By the Numbers

30%

increase in visitors between 2000 and 2019

4.1 million

visitors in 2024, with a successful reservation system

3 hours

time some visitors were stuck in traffic, when reservations were halted in 2023

Advanced reservations required from June 15 - August 15 and during Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends

Yosemite has introduced a scaled back reservation system for 2025

Park

Yosemite National Park

With its sculpted granite rock formations, towering ancient sequoia trees and spectacular waterfalls, it’s no wonder Yosemite is one of the most celebrated national parks in the world.

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Know Before You Go

  • New for 2025: Advanced reservations are required to enter the park between 6am - 2pm, from June 15 - August 15 and during Memorial Day (May 24 - 26) and Labor Day (August 31 - September 1) weekends.

  • Reservations are now available on a first-come first-served basis at Recreation.gov

  • Additional reservations are available 7 days before the arrival date

  • Reservations can also be made by phone. Call 877/444-6777(TDD): 877-833-6777 ) or 606-515-6777 if calling from abroad

My own trips back to Yosemite using the reservation system reminded me of the park decades earlier. With reduced traffic, getting into the park was simple. The trails were not congested, so you could more easily see and appreciate the park’s natural beauty. It was a better experience — and one that we could make normal again.

Former superintendent Mark Butler

  • Visitation data recently released by the National Park Service highlights that Yosemite welcomed over 4 million visitors in 2024 even with a reservation system, demonstrating that the system does not limit the number of visitors to the park and instead solves the congestion and traffic problems by spreading visitors throughout the day, week, and months.
Know Before You Go A Visitor’s Guide to National Park Reservations Arches, Glacier, Rocky Mountain, Shenandoah, Yosemite are among those addressing the long-term challenges of overcrowding with smart solutions to visitor use management.

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