Yosemite sees entry queues after change

Yosemite National Park entered the 2026 summer season without its timed-entry reservation system, a change the National Park Service announced on February 18 after reviewing 2025 traffic and parking patterns. By May 21 and May 23, local reports from CBS Sacramento and others showed long vehicle lines at park entrances, parking lots filling early in Yosemite Valley and crowding on popular trails. The park said in February that most weekdays in 2025 had available parking and stable traffic flow, and that a season-long reservation requirement was not the most effective approach for 2026. ### When did Yosemite end timed entry, and what did officials say? February 18, 2026 was the date Yosemite said it would no longer require timed entrance reservations for 2026. In a National Park Service release, the park said the decision followed a “comprehensive evaluation” of traffic patterns, parking availability and visitor use during the 2025 season. The agency said most weekdays stayed within operational capacity, which led it to conclude that a season-wide reservation system was not the best fit for this year. (nps.gov) Kevin Lilly, the Interior Department’s acting assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, said in a February release cited by AOL that national parks should remain “open and accessible.” That comment accompanied the broader policy shift away from reservations at some parks, including Yosemite. ### What are visitors seeing at Yosemite now? May 21 brought packed conditions in Yosemite Valley, with cars filling parking areas near Curry Village, according to local coverage surfaced by Yahoo. (nps.gov) AOL reported 90-minute entrance lines, overflowing parking lots and gridlock traffic after reservations were waived. Another AOL report said the Curry Village lot was full by 8 a.m., with vehicles parked in unmarked areas as visitors looked for space. (aol.com) CBS Sacramento reported on May 23 that families were still visiting despite the change, even as the park saw heavier congestion. The reports described the early effects of the new access rules as summer traffic builds ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. ### How busy is Yosemite compared with other parks? Yosemite was the 13th-most visited U.S. national park last year, CBS Sacramento reported, with nearly 4.3 million visits. (yahoo.com) The station said almost 75% of those visitors arrived during the May-to-October peak season, when school breaks and warmer weather concentrate traffic in the park. (msn.com) The National Park Service has said Yosemite’s reservation policy has changed several times since the COVID-era controls first appeared. The Hill, citing park policy changes, reported that Yosemite required reservations in parts of 2020, 2021 and 2022, but not in 2023, before returning to managed-entry periods in later peak windows. ### Do visitors still need reservations for anything? (msn.com) Recreation.gov lists 16 Yosemite campgrounds that remain reservable even though entrance reservations are not required in 2026. The federal booking site says Yosemite offers 16 campgrounds and advises visitors to reserve early for peak-season stays. The National Park Service also maintains separate reservation and permit systems for some activities and lodging-related needs. (thehill.com) Yosemite’s camping page says Tuolumne Meadows Campground, for example, uses advance-release windows for campsites during its seasonal opening period. ### What should visitors watch next? Memorial Day and the broader May-through-October season will be the next test of Yosemite’s no-reservation approach. (recreation.gov) Travelers can check current campground availability through Recreation.gov, while Yosemite’s entrance-reservations page and 2026 park updates remain the official source for any changes to access rules, roads and visitor services. (nps.gov)