Tuolumne County - Yosemite's Northern Entrance

A reservation will be required to drive into Yosemite National Park from May 20 through September 30, 2022, for those driving into the park between 6 am and 4 pm. 

The temporary reservation system will help manage congestion and provide a quality visitor experience while numerous key visitor attractions are closed for critical infrastructure repairs.

Those entering Yosemite on regional transit, staying in Yosemite National Park or with a tour group do not need an additional park reservation.

Make a reservation at Recreation.gov. 

Check out our tips for how to make a reservation! 

Over half of Yosemite National Park is in Tuolumne County--it’s the least crowded half too.

Highway 120 through Tuolumne County is the most direct route into Yosemite National Park from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and all of Northern California.

Other highlights of the park include Yosemite Valley with its iconic cliffs like Half Dome and El Capitan and towering waterfalls,  Wawona’s Pioneer Yosemite History Center and Glacier Point with spectacular view of Yosemite Valley and the high country in the spring through fall.

1. Purchase your Park Pass online ahead of time to save time at the gate.

2. 95% of visitors see 5% of Yosemite; explore the less visited and uncrowded areas outside the Valley Floor – like Hetch Hetchy and the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.

3. Go early in the morning (avoid park entrance traffic between 10am and 12pm).

4. Visit the park October through April when it is much less crowded, and you’ll get the best of fall colors and beautiful winter scenes.

5. In the busy summer months, take alternate transportation like YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) or utilize a specialized tour provider.

The total Yosemite experience doesn't begin or end at the park boundary. More outdoor adventure extends onto the adjacent Stanislaus National Forest and in the High Sierra, and unique discoveries are made when you're transplanted back in time in California's Gold Country.