How to Spend 3 days in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is just one of the amazing National Parks that California has to offer. It is filled with jaw-dropping rock formations, waterfalls, and Giant Sequoia Trees. There is much to do in this park, but with a long weekend you are able to see the majority of the park. Have more time? Then you should consider going on one of the longer hikes. If you only have one day, focus your time on the valley floor.
What is the best time of year to go to Yosemite National Park?
Yosemite National Park can be visited year round. High season is typically between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Due to the limited number of roads, you will spend a lot of time in traffic during peak season and on weekends. Although Yosemite is open year round, many of the roads are closed from late fall to early spring due to snowfall. I recommend trying to go on the border seasons of late spring or early fall when the crowds are less but the roads are all open. We have gone in spring where it is beautiful with all of the waterfalls at their peak. During fall, the colors are beautiful, but unfortunately the waterfalls are barely flowing or not present at all. Due to it’s location, wildfires frequent this area, so going in spring or fall makes this less likely and better air quality.
Where should you stay while visiting Yosemite?
Lodging within Yosemite is limited and you need to plan ahead. There are a few hotels located within the National Park. One that I would recommend at least visiting, would be The Ahwahnee. However unless your willing to pay at least $350/night and booked several months in advance, you likely won’t be able to get a reservation. Another option within the park is the Yosemite Valley Lodge, which is a bit cheaper but again you have to book months in advance. You can book both here. My recommendation would be to get an Airbnb or VRBO in nearby Groveland. We were able to get a nice house for a little over $200/night. If you don’t want to do an Airbnb or VRBO, other good hotel options are Yosemite View Lodge and Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. There are lots of camping sites within and around Yosemite as well.
Getting into Yosemite National Park
There are 4 entrances into Yosemite National Park.
If you are coming from the Bay Area or staying in Groveland, you will most likely be using the Big Oak Flat entrance on HWY 120 East. This allows easy access to Tioga road, the valley, and Hetch Hetchy.
Arch Rock entrance on HWY 140 is in the middle and allows easy access to everything.
The South Entrance on HWY 141 is the best entrance if you are coming from Los Angeles area. There are lots of curves coming down this road, but one of the benefits is that your first view of the valley will be Tunnel view.
If you are coming from the east, you will most likely be using the Tioga Pass Road on HWY 120. This road does close during the winter, so make sure to check if it is open before you leave.
Getting around Yosemite National Park
Within Yosemite, there are a limited number of roads which unfortunately means you will likely be spending time in traffic. In the valley, there is one road that creates a loop around the park. The majority of it is one way, however there are a few turn around spots should you miss something. I recommend trying to complete the entire loop so that you don’t miss anything.
Gas stations are very limited within the park, you should plan to fill up before you enter for the day.
There is food available within the park in the valley, but it is limited. If you are doing Glacier Point or Tioga Pass Road, there will be no available food stops. Plan to bringing snacks with you, if that is your plan for the day.
One of my highest recommendations is downloading the GuideAlong app. This is a tour that goes off you phones GPS and tells you about upcoming locations and history of the park.
Day 1 - Exploring the Yosemite Valley Floor
The majority of the sights are within the valley floor and there is a lot packed into this little area. You should plan to get an early start for this day, being that this is where you will see the most traffic. There is one road that goes in a loop around the valley one way with a few turn around spots. Nevertheless there are plenty of spots to pull off the road to enjoy the sights or go on a hike.
The Ahwahnee
The Ahwahnee is one of the few hotels located within the Yosemite valley floor. It opened in 1927 and still maintains the old time feel. Visitors are welcome to walk around and enjoy a meal at the restaurant. As this is one of the few places inside the park to eat, I recommend taking a break to get a bite to eat here even if it is just to enjoy a snack.
Day 2 - Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove
This day you will be exploring more of the amazing views within Yosemite. Although Yosemite is small, it takes awhile to get around the park. You will spend some time driving along Wawona Road to Glacier Point, the best place to see half dome. Don’t forget to explore one of the Giant Sequoia groves while you are in Yosemite as well.
Day 3 - Tioga Pass, East Entrance to Yosemite
Depending on how you enter Yosemite, you may do this just getting into the park. The east entrance to the park on HWY 120 is how you’ll enter if you are coming from the east or Tahoe like we did. This day, you will get to explore the tops of the mountains as well as Mono Lake and June Lake Loop.
Lake Tenaya
Tenaya Lake is a beautiful alpine lake located at over 8000 ft. Despite it being an alpine lake, it is located right off the road and easily accessible by anyone. During the summer, you can enjoy water activities such as swimming, kayaking, or fishing. If it’s cold out, enjoy a nice walk around the lake.