Yosemite National Park Planning & Tips

The Art of Smart Timing
While this really is a vacation the whole family can enjoy, you should carefully consider the timing of your visit since the region has extreme weather conditions including heavy snowfall that can close some roads in the winter and extreme heat during times in the summer may be too much for some family members, especially since no hotels rooms in the park are air conditioned.

Since the park is open 12 months a year and has so many weather-appropriate activities for each season, it's difficult to state an optimal time to visit or best times to avoid. However, visitors with family members who may be heat sensitive might want to consider avoiding the park between July and September, or at least booking a hotel outside of the park's limits, where air conditioning is allowed in guest rooms. And if you are traveling a long distance to get here and want to be avoid weather-related interruptions, it's probably best to not visit between January and March, when heavy precipitation may close roads into the park. That said, the spring and fall months are delightful at Yosemite.

Off the Radar
Families who have traveled long distances to come to Yosemite might also consider a visit to Death Valley, another national park in eastern California that offers more beautiful scenery including rock formations that are even more dramatic than those in Yosemite, stark desert landscapes and in the springtime, extensive fields of wildflowers. Those who want to partake in all of Yosemite's outdoor activities without all the crowds might want to check out the nearby Stanislaus National Forest. Finally, the Castle Air Museum on the site of the former Castle Air Force Base has a collection of historic aircraft on display.

Visitor Bureaus
Yosemite Visitor Bureau
Yosemite Tourism
Yosemite National Park Website