The funny thing is, it’s often easier to get a campground reservation than it is to get an entrance reservation. You can generally always find a campground reservation at one of the campgrounds. But people often don’t cancel entrance reservations since you aren’t getting any money back if you do. Yes, a campground costs more. But if you REALLY want to go to Yosemite on a particular day and can’t get a ticketed entry, this is an option.
Thanks so much for clearing up the government's confusing process. I was feeling bummed that I had made travel plans and reservations then thought I also needed the Entrance Reservation. We will be visiting mid-week in May.
Wow, This place is amazing, It's my favorite place in the world and It's the most beautiful place there is. This place is awesome because There are big mountains and There are so many forests. There are so many trees in this place and Trees are these wonderful things that grow outside, They make our planet beautiful. I enjoyed your video and I'd like to go there someday. Greetings from Lima, Peru. 🇵🇪🦙🇺🇸🗽🏞️🌎🙂👍
10:55 No need reservations in gray out calendar days? Now it's even more confusing. This reservation page shows :"July 1 through August 16: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day." and yet the calendar shows those gray out days also. According to you, those day do not require a reservation and we just come in. But calendar have mark notes like A - for Available, Grey out squares - Unavailable, N/R - not released yet.
You need to look at this calendar to determine if a reservation is needed on the day you are there: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm If it is, then you'll need to go to recreation.gov to see what's available. If your date is greyed-out on recreation.gov, that means that everything has already been snatched up and you will need to try for a last-minute reservation as it gets closer to your travel date.
@@DirtInMyShoes It looks like you didn't read my comment. You stated that gray out days do not require reservations, when calendar shows that they are simply not available. It doesn't say: Reservations are not required on gray out days it says: Unavailable. Anyway, this is an opened space. The reservation is ridiculous redundancy and money collection. People could just park on side of the road. What with those "No Parking" signs on side of the road, which haven't been there before? The more people come the more entrance fee collection. Whoever come up with this restriction just restrict money flow in. Not enough parking, make more parking. Set up mobile restrooms in busy season. Extra money in busy season - hire extra help. business will prosper, everybody is happy.
Yes, thank you for your comment. They changed that policy after I recorded this video, so there has been some confusion around those half-day reservations!
So just to make sure I want to go into the park September 19th (Thursday) & leave the 20th (Friday). Would that mean I don't need a reservation? I just want to hike & camp 1 night.
Thank you - your post is so helpful. Can I ask, if I drive into the park after 4pm and have a 2 night reservation at Tenya Lodge, would I need a permit for day 2 & 3? Or, would the lodging allow me to enter without reservation? Thanks again
On the calendar, the legend for grey says "Unavailable". Can someone confirm whether this means reservation is Unavailable ? It seems to differ from what is mentioned in this video.
It likely means that those reservations have already been released and snatched up. As it gets closer to the date when they release the last-minute reservations for that date, it should change to NR.
Thanks! So I’m assuming the half day reservation works similar to the full day. I was able to get only a Half day reservation for July 3rd but good chance I won’t make it in time from 12pm-4pm that day. I should be able to get in July 4th early morning though right?
Hello, i try to make reservations for July 26, this Friday, and it's not possible. Do you think it's going to be available in close time, or it's already busy. Thank you
Last year (2023) we could get in the park any time. There was a long line to the entrance, but then we could freely get in around 2pm without any of these nonsense entrance reservations. At first I though:"Lots of cars probably means - no parking". But NO! People come and go, there were parking spots all the time. We could attend Mariposa Grove, Tunnel view, Yosemite Valley and Lower Yosemite Fall all in one day. We are not rich people to book 500-1000 bucks per night hotel. We come and go and it's 3 and half hours to drive to Yosemite for us, no including entrance line waiting time (could be another 1.5 hours). We could get up at 6 or 7am and have a full day in Yosemite, moving from place to place, taking pictures. If 5am-4pm is no go without reservations now, what do we suppose to do? Start driving to Yosemite around 1am to get in the park without reservations? It drives me absolutely mad. What would even people do in 5am in the morning? Wondering around with flashlights? Coming after 4pm will leave us about 4 hours before sunset. So we would have on the road about 8-9.5 hours in total to spend about 4 hours in the park? This is deeply upsetting. It looks like whoever made this reservation thing is taking an advantage (or even on the take), forcing people to spend not only for entrance itself ($35), but now for reservations entrance which are impossible to get, therefore pushing people to rent a campground or hotel. This is not a crowd control this is an extortion.
@@DirtInMyShoes What pros? There will be a long line at the entrance of those who had the reservation first, then it will be even longer of those who had no chance to reserve. In any case park will not be less busier. What do you think people without reservations would do? Turn around? If I'll have 5 hours drive I won't move an inch until they let me in. Let's see the angry mob honking behind me.
I have a permit for the week of July 21st. It is my first time visiting Yosemite. I have no idea where to start. I received an email to verify my plan for my time there. Where can I get some help
Can you get a reservation when you get to the park? Or if I’m trying to go there last minute can I still get a reservation online if it’s on a Saturday?
Yes, as long as you have the proof of where you're staying for that number of people :) And you'll need a copy of the drivers license of whoever's name the reservation is in for the other car.
If you have half day reservation, I read that the first day you can enter only in the noon but other days you can enter anytime Can someone please confirm this
I am confused, can someone help! What if you have a vehicle? Do you still need to pay the $35 reservation fee? Or, does the reservation fee only relate to the $2? I want to get tickets for 29/08 and 30/08. Thank you!
You need to pay the $35 park entrance fee when you arrive at the park. The $2 reservation fee is different and must be done online when you get your reservation, as outlined in this video. Good luck!
@@DirtInMyShoes Thank you for the reply. Does this mean for the dates listed above, I do not need to make a reservation and pay the $2 fee (even if driving through peak times). Only the $35 fee for the car upon arrival? The website says this "Driving through the park also requires a reservation if entering between 5 am and 4 pm (on days a reservation is required)." hence the confusion. Thanks for the help!
@@willcollomosse5414 if the dates you are visiting are not highlighted in green on this calendar, then you don't need the $2 reservation, but you will still need to pay the $35 entrance fee when you get there: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm
It's crazy that Americans have to get in the reservation line with non Americans. Americans should have access and the non American visitors should have to make a reservation. This country is a joke.
This comment is a joke. It's great that we get to share all of these beautiful places with people from all around the world! And we would still have overcrowding problems in the national parks even without the foreign travelers, so that wouldn't even fix the problem.
The funny thing is, it’s often easier to get a campground reservation than it is to get an entrance reservation. You can generally always find a campground reservation at one of the campgrounds. But people often don’t cancel entrance reservations since you aren’t getting any money back if you do. Yes, a campground costs more. But if you REALLY want to go to Yosemite on a particular day and can’t get a ticketed entry, this is an option.
It's certainly an option :)
Thanks so much for clearing up the government's confusing process. I was feeling bummed that I had made travel plans and reservations then thought I also needed the Entrance Reservation. We will be visiting mid-week in May.
You're so welcome! Enjoy Yosemite!
Thankgod we came pass this video ! We arre traveling from Denmark and did'nt know about the entrance reservations......
Oh good! I hope you're able to get what you need!
Thanks
You're welcome!
Wow, This place is amazing, It's my favorite place in the world and It's the most beautiful place there is. This place is awesome because There are big mountains and There are so many forests. There are so many trees in this place and Trees are these wonderful things that grow outside, They make our planet beautiful. I enjoyed your video and I'd like to go there someday. Greetings from Lima, Peru. 🇵🇪🦙🇺🇸🗽🏞️🌎🙂👍
So true!
Very helpful. Thanks from Germany 👍
Happy to help!
Great information thank you 🙏 glad I came across your channel. Congratulations on your channel.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you!!
You're welcome!
Take the YART bus, then free shuttle
It's a great option!
Will you be posting a video for the vehicle reservation system at Glacier NP soon?
Next week!
10:55 No need reservations in gray out calendar days? Now it's even more confusing. This reservation page shows :"July 1 through August 16: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day." and yet the calendar shows those gray out days also. According to you, those day do not require a reservation and we just come in. But calendar have mark notes like A - for Available, Grey out squares - Unavailable, N/R - not released yet.
You need to look at this calendar to determine if a reservation is needed on the day you are there: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm
If it is, then you'll need to go to recreation.gov to see what's available. If your date is greyed-out on recreation.gov, that means that everything has already been snatched up and you will need to try for a last-minute reservation as it gets closer to your travel date.
@@DirtInMyShoes It looks like you didn't read my comment. You stated that gray out days do not require reservations, when calendar shows that they are simply not available. It doesn't say: Reservations are not required on gray out days it says: Unavailable. Anyway, this is an opened space. The reservation is ridiculous redundancy and money collection. People could just park on side of the road. What with those "No Parking" signs on side of the road, which haven't been there before? The more people come the more entrance fee collection. Whoever come up with this restriction just restrict money flow in. Not enough parking, make more parking. Set up mobile restrooms in busy season. Extra money in busy season - hire extra help. business will prosper, everybody is happy.
Noon/half day reservations must arrive at noon or later on the first day reserved. Day two and day three you may access the park at any time.
Yes, thank you for your comment. They changed that policy after I recorded this video, so there has been some confusion around those half-day reservations!
So just to make sure I want to go into the park September 19th (Thursday) & leave the 20th (Friday). Would that mean I don't need a reservation? I just want to hike & camp 1 night.
As long as its not a weekend or holiday, you won't need one!
Hi and thank you. So what information will you need to provide for any passengers in the vehicle?
Just the ID of the person who's name is on the reservation. No info needed on the passengers!
Thank you - your post is so helpful. Can I ask, if I drive into the park after 4pm and have a 2 night reservation at Tenya Lodge, would I need a permit for day 2 & 3? Or, would the lodging allow me to enter without reservation? Thanks again
You'll need a reservation! Tenaya Lodge is not inside of the park and doesn't count toward the reservation process in Yosemite. Good luck!
Hello,
I am going to visit on November 245th. Do I still need to make a reservation? I dont see any available reservation for the month of Novemeber
No, the reservations will have ended by then.
On the calendar, the legend for grey says "Unavailable". Can someone confirm whether this means reservation is Unavailable ? It seems to differ from what is mentioned in this video.
It likely means that those reservations have already been released and snatched up. As it gets closer to the date when they release the last-minute reservations for that date, it should change to NR.
Thanks!
So I’m assuming the half day reservation works similar to the full day.
I was able to get only a Half day reservation for July 3rd but good chance I won’t make it in time from 12pm-4pm that day.
I should be able to get in July 4th early morning though right?
That is correct!
@@DirtInMyShoesthanks! 😊
What if you are camping in the park? Would you need one?
If it's a NP campground within the park boundaries, then no extra reservation needed.
Since I’m almost to Yosemite and didnt make a reservation can i go at 4:00pm?
You'll find information about what to do if you don't have a reservation near the end of the video. Timestamps are in the video description!
Hello, i try to make reservations for July 26, this Friday, and it's not possible. Do you think it's going to be available in close time, or it's already busy. Thank you
Everything is probably already snatched up at this point :(
Thank you for great video. It's still not clear to me if I can enter the park multiple times over these 3 days or just once?
You can enter and exit and much as you want during the dates/times of your reservation!
Last year (2023) we could get in the park any time. There was a long line to the entrance, but then we could freely get in around 2pm without any of these nonsense entrance reservations. At first I though:"Lots of cars probably means - no parking". But NO! People come and go, there were parking spots all the time. We could attend Mariposa Grove, Tunnel view, Yosemite Valley and Lower Yosemite Fall all in one day. We are not rich people to book 500-1000 bucks per night hotel. We come and go and it's 3 and half hours to drive to Yosemite for us, no including entrance line waiting time (could be another 1.5 hours). We could get up at 6 or 7am and have a full day in Yosemite, moving from place to place, taking pictures. If 5am-4pm is no go without reservations now, what do we suppose to do? Start driving to Yosemite around 1am to get in the park without reservations? It drives me absolutely mad. What would even people do in 5am in the morning? Wondering around with flashlights? Coming after 4pm will leave us about 4 hours before sunset. So we would have on the road about 8-9.5 hours in total to spend about 4 hours in the park? This is deeply upsetting. It looks like whoever made this reservation thing is taking an advantage (or even on the take), forcing people to spend not only for entrance itself ($35), but now for reservations entrance which are impossible to get, therefore pushing people to rent a campground or hotel. This is not a crowd control this is an extortion.
The reservation system definitely has its pros and cons, but I understand the frustration.
@@DirtInMyShoes What pros? There will be a long line at the entrance of those who had the reservation first, then it will be even longer of those who had no chance to reserve. In any case park will not be less busier. What do you think people without reservations would do? Turn around? If I'll have 5 hours drive I won't move an inch until they let me in. Let's see the angry mob honking behind me.
I have a permit for the week of July 21st. It is my first time visiting Yosemite. I have no idea where to start. I received an email to verify my plan for my time there. Where can I get some help
I have a fully planned out Yosemite Itinerary that will walk you through everything you need! www.dirtinmyshoes.com/yosemite-itinerary/
Hello, sorry for my english. Is it right, when we stay from 4/5 september 2024 we don t need a reservation?
Correct! You can take a look at this map to see which dates require reservations: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm
I went to buy my tickets and it won't allow me. It is for July 26 & 27. Is it too late? Do you have to go on the site at 7:50 am still?
You've already missed the initial release, so you'll have to try again when they release the last-minute reservations.
Can you get a reservation when you get to the park? Or if I’m trying to go there last minute can I still get a reservation online if it’s on a Saturday?
You can't get a reservation when you get there. You need to do it online in advance!
How to access Yosemite park before it opens? I don't have reservations.
I cover that at the end of the video!
We have 8 people / 2 cars. If we stay in Yosemite West can we all get into the park without a reservation with the proper documentation?
Yes, as long as you have the proof of where you're staying for that number of people :) And you'll need a copy of the drivers license of whoever's name the reservation is in for the other car.
@@DirtInMyShoes thanks Ash.
If you have half day reservation, I read that the first day you can enter only in the noon but other days you can enter anytime
Can someone please confirm this
Yes, that is correct!
@@DirtInMyShoes thank you!
In case i get a ticket for the time i visit yosemite, can i buy the america is beautiful pass there or do i have to purchase it in advance?
You can buy it when you get there.
@@DirtInMyShoes thank you!
Lodging reservation is an exemption to the entrance reservation?
If it's in the park boundaries, then yes!
Sooo it costs $2 to get in to Yosemite? Or do you pay the $2 online reservation and then pay the $35 entrance fee in person?
You have to pay them both: the $2 online before you go and then the entrance fee in person when you get there.
Thanks for clearing that up!
Are there any entry fees besides the entrance reservation?
Yes, there is an entrance fee as well. You can pay that when you get there.
I am confused, can someone help! What if you have a vehicle? Do you still need to pay the $35 reservation fee? Or, does the reservation fee only relate to the $2? I want to get tickets for 29/08 and 30/08. Thank you!
You need to pay the $35 park entrance fee when you arrive at the park. The $2 reservation fee is different and must be done online when you get your reservation, as outlined in this video. Good luck!
@@DirtInMyShoes Thank you for the reply. Does this mean for the dates listed above, I do not need to make a reservation and pay the $2 fee (even if driving through peak times). Only the $35 fee for the car upon arrival? The website says this "Driving through the park also requires a reservation if entering between 5 am and 4 pm (on days a reservation is required)." hence the confusion. Thanks for the help!
@@willcollomosse5414 if the dates you are visiting are not highlighted in green on this calendar, then you don't need the $2 reservation, but you will still need to pay the $35 entrance fee when you get there: www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/reservations.htm
@@DirtInMyShoes Thank you for the help
So Friday may 24 I don’t need reservations correct ?
Correct!
Register for the last 2 weeks of February to see the firefall! It's an awesome sight!
Yes, for sure!
No need for November?
Nope!
If I enter before 5 a.m. then I don't need a reservation?
Correct!
@@DirtInMyShoes They make sure NOT to tell you this anywhere on the website.
It's crazy that Americans have to get in the reservation line with non Americans. Americans should have access and the non American visitors should have to make a reservation. This country is a joke.
This comment is a joke. It's great that we get to share all of these beautiful places with people from all around the world! And we would still have overcrowding problems in the national parks even without the foreign travelers, so that wouldn't even fix the problem.