An Incredible 4 Day Yosemite National Park Itinerary
“We entered a tunnel, this was it! I could barely contain myself because I had seen enough videos of this tunnel to know what was waiting for us on the other side. This was Tunnel View!”
I had been dreaming of visiting Yosemite for YEARS and it has finally happened. Dave and I spent 4 wonderful days hiking and camping, watching sunsets and sunrises at the most incredible viewpoints and swimming in the most beautiful places I could have imagined.
There is SO much to see and do that planning a trip to Yosemite National Park can be intimidating. That’s why I have put together this guide on how to spend 4 days in Yosemite. We visited during Summer, but this 4 day itinerary can also be used for a Spring or Fall trip.
This guide includes information on where to stay, what hikes to do, where to swim, which viewpoints to check out and more!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn us a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!
Planning Your 4 Day Yosemite Itinerary
Quick Tips for visiting Yosemite
Best time of year to visit: late Spring / Summer / Fall
Where to Fly into: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – Find FLIGHTS here!
Where to stay:
Yosemite Valley Lodge ⭐⭐⭐ 8.4 rating
The Ahwahnee ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 8.6 rating
Rental Car: DiscoverCars is our go-to for the best rental car prices!
Park Permits: America the Beautiful Pass required
Park Hours: Yosemite is open 24/7, however certain restaurants and shops etc close during certain hours and parts of the park close during different times of the year.
Where are the showers if camping: Showers are located only at the Curry Village Pool Shower house
A Quick Summary & Map of Your 4 Day Yosemite Itinerary
Don’t have time to read the entire blog post? That’s okay! Here is a quick summary of everything I recommend doing and seeing while you are in Yosemite National Park. You can use the map below while you are on your trip to make sure you don’t miss any of the spots I mention in this guide.
Day 1
- Arrive in Yosemite
- Do the Cooks Meadow Trail
- See the viewpoints in Yosemite Valley
- Hike to Taft Point for sunset
Day 2
- Hike to Vernal Falls
- Check out Yosemite Village
- Enjoy sunset at Tunnel View
Day 3
- Sunrise at Glacier Point
- Hike to Upper Yosemite Falls
- Check out the Lower Yosemite Falls
- Go swimming or river rafting
Day 4
- Hike the Mirror Lake Trail
- Hike to Bridal Veil Falls
- Go for a swim
- Snap a photo at Washburn Overlook
- Hike to Sentinel Dome for sunset
How to Spend 4 Days in Yosemite National Park
Before we get into the 4 day Yosemite itinerary, I want to highlight that the park is super busy, especially on weekends and during the Summer months. I recommend aiming to reach your first destination (unless it is for sunrise) by 8am to beat the crowds and get a parking spot. There is so much to do in this incredible National Park so you can’t afford to miss out on parking spots.
You can also park in one of the parking spots in Yosemite Valley and catch the shuttle so that you don’t lose your spot for the day. There are parking lots with shuttle stops at Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village (the showers are also here if you are camping) and the Yosemite Valley Welcome Centre.
Day 1
Arrive in Yosemite and grab lunch
On your arrival to Yosemite, if you haven’t stopped for lunch along the way, there are a few places in Yosemite Valley where you can get food.
The Base Camp Eatery is great if you are looking for something easy, otherwise you also have the options of the Mountain Room, Curry Village Pizza Patio and Bar the Meadow Grill and more.
Do the Cook’s Meadow Trail
Distance: 1.6km / 1 mile | Elevation: Flat | Time: 30 minutes
The Cook’s Meadow Loop is an easy trail in Yosemite starting from the Yosemite Valley Visitors Centre or the Lower Yosemite Falls shuttle stop (shuttle stop #6). Along the way, you will see views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Glacier Point, and Sentinel Rock.
You can also park at various other spots along the trail. We took the above photo a few hundred metres from the parking lot that we parked at which was the Sentinel Bridge Parking area.
Stop at the viewpoints in Yosemite Valley
Driving time from Cook’s Meadow Trail: 5 minutes
There are lots of different viewpoints that you can stop at when driving around the park. These include:
- El Capitan Meadow
- Yosemite Valley View
- El Capitan Viewpoint
- Sentinel Bridge
- El Capitan Picnic Area where you will see Horsetail Fall from (FireFall)
Hike to Taft Point for sunset
Driving time from Yosemite Valley: 50 minutes – 1 hour
Distance: 3.7km / 2.3 miles | Elevation: 108m / 354 ft | Time: 1-1.5 hours
Taft Point is one of the best sunset spots in Yosemite and our favourite hike and photo spot. We loved it so much that we went back and did it a second time because the photo opportunities there are endless. The hike itself is quite short and not too hard, but the mosquitoes just before sunset along the trail were relentless!
Make sure you wear bug spray and cover up to try to hide from them. Oh and walk fast and don’t stop because they WILL get you!
If you don’t feel comfortable hiking to Taft Point by yourself, I 100% recommend doing this tour! Taft Point was our favourite spot in Yosemite and I can’t imagine missing out! This tour also takes you to Sentinel Dome so you get to see 2 viewpoints instead of 1!
👉 Book your Taft Point and Sentinel Dome Tour here so that you don’t miss out!
Day 2
Sunrise at Glacier Point
Distance: 800m / 2,624 ft | Time: 15 minutes
Glacier Point is one of the best sunrise spots in Yosemite National Park, however, don’t expect to have it to yourself. We watched the sunrise at Glacier Point one morning and were shocked to see as many people there as you would normally expect at an epic viewpoint at sunset. I thought our photos from this morning were ruined because there were sooo many people in them, but luckily I was able to remove them in Adobe Lightroom. 😉
From the parking lot, the views from Glacier Point are a little walk away. You will be able to see Yosemite Valley, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls.
Hike to Vernal Falls
Driving time from Glacier Point: 1 hour
Distance: 5km / 3.1 miles | Elevation: 345m / 1,131 ft | Time: 2-2.5 hours
Vernal Falls is one of the best waterfall hikes in Yosemite. We are devastated that we missed it. We tried to get to the parking lot but it was already full by the time we had our after sunrise nap and so we couldn’t get in.
Therefore, I recommend heading straight to the Vernal Falls before napping if you need to rest after getting up for sunrise. Personally I would choose the Vernal Falls hike over Upper Yosemite Falls if you only had time for one. I’ve heard that the views from Vernal Falls are better.
See Bridalveil Falls
Driving time from Vernal Falls: 20 minutes
Distance: 1.3km / 0.8 miles | Elevation: 35m / 114 ft | Time: 20-30 minutes
Bridalveil Falls is a really easy hike to the falls from the parking lot and it is also one of the few dog friendly trails in Yosemite. This is a popular trail so don’t expect to get away from the crowds here but it is a beautiful waterfall so I think it is worth it.
There is also a place where you can fill up your water bottles next to the toilet block at Bridalveil Falls. We used this a few times. It was great!
Check out Yosemite Village and Curry Village
In Yosemite Village, you will find a village store, a museum and art gallery and a deli. If you are looking for somewhere to have lunch, I recommend heading over to Curry Village or the Yosemite Lodge Food Court.
Enjoy sunset at Tunnel View
Driving time from Bridalveil Falls: 4 minutes
Tunnel View is one of the best spots to watch the sunset or the sunrise in Yosemite and the best part, you don’t need to hike! This does mean that the viewpoint is constantly packed because it is SUCH a great view but you can still get a good photo.
Tunnel View is one of the most classic photo spots in Yosemite and it’s what I think of when I think of Yosemite. We cooked our dinner in the parking lot just before sunset and then ate it at the viewpoint while watching the sun go down.
Day 3
Hike to Upper Yosemite Falls
Distance: 10.6km / 6.6 miles | Elevation: 992m / 3,254 ft | Time: 5-6 hours
Upper Yosemite Falls is best done in the early morning because it is a tough climb up to the falls with lots of elevation. We made the mistake of starting the hike way too late when it was already super hot and ending up giving up and turning back just after we reached Oh My Gosh Point which is where the above photo was taken.
Make sure you bring plenty of water and snacks on this hike. You will need it! It’s a steep one!
Check out the Lower Yosemite Falls
Driving time from Upper Yosemite Falls: 3 minutes
Distance: 1.9km / 1.2 miles | Elevation: 17m / 55 ft | Time: 25-30 minutes
Lower Yosemite Falls is a much easier hike and is great for the whole family, including dogs and it is wheelchair and stroller accessible. It will only take you 20-30 minutes in total and is flat the entire way.
Go swimming or river rafting
Driving time from Lower Yosemite Falls: 15 minutes
You can rent a raft from Curry Village Raft Rental and float down the Merced River or you could check out on of the beautiful swimming spots in Yosemite to cool off after your morning of hiking.
Day 4
Mirror Lake Trail
Distance: 7.1km / 4.4 miles | Elevation: 92m / 301 ft | Time: 1.5 – 2 hours
The Mirror Lake Trail leads you is a moderate but fairly flat hike which takes you to one of the famous photography viewpoints in Yosemite National Park. Sadly, we missed out on this one as well because the parking lot was full and then it was also just so so hot so we didn’t feel like hiking.
I recommend starting the hike early so that you get a parking spot and aren’t hiking during the hottest part of the day.
Go for a swim
Driving time from Mirror Lake Trail: 20 minutes
If you are visiting Yosemite in Summer, you should definitely go for a swim in the park! There are lots of beautiful spots for a dip in the river. Swimming in the river was one of our favourite things to do while we were in Yosemite. We were there in a bit of a heat wave so it felt incredible to cool off in the water while soaking up the views surrounding us.
Snap a photo at Washburn Overlook
Driving time from your swimming spot: 50 minutes – 1 hour
Washburn Overlook is close to the Sentinel Dome trailhead so it’s worth a stopover. The viewpoint does not involve any hiking to get to but is right next to the parking lot.
Hike to Sentinel Dome for sunset
Driving time from Washburn Overlook: 2 minutes
Distance: 3.5km / 2.2 miles | Elevation:140m / 459 ft| Time: 1-2 hours
I recommend grabbing dinner to go and eating it at the viewpoint or making a cooked dinner to eat beforehand. The Sentinel Dome hike starts from the same trailhead as Taft Point. The hike is pretty easy, especially for how incredible the views are. From the viewpoint, you will be able to see all of the way down into Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls and Half Dome.
Sentinel Dome is also home to one of the former most famous trees in the world, the Jeffrey pine, which is now fallen.
Things to Know About Yosemite National Park Before You Go
Where is Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is located in California, USA. It’s about a 3.5 hour drive from San Francisco Airport to Yosemite.
How to get to Yosemite
The best way to get to Yosemite is to fly and then drive the rest of the way. There are a few different airports within close proximity to Yosemite. We chose to fly into San Francisco rent a campervan from Avanti. We then camped in Yosemite National Park but there are also a few hotels located in the park and also outside of the park if you don’t want to camp.
From San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Driving Time: 3.5 hours
San Francisco International Airport to Yosemite National Park is a 3.5 hour drive.
From San Francisco, you can either get a car rental, or you can book a San Francisco to Yosemite transfer and then make use of the park transport once you are there.
👉 We use DiscoverCars to make sure we get the best price!
From Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Driving Time: 5 hours
From LAX to Yosemite National Park, it is a 5 hour drive.
From elsewhere in the world
If you are just visiting Yosemite, I recommend flying into San Francisco (SFO) as the fastest way to get to Yosemite. If you wanted to cut down on driving, you could then get a connecting flight to Fresno Airport (FAT), which is just over a 1 hour flight from SFO.
🥾 Travellers Tip: Instead of driving yourself to Yosemite, why not book a transfer!
National Parks Pass
To visit Yosemite, you will need to obtain a National Parks Pass such as America the Beautiful which lets you visit as many USA national parks as you want for a whole year!
😉 If you don’t have an America the Beautiful pass: You can purchase a day pass on entry to the park which is $35 per vehicle. Non-US residents (16 and over) must pay an additional $100 per person fee unless admitted with an Annual or America the Beautiful Pass
Yosemite Day Permits
You no longer need day reservations to visit Yosemite as of 2026.
Best time of the year to visit Yosemite
Summer
Summer in Yosemite can be extremely hot. I would know because it’s the time that we chose to visit. We were there smack bang in the middle of a heatwave and it was almost unbearable in the middle of the day.
The good thing about Summer is that if it does get too hot, there are plenty of places to jump into the water to cool off. This quickly turned into one of our favourite things about our trip to Yosemite!
Summer is also the most popular and therefore the busiest time of the year to visit Yosemite. If you hate crowds I would probably avoid visiting in the Summer. It reminded me of a natural version of Disney World.
Fall
Fall is the best time for photographers to visit Yosemite, although the weather can be a little less predictable than during the Summer.
Yosemite has big-leaf maples, black oaks and other trees that turn bright shades of orange, yellow and red during Fall. The best time to visit Yosemite to see the Fall colours is around mid-October.
Although the colours are stunning, the waterfalls will likely only be a trickle or completely dried up so if you are going to see the famous Yosemite Falls, I would recommend visiting during Spring or early Summer.
Fall also means less crowds!
Winter
It snows in Yosemite in Winter which means that parts of the park close due to inaccessibility.
Closed sections of the park include:
The road to Glacier Point
Tioga Road
The road to Mariposa Grove
The Yosemite Falls Trail just past Oh My Gosh Point
The Mist Trail
One of the exciting things about visiting Yosemite in Winter is that you can go iceskating at the rink at Curry Village! From the rink you have views of Half Dome.
Then in February, the annual Firefall happens which is a popular event amongst photographers.
Spring
Spring is the best time to see the waterfalls in Yosemite because they will be at their strongest with the snow melting. If you are visiting Yosemite in Spring, I recommend going in late Spring to try to get there after the snow has melted and the roads have all opened back up.
Spring is a great time of the year to visit Yosemite to avoid the crowds before they start again for the Summer months.
Places to stay in Yosemite that are SO worth it! 😍
When choosing your accommodation in Yosemite, first you need to choose whether you are camping or staying in a hotel or cabin. I highly recommend booking your accommodation as soon as you have dates set so that you don’t miss out!
Top Yosemite Hotels
If you want to stay inside the park, the Yosemite Valley Lodge is right in the middle of everything and is within walking distance to many of the trails and cafes and restaurants. There is also The Ahwahnee which is a beautiful hotel with an outdoor pool and onsite fine dining restaurant and a bar.
Both of these hotels are located in Yosemite Valley.
The Best Yosemite Campgrounds
There are a few Yosemite campgrounds to choose from but I recommend trying to get a site at the Lower Pines Campground which is located in Yosemite Valley along with the Upper Pines and North Pines campgrounds.
We stayed at the Wawona Campground in our Avanti campervan, which is about a 1 hour drive back towards the entrance of the park and which we decided was a mistake because we did a hell of a lot of driving back and forth.
You can book the Yosemite campground on the recreation.gov website.
🚿 Campers Tip: There are no showers in any of the campgrounds, however, there is one located at the Curry Village Shower house.
The 5 Yosemite National Park Entrances
When we did our road trip to Yosemite, we entered from the Highway 41 entrance, which passes through Fresno but there are 4 other entrances to choose from. If you are coming from San Francisco, I recommend the Highway 41 entrance. This entrance is also open all-year-round.
South Entrance – Highway 41 – best for travelling from San Fran and the way we came.
Tioga Pass Entrance – East – best entrance if you are coming from the Lake Tahoe area, Las Vegas or Death Valley. – closed during Winter from October to May
Arch Rock Entrance – Highway 140 – West
Hetch Hetchy Entrance – CA Highway 120 from the west (Northern-most entrance) – may close due to snow
Big Oak Flat Entrance – Highway 120 from the east – closed during Winter from November to May
frequently asked questions
You might also enjoy:
- The Best 2 Day Lake Tahoe Summer Itinerary
- Dreamy Places to Paddle Board in Lake Tahoe
- The Ultimate 15 Day California Road Trip Itinerary
- Where to go Swimming in Yosemite
- Hiking to Taft Point at Sunset
- How to Spend an Amazing 2 Days in Sequoia National Park
- Where to Stay in Sequoia National Park
- Instaworthy Photo Spots in Yosemite National Park
- Must See Sights in Yosemite for First-Timers
- How to Spend 1 Unforgettable Day in Yosemite
- Yosemite Vs Sequoia: Which Park Should You Visit?
- Yosemite to Sequoia National Park: An EPIC 5 Day Itinerary
- The Most Instagrammable Spot Near San Francisco
- Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park (Camping vs Hotels)
📌 Like it? Pin it!
