How much does it cost to travel to Yosemite National Park?
You should plan to spend around $129 per day on your vacation in Yosemite National Park. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $40 on meals
- $41 on local transportation
- $129 on hotels
A one week trip to Yosemite National Park for two people costs, on average, $1,809. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Yosemite National Park has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Yosemite National Park expensive to visit?
Prices in Yosemite National Park are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, Yosemite National Park is a reasonably affordable destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its affordability. You can find more affordable cities such as Hope, but there are also more expensive cities, such as Key West.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Yosemite National Park Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Yosemite National Park?
The average Yosemite National Park trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Yosemite National Park travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
$129
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
$41
|
|
Food 2
|
$40
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
$19
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
$5 -
16
|
Accommodation Budget in Yosemite National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Yosemite National Park is $64. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Yosemite National Park is $129. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Yosemite National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Yosemite National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Yosemite National Park is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $41 per person, per day, on local transportation in Yosemite National Park.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$41
How much does it cost to go to Yosemite National Park? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Yosemite National Park will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Yosemite National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Yosemite National Park can vary, the average cost of food in Yosemite National Park is $40 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Yosemite National Park should cost around $16 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Yosemite National Park is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$40
Entertainment Budget in Yosemite National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Yosemite National Park typically cost an average of $19 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$19
Alcohol Budget in Yosemite National Park
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $11 on alcoholic beverages in Yosemite National Park per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$11
Last Updated: Oct 16, 2023
Yosemite National Park On a Budget
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite National Park is located in east-central California in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's one of the most famous and popular parks in the country and is known for its breathtaking granite cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, clear streams, and giant sequoia groves. The park covers 750,000 acres, or 1,200 square miles, and includes thousands of lakes and ponds and an impressive range of biodiversity. There are 800 miles of hiking trails within the park as well. Yosemite National Park is the third most visited park within the United States with an average annual visitation of almost 4 million people.
Yosemite has variable weather depending on the time of year or the elevation within the park. It is best to plan for all types of weather during your visit. Rain gear is a must, as storms are common throughout the year. Summer is typically dry though, with the occasional dramatic thunderstorm. Temperatures can range from 50 degrees Fahrenheit to the low 90s. Fall and Spring are the transitional seasons within the park. Temperatures can be highly variable and rain is less common in late spring or early fall. You can expect snow during late fall through early spring. Winter is snowy or damp, although the sun does occasionally make an appearance. Temperatures range from 30 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and lows can dip into the high 20s.
Sights
Yosemite National Park (official website) is very large and offers many sights. If you only have a few days then you'll have time to see some of the major highlights, but will miss much of what the park has to offer. Natural beauty is what the park is all about. The waterfalls are at their peak during the spring, but the park is more accessible during the warmer summer months.
Famous sights in Yosemite Valley include Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, and the Tunnel View. Wawona is where you'll find the historic Wawona Hotel, the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, and the Mariposa Grove. Glacier Point offers an excellent view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The Toga Road is a 39 mile scenic drive between Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadows.
Neighborhoods
Yosemite National Park can be divided into the areas of Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Glacier Point, Badger Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, Crane Flat, and Hetch Hetchy Valley.
Activities
Outdoor activities in Yosemite National Park are countless. Visitors can enjoy hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, golf, and skiing. Yosemite is also great for families, so check out this
family guide to Yosemite National Park.
Food and Dining
Within Yosemite National Park you can find small grocery stores or restaurants in Yosemite Village, Crane Flat, Curry Village, Wawona, and Tuolumne Meadows. Yosemite Valley has the widest selection of options. Ahwahnee Dining Room is an upscale restaurant that has a large buffet on Sundays. It also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. More budget options in the area include Yosemite Lodge Food Court as well as several delis, cafes, and grills.
Wawona has it's on fine dining room that serves breakfast lunch and dinner, as well as Sunday brunch. There is also a lawn barbecue held every Saturday evening during the summer months. It's located on the lawn outside of the Wawona Lodge.
Tuolumne Meadows Lodge offers family style meals under tents. Reservations are required. There is also a grill where you can grab food to go. Another snack stand is found at Glacier Point.
Transportation
The current price for entrance is $35 for a vehicle (and various annual passes are available).
Most visitors choose to arrive at Yosemite with their own vehicle. It is important to stay on top of weather conditions while you're in the park as some roads may temporarily close. The Tioga Pass Road and the road to Glacier Point are both seasonal and close before the first major snowstorm. The speed limit within the park is very low and is strictly enforced. It is best to adhere to the rules. The loop road through the Valley is one way and allows for passing of slow vehicles.
If you visit Yosemite during its peak summer months then your best option is to take the shuttles. The shuttles are free and run between 7 am and 10 pm in the eastern parts of the park. They operate year around and stop near all accommodations, shopping areas and major sights. During the spring, summer and fall seasons there is a shuttle that runs between Wawona and the Mariposa Sequoia Grove. There is limited parking at the Grove so this is your best option. During the ski season there is a shuttle that runs between Yosemite Valley and the Badger Pass ski area. It runs twice daily. During the summer months there is a bus around Tuolumne Meadows as well.
For a fee you can take either the Tuolumne Meadows Hikers' Bus or the Glacier Point Hikers Bus. Tickets should be purchased a day in advance.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.