Yosemite Curry Village lot full

The Los Angeles Times reported on May 18 that parking lots in Yosemite National Park filled quickly over the weekend, with the Curry Village lot full by 8 a.m. Visitors told the newspaper they were already worried that peak summer traffic could overwhelm the park. The report said cars were then left in unmarked flat spots after formal spaces filled. The crowding comes in the first Yosemite summer since the National Park Service said it would not use a timed-entry reservation system in 2026. ### How early did parking fill at Curry Village? The Los Angeles Times said the Curry Village lot was full by 8 a.m. on May 18. That is one of the earliest concrete signs so far this season that Yosemite Valley parking is tightening quickly on busy weekends. The newspaper reported that once marked spaces filled, some drivers began leaving cars in unmarked areas. The article described visitors looking for parking near Curry Village as weekend crowds built. ### Is this unusual for Yosemite Valley? The National Park Service says heavy traffic and early parking fill are common in Yosemite Valley during the busy summer season. On its Curry Village parking page, the agency says parking “fills early” on summer weekends and advises visitors to arrive early and use the free shuttle system around the valley. The same National Park Service page says drivers must park only in designated areas and says driving or parking on vegetation is prohibited. That guidance is notable because the Los Angeles Times reported cars being left in unmarked spots after regular parking areas filled. ### Why are visitors focused on 2026 in particular? Yosemite National Park said earlier this year that it would not use a timed reservation system in 2026. On its official reservations page, the park said the decision followed an evaluation of traffic patterns, parking availability and visitor use during the 2025 season. (nps.gov) Yosemite Conservancy said in a May 2026 visitor guide that park staff were anticipating an influx of visitors this summer, especially on holiday weekends, because there is no day-use or peak-hours reservation system in place. The Los Angeles Times article framed the weekend parking rush as an early test of that policy. ### What are officials telling visitors to do? The National Park Service says visitors should arrive early to improve their chances of finding parking and to avoid traffic delays in Yosemite Valley. (nps.gov) The agency also says visitors can use the free shuttle system once they are parked. The Los Angeles Times article similarly advised early starts and backup plans for summer visits. (yosemite.org) That advice tracks with the park’s own warning that summer weekends bring the heaviest traffic and the fastest parking turnover in the valley. ### Where can travelers check the rules before they go? The National Park Service keeps Yosemite’s current entrance and reservation rules on its official reservations page. That page says there is no timed-entry reservation system for 2026 and links to trip-planning information for visitors heading into the summer season. (nps.gov) Recreation.gov also lists Yosemite campgrounds, permits and other bookable activities, while the park’s campground page shows current reservation and seasonal availability information. Memorial Day and other summer weekends are likely to be the next major test of how Yosemite handles vehicle demand without a timed-entry system. (recreation.gov) (nps.gov)