3 Days in Yosemite: The 12 Best Things to Do for a Weekend

Yosemite may not be the first national park, but it’s certainly among the most popular and beloved. Home to stunning megaliths of rock, beautiful waterfalls, and a sweeping valley that captures the heart of every traveler who lays eyes on it – just like it did to John Muir. If you’re feeling the call to spend a weekend in Yosemite, you’re not alone!

I spent a weekend in Yosemite a few years ago, and I basically ignored everything in this post I’m about to share – and I regret it! Read on to learn from my mistakes and get inspiration with the best things to do in Yosemite with this guide and suggested Yosemite 3-day itinerary. (If you’re short on time, I also have a guide for how to make the most of one day in Yosemite.)

In this post, I promote travel to a national park that is the traditional lands of the Me-Wuk (Southern Sierra Miwok) people. With respect, I make a formal land acknowledgment, extending my appreciation and respect to the past and present people of these lands. To learn more about the peoples who call these lands home, I invite you to explore Native Land.

This post was originally published in February 2019 and updated in August 2021 to provide the most up-to-date information on visiting the national parks this year.

Yosemite Travel Tips

Before jumping into what to do in Yosemite – and how to pack it all into a single weekend – I wanted to share some important travel info about Yosemite National Park, including how to get there, when to visit, and how parking and driving work in the park.

Getting to Yosemite National Park

The main part of Yosemite National Park – the Yosemite Valley – is a four-hour drive from San Francisco. If you fly into Oakland or San Jose airport instead of San Francisco, you can cut that time down to about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Keep travel time in mind as you plan your weekend in Yosemite.

From the Bay Area, you’ll head east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. Most of the drive will pass through California’s Central Valley. This drive will give you sweeping views across a major part of California’s agricultural heart. In the last hour of the drive, you’ll head into the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, which makes for a fun winding drive up into the mountains.

It’s also possible to get to Yosemite without a car. To do so, you’ll need to take the BART to the Richmond station, catch the Amtrak to Merced, and then ride the YARTS bus to into Yosemite National Park. 

When to Visit Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is great a visit year round. In the spring and summer, you can enjoy great weather and summer outdoor activities like hiking and climbing; in the autumn and winter, heavy snowfall in the Sierras make Yosemite a great destination for winter hiking, downhill and cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

• Spring: temperatures average 45°-50° each day, but you should plan for rain
• Summer: temperatures are high, averaging a high of 90°, and dry (less than a day of rain per month on average)
• Autumn: temperatures start to cool to an average of 60° and some rain comes back
• Winter: temperatures are chilly with an average of 30°-35° and you can expect snow

No matter what time of year you plan to visit Yosemite, you’re sure to have an unforgettable trip.

In addition to considering what time of year to visit, plan your trip to avoid the crowds. If you plan a trip on the weekends or holidays, crowds at Yosemite are unbelievable (or unbearable). Visiting Friday through Monday – especially on holiday weekends throughout the year –, prepare for traffic and crowds; instead, arrive on Monday and stay through Thursday to experience the fewest crowds possible. 

Yosemite National Park Entrance Fees 

As part of the National Park system, Yosemite operates under the same rules as other parks. You’ll either need to pay an entrance fee or use a National Parks Pass to enter.

Here are your options:

• The private vehicle entrance fee, good for 7 days, is $35. 
• You can walk or bike into the park for $20 per person, good for 7 days. As Yosemite Valley is so long, I don’t recommend this if you only have one day.
• An annual America the Beautiful Pass is $80. This gets you into every national park and all fee-collecting federal lands. I got my first one in 2019 and it’s such a money-saver that the America the Beautiful Pass is totally worth it! You can get the America the Beautiful Pass from REI.

You can read more about the fees – and check that the above is accurate – on the Yosemite NPS website.

Driving & Parking in Yosemite National Park

Technically, there are a few main roads that wind their way through Yosemite National Park. But Yosemite Valley only has a couple of roads that you need to pay attention to; Southside Drive and Northside Drive. Together, these two streets make a loop that goes to the majority of your stops on this one-day Yosemite itinerary.

As for parking, that’s one of the main downsides of Yosemite National Park. As one of the most popular national parks in the United States, thousands of people visit this national park every single day. Consequently, parking can be quite a challenge.

Your best bet is to arrive as early as possible – ideally before 9 a.m. even on weekdays – to snag a spot in one of the three parking lots in Yosemite Valley: Yosemite Village, Curry Village, and Yosemite Falls. Then, you’ll simply leave your car there all day and take the park’s free shuttle to follow this itinerary. (Note: The free shuttle is not running in 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic – more on that in the next section!)

Important Changes for 2021

In summer 2021, Yosemite National Park made a few important changes you need to know before you just turn up:

• Most importantly: because of the pandemic and no free shuttle Day Use Reservations are required to access the Yosemite Valley through September 30th.
  
  Reservations are available through Recreation.gov either seven days before or the day of your planned visit at 8am PST each day. However these sell out SUPER quickly each morning so be sure to create an account on Recreation.gov in advance and be logged in before trying to get a reservation.
  
  Reservations cost $2 – but that is included in the $35 vehicle admission fee (if you have an America the Beautiful Pass, you can note that in the reservation process). Learn more on this dedicated page on the Yosemite NPS site.
• Also important, there’s a new traffic pattern in Yosemite Valley this year. In partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, the NPS team is working to reduce traffic and congestion in the park. Learn more on this dedicated page.

Okay, now onto the rest of the things you need to know planning your 1 day Yosemite itinerary!

Where to Stay for a Weekend in Yosemite

If you want to stay inside Yosemite National Park, your options are a bit limited. Also depending on when you visit Yosemite during the year, your accommodation options will differ. But here are your options for where to stay during a weekend in Yosemite.

The main options you have are hotels, including the Ahwahnee Hotel, the Yosemite Valley Lodge, or the historic Wawona Hotel and White Wolf Lodge. The Glacier Point Ski Hut is open only in the winter if you’re keen to be in the heart of it while skiing in Yosemite. For canvas tent camping options, you can stay at Housekeeping Camp, Curry Village, or Tuolumne Meadows Lodge. Lastly, there are over a dozen more traditional campgrounds managed by the National Park Service.

If you’re open to staying outside the park and driving a bit more, there are plenty of fantastic options. South of the park, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite offers luxury at a good price. North of the park, I stayed at The Groveland Hotel on my first trip to Yosemite and it’s undergone a change of ownership and big upgrade since I visited. A great close option is Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal, right near the edge of the park.

Obviously, it’s all a matter of what you’re willing to spend and how close to the park you want to stay. Whether it’s the historic charm of the Majestic Yosemite Hotel in the heart of the park, camping in one of the alpine meadows, or the mod Groveland Hotel north of the park border, there’s a wide range of options for any budget.

The Best Things to Do in Yosemite for a Weekend

Here I’ve pulled together some of the top experiences, hikes, and sights in Yosemite. You can easily spend a weekend in Yosemite and barely scratch the surface of all this amazing park has to offer. Based on my experience though, these are some of the best options for spending 3 days in Yosemite.

Bridalveil Fall

Bridalveil Fall is by far the most popular waterfall in Yosemite National Park, taking its name from its delicate appearance as it cascades down to the valley floor. There’s a 0.5-mile trail from the parking area to give you a great view of the 620-foot waterfall. In the spring and summer, expect to experience a good mist as you hike near the falls; in the winter, that mist makes the trails slick with ice.

Cathedral Peak & Cathedral Lakes

Located outside the Yosemite Valley, Cathedral Peak and Cathedral Lakes are a bit off the heavily-trodden path for visitors – but stunningly beautiful if you’re willing to make the trek. Cathedral Peak rises to 10,912 feet in elevation and is a popular rock climbing destination. Located at the feet of Cathedral Peak, an eight-mile trail allows you to hike to both Upper and Lower Cathedral Lakes.

Clouds Rest

If you want an ambitious hike with stunning views and fewer crowds, Clouds Rest should top your list. A 14.5-mile out-and-back trail will take the full day, but it’s well worth it. From the top of Clouds Rest, you’ll have 360-degree views that make it seem like you can see the whole world. Note that this trail is not for the faint of heart – it’s not the most strenuous hike in Yosemite, but it’s guaranteed to make anyone nervous about heights feel weak in the knees.

El Capitan

El Capitan is one of the two most well-known sights in Yosemite (along with Half Dome), and it’s best viewed from various points throughout the park. While some overly ambitious rock climbing folks have tried (and succeeded/failed) to ascend the 3,000-foot vertical wall, that option is not available unless you’re professionally trained. Instead, if you’re really set on reaching the top, there are a couple options, all ambitious: a 5.6-mile extension of Yosemite Falls Trailhead, 9.7 miles from the Big Oak Flat Road, or almost 17 miles from Tamarack Flat. 

Glacier Point

Glacier Point is one of the best viewpoints in Yosemite and can be reached by car in the summer for those who want to take in the view without breaking a sweat. In the winter, it’s a 10.5-mile ski to reach the view. From the top, look down on Yosemite Valley and see Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. For all these reasons, it’s one of the most popular spots in the park and you should expect crowds any day you visit.

Half Dome

The second highly recognizable sight in Yosemite National Park, Half Dome is likely what you think of you’re picturing Yosemite in your mind’s eye. Half Dome rises some 5,000 feet above the floor of Yosemite Valley and is one of the most ambitious “popular” hikes you can undertake. The 14- to 16-mile round-trip hike takes most people between 10-12 hours – so start with the sunrise if you don’t want to be hiking in the dark. Oh, and you’ll need a permit! If all that still sounds exciting, start planning and you too can enjoy the stunning views from atop this massive mountain. 

Mirror Lake

An easy hike, Mirror Lake is a good option if you want to be awed by the great outdoors without committing to a half-day or full day hike. Mirror Lake, as its name suggests, is a beautiful lake where you can see Mt. Watkins reflected on a clear day. You can make a two-mile out-and-back hike to the lake, or opt for the full five-mile loop around the lake – both have minimal elevation change, making them a good option for less outdoorsy types like me.

Tenaya Lake

Tenaya Lake is located between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows, north of the main part of the park most people visit. Located along Highway 120, you can stop for a walk along the shores of Tenaya Lake as you explore this part of the park. There’s a 2.5-mile loop around the lake; in the summer, take the route counter-clockwise and you can stop and cool your feet on the sandy beach along the east side of the lake.

Tunnel View

Tunnel View is the postcard view of Yosemite you’re thinking of right now. This scenic pullout offers a panoramic vista of the Yosemite Valley including El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome, and it’s the perfect spot for an Instagram shoot – if that’s your style.

Tuolumne Grove

Most people visit Yosemite for the craggy peaks, but the Sierra Nevadas are also home to Giant Sequoia trees – and I’d be remiss if I didn’t recommend seeing them too while you’re in the area. Tuolumne Grove is a great spot to do so, northwest of Yosemite Valley. You can hike the 2.5-mile trail to stand among the most massive trees in California.  

Yosemite Falls

Yosemite Falls is the other picturesque and popular waterfall in the Yosemite Valley, and beautiful to behold from the Valley floor. If you want to see it from another perspective, it’s a 7.2-mile roundtrip hike and climb to the top of the falls, gaining 2,70 feet in elevation in the process. This is also one of Yosemite’s oldest trails, so you can walk in the footsteps of some of America’s great preservationists when climbing this trail.

Yosemite Valley Visitor Center

In case you’re not inspired enough for this trip, be sure to plan a stop at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center (a must-visit for national park aficionados). Here you’ll find exhibits about the history and geography of Yosemite, the flora and fauna you might encounter in the park, and maps to help you get oriented. Plus you can meet park rangers to answer any other questions you have.

A Weekend in Yosemite: 3 Day Itinerary

Based on all there is to do, it’s hard to squeeze everything into 3 days in Yosemite – especially if you want to do one or more of the big day-long hikes. Here is a suggested Yosemite 3-day itinerary, based on my own trip and experiences.

Day 1 – Get to Know Yosemite Valley

On your first day of your weekend in Yosemite, I recommend taking it easy – not because there’s not much to do, but because there’s so much you’ll need to get your bearings!

After a stop at the Visitor Center, head into Yosemite Valley. You can drive the loop to see some of the mountain sights like El Capitan and Half Dome, or Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Fall. You can stop and walk around at some of the main parking areas, plus visit the Majestic Yosemite Lodge for lunch or dinner and admire the view from the huge windows in the dining rooms. 

Day 2 – Explore the Great Outdoors

Now that you’re oriented to the national park and all it has to offer, plan to get out and explore for the rest of your weekend in Yosemite. Consider making this your hiking day! For a lighter option, you could stroll the train to Bridalveil Fall, do a day hike from Glacier Point, or do the loop at Mirror Lake. If you want to feel the burn, plan ahead and spend the whole day hiking Clouds Rest or El Capitan. 

No matter which hike(s) you choose, plan ahead with food, water, and sun protection for the day. You can stock up at one of the park stores near your trailhead (the Village Store in Yosemite Village is a good option if you’re staying right in Yosemite Valley). 

Day 3 – Beyond the Valley

On your third and final day of your weekend in Yosemite, get out of Yosemite Valley to see how much else the park has to offer. If you’re visiting in warm weather months, head north to Tioga Pass Road where you can hike at Tuolumne Grove or Tenaya Lake. Even Cathedral Lakes is a good option without a ton of elevation gain. Like I said in the title, this is a weekend itinerary full of the great outdoors!

If you want to extend your trip, follow Tioga Pass Road to Mono Lake on the eastern side of the Sierras. 

Have questions about spending a weekend in Yosemite? Let me know in the comments!

Help others discover this post too!