Yosemite National Park receives more than 3 million visitors a year.
One of America’s most famous national parks, here you will find steep granite cliffs, sweeping meadows, rushing waterfalls and lazy rivers.
This park attracts hikers, rock climbers and outdoor adventurers from all over the world to explore the 748,000 acre nature reserve.
When deciding which entrance to Yosemite is best, you will want to consider where you are coming from and what time of year it is.
While there are 5 entrances to the national park, only 3 of of them are accessible year round.
Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. While the park may be open, some of the entrances are not accessible full-time.
While located in sunny California, the alpine conditions of this National Park bring heavy snowfall during the winter months of November – March.
If you are wondering which entrance to Yosemite is best, you’re in the right place. Below we break down the differences between them.
Where Is The Main Entrance To Yosemite National Park?
Yosemite National Park does not have a “main entrance”. Instead, there are 5 entrances you can choose from based on where you are coming from.
The best entrance to the park is likely the closest one to you and will depend on which city your coming from.
Entrance lines can get long so if you are looking for a less busy entry point, the Hetch Hetchy entrance or Tioga Pass entrance are the best ones to choose.
If you are looking for an entrance that will get you directly into Yosemite Valley, the Big Oak Flat entrance will be best for you.
The 5 Different Entrances To Yosemite National Park
There are 5 different entrances to choose from when traveling to Yosemite National Park. Three of the entrances are open 24 hours a day, year-round.
Tioga Pass, the only eastern entrance to the park, is closed during the winter. The Hetch Hetchy entrance is open year-round but has limited hours during the winter months.
1. Hetch Hetchy Entrance
Quick Info For Hetch Hetchy Entrance:
- Open: Year-round, reduced hours in winter (dawn-dusk)
- Where is this entrance located: West side of Yosemite park, most north entrance, accessible via Highway 120.
- What makes this Yosemite entrance stand out: Mark Twain’s cabin is on the way to this entrance.
Why You Should Choose Hetch Hetchy Entrance?
The northernmost entrance to the park, the Hetch Hetchy entrance is an excellent option for those looking to beat the crowds and explore the northern regions of Yosemite.
Hetch Hetchy is one of the more remote access points to Yosemite National Park. This area is most frequented by hikers looking to explore the backcountry.
This is one of the lower elevation entrances. If you are a hiker this is one of the better starting places for your journey. You’ll be able to hike Yosemite from early spring all the way to the fall.
Sights from this entrance will include some of the tallest waterfalls in North America, rare species of trees, and even some huge bats.
The Hetch Hetchy entrance is close to the beautiful Wapama Falls. The falls are a 4.6-miles/7.4km roundtrip hike and include a beautiful drive to the starting point.
This Yosemite entrance has limited hours during the winter and is only open from dawn to dusk.
2. Big Oak Flat Entrance
Quick Info For Big Oak Flat Entrance:
- Open: Year-round
- Where is this entrance located: West side of Yosemite National park, below Hetch Hetchy entrance, accessible via Highway 120.
- What makes this Yosemite entrance stand out: Iron Door Saloon which was established in 1852.
Why You Should Choose Big Oak Flat Entrance?
Located just off Highway 20, the Big Oak Flat entrance is one of the busiest and most popular entrances to Yosemite National Park.
This is the entrance to use if you’re coming from the west but are trying to get to the Tioga Road entrance. Keep in mind that Tioga Road is not open in the winter.
If you’re wondering which Yosemite entrance is closest to San Francisco, the Big Oak Flat entrance, or the below Arch Rock entrance, is the best one for you.
It’s located about 4 hours from San Fransisco so bring some snacks and settle in for a scenic road trip.
When you need to restock your supplies you’ll have to drive around an hour and a half to the nearest town, Groveland.
You can find a grocery store, a few hotels and restaurants – and an eclectic vintage saloon.
Don’t miss driving down Main Street in Groveland. There is an old-town vibe but has an upbeat, lively personality.
You can also stop at Rush Creek Lodge as you drive on Big Oak Flat road and stay a night before you visit the park.
If you’re interested in catching an amazing sunrise in Yosemite, get up early and head to the Big Oak Flat Road Vista Point off highway 120.
3. Arch Rock Entrance
Quick Info For Arch Rock Entrance:
- Open: Year round
- Where is this entrance to the park located: West side of Yosemite park. Accessible from Highway 140.
- What makes this Yosemite entrance stand out: Lots of amenities in the area including towns from the historic Gold Rush.
Why You Should Choose Arch Rock Entrance?
Another great starting point if you’re coming from the Bay area, the Arch Rock entrance is one of the most popular in the park.
From the Arch Rock entrance in Yosemite, it’s about a 30-minute drive to Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Village where you will find the main visitor center.
Don’t be confused if this Yosemite entry point is referred to as El Portal.
You can refuel your vehicle, find a hotel for the night (we would recommend booking ahead of time), sit down for a bite to eat, or set up your tent in the campground.
Just keep in mind that if your vehicle is taller than 12 feet and 10 inches you’ll have to find another entrance as there’s a tunnel you have to go through.
The closest towns to the Arch Rock entrance are El Portal, Midpines, and Mariposa.
- El Portal has amenities such as a market, camping, picnic areas and 24 hour gas stations.
- Midpines is one of the best places for activities near Yosemite National Park. You can raft on Merced River, swim in swimming holes along Bear Creek and fish in both areas. If you’re wanting a romantic Yosemite experience you can book a Bed and Breakfast or one of the many cabins in the area.
- Mariposa is the biggest town in the area with the most to see and do near Yosemite. It was founded in 1849 during the California Gold Rush and still has operating establishments dating back to that time period.
4. South Entrance (Wawona/Fish Camp)
Quick Info For Wawona Entrance:
- Open: Year round
- Where is this entrance to Yosemite National Park located: West side of Yosemite, southernmost entrance, accessible from Highway 41.
- What makes this Yosemite entrance stand out: A functioning steam train and a resort to stay at.
Why You Should Choose Fish Camp Entrance?
This is the farthest south entrance of Yosemite and is a popular entrance point for travelers visiting Yosemite from San Diego, Los Angeles, or Fresno.
This Yosemite entrance is also called Wawona, or the Fish Camp because of the small town nearby.
When you compare Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks, it’s easy to notice that the number of entrances are the same but you can get to Yosemite from more populated areas of the U.S.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Yosemite check out Tenaya Lodge. Located in Fish Camp there are three pools to swim in, a 350 room hotel to rest your head and a restaurant.
You can use this place as a jumping off point to explore Fish Camp before heading into the National Park.
This is a great starting point for those looking to take in the magic of Mariposa Grove’s giant sequoias.
Here you can walk amongst these giants, the tallest stretching an impressive 285ft/87m high.
This entrance point is roughly an hour’s drive away from Yosemite Valley, which happens to be have some of the best photography spots in Yosemite.
If you’re heading to Glacier Point, you can expect the same driving distance.
If you are a fan of steam trains this is the entrance of Yosemite you should use.
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad has many different packages you can take advantage of – some even include a barbeque dinner and a campfire sing along.
5. Tioga Pass Entrance
Quick Info For Tioga Pass Entrance:
- Open: May to October, closed in winter (Check the Yosemite National Park Service main page for further details)
- Where is this entrance to located: East side of Yosemite National park, accessible via Highway 120 or Route 395.
- What makes this Yosemite entrance stand out: Mammoth Lakes, Devils Postpile National Monument and Mono Lake.
Why You Should Choose Tioga Pass Entrance?
The Tioga Pass entrance is the most remote entry point to Yosemite National Park.
While the other 4 entrances are to the park’s western side, this one is quite remote and is the only eastern entrance point to the park but this is the way to get in if you want to visit Yosemite National Park from Death Valley.
Be prepared for a steep climb as well! This winding road gains 2500ft/762m along an 8-mile/12.8km stretch.
The drive through this popular Yosemite National Park entrance is one you will not soon forget. Sweeping views of the Tuolumne Meadows will be the first sight you’ll come across.
Even though most people don’t visit Yosemite for this area you’ll be blown away by its sheer beauty.
- Lee Vining is the nearest town (if you could call a population of 200 a town) to the Tioga Pass entrance. There are very few locally owned restaurants and places to stay so come prepared.
- Mono Basin National Forest Scenic area has a salt lake that covers more than 60 square miles. Don’t expect to swim in this lake as it’s 2x saltier than the ocean and incredibly alkaline.
- Mammoth Lakes is also located in this area (and is able to swim in). Ride the gondola, mountain bike, and investigate the old mining town during the summer months. Switch to skiing when the snow falls at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.
- Devil’s Postpile National Monument features lava columns from a volcano. Be aware that the access to this area is via a narrow road and can only be accessed by a shuttle until 7 pm.
This entrance is ideal if coming from the Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas areas. The Tioga Pass entrance is open seasonally when there is a lack of snowfall.
Due to the alpine conditions found in the area, the Tioga Pass entrance is not open in the winter months, usually between November and May – depending on the weather.
Which Part Of Yosemite Is Best?
The Yosemite Valley is the most popular area of the park. From here you have access to a number of different hiking trails of varying difficulties.
You will get sweeping valley views of many popular Yosemite sites such as Half Dome, El Captain and the Yosemite Waterfall.
With the Merced River flowing through the valley, this is a great area to spend a few days exploring.
While the Yosemite Valley is open year round, another popular visiting area is Glacier Point.
Due to the alpine conditions, the Glacier Point Road is only accessible in warmer months, between May and October.
Final Thoughts On Which Entrance To Yosemite Is Best
As you have read, there are 5 different entry points to Yosemite National Park. Not all entrances are accessible year round due to winter road conditions.
The best Yosemite park entrance for you may vary depending on the time of year you visit.
Which Yosemite one is your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below.
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