According to a legend, a visitor once asked famed veteran Yosemite ranger Carl Sharsmith what he would do if he only had a day in Yosemite. The ardent Yosemite lover said he’d sit by the Merced River and cry! This story is just an example of how those who love the park feel about having a little extra time to explore. The good news is that everything from scenic drives and hiking to getting a taste of Yosemite’s history can be done over a couple of days. That’s why we’ve drawn up an incredible 2-day itinerary for Yosemite National Park, which packs all the best things to do, see, and eat.
While we could spend a lifetime exploring its towering groves, granite and craggy cliffs, and backcountry trails, most of us have just a weekend to explore this incredible place. This detailed and comprehensive itinerary will take you through Yosemite’s most popular as well as the hidden gems. We’ll also talk about the best places to stay in the park and some useful tips and tricks to make the most of your two-day stay. Rest assured, you’ll come home with amazing memories and a bucket list for your next trip. After all, one trip is never enough, is it? Here’s a fabulous two-day itinerary to Yosemite National Park.
Table of contents
Our trip overview
Our visit to Yosemite National Park happened late last spring, towards the beginning of June. Even though the park is wonderful to explore throughout the year, late spring to late fall is the best time. That’s because many access roads, including Glacier Point Road, are shut in the winter due to snow. Moreover, shorter days mean that your daylight hours to explore are limited.
We could explore Yosemite for several weeks and still find it less! You can also technically enjoy visiting and exploring national parks in one or two days. Here’s what our two-day sojourn looked like:
- Pre-trip: Picking a home base
- Arriving the evening before
- 1st day:
- 2nd day:
- Driving back
So, can you do Yosemite in 2 days? Let’s find out!
Where to stay for the weekend in Yosemite?
The first thing you need to do when planning any Yosemite adventure is to choose what to see, which entrance to use, and where to stay, all of which depend on each other. This is especially important since you’ll be limited to a two-day itinerary, and will reduce the amount of time spent in the car and optimize your schedule. Yosemite is split into many different sections, which include the Hetch Hetchy, Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove and Wawona, Bridalveil Creek, Yosemite Valley, and Tuolumne Meadows. Since we were driving down from LA, the south entrance at Mariposa was the closest for us. So, we were able to include Mariposa Grove, Wawona, and the Yosemite Valley in our itinerary.
Staying inside the park limits your options since campgrounds and hotels fill up quickly and could be expensive, but advance booking usually gets you a great deal. The main choices among the park’s hotels are the White Wolf Lodge, the historic Wawona Hotel, the Yosemite Valley Lodge, or the Ahwahnee, where we stayed. Those who want to camp can consider Curry Village or Under Canvas Yosemite if they want to “glamp” instead. If you don’t mind driving a bit more and want to stay outside the park, there are many fantastic options, like Groveland Hotel in the north and Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite in the south. Check out some of the best hotels near Yosemite National Park.
In the end, it all boils down to how close you want to stay to the park and how much you’re willing to spend. Since we didn’t mind spending but wanted to save time by staying inside the park, we chose to stay at Ahwahnee.
Arrival
Since the drive from Los Angeles to Yosemite’s southern entrance at Fish Camp takes just 5-6 hours, we were able to drive down easily. Ahwahnee Lodge sits almost an hour inside the park from the southern entrance at Fish Camp. So, we were able to get closer to most of the attractions just by choosing where to stay and arriving the day before. Also, since Yosemite is part of the National Park Service, you’ll need to pay a fee to enter it. A private vehicle pass costs USD 35 and is good for 7 days. However, we had the America the Beautiful Pass, which cost us USD 80 annually and saved us a lot of money since we’re always headed to national parks every year.
We were absolutely enchanted by the magnificence of the historic Ahwahnee Lodge, which radiated old-world charm from every brick and stone. Built in the 1920s, the hotel was designed for discerning luxury travelers. What’s great is that we still had an array of accommodation choices ranging from classic hotel rooms to suites and even cottages. Our spacious King Room was more than enough for our 2-night stay and overlooked the gorgeous scenery around.
We’ve also done the amazing drive from Los Angeles to Yosemite over 2-3 days: check out our 101 Guide: Drive From LA to Yosemite National Park.
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Day 1
6 am – 7 am: Valley View sunrise
We kicked off our adventure early in the morning by driving down to the Arch Rock entrance, around half an hour away. Here, we caught the most gorgeous sunrise we’ve ever seen in our lives at Valley View, also known as “Gates of the Valley.” When the first light struck the towering granite cliffs, it was a sight to behold, with the Merced River in the foreground. We also got to see the Twin Cathedral Rocks and Spires and El Capitan glowing in the morning light. Since we went in late spring, we also spotted deer along the riverbanks, who reportedly graze here early in the mornings. Tunnel View was up next, where we soaked in stunning views of Half Dome and Bridalveil Falls.
Pro tip: You don’t need to hike to the viewpoint since it’s next to the parking area. If you want to hike, hop onto the 12 mi (19.3 km) Valley Loop Trail right across the street.
7 am – 1 pm: Hike to Vernal/Nevada Falls
After a mystical sunrise and a delicious packed breakfast, we loaded up the car and drove 7 mi (11 km) along the scenic Southside Drive to the Mist Trailhead beyond the Yosemite Valley. This is where we embarked on the Mist Trail, one of the most popular hikes in the region. Our first stop was the gushing Vernal Falls, which lay across the Vernal Fall Footbridge. After ascending the granite gorge staircase, we climbed down to the picturesque Emerald Pool, where we enjoyed a hearty picnic lunch. While we turned back at Vernal Falls, the onward journey was a steep hike to the rushing waters of the Silver Apron until we reached right next to Nevada Falls. The sweeping views from the top are worth the 2000-ft ascent for those who make it! After that, it’s mostly a downhill descent to the valley floor.
Pro tip: The Mist Trail hike to Nevada Falls is strenuous so you can turn back from the top of Vernal Falls, too. While Vernal Falls is a 3.5 mi (5.6 km) hike, Nevada Falls is a 7+ (11.2 km) mi hike.
1 – 4 pm: Lower Yosemite Falls
After a short 3-mile (4.8 km) drive, we arrived at the Yosemite Falls area in the heart of the Yosemite Valley. Even though the Vernal Falls hike is moderate, we were left huffing and puffing at the end of it. So, we decided to dial it down and indulge in a gentle stroll to the foot of the Lower Yosemite Falls, one of the world’s most amazing waterfalls. The trail was a short and easy 1 mi loop (1.6 km) with very little elevation, and it led us to North America’s tallest waterfall.
4 pm – end of day: Exploring Yosemite Village
We wanted to spend time in Yosemite Village, as we wanted to know about the park’s rich history, so we headed straight to the village from Yosemite Falls. We spent the evening exploring the Yosemite Museum, the Ansel Adams Gallery, and the Yosemite Valley Welcome Center, which gave us a wealth of information about the park. Moreover, we strolled amidst the giant sequoia trees at the serene Yosemite Cemetery during sunset. Since we were staying at Ahwahnee, we also learned about the rich cultural heritage of the native Ahwahneechee people at the Indian Village of Ahwahnee. Later, we returned to our hotel’s Dining Room and Bar to grab an early dinner.
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Day 2
9 – 10:30 am: Glacier and Washburn Points
After a much-needed night’s sleep, we began our second day of exploration with a hearty breakfast at Ahwahnee. Think bacon, smoked salmon, eggs, tea, coffee, juices, pastries, fresh fruit, and more. After that, we jumped back in our car and headed to our first stop for the day: the end of the 16 mi (25 km) Glacier Point Road. The 45-minute drive was very scenic, and we enjoyed sweeping views of the valleys we’d seen from the ground the previous days. Our destination was Glacier Point, perched high above the Yosemite Valley and famed for its spectacular views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and the sprawling High Sierra Mountains. We even saw bird’s eye views of the Yosemite Falls, and we understood why it’s considered one of the largest waterfalls in the world!
After Glacier Point, we made a quick stop at Washburn Point, just a mile away. It offered excellent views of the previous day’s Mist Trail below, as well as Illiluoette Falls and an interesting perspective of the towering Half Dome.
Pro Tip: Both viewpoints require no hiking. While Glacier Point requires a bit of walking, Washburn Point is right next to the parking area.
11 am – 5:30 pm: Pohono Loop Trail to Taft and Roosevelt Points and Sentinel Dome
Next up was our longest adventure for the day, the Pohono Loop Trail, to get to Sentinel Dome, Roosevelt Point, and Taft Point. The trailhead and parking area lay around 1.6 mi (2.6 km) back on the same road we came from Ahwahnee. While many visitors head to either one or the other, you can see both via an epic loop section of the historic Pohono Trail, which is what we did!
First, we headed to the right road from the trailhead, hiking up to Sentinel Dome. We were rewarded with complete 360-degree views where we could see every bit of Yosemite in every direction. In fact, it’s one of the few places in the entire park where one can see three of Yosemite’s most iconic and famous landmarks – Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and El Capitan. Next, we followed the trail along the valley’s southern rim to reach one of the park’s lesser-known gems, Roosevelt Point. This was where we had a delicious lunch while taking in views of the Cathedral Rocks and El Capitan.
After lunch, we continued onto Taft Point, which is also known for its jaw-dropping Yosemite views, huge granite fissures, and dramatic clifftop ledges. From there, it was just a mile back to the trailhead. After a wonderful hike, we drove back down Glacier Point Road for 7.5 mi (12 km) to Summit Meadow right off the road. The vibrant white, yellow, and purple-colored blooms juxtaposed brilliantly against the rugged landscape.
Pro tip: The Pohono Loop Trail is a moderate 5-mi (8 km) hike, while the individual Taft Point (2.5 mi, 4km) and Sentinel Dome (2.25 mi, 3.6 km) hikes are easy ones.
6 pm: Return to Ahwahnee
After spending time at Summit Meadow, we returned to our resort by 6 pm to enjoy the delights of its year-round outdoor heated swimming pool. Since it was open until dusk, we could swim and lounge on the daybeds for a good while. After packing and freshening up, we headed to the Dining Room for a quick dinner—after all, our adventures weren’t yet over!
9:30 – 10:30 pm: Stargazing at Glacier Point
When the sun sets in Yosemite, another world comes to life. The Yosemite night sky is a sight to behold and is one of the best spots to indulge in some out-of-the-world stargazing. While there are many excellent spots, we chose Glacier Point Amphitheater, where many people set up their own telescopes. We’d rented one while entering the park, so we decided to head to the Glacier Point viewing area. It was mostly flat so that it could accommodate many people. Stargazing
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Adieu, Yosemite
After an exhilarating and action-packed two days in Yosemite, it was time to say goodbye, but not before stopping at the gorgeous Mariposa Grove. Luckily, it was on our way out of the park, so all we had to do was drive back down to the southern entrance. This lovely grove is home to more than 500 massive sequoia trees, some of which are more than 200 ft tall (61 m)!
After spending some time here, it was a straight five-hour drive back to Los Angeles, but Yosemite’s memories and vivid images lingered long after.
Tips for visiting Yosemite National Park
- Even during winter, Yosemite can get very, very hot. Don’t forget to pack the best travel-size sunscreens so you can reapply even while hiking on the trails.
- Getting around Yosemite could be a struggle, especially in terms of parking. While we didn’t have much of a problem, we were short on time, so we had no choice. So, if you’re visiting the park for longer, learning the bus schedule is a blessing for getting around trailheads more easily. Also, the ranger gave us a map of the bus routes and schedule when we arrived, so hold on to that.
- When entering Yosemite during popular times, you require a reservation. That’s because you can enter the park prior to 6 am and after 4 pm without any permit. Check out the details of getting a permit.
Is it worth going to Yosemite for two days?
Absolutely. As we’ve laid out, two days is enough time for one or even two great hikes, as well as glimpses of some other amazing attractions and viewpoints.
Can you enter Yosemite anytime?
Yes. Yosemite National Park is open 24/7, all 52 weeks of the year. However, some of the roads, like the Glacier Point Road, are closed from November to May. Also, the Hetch Hetchy entrance is open only during daylight hours.
What happens if you don’t have a reservation for Yosemite?
Travelers who don’t have a reservation will have to pay the USD 35/car entrance fee.
