Tioga Road and Tioga Pass scheduled to reopen this week, Yosemite officials say

Yosemite National Park said on May 13 that Tioga Road will reopen to vehicle traffic at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 15, reopening the Highway 120 route across the park and restoring access to Tuolumne Meadows and other high-country areas. The park said the opening would be the earliest for the road in 16 years. The announcement came as Yosemite also said all front-country campgrounds will be open this summer and that most High Sierra Camps are returning to operation. Superintendent Ray McPadden said visitors should plan ahead and expect weekend traffic, especially on Saturday mornings. ### When exactly does Tioga Road open, and what does that mean for drivers? Tioga Road is scheduled to open to vehicles at 8 a.m. on Friday, May 15, according to Yosemite’s road-opening update and campground alert pages. The road carries Highway 120 through Yosemite from Crane Flat to Tioga Pass and serves as the park’s trans-Sierra route. The National Park Service said the reopening gives drivers access to Tuolumne Meadows and the high country from inside the park. (ebs.publicnow.com) When Tioga Road is closed, Yosemite’s east-side entry is unavailable to drivers, while the park’s other main entrances remain open year-round. ### How much will actually be open along the road on day one? Limited services will be available along Tioga Road when it reopens, according to park notices cited by Yosemite and regional reports. (nps.gov) Visitors were told to bring their own food and water, and the park said vault and portable toilets would be available even though drinking water would not yet be. May 15 is the vehicle opening date, while cyclists were expected to get access on Thursday, May 14, before regular traffic resumed. (ebs.publicnow.com) The park said riders should watch for administrative vehicles. ### What else is Yosemite reopening for the summer season? Yosemite said all front-country campgrounds will be open this summer and available for reservation through Recreation.gov. The park’s campground page says reservations are required for all campgrounds from approximately April through October and are typically hard to obtain during the peak season. (istiogaopen.com) Most High Sierra Camps are also returning to operation, Yosemite said in its May 13 announcement. Yosemite Hospitality’s High Sierra Camps page says the 2026 lottery has closed and that guests are being contacted, with general availability expected in spring 2026. ### What other Yosemite access changes are happening at the same time? Glacier Point Road opened to vehicles on May 9, Yosemite said, giving visitors another high-elevation access point ahead of the summer season. (ebs.publicnow.com) The park also said a section of the Valley Loop Trail near Royal Arches and several climbing routes are reopening, and that the Ice Cut section of the John Muir Trail is expected to reopen in July after safety and trail improvements. Half Dome hiking will open on May 15, the park said. Yosemite said daily lottery permits opened on May 13 and that applications are accepted two days in advance of the desired hiking date. ### Do visitors need a vehicle reservation to enter Yosemite this year? Yosemite said on February 18 that it will not require vehicle reservations in 2026 after reviewing traffic and parking patterns from the 2025 season. (ebs.publicnow.com) The park said it would instead rely on real-time traffic monitoring, parking management and added staffing during peak periods. McPadden said in that February announcement that the park would continue active traffic management strategies, while the May 13 summer update warned that parking in Yosemite Valley fills early on busy days and that services may be limited in some areas. Yosemite also encouraged visitors to buy digital park passes in advance and to check current conditions before traveling. (nps.gov) May 15 is the next key date for visitors headed to Yosemite’s high country: Tioga Road opens to vehicles at 8 a.m., Half Dome hiking resumes the same day, and campground reservations remain available through Recreation.gov, according to the park. (ebs.publicnow.com) (nps.gov)