Yosemite National Park is a breathtaking natural wonderland nestled in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Known for its dramatic granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and ancient, towering sequoias, it’s no surprise Yosemite is California’s most-visited national park. From the moment you enter Yosemite Valley, you’re greeted by a majestic, almost surreal panorama— most notably, the sheer face of El Capitan rising nearly 3,000 feet above the valley floor and Half Dome’s iconic silhouette etched against the sky. One day goes fast, but it’s possible to see the best highlights of Yosemite, even if you just have a single day in the park!
It would be easy to spend a few days, if not a week, exploring Yosemite at a leisurely pace; however, that’s not always in the cards. We are big on the something-is-better-than-nothing philosophy, so if you only have one day in Yosemite, we can help maximize your time! It is more than worth the trek to see all the unforgettable sights, go on a couple adventurous hikes, and catch a breathtaking sunset.
Fast Facts About Yosemite National Park
Size: 747,956 acres
Visitors: 3,897,070 visitors annually (data from 2023)
Highest elevation: 13,114 feet at Mount Lyell
Closest Airports: Fresno-Yosemite (FAT) and Mammoth Yosemite (MMH) airports are both ~2.5 hour drive to Yosemite Valley; Sacramento Airport (SMF) is ~3.5 hour drive to Yosemite Valley
National Park Initiation: October 1st, 1890 by an Act of Congress (3rd national park in the USA)
Fun Fact: Yosemite is home to three groves of sequoias, and the oldest one— Grizzly Giant— is estimated to be about 3,000 years old
More Yosemite fun facts! While Yellowstone is heralded as the first national park, much of the nomenclature used to protect Yellowstone land was modeled after the Yosemite Grant. The big difference? Yosemite is housed entirely in California, whereas Yellowstone occupies regions of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Due to its multi-state occupancy Yellowstone became the first park protected nationally. Not long after, Yosemite was officially designated as a national park, making it the third in the U.S. National Park System.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The most popular time of year to visit is summer into early fall, with the highest visitation in July and August. This time of year, you can expect temperatures to get up into the 80s and 90s, but it will cool off into the 50s in the evening.
Having visited a couple different time in early and mid-October, I am a staunch supporter of the slightly-off-season visit! With highs in the 70s, it’s perfect for hiking… but not too cold to camp through the evening! No real chance of snow and likelihood of rain is still pretty minimal. The only downside is that the park has dried out some. Mirror Lake becomes more of an enchanting puddle and the Mist Trail is much less likely to soak you, compared to early summer. None of this takes a way from the beauty of the park— just a slightly different experience. Worth it, in my opinion, to deal with almost HALF as many fellow visitors!!
Thou Shall Not Pass
Due to issues with congestion and traffic in the park, a timed reservation system has been implemented at Yosemite. This only is in place during the busy season! In 2024, this was as follows:
| 4/13 – 6/30 | Reservations only required for weekends and holidays from 5 am to 4 pm |
| 7/1 – 8/16 | Reservations required daily from 5 am to 4 pm |
| 8/17 – 10/ 13 | Reservations only required for weekends and holidays from 5 am to 3 pm |
This was modified in 2025, as reservations were not necessary after September 1st! Be sure to check out reservation requirements before you arrive.
The timed entry reservation differs from the $35/vehicle entrance fee everyone pays for admission into the park. This entry fee is enforced year-round as it’s important for preserving and maintaining the park. The timed entry reservation system is completely different! Its sole purpose being to control the influx of people into the park. This is an online reservation system, so there is a $2 fee. You can make your ticketed entry reservations here.
If you have camping or lodging reservations in the park or are on a park-authorized commercial tour, you do not need to worry about securing a timed entry reservation.
Yosemite Valley Shuttle
Yosemite Valley is a popular area of the park, so to facilitate traffic and parking concerns, there are two shuttle systems within the valley. They both run from 7am to 10pm, hitting the key points of interest, as noted below. Since the East Valley shuttle runs a smaller loop, buses tend to arrive a little more frequently. Even at that, the longest wait time is estimated to be about 22 minutes.
When you’re just visiting for the day, the shuttle system may have less utility, but it’s certainly helpful to know about— especially if you visit during the busy summer months.
The One-Very-Full-Day Itinerary
One day in the park goes fast! It’s impossible to see everything, but this itinerary will allow you to hit the highlights.
Depending on what brings you through the Yosemite area, you may find yourself wanting to camp in the park. We have a complete list of all accommodation options in the park, in our two-day Yosemite itinerary, found here.
What’s not on here? Hiking Half Dome. This 14-16 miles hike is iconic in the park, but WILL take up your whole day. Plus it requires the acquisition of a permit as only 300 hikers are permitted to make the trek each day. You can learn more about that here.
Yosemite Valley Visitor Center
This is the largest visitor center in the park and the main hub for park information. It’s a must-stop for any park-goers looking to secure their park stamp! More importantly, the visitor center is a buffet of resources like maps, exhibits, and interactive displays that cover the park’s history, geology, and wildlife. This is also a great area to go to the bathroom, grab a snack, and get ready to hit the ground running!
Vernal & Nevada Falls via the Mist Trail
The Vernal and Nevada Falls via the Mist Trail is an awesome hike because it combines breathtaking waterfalls, diverse terrain, and unforgettable views into one memorable hike. This trail takes you up close to the powerful cascades of Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall. A rather immersive experience, the waterfall mist cools off hikers as they ascend, hence the trail’s name. Climbing the granite stair-master-come-to-life alongside Vernal Fall is rather unforgettable, but so worth it as you’re rewarded with sweeping views of Yosemite Valley and the Merced River atop Nevada Falls.
The hike is around 6.5 miles from the trailhead. A heads up/FYI, I ended up parking in Curry Village, which made it more of an 8ish mile hike– just so you’re mentally prepared. It’s certainly not an impossible endeavor, but the 2,208 ft of elevation is definitely not easy peasy.
lunch in Yosemite Village
After you finish your hike, grab an early lunch in Yosemite Village. There’s a handful of different options to chose from. You can’t go wrong with a sandwich from Degnan’s Deli, but just be sure to grab something. There’s more hiking in store!
Glacier Point
Home to one of the most spectacular, panoramic views in the park, Glacier Point features sweeping vistas of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the High Sierra peaks. Sitting at over 7,200 feet, this viewpoint provides a breathtaking perspective of the valley and its renown, granite landmarks.
Depending on how much time you have or perhaps how your legs are feeling, you have two options for taking in the view. You can either take a short walk to a viewpoint or hike the Sentinel Dome and Taft Point Trail. The latter is about 5 miles round trip and a little over 1,000 feet of elevation. This is what I opted for (and loved it), but either way you’re going to have a beautiful view.
Tunnel View
Finish the day out by taking in the sunset at Tunnel View. It’s hard not to feel like a photographer, with the sun painting El Capitan and Half Dome with rays of golden light. This spot is easily accessible, making it a popular choice for capturing postcard-worthy photos. Even if you don’t take a single picture, simply soaking in the magic of Yosemite’s dramatic landscapes is an unbeatable way to round out the day. The sweeping views from Tunnel View at sunset encapsulate both the grandeur and tranquility of Yosemite in an unforgettable scene.
Catching the sunset at Tunnel View does mean backtracking back towards Yosemite Valley a little bit. This totally works if you plan to camp or stay in the Yosemite Valley region of the park. However, if you’re just driving through, definitely hit Tunnel View on your way to Glacier Point.
After living in California for a few years, I can confidently say there’s never enough time for all the adventures to be had. Having been to Yosemite a couple times now, I promise the park is amazing, regardless of how long you’re there. Even if you only have a single day, take the time to go check out the best highlights of Yosemite. Happy travels!
A literal life saving queen, Kayla Grace is an Army nurse in southern California. She can be found patching patients up in the emergency department but is equally likely to be spotted out hiking or backpacking. She is also quite the coffee connoisseur, and she will go out of her way to find a local coffee shop when she visits somewhere new!
