Glacier Point Road
- Day 2: The Mist Trail and Valley Floor
- Day 3: Tuolumne Meadows and Tenaya Lake
- Day 4: Upper Yosemite Falls Trail
- Optional Day 5: Mariposa Grove or Hetch Hetchy
- Additional Tips
- You May Also Like
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We’re Kelly and Shawn!
We’re outdoor enthusiasts trying to share all the knowledge we’ve gained throughout our travels to help inspire others to get outside and enjoy all this world has to offer.
Quick Info!
Closest Airports:
- Fresno: approximately 2.5 hours from the park
- Sacramento: approximately 3 hours from the park
- Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose): approximately 4 hours from the park
Reservations:
- Peak hour reservations are required from 6 am to 2 pm some days from April through October and cost $2. This is valid for up to 3 consecutive days starting on the first day of your reservation. Make a reservation here.
- NOTE: You do NOT need a reservation if you have hotel or campground reservations within the park or if you are taking public transit to the park
Entrance Fee:
- $35 per vehicle which is good for 3 days OR
- America the Beautiful Pass which costs $80 and is good for entry to any national park for 1 year!
Lodging:
- Curry Village, Yosemite Valley Lodge, and the Upper and Lower Pines Campgrounds are all great options within Yosemite Valley
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