Yosemite is the most visited National Park in California and overall one of the most popular National Parks with over four million visitors a year. Spending one day in Yosemite should be part of any California road trip. The views are gorgeous and there are so many awesome parts of the park. I have visited Yosemite at least three times now and still get to experience new things each time.
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History of Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley has seen inhabitants for the past 3000 years. The first dwellers, the Ahwahnechee, lived in the area and had many other tribes come to trade with them. During the gold rush in the 1800s, more settlers came to the area and suppressed Native American resistance. In 1884, the first store was established in the area and tourism began to increase. The visitors continued to increase with the expansion of the Transcontinental Railroad and continued explorations by John Muir. Finally, on October 1, 1890, Yosemite officially became a National Park to preserve it for future generations
Best Time to Spend One Day in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park offers a different experience depending on what time of the year your visit. Summer is peak season in the park as the weather is perfect for hiking, and Yosemite Falls is in full flow. All of the roads and trails are open. Opt to visit in spring or fall if you want fewer crowds but are still interested in hiking. During wintertime, visitors can see the park covered in snow and opt to do some winter sports like snowshoeing.
How to Get To Yosemite National Park
The closest airports to Yosemite are Fresno-Yosemite International Airport and Merced Airport. These airports are on the smaller side and can be expensive to fly into. If you want to save some money, I recommend flying into the Oakland, Sacramento, or Reno/Tahoe Airports. These are a bit larger and service more airlines. From the airport, the easiest way to Yosemite is to rent a car and drive to the park. Amtrak and Greyhound have a few busses that run into the park, but it is not the most convenient option.
To get to Yosemite from Sacramento, take the 99-South to the 120-east. From there take the 140-east into the park. From Los Angeles, take the 5-North to the 99-North to the 41-North.
Transportation around Yosemite National Park
Having your own car is the best option for spending one day in Yosemite National Park as it provides you with the most flexibility and freedom. However, Yosemite does offer some transportation. During the majority of the year, Yosemite has two shuttles that run: the Yosemite Valley shuttle and the El Capitan shuttle. These shuttles are free and take visitors around the Yosemite Valley. The El Capitan shuttle only runs during the summer season while the Yosemite Valley shuttle runs all year long.
Hours and Admission
Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. However, some roads may be closed for the winter season due to snow. Admission into Yosemite National Park costs $35 per a car. If you plan on visiting several National Parks in a year, opt to buy the America the Beautiful pass for $80. This gets you into every National Park for the year.
Where to Stay
TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best National Park hotels here!
Yosemite National Park has a few lodges and campsites to stay at within the park. These fill up quickly and can sometimes be a bit pricey, so make sure to book well in advance. You can also opt to stay outside of the park in Oakhurst or Mariposa. Mammoth Lakes is a good area to stay in if you want to explore more of the eastern side of the park. I also highly recommend staying at the Pines Resort in Bass Lake, which is only 30 minutes from the South entrance. Interested in booking a stay at The Pines Resort? Use this link or use the code HRT10 when booking for 10% off your stay at The Pines Resort!
What to See During One Day at Yosemite National Park
Day 1
Glacier Point
Start your one day in Yosemite off with a stop at Glacier Point. I recommend doing this first as it gets more crowded the later it gets. Here you will have spectacular views of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome. It is only a short walk from the parking lot to get to Glacier Point.
Sentinel Dome/Taft Point
After stopping off at Glacier Point, head over to the Sentinel Dome Trail. This trail is a 2.2-mile loop trail that takes you past some more awesome views of Yosemite Valley. I recommend hiking to the top of Sentinel Dome first as if you do it last, you will be tired. From the top of Sentinel Dome, you are rewarded with gorgeous views of the valley. From there, you can head to Roosevelt Point.
Finally, stop at Taft Point, which offers epic photo opportunities with the Yosemite Valley in the background. Beware of the sharp drops as there are not a ton of railings around the area.
Yosemite Falls
This afternoon, take the short hike to Yosemite Falls. This hike is best completed during the late summer as that is when the falls will be in all of its glory. During the fall and wintertime, there is no water pouring from the falls. A visit to Yosemite Falls is the best way to end one day at Yosemite National Park.
More Than One Day in Yosemite National Park?
If you have more than one day in Yosemite National Park, there are many other sites to see across the park. You can easily keep busy for 3-4 days. Yosemite also offers a plethora of Ranger led talks and programs, horseback riding, biking, fishing, rock climbing, and winter sports.
Tuolumne Meadow
Tuolumne Meadow is the largest and most visited meadow in Yosemite. It is one of the largest high-elevation meadows in the Sierra Mountains at 8,600 feet. Opt to drive Tioga Road to view some of the picturesque spots throughout the meadow. Olmsted Point is a popular viewpoint. Tenaya Lake is another popular spot to stop, especially for water activities. Other popular meadows to visit include Cook’s Meadow, Sentinel Meadow, Stoneman Meadow, and Leidig Meadow.
Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove offers several shorter hikes through the largest sequoias in Yosemite. This area was added to the park in 1906 and underwent a major restoration project from 2015-2018.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is popular due to its gorgeous reflections of Half Dome during the springtime. Although not huge, it is a gorgeous place to walk around.
Pioneer Yosemite History Center and other Museums
The History Center is a great place to visit if you want to learn about the history of Yosemite. Here, visitors can see how Yosemite was an inspiration for other National Parks around the country as well as learn about the historic buildings in the area. There is also a museum dedicated to the work of Thomas Hill and another to Ansel Adams.
Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for several of the National Parks. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them.
Final Tips For Spending One Day in Yosemite National Park
Did you know at the Yosemite Valley Visitor’s Center you can buy some local brews to enjoy with your lunch? Several companies make special Yosemite themed beers to commemorate the various locations around the park.
Make sure to pack snacks and lunch for the day as food stops are not always conveniently located throughout the park. I enjoy packing a sandwich that I can eat in a picnic area or along a trail.
Do not forget essentials such as sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water!
One Day in Yosemite National Park should be part of any California road trip. It is one of the many National Parks in California and well worth a visit. Yosemite is also close to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Devils Postpile National Monument in Mammoth Lakes. Interested in wine tasting? Stop off at Fasi Estate Winery for some awesome wines after hiking all day. No matter what, the Yosemite area offers some great activities for a perfect vacation.
Another activity you might be interested in is the Yosemite scenic train ride.
7 thoughts on “One Day in Yosemite National Park: California’s Premier Park”
Wow, Yosemite National Park looks incredible! Those views are magical! I can see why it is the most visited National Park in California! Thanks for the great guide!
I’d love to visit Yosemite. It looks so great. Been planning a US road trip for a while and that for sure will make it onto the itinerary.
Yosemite is such a bucket list destination! I definitely want to visit someday and will be saving this guide for when I finally make it there!
These photos are gorgeous! Yosemite is somewhere I have always wanted to visit so badly, I hope I get to someday. Sentinel Dome looks especially beautiful.
Mirror Lake and Yosemite Falls are some of my favorites for sure. We camped at Camp 4 last time we were there and learned much about the climbing culture there as well! So fun!
it’s been many years since I backpacked in Yosemite. Your post brings back many great memories. and also some places I didn’t see when I was there. Your photos are inspiring.
Yosemite looks amazing!! I’ve always wanted to tour round the USA visiting the National Parks and this one is at the top of the list!! I’ve saved it for when travel reopens and we can fulfill that dream!