Temporary Peak Hours Vehicle Reservations
Reservations are no longer required to visit Yosemite National Park for the remainder of 2024. Simply plan your trip, arrive at the park, pay the entrance fee and recreate responsibly!
If you’re planning a trip to Yosemite Mariposa County in 2024, you may need to make a Temporary Peak Hours Vehicle Reservation to enter Yosemite National Park.
The system, which the Yosemite National Park Service refers to as “Peak Hours Plus,” will require reservations to enter Yosemite for some or all days of the week from April to October. it is of the utmost importance that you familiarize yourself with this information as your visit may be impacted and reservations may be required to enter Yosemite for the full day.
In the past, Temporary Peak Hours Vehicle Reservation allocations have filled quickly, so make your reservation as soon as possible via Recreation.gov. If your chosen date is sold out, more reservations will be released 7 days prior to your planned visit.
See below for more details on the 2024 Temporary Peak Hours Vehicle Reservation System.
Yosemite entrance reservations
A vehicle reservation will be required for entry during the following days in 2024:
- April 13 to June 30: On weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and holidays from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- July 1 to August 16: Seven days a week from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- August 17 to October 13: On weekends (Saturday and Sunday) and on Monday holidays from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.
In 2024, there will be two different types of reservations a person can make.
- Similar to 2022, a person can make a Yosemite day pass reservation to enter the park by vehicle at any time.
- New for 2024, a person can make a reservation to enter Yosemite after 12 p.m on the first day the reservation is valid. The following two days, reservation holders can enter the park at any time.
Both reservation options cost $2 and permit the use of one vehicle for a continuous period of three days. Upon arrival at Yosemite, visitors must either pay a park entrance fee of $35 or provide a lifetime or annual pass. It is important to note that the person who made the reservation must be in the car upon arrival and present a valid photo identification.
The first wave of Temporary Peak Hours Vehicle Reservations was made available on January 5, 2024 on Recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745.
Additional full-day and afternoon reservations will be made available one week prior to a person’s planned visit.
HOW TO enter without a vehicle pass
Ways to get into Yosemite without a reservation include:
- Travel to the park during shoulder seasons such as late fall, winter, and early spring.
- Staying in lodging or at a campsite located in Yosemite National Park in a location such as Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows or Foresta.
- Enter the park before 5 a.m. or after 4 p.m.
- Poses a wilderness or Half Dome permit.
- Enter the park on a tour such as with Yosemite 360 Tours, Incredible Adventures or Discover Yosemite Tours.
- Enter the park using YARTS, the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System.
FAQS: YOSEMITE PEAK HOURS RESERVATIONS
In short, as soon as you possibly can. Most reservations for the season are released well in advance. Getting a reservation during this period is the least stressful way to go. For anyone planning on a shorter notice, the final wave a reservations become available 7 days prior to your visit.
Reservations will grant one vehicle access to the park. for Reservations are valid for three consecutive days from the first day a reservation is valid. For example, if a visitor makes a reservation for a Friday arrival, the pass is valid from Friday through Sunday. The pass holder will not be able to make a second reservation for arrival on either Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. The reservation holder must be in the arriving vehicle and present a photo ID at the entrance station.
Yes. The same hours and reservation requirements apply. If you’re planning to go through Yosemite to cross over the Sierra Nevada Mountains to reach a destination such as Lee Vining or Mammoth Lakes, be prepared to get a temporary vehicle reservation, or you’ll need to use another route across the mountains such as the Sonora Pass.
- Outside of Yosemite, Mariposa County is home to two National Forests, the Sierra and the Stanislaus and great hiking in areas such as Stockton Creek Preserve and the Merced River Canyon. Lake McClure and Lake McSwain also provide great, family-friendly outdoor recreation options!
- In neighboring areas, places such as Bass Lake and Lake Don Pedro are also great recreation areas.
- Mariposa County is full of incredible small towns with rich Gold Rush history that provide an off the beaten path option to explore and spend time in. The town of Mariposa, the county seat of Mariposa County has been named as one of the best towns in America for Small-Town Culture for the last two years. It is home to museums, great dining and local shops. In Coulterville, which Reader’s Digest named as America’s Friendliest Town in 2023, you’ll also find more museums, shops and great things to do!
- There are 100 Things to Do in Mariposa County. We created this convenient list to help you find them all!