Yosemite: Valley parking filling on peak days; Muir Woods timed reservations still required

Active NorCal said on May 22 that Memorial Day’s fee-free admission at Yosemite National Park and Muir Woods National Monument does not remove the biggest holiday-weekend constraint: getting in and finding space to park. The outlet said Yosemite Valley parking has been filling on peak days and reminded visitors that Muir Woods still requires parking or shuttle reservations even when entrance fees are waived. The National Park Service separately says Yosemite is not using a timed entry system in 2026, but warns of extremely high visitor concentrations, extended traffic delays and very limited parking in Yosemite Valley. Muir Woods says reservations are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders visiting the monument. ### If Yosemite does not require reservations in 2026, why are people still being warned? Yosemite National Park said on February 18 that it would not require vehicle reservations in 2026 after reviewing 2025 traffic and parking patterns. The park said a season-wide reservation system was not the most effective approach this year, and its reservations page says timed entry is no longer in place. Yosemite Valley remains the park’s choke point. The National Park Service says visitors to Yosemite Valley during busy periods should expect extended traffic delays, extremely limited parking, busy trails and no lodging or campground availability. A Yosemite Village parking page says parking fills early during the busy summer season, especially on weekends, and urges visitors to arrive early and use the free valley shuttle. (nps.gov) Active NorCal’s May 22 guidance tracked with that message. The outlet said valley parking has been filling on peak days and noted that conditions can change daily during holiday weekends. ### What does the Memorial Day fee waiver actually cover? The National Park Service fee-free day applies to entrance fees, not to the other parts of a visit that often sell out first. (nps.gov) Active NorCal said the waiver covers Yosemite, Muir Woods, Lassen Volcanic, Redwood, Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Point Reyes on Monday, May 26. The article added that camping, reservations and other activity fees still apply. (activenorcal.com) Muir Woods states the same distinction more directly. Its fees page says parking and shuttle reservation fees are separate from entrance fees and are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders. ### What exactly is still required at Muir Woods? Muir Woods says reservations are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders visiting the monument. The National Park Service’s reservation page says the system was put in place because limited parking and heavy visitation created unsafe illegal parking and foot traffic along narrow roads. (activenorcal.com) The monument’s “Know Before You Go” page says drivers must make parking reservations ahead of time at GoMuirWoods.com. (nps.gov) The site run by the monument’s reservation operator says a parking reservation guarantees a space in one of the designated lots within walking distance of the entrance. The same rule applies if you are not driving. Muir Woods says shuttle reservations are required, and its FAQ says visitors arriving by foot, bicycle or tour bus are the main exceptions to the reservation system. (nps.gov) ### Where does the Muir Woods shuttle run, and when? GoMuirWoods.com says the Muir Woods Shuttle runs from the Larkspur Ferry Terminal on weekends — Friday through Sunday — and on federal holidays. The site says round-trip shuttle tickets cost $4 for adults, children 15 and younger ride free, and riders do not need a separate parking reservation. (nps.gov) Marin Transit service details can change by operating day, and the National Park Service tells visitors to check the shuttle schedule before traveling. (gomuirwoods.com) Active NorCal also advised visitors to book ahead and check schedules the day they plan to go. ### What should visitors do before leaving home? Yosemite visitors should check the park’s traffic page before driving in, because parking and congestion can shift by day and by hour. (gomuirwoods.com) The National Park Service says Yosemite Valley is the area most likely to see delays and very limited parking during busy periods. Muir Woods visitors should reserve either parking or shuttle space before departure, because the monument requires one of those reservations regardless of the fee waiver. (nps.gov) The reservation portal says bookings are made through GoMuirWoods.com, and the National Park Service directs drivers there from its planning pages. Monday, May 26 is the fee-free day cited by Active NorCal and the National Park Service, and both parks’ trip-planning pages remain the main places to check for same-day changes before arrival. (nps.gov) (activenorcal.com) (gomuirwoods.com)