Yosemite: no summer reservations

Yosemite National Park will not require advance vehicle reservations at any point in 2026, including the peak summer season. (nps.gov) The National Park Service announced the change on February 18, 2026, after reviewing traffic, parking and visitor-use data from the 2025 season. Park officials said most weekdays still had available parking and stable traffic flow. (nps.gov) The park’s reservations page now says a reservation is not required to enter Yosemite in 2026, but the entrance fee still applies. The same page says visitors should still book lodging, camping and backpacking permits in advance. (nps.gov) That is a shift from recent years, when Yosemite used timed-entry rules during high-demand periods to limit gridlock at entrance stations and full parking lots in Yosemite Valley. The National Park Service said it will rely instead on real-time traffic controls and extra seasonal staff in 2026. (nps.gov) The 2026 policy also covers the February-to-March firefall period at Horsetail Fall, when Yosemite had required reservations in past years because crowds surged during the short window when sunset can light the waterfall orange. The National Park Service said no advance reservation will be required for that period in 2026. (nps.gov) Yosemite remains one of the busiest parks in the country, and the agency’s main visitor page warns that millions of people arrive between April and October. The park says visitors should still expect congestion and “pack your patience” during the busiest months. (nps.gov) The reservation requirement is gone, but other reservation systems are not. Campgrounds, lodging, wilderness permits and Half Dome permits still operate under their own rules, and some overnight stays require bookings months ahead. (nps.gov) Spring road access is still a separate issue from entry rules. Yosemite’s camping page says Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road and Mariposa Grove Road were closed for the season because of snow as of the latest park update, even though the front-gate reservation rule has been dropped. (nps.gov) For summer visitors, the practical change is simple: getting into Yosemite no longer depends on winning a timed-entry slot. Getting a campsite, a room or a parking space may still depend on how early you plan and how early you arrive. (nps.gov)