The Best Yosemite National Park One Day Itinerary (2024)
Want to know the best Yosemite National Park one day itinerary? We’ve got you covered with everything we did in just one day!
We took this Yosemite National Park one day itinerary in early June.
It was pretty busy, but I would imagine it was not as busy as it would be on a weekend in the middle of Summer.
You can see our full day in this video on our YouTube Channel.
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Yosemite National Park One Day Itinerary
When we did this trip, we stayed at the Doubletree in Fresno the night before.
We had about a 2 hour drive to get all the way to Yosemite Valley in the morning.
I recommend staying as close as possible to Yosemite Valley so you can get your day started before it gets crowded.
We stayed in Fresno just because we were driving up from Anaheim the night before.
It was the easiest stopping point for us without having to drive too late into the night.
1. Parking in Yosemite Valley
I cannot pinpoint exactly where we ended up parking, but it was somewhere along the bus route near the Housekeeping Camp and Curry Village.
I just remember driving past the Yosemite Chapel and turning right.
You can drive further toward the center of Yosemite Valley Village, but we were worried there wouldn’t be anymore parking available.
Honestly, as long as you park somewhere along the bus route, it doesn’t necessarily matter where you park.
There is a ton of parking, so the most important thing is just to find a spot anywhere.
2. Vernal Fall
We took the shuttle to stop #16: Happy Isles.
The Vernal Fall hike at this stop is rated as moderate and is about 1.6 miles roundtrip just to the Footbridge.
You can continue after that and take the steps up to the top of Vernal Fall, but that will make your roundtrip hike 2.4 miles.
That part is considered strenuous and has an elevation gain of 1000 feet.
We didn’t do it because the whole rest of the trail leading up the Footbridge was pretty much an incline THE. ENTIRE. WAY.
It was exhausting!
We had to make a lot of stops along the way for water and to catch our breath.
The steps to the top of Vernal Fall looked really cool, but my legs were so worn out already that I just couldn’t get myself to do it.
Especially since this was only our first trail of the day.
On the plus side, the trail back to the bus stop is downhill the entire way.
You’ll want about an hour or hour and a half to do the trail to the Footbridge and back.
3. Mirror Lake
Next, we took the shuttle to stop #17: Mirror Lake Trailhead.
This trail is 2 miles roundtrip if you take the trail just to the lake and back.
If you want to walk the loop around the lake, it’ll extend your hike to a total of 5 miles.
We took the trail about a quarter of the way around the lake before returning back.
Most of the year it doesn’t have much water, but Spring and early Summer will be your best chances at seeing any water.
One of my favorite parts of this trail were the areas near the rocks that were shaded.
We would come across some clusters of rocks that had a cool breeze passing through them and it felt great after being out in the sun.
4. Lunch at The Ahwahnee Dining Room
The Ahwahnee Dining Room is a great place to stop for lunch.
It is stop #3 on the shuttle route.
Lunch is casual without any dress code, so you can definitely eat here in-between your hikes.
I’m not sure what we ended up sharing as our meal, but below is the massive dessert we shared!
5. Lower Yosemite Falls
Our next stop was shuttle stop #6: Lower Yosemite Falls.
This hike is an easy 1 mile loop that only takes about 30 minutes or so.
The trailhead of this hike is one of my favorite waterfall views in the whole park.
Lower Yosemite Falls is part of North America’s largest waterfall and makes up the last 320 feet of the Falls.
You may get wet, especially if you’re visiting in Spring/early Summer.
We brought rain jackets with us just in case.
We did get wet at this one, but not nearly as much as we did at the next waterfall.
6. Shuttle Back to Parking in Yosemite Valley
After this hike we took the shuttle back to our car since the rest of the trails are not on the shuttle loop.
You’ll need to do the same if you’re following the rest of the itinerary.
7. Bridalveil Fall
Bridalveil Fall is about 6 miles West of the center of Yosemite Valley, so it is a quick drive no matter where you parked in that area.
On this hike, everyone was soaked.
I would imagine it was at its peak considering how far all the water was traveling, but I don’t know for sure.
Water was just spraying everywhere in all directions.
It was super cool and since we were prepared to get wet, we were able to enjoy the trail more.
It’s only about a half-mile roundtrip, so you can be in and out of there in less than 30 minutes easily.
8. Tunnel View
Arguably one of the most famous spots in all of Yosemite National Park, Tunnel View is an absolute must-do photo stop.
It has a small parking lot, but cars are constantly coming and going, so it shouldn’t take too long to find a spot.
It is only about 1.5 miles West of Bridalveil Fall, so it’s just a few minutes drive.
9. Glacier Point
Glacier Point is about an hour drive from the Yosemite Valley area, mostly just because of all the twists and turns.
It is only open seasonally, usually late May through October or November.
Glacier Point is really cool because it overlooks the whole park from above.
It is much colder up there than in the rest of the park, so you’ll want to bring a coat.
The view was so clear that all of our photos look like the background is fake!
10. Mariposa Grove
The final stop of the day!
The drive back down from Glacier Point is about another hour.
From the bottom the Glacier Point drive, Mariposa Grove is another 20 miles, or about 30 minutes.
Mariposa Grove is the largest grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite, with over 500.
It has been part of protected land since President Lincoln signed the legislation back in 1864.
The shortest trail is the Big Trees Loop Trail where you will see the Fallen Monarch on a .3 mile loop.
To see more of the grove, I recommend taking it further and following the Grizzly Giant Loop which is about 2 miles roundtrip.
This trail has the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Grizzly Giant, and the California Tunnel Tree.
At this point for us it was getting dark so we only went as far as the Grizzly Giant.
We knew we could come back at any time to see anything we missed, so we didn’t mind.
From there we had about a 5 hour drive home, but of course you can always stay in the area and check out more of the places we missed on this one day itinerary.
Where To Stay When You’re Visiting Yosemite National Park
If you want to stay inside the park, here is what we recommend.
✔️ Camping At Yosemite National Park
The best way to enjoy Yosemite is camping in the park.
There are a variety of tent camping, group camping, and RV camping sites spread all throughout Yosemite Valley.
Different campgrounds have different amenities and are open at different times throughout the year, so it’s best to browse your options and availability to decide the best campground for you.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Campground At Yosemite National Park Today!
✔️ Yosemite Valley Lodge
Staying at the lodges in National Parks is always the best way to go, but they sell out well in advance.
So if you want to stay here, you’ll want to plan your trip well in advance and try to visit in a shoulder season or week day to increase your chances of being able to get a room.
👉🏼 Click Here To Book Your Stay In Yosemite Valley Lodge Today!
Frequently Asked Questions About Yosemite National Park
Planning a trip to Yosemite National Park can be overwhelming because there’s just so much information to take in.
These are the most frequently asked questions we see about visiting Yosemite.
✅ Can Yosemite Be Done In 1 Day?
Yes, it is possible to see Yosemite in one day.
However, you will need to be well-organized and have a plan in place.
✅ How Many Days In Yosemite Is Enough?
The number of days you need in Yosemite depends on how much you want to see and do.
If you just want to drive around and see the main attractions, you can do it in one day.
If you want to hike, camp, and explore the park more deeply, you will need more time.
✅ Can You Just Drive Around Yosemite?
Yes, you can just drive around Yosemite.
There are many scenic roads in the park, and you can easily spend a day or more just driving and enjoying the scenery.
Some of the most popular scenic drives in Yosemite include:
✓ Yosemite Valley Loop
This is the most popular scenic drive in the park.
It takes you through the heart of Yosemite Valley, past many of the park’s most popular attractions, such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan.
✓ Glacier Point Road
This road takes you to Glacier Point, which offers stunning views of the park.
✓ Tioga Road
This road takes you to the high country of Yosemite, where you can find towering granite cliffs, alpine meadows, and sparkling lakes.
If you are short on time, you can also take a shuttle bus around the park.
The shuttle buses are a great way to see the park without having to worry about parking or traffic.
Resources For Planning A Trip To Yosemite National Park
If you need help planning your trip to Yosemite National Park, check out our Tips For Planning A Trip To Anywhere (A Step-By-Step Guide) and our guide on How To Plan A National Park Trip.
Read our Best Tips For Staying Safe When Traveling During Extreme Weather if you’re traveling during the extreme heat in Summer or the snow in Winter.
Also check out our Best Tips For Staying Well While You Travel if you’re prone to getting colds or have allergies when you travel or have other ailments.
Lastly, if you’re traveling on a budget, read up on our Best Tips For Traveling On A Budget: Your Guide To Planning An Affordable Trip.
More Great National Parks To Visit In California
California is home to 9 of America’s National Parks.
Pair them for an epic California road trip or if you’re a local, take a weekend to visit each one.
🥾 Death Valley National Park One Day Itinerary
Death Valley is in the middle of the desert and is home to the lowest elevation in the US.
It’s an easy visit from Vegas or from Southern California.
I recommend visiting in the shoulder season so it’s not 115+ degrees outside when you visit.
Some of the original Star Wars scenes were filmed here too!
🥾 Channel Islands National Park Santa Cruz Island Day Trip
Santa Cruz Island is one of the most visited islands in the Channel Islands.
It’s an easy boat trip from Ventura Harbor Village.
You schedule your trip in advance for arrival and departure times on the island and you can even choose to stay and camp overnight on the island if you like.
🥾 Channel Islands National Park Santa Rosa Island Day Trip
Santa Rosa Island is a bit further out, but can still be visited on a day trip from Ventura.
It takes a little longer to get there and back, but that’s more opportunities for whale watching along the way.
🥾 Joshua Tree National Park Day Trip Itinerary
Joshua Tree is just outside of Palm Springs and is best paired with a trip to the whole area.
It’s one of the Dark Sky Parks where you can see virtually everything in the sky at night due to its distance from any neighboring cities.
But if you’re visiting just for the day, we have an easy itinerary that takes you through the whole park, ending with the perfect sunset where you can see all the way to Mexico.
🥾 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park One Day Itinerary
Sequoia and Kings Canyon are technically 2 separate National Parks, but they’re connected to each other, so most visitors will see both when they visit.
You’ll see some of the oldest and tallest trees in the US and venture down into the valley into a completely different environment.
Lunch at the lodge is also a great experience.
🥾 Lassen Volcanic National Park One Day Itinerary
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a relatively unknown and severely underrated national park in Northern California.
We paired our trip here with visits to Lake Tahoe and Reno.
🥾 Pinnacles National Park One Day Itinerary
Pinnacles is in Central California and it’s known for it’s caves that you can hike through during certain times of the year.
It’s all dependent on not disturbing the bats!
🥾 Redwood National Park One Day Itinerary
The Redwoods are along the Northern California coast and are home to some of the largest and tallest trees in the world.
This park is also made up of a bunch of state parks, so there is so much to explore.
Check out more National Park itineraries around the US.
Conclusion: Yosemite National Park One Day Itinerary
This Yosemite National Park one day itinerary takes you through all the highlights in the park in a short amount of time.
It’ll definitely be a long day, but none of the hikes are too strenuous or too long at a single time.
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