Yosemite visitors report 90-minute lines

Jefferson City News-Tribune reported on May 24 that visitors to Yosemite National Park have been running into 90-minute entrance lines, full parking lots and what the paper described as human traffic jams on trails in Yosemite Valley. The report said the congestion has shown up during recent May weekends as holiday travel builds. Other local coverage published this weekend described visitors struggling to find parking after entering the park. The National Park Service set up this spring’s conditions on Feb. 18, when Yosemite said it would no longer use a timed vehicle reservation system in 2026. Park officials said the decision followed a review of 2025 traffic, parking and visitation patterns, and Yosemite Superintendent Ray McPadden said the park would instead use active traffic management strategies. (yahoo.com) ### Why are visitors seeing long lines this month? May weekends have brought heavy demand before Yosemite reaches its core summer season. A Yahoo pickup of the News-Tribune report said visitors had encountered hours-long waits at entrance gates over the past few weekends, with parking lots filling before mid-morning. The same report said social media complaints cited 90-minute entry lines, overflowing lots and crowded trails. (nps.gov) Memorial Day weekend is adding to that pressure. Yosemite has warned in recent days that Yosemite Valley parking can fill before noon, and the park’s own 2026 visitor guidance says weekends and holiday periods are likely to bring the toughest congestion. ### What changed in Yosemite’s entry rules? Feb. 18 was the date Yosemite announced there would be no day-use or peak-hours reservation system in 2026. (yahoo.com) The park said its 2025 analysis found that most weekdays still had available parking and stable traffic flow, leading officials to conclude that a season-wide reservation requirement was not the best approach this year. (msn.com) Ray McPadden said Yosemite would rely on real-time traffic monitoring, active parking management in Yosemite Valley, extra staffing at key intersections and improved alerts on road conditions and congestion. The park also said it would encourage weekday visits and steer travelers toward destinations outside Yosemite Valley, including Tuolumne Meadows, Wawona and Hetch Hetchy. (nps.gov) ### Who says the no-reservation approach is causing problems? Mark Rose of the National Parks Conservation Association said in a statement cited by the News-Tribune pickup that eliminating Yosemite’s seasonal reservation system would lead to hours-long traffic jams, strain on staff and worse visitor experiences. The group has argued that the reservation system had begun to reduce congestion after years of heavy use. (nps.gov) The Interior Department defended the change in February. Kevin Lilly, the department’s acting assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, said in the Feb. 18 release that national parks should remain open and accessible while using management tools during peak visitation. ### What should visitors watch next? Monday, May 25, is a fee-free day across the National Park Service for Memorial Day, a step that can draw additional visitors to major parks. (yahoo.com) Yosemite says travelers should check current conditions, road alerts and trip-planning updates on the park website before arriving, especially on weekends and holidays. (nps.gov)