32 Yosemite Travel Tips! {what to know before you go}

Don’t miss the very best of Yosemite! Before you head to Yosemite, you need to read these Yosemite Travel Tips!

Before you head to Yosemite, be sure to read these tips so you don’t miss the best parts!  Yosemite is a busy place, so knowing the right time to go, the best places to go, and the most epic scenery to catch is a must.

Have fun getting ready for your own Yosemite adventures with these Yosemite Travel Tips…

Related: Read these tips for easy ways to Earn Free Travel Gift Cards!

So You’re Planning a Trip to Yosemite?

To keep your vacation budget-friendly, you’ll need to plan ahead.  One of the first things you’ll want to do is start stashing cash away for your  ‘Yosemite Trip Fund’.  Need to increase your travel fund stash?  One of the easiest ways is to make extra money on the side in your free time!  Here’s my favorite trick for ramping up the vacation budget…

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Now keep reading for all the very best Yosemite travel tips and things to do shared by myself and your frugal friends…

Yosemite Travel Tips

Here are my personal Yosemite Travel Tips:

Walk the paved Lower Yosemite Fall Trail and stop by the visitor’s center to see the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Lower Yosemite Fall

View of Lower Yosemite Fall from Sentinel Dome.

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls

We visited mid week and went into the valley floor in the evening hours, when everyone else had mostly left.   Driving the Glacier Point Road is a must, be sure to stop at Washburn Point and Glacier Point for incredible views!

One extra benefit of being in the park near sunset, you just might get to see some Yosemite wildlife!

Along the Glacier Point Road, you MUST consider hiking the short 1.1 mile Sentinel Dome trail for stunning 360 views of the entire valley.  It was at this point that the famous explorer John Muir convinced Theodore Roosevelt to make Yosemite a National Park.

Top of Sentinel Dome looking toward Half Dome.

Top of Sentinel Dome looking across Yosemite.

Half Dome viewed from Sentinel Dome.

View near Sentinel Dome.

One of the highlights of any trip to Yosemite are the waterfalls.  Be sure to plan extra time to hike up to Vernal Falls.

Vernal Falls

Another excellent viewpoint is the Tunnel View along the Wawona Road.

If you are coming into Yosemite from the West entrance, be sure to have your camera ready, as you will drive through a rock tunnel.

Bring your DIY bug repellent and adequate sunscreen, as the sun is more intense at the higher elevations, especially along Glacier Point Road.  Be sure to watch your speed, we saw park rangers giving speeding tickets!!

If your are up for a little extra adventure, consider driving 2 hours south to the connecting Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, where you will see the world’s largest trees.  Check out these Sequoia National Park Travel Tips!

Road Trip Tips: Before you head out on the road, don’t leave home without these 11 Road Trip Must Haves and 34 creative Ways To Entertain Kids On A Trip!  Save money on your rental with these 18 Ways To Save Money On Rental Cars.

Now, check out these amazing Yosemite Travel Tips shared by your very own frugal friends…

Patricia said: “Mist Trail to Vernal Falls.  Lower Yosemite Falls trail.  Drive to Glacier Point.  Rafting on the Merced River.”

Kim said: “We floated down the Yosemite River, it was fun and relaxing.“

Jamin said: “Bridal Veil Falls” and shared this Yosemite Map!

Debbie said: “Everything! Make the drive up to Glacier Point. We almost didn’t and it was amazing. And Mariposa Grove.“

Cecillia said: “Climbing up to Half Dome, Falls Trail… these are from my hubby. Personally, I like the ice cream shop.”

JoAnn said: “It is amazing and beautiful. You have to see the Ahwahnee Bridge and creek behind the Ahwahnee Hotel. That is my special place! Have fun!!!”

Mary said: “Camp there and anything you do or see will be wonderful, a beautiful area of the US.”

Jan said: “Hike the Mist Trail.“

Anna said: “The falls, Mirror Lake and the Redwoods.  If yall are up to it, hike to the top of Half Dome. Check out the Yosemite Sierra FB page for more tips.  If you want a hotel in a town nearby, the Oakhurst Best Western is the best, with great rates and an awesome indoor pool!“

Debby said: “Live there! Timing is everything. Beautiful place.”

Nicole said: “You should check out when it is free to enter… there’s usually one or two weekends per year that are free. Or, go the week or two before memorial day, it’s still off-season and less people!“

JoAnn said: “You HAVE to go rafting in the Merced River ( nearby and you can rent a raft). It is amazingly beautiful, peaceful and one of the ways to get some beautiful pictures. Not rough at all and you can stop along the way and swim. Have a great time!”

Mark said: “Seeing the Valley from Half Dome and Fire Falls are great if you can walk well.  View the valley from the top of Half Dome, and Glacier Point.  Mariposa Grove has the big trees. The whole valley is beautiful, but during tourist season, it is a ZOO! Lots of beautiful coastline from Ventura to the SF Bay.  If you like big trees, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National parks. North of Eureka are some Redwood State Parks along the coast.  You should look into going there sometime.”

Frugal Yosemite Travel Tip: Learn How to Travel for Free or Cheap to Yosemite! {Budget Travel Hacks}

RV Recipes: Heading to Yosemite in your RV?  You’ll love these 100+ RV Recipes for some easy RV Meal Planning!  After a big day exploring Yosemite, you’ll be hungry hungry hungry!

Camping Food: If you’re planning on camping on your trip to Yosemite, load up with tasty campout ideas with these 59 Easy Camping Menu Tips!  Enjoying a good old fashioned S’mores by the campfire tastes amazing!

Yosemite Camping Tips: Use these 201 genius Camping Tips and Tricks on your next camping trip to Yosemite.

Yosemite Packing List

–> Superfeet Insoles for extra support and comfort.  I remove all of my insoles and replace with superfeet.

• Superfeet Insoles

–> Trekking Poles for walking way further than on an ordinary day.  These walking sticks are going to come in handy, giving you an extra boost on a long and glorious day exploring Yosemite!

• Trekking Poles for Hiking

–> Hiking Backpack for food and extra layers.  Once you leave the parking lot and head out on a trail, it will take some time before you will be back to your car for food and refreshments.  I recommend you take a backpack for the day loaded with lunch, plenty of drinks, and extra layers in case the weather changes.

• Daypacks for Women

–> Use Free REI Gift Cards to score your hiking and camping gear free!

–> Bug Repellent to keep all those bugs away.  Be extra frugal when you try one of these 17 DIY Bug Repellent Tricks.  Having some repellent handy is a must when you stop to have a snack on the trail.  You really don’t want your food to make you too popular with the flying insect world!

Want to visit even more places near Yosemite in California and tips for the Most Spectacular National Parks?  Get ready to score even more Frugal Travel ideas for your next trip…

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Now that you’ve scored all of these Yosemite Travel Tips, don’t miss out!  Get Even More Fun Travel Tips from The Frugal Girls right here…

So… have YOU ever been to Yosemite before?

What are some of your favorite Yosemite Travel Tips for places to see, things to do, etc?

Leave a comment & share!