Yosemite drops summer reservation requirement
- Yosemite National Park said on February 18 it will drop timed vehicle-entry reservations for all of 2026 after reviewing 2025 traffic, parking and visitation data and finding most weekdays stayed within capacity. - The park said no advance reservation is required even during peak summer months or the February-March firefall period, though entrance fees still apply and staff may divert traffic when parking fills. - Yosemite is replacing blanket reservations with real-time traffic control, added staffing and crowd guidance after multiple seasons of peak-entry rules. (nps.gov)
Yosemite National Park says drivers will not need advance entry reservations at any point in 2026. (nps.gov) The National Park Service announced the change on February 18, 2026, after reviewing 2025 traffic patterns, parking availability and visitor use. Yosemite said most weekdays had available parking and stable traffic flow within the park’s operating capacity. (nps.gov) The policy covers peak summer travel and the February-March firefall period, when Yosemite has used reservations in past years to manage crushes of visitors. The Interior Department said Yosemite will instead use short-term traffic controls if roads or lots hit capacity. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) Visitors still have to pay the entrance fee at the gate. Yosemite’s trip-planning page says a reservation is not required in 2026, but lodging, camping and backpacking still require their own bookings. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden said the park will expand the tactics it used in 2025 instead of keeping a season-long timed-entry system. The park listed real-time traffic monitoring, active parking management in Yosemite Valley, more staff at key intersections and stronger congestion alerts. (nps.gov) Park officials are also steering visitors toward weekdays and destinations outside Yosemite Valley, including Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona and Hetch Hetchy. Yosemite’s visitor guide says millions of people visit from April through October and advises arrivals before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. to avoid the worst traffic. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) Dropping entry reservations does not mean Yosemite is becoming a walk-up park for overnight stays. Recreation.gov says campgrounds still book months ahead, and North Pines is using a one-time Early Access Lottery for the 2026 season before remaining sites go on sale. (recreation.gov) (recreation.gov) Entrance fees also remain in place. Yosemite’s fees page lists standard entrance passes from $20 to $35, and its passes frequently asked questions page says the America the Beautiful annual pass costs $80. (nps.gov) (nps.gov) The practical change for 2026 is simpler gate access, not fewer crowds. Yosemite is telling visitors to watch road alerts, expect delays on busy days and plan the rest of the trip — especially campsites and lodging — well before arrival. (nps.gov) (nps.gov)
