Yosemite National Park has not implemented a reservation system as of yet.
The news comes after several weeks of uncertainty around whether the popular California park, which routinely hosts more than half a million people per month during the summer, would require visitors to obtain highly coveted reservations for the peak travel season. Several news organizations, including Afar, had reported on a possible reservation system that would be activated this spring, but those plans are on hold for now.
As of press time, the message on the Yosemite National Park reservations page simply states that “Yosemite National Park anticipates sharing details about this year’s reservation system in the near future. We recognize the importance of providing clarity on that system as soon as possible to accommodate peak summer season travel planning. We are grateful for the robust public engagement in this process to shape an improved and sustainable visitor experience.”
On the Recreation.gov site, where visitors typically make reservations, the message simply states that “Yosemite National Park Site Passes are currently disabled. Entry fees must be paid in person at the park.”
In 2024, reservations had been required for entry into the park between 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends from April 13 to October 27 and every day between June 16 and August 15.
The reservation system was initially implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to manage overcrowding in light of skyrocketing visitor numbers. While the system helped curb overcrowding in some areas, it also sparked frustration among potential visitors who were either locked out due to high demand or unable to make last-minute plans to visit. Yosemite is in the process of developing a visitor access management plan to address issues such as crowding and traffic congestion in the park.
If you’re looking for camping options in Yosemite, try Curry Village, which has a separate reservation system.
Photo by Christian Mack/Unsplash
Camping at Yosemite National Park in 2025
While there is currently no reservation system for park entrance, Yosemite has begun accepting reservations for summer camping in some of its most popular campgrounds, including Upper Pines, Wawona, and Hodgdon Meadow. The sites went on sale on Recreation.gov on Monday, March 31.
This story was originally published in March 2025 and was updated on April 18, 2025, to include current information.
