How To Spend One Day in Yosemite National Park

Spend a day in Yosemite National Park, one of California’s most spectacular natural areas, with this one-day itinerary and park guide!
Yosemite National Park is one of my all-time favourite national parks in the USA. I’ve visited on multiple occasions, and every time I’ve felt like I was visiting for the first time all over again.
Covering almost 1200 square miles of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, Yosemite is best known for its granite domes, thundering waterfalls and towering sequoia trees. One of my favourite things to do here is walk, through meadows and down forest trails, as the intimidating peaks of El Capitan and Half Dome tower above.
If you’re thinking about heading to Yosemite for a day trip, this itinerary and guide shares the best hikes for all abilities, and how to plan your visit!
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Looking to book your visit to Yosemite ASAP? Check out these tours:
San Francisco – Yosemite Day Tour
San Jose – Yosemite Day Tour
Lake Tahoe – Yosemite Day Tour


En Route: Tunnel View or Olmsted Point
If you’re driving into Yosemite from the East, stop off at Tunnel View for your first look at Yosemite National Park. This well-known overlook gives you the iconic Yosemite image, of green forest stretching out to towering granite domes.
If you’re entering from the West, Olmsted Point also offers awe-inspiring views across the park.

Morning: Visit Yosemite’s magical waterfalls
Some of the natural features Yosemite is most renowned for are its thundering waterfalls that cascade over granite rocks. For your morning adventure, head out to some of the park’s most spectacular ones!
Option 1: Easy Hike – Lower Yosemite Falls
For an easy introduction to Yosemite’s waterfalls, the Lower Yosemite Fall Trail offers great views of the thunderous waterfalls from ground level.
Lower Yosemite Fall is the final drop in North America’s tallest waterfall. The 1 mile loop starts from the Lower Yosemite Fall shuttle stop, and takes around 30 minutes to complete. Take the trail clockwise for the best views of both Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. The path is paved, relatively flat, and the eastern section is wheelchair accessible.


Option 2: Moderate Hike – Columbia Rock
This hike is actually the first section of the longer Yosemite Falls Trail, but more achievable than the upper section of the trail. After making your way a mile to a 1,000ft elevation, Columbia Rock offers beautiful views of Half Dome, Sentinel Rock and Yosemite Valley. If you’re not tired yet, you can hike another half mile for views of The round trip takes between 2-3 hours to complete.
Experienced hikers in search of a challenge may consider completing the Yosemite Falls Trail, but bear in mind this is a 6-8hr round trip, which will eat into a lot of your day in Yosemite.
Option 3: Challenging Hike – Mist Trail
Ascending steeply beside the Merced River, the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls is perfect for more experienced hikers.
To get to the trailhead, you need to take shuttle the shuttle bus to stop 16. Climbing up steep rock steps, you’ll feel the up-close power of Vernal Fall and understand why it’s called the Mist Trail! The rugged trail is pretty tough in places, and the rocks can be slippery, but you’re rewarded with some incredible views.
The trail to the top of Vernal Fall takes around 3 hours, however you can stop at the Vernal Falls footbridge, which makes the walk around 1-1.5 hours. The trail also continues to Nevada Falls, but with only a day in Yosemite, the 5-6 hour hike will eat into your day!
Fun fact, I completed this hike in a pair of battered Vans. After doing so, I’d recommend at least some good walking trainers.

Lunch in Yosemite
If you’ve worked up an appetite on your Yosemite hike, it’s probably time for lunch! There are multiple places to eat close to the Yosemite Falls trailheads:
- Base Camp Eatery and Yosemite Lodge Food Court are self-serve food courts, with burgers, pizza, salads, sandwiches and noodle dishes available
- The Loft at Degnan’s serves pub grub and beers in an airy, glass-fronted dining area.
- For something a little more upscale, The Mountain Room serves steaks, pasta and seafood dishes.
Budget Travel Tip: For a budget-friendly day in Yosemite, we kept it cheap and brought a picnic!
Afternoon: Mirror Lake
During the afternoon, wander the paths of Yosemite Valley and visit one of the park’s best-known lakes.
We rented bicycles from the Visitor Centre, which was a great way to cover more ground and see more of Yosemite’s gorgeous landscapes. Cyling past towering trees down wooden boardwalks and country paths, we made our way across to Mirror Lake.
If you’re not up for renting a bike, the shuttle bus has a stop for Mirror Lake, and you can continue a short way on foot to get there.
The lake gets its name from the reflections in the water of the granite mountains and towering trees. A small, seasonal stretch of water, the lake is only full during certain parts of the year in spring and early summer. If you’re visiting outside these times, it’s still well worth a visit as the rest of the year, it becomes meadowland. Visiting in April, we were able to see it in its lake state.
The entire Mirror Lake Trail loop takes 2-3 hours to walk, but you can easily take a casual stroll and head back any time you want. If you’re cycling there, you’ll need to park your bike at the end of the paved service road and take a short walk to the lake.

Optional: Tuolumne Meadows
If you have time after exploring Mirror Lake, Tuolumne Meadows is around an hour and a half’s drive from Yosemite Valley. It’s one of the largest subalpine meadows in the USA, where the scenic Tuolumne River winds through majestic granite peaks and domes.
If you’re staying the night close to Yosemite, it’s the perfect time to do some stargazing in Cooks Meadow, or head to the Ahwahnee Bar for drinks and dinner.


Getting to Yosemite National Park
Driving is the easiest way to get to Yosemite National Park – if you don’t have your own vehicle, you can rent a car in San Francisco or wherever you’re driving from. The route takes around 3-4 hours from San Francisco, just over 3 hours from San Jose; and just over 4 hours from Lake Tahoe.
Ample parking is available at the Visitor Centre, Curry Village and Yosemite Falls, as well as smaller car parks around the park and at trailheads.
If a six-plus hour round trip seems like a lot of driving for one day in Yosemite, it’s definitely worth staying close to the park either the night before or after your visit.
If you’re not able or willing to drive, you can take a train or bus to Merced, then take a YARTS bus into Yosemite. However, this journey takes at least 7 hours each way, so it’s not ideal for a day trip to Yosemite. If you’re planning this route, I’d recommend booking accommodation in Merced before and after your visit.
The easiest way to visit Yosemite in one day without a car is to join a tour from San Francisco.
Day tours to Yosemite are also available from Lake Tahoe and San Jose.
Yosemite National Park Entry Fees
- Standard entrance for a motor vehicle to Yosemite National Park costs $35. This covers all passengers in the vehicle (up to 15), and is valid for three consecutive days.
- Motorcycle entry costs $30.
- If you arrive by foot or on a bicycle, the individual passenger entry fee is $20pp, valid for three consecutive days.
Tickets can be purchased at the South Entrance, Arch Rock Entrance, Big Oak Flat Entrance, Hetch Hetchy Entrance and Tioga Pass Entrance. All ticket booths are card payment only.
Entry to Yosemite is free on certain days annually, including: Martin Luther King Jr Day, the first day of National Parks Week, Juneteenth and Veterans Day. Check the full listing of annual free days on the NPS website.
Getting around Yosemite
The park runs a free shuttle bus system in the Yosemite Valley area, including the Yosemite Falls and Lower Yosemite Falls Trailheads, and Mirror Lake. Maps are available at the Visitor Centre.
Where to stay in Yosemite
To make the most of your day in Yosemite, I’d recommend booking accommodation close to Yosemite Valley the night before.
On my trip, we stayed at the cosy and charming Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort ($$), which offers both cabins and dorm rooms, making it an ideal choice for solo backpackers. The resort has a minimum two-night stay, so would be suitable for spending a night either side of your day in Yosemite.
- Yosemite View Lodge ($$$$) is one of the closest hotels to the park, just 14km from the entrance.
- Tenaya Lodge ($$$) is a beautiful, modern lodge in the heart of nature, on the border of Yosemite National Park.
- If you’re travelling on a budget, Merced is around an hour and a half from Yosemite and offers affordable rooms at Holiday Inn Express ($$) and El Capitan Hotel ($$).
- Looking to splash out? The Awahnee ($$$$$) is a brick-fronted, four star hotel in the centre of Yosemite Village.
Alternatively, you could spend a night or two under canvas or in a camper van at one of Yosemite’s thirteen campsites. Different campgrounds release reservations at different times – some are five months in advance, others are two weeks in advance. Camping space is popular, so make sure you get your booking in quickly when reservations open up.

Tips for visiting Yosemite in one day:
- Arrive early to make the most of your day: Yosemite is open 24 hours a day. (The only entrance closed overnight is Hetch Hetchy, which is open from 9am-7pm.)
- Wear comfortable shoes: Walking trainers or hiking boots are ideal for exploring the national park.
- Prepare accordingly for hikes: Pack water, snacks and wear appropriate clothing.
- Stay in accommodation nearby if you’re travelling a long way, to avoid driving tired on long routes back to major cities.
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