Yosemite National Park has finally officially announced a reservation system for 2025.
The news comes after months 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 were briefly put on hold—until now.
On select days between May 24 and September 1, 2025, a reservation will be required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Yosemite National Park reservation schedule for 2025
- May 24–26 (Memorial Day weekend): Reservations required from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily
- May 27–June 14: No reservations required
- June 15–August 15: Reservations required from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily
- August 16–29: No reservations required
- August 30–September 1 (Labor Day weekend): Reservations required from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily
During the above dates and times, reservations will be required at all park entrances except Hetch Hetchy, which will be open from sunrise to sunset. (Visitors can expect longer lines during peak travel weekends.)
All reservations will be released on May 6, 2025, at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. To make a reservation, head to Recreation.gov.
“Reservations sell out almost immediately,” the park advises, adding that users should make sure that they have a Recreation.gov account in advance and are logged in and ready to nab a reservation as soon as they open up, right at 8 a.m. “Even if you’re logged on by 8 a.m., there is no guarantee you will be able to get a reservation,” the Yosemite reservations page states.
Another batch of reservations will be made available seven days prior to the arrival date. So to make a reservation for May 24, you can head to Recreation.gov at 8 a.m. Pacific Time on May 17 to try your luck.
If you do nab one of the coveted reservations, you’ll be asked to pay a nonrefundable reservation fee of $2 in addition to the $35 entrance fee charged per vehicle as it enters the park (only payable by credit card).
Each reservation is valid for three consecutive days, beginning with the arrival date.
If you don’t have a reservation, can you still get into Yosemite?
Without a reservation, you can still enter Yosemite National Park on the days reservations are required if you enter before 6 a.m. or after 2 p.m. Yosemite is open 24 hours per day.
But, “if you are planning to visit after peak hours, please do not arrive before 2 p.m.,” the park services advises, adding that “vehicles blocking roads will be cited.” On the FAQ portion of its reservations page, park officials advise visitors to instead “spend time in the beautiful national forests and enticing gateway communities just outside of Yosemite” while waiting to enter the park after 2p.m.
Another way to enter the park without a reservation is to ride in on the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS), a bus system that provides service along several major highways that lead into the park.
Yosemite’s 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.
If you’ve booked a spot at Curry Village, you don’t need a separate reservation to enter the park.
Photo by Christian Mack/Unsplash
Do you need a park reservation if you have booked a campground or hotel at Yosemite National Park?
Those who have existing reservations at select campgrounds and lodgings do not need an additional national park reservation for Yosemite. Accommodations that don’t require an additional park reservation are all Yosemite National Park campgrounds, Curry Village, Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite Valley Lodge, The Ahwahnee, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, High Sierra Camps, and those booked in private vacation rentals in Wawona, Yosemite West, or Foresta.
Everyone entering the park will still be required to pay the $35 entrance fee.
If you have booked accommodations outside of Yosemite National Park, you still need to obtain a reservation to enter the park during the periods when it’s required.
Participants in authorized tour groups and transportation services can also enter without a reservation. If you are booked with a tour, be sure to ask if a reservation is needed—it likely isn’t.
>> Related: Yosemite’s Rare “Firefall” Only Happens Once a Year—Here’s How to See It
Bailey Berg contributed reporting. This story was originally published in March 2025 and was updated on May 1, 2025, to include current information.
