Yes. Yosemite National Park is open year-round, but access changes fast. As of November 2026, Yosemite Valley roads, Wawona Road, El Portal Road, Big Oak Flat Road, Hetch Hetchy Road, Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road, and Mariposa Grove Road are listed open, with Tioga and Glacier Point Roads scheduled to temporarily close at 5 p.m. on November 12 because of snow.
Is Yosemite open right now?
Yes, Yosemite is open right now, but some roads and trails can close with little warning.
The straight answer: the park itself does not shut down for winter. Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Hetch Hetchy, and the western entrances can be open when the high-country roads are buried or temporarily closed. For same-day travel, use the National Park Service Yosemite current conditions page; as of November 2026, NPS says the posted road list reflects planned and long-term closures, and the phone line at 209-372-0200 gives the most up-to-date road information.
That matters because Yosemite is not one place with one condition. You can have dry pavement in Yosemite Valley and snow stacking up on Tioga Pass at the same time. Pack like the mountains get a vote. They do.
Which Yosemite roads are open and which ones close seasonally?
The main west-side roads are generally open year-round, while Tioga Road, Glacier Point Road, and Mariposa Grove Road close seasonally or during storms.
| Road or area | Status and pattern | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Wawona Road / Highway 41 | Open year-round; chains may be required in winter, as of November 2026. | Good for the South Entrance and Wawona, but check chain controls before driving. |
| El Portal Road / Highway 140 | Open year-round; chains may be required in winter, as of November 2026. | Often the lower-elevation approach to Yosemite Valley. |
| Big Oak Flat Road / Highway 120 west | Open year-round; chains may be required in winter, as of November 2026. | Useful from the Bay Area and Manteca side. |
| Tioga Road / Highway 120 through the park | Closed from roughly November through May; no overnight parking after October 15 until spring opening, as of November 2026. | This is the high-country crossing. Do not count on it in winter. |
| Glacier Point Road | Closed from roughly November through May; no overnight parking between Badger Pass and Glacier Point after October 15 until spring opening, as of November 2026. | Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, and Taft Point access can vanish with snow. |
| Mariposa Grove Road | Closed roughly November to April; when open, most visitors park and use the shuttle, as of November 2026. | Disability-placard vehicles may drive the road when it is seasonally open. |
NPS lists these road patterns on its Yosemite vehicle restrictions page, including vehicle length limits, seasonal closures, and winter chain warnings, as of November 2026.
Do you need a reservation to enter Yosemite?
No, Yosemite is not using a timed entrance reservation system in 2026.
As of November 2026, NPS states that a reservation is not required to drive into Yosemite in 2026. That is separate from entrance fees, campground reservations, lodging reservations, wilderness permits, and Half Dome permits. No entrance reservation does not mean no planning. It means you can reach the gate without a timed-entry slot, then still run into full parking lots, road delays, chain controls, or trail closures.
For the official wording, check the NPS Yosemite entrance reservations page.
How much does Yosemite cost to enter?
As of November 2026, a private vehicle entrance pass is $35 and is valid for seven consecutive days.
NPS lists the standard Yosemite entrance fees as $35 for a private vehicle, $30 for a motorcycle, and $20 per person for visitors entering on foot, bicycle, horse, or non-commercial bus or van. Children 15 and younger are free. The Yosemite annual pass is $70 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as of November 2026.
Nonresident fees may also apply. As of November 2026, NPS lists a $100 per-person nonresident fee for nonresidents age 16 and older in certain categories. Check the official Yosemite fees and passes page before you go, because fee rules are exactly the kind of thing that can change.
Are Yosemite trails open?
Many trails are open, but open does not mean easy, dry, or hazard-free.
As of November 2026, NPS says Yosemite trails may close because of hidden hazards, rockfall, snow, ice, or fire, and trails not listed as closed can still be snowy and hard to follow from November through May or June. The Half Dome cables are down for the season, and a permit is required when the cables are up.
Current trail notes on the NPS conditions page include closures tied to bridge work, construction, and fire-affected areas. Read the trail section on the official Yosemite conditions page before you commit to a hike.
Do you need a permit for hiking or backpacking in Yosemite?
You need a wilderness permit for overnight backpacking, and you need a Half Dome permit when the cables are up.
Day hiking in Yosemite usually does not require a permit, with the major exception of Half Dome when the cables are in place. Overnight wilderness travel is different. As of November 2026, Recreation.gov states that Yosemite wilderness permits are required for overnight trips starting in the park, with reservations available from 24 weeks to three days before the entry date for the main reservation season.
Recreation.gov lists a $10 lottery application fee, and successful lottery applicants pay an additional $5 per person when confirming. For reservations made after the lottery, Recreation.gov lists a $10 permit fee plus $5 per person, as of November 2026. Start with the official Yosemite wilderness permits page on Recreation.gov.
How should you check Yosemite closures before driving?
Check official sources in this order, starting the day before you leave and again before you enter the park.
- Open the NPS Yosemite current conditions page for road, trail, campground, fire, and smoke updates.
- Call 209-372-0200 and follow the prompts for the latest recorded road conditions.
- Check Caltrans for highways outside the park, especially Highways 41, 140, and 120.
- Look at the forecast for your specific area of the park, not just “Yosemite.” Valley weather and pass weather can be two different animals.
- Carry tire chains in winter conditions, even if you drive a 4WD or AWD vehicle; NPS says chain requirements can start at any time, as of November 2026.
Do this even if the sky is blue where you are. Yosemite roads cross steep terrain, shaded forest, bridges, tunnels, and high passes. Ice likes those places.
What should you pack when Yosemite roads may close?
Pack for delay, cold, darkness, and a forced change of plans.
- Tire chains that fit your vehicle
- Warm layers, gloves, and a hat for every passenger
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Water and snacks
- Paper map or downloaded offline map
- Full fuel tank or charged EV battery before entering the park
- Windshield scraper and small shovel in snowy months
- Backup hike or viewpoint below the snowline
Also bring patience. If a ranger, sign, or gate says the road is closed, the road is closed. Turning around beats getting stuck behind a locked gate after dark.
Can you camp or sleep in your car if Yosemite is open?
No, you cannot sleep in your vehicle just because you are inside the park.
As of November 2026, NPS says camping and sleeping in a vehicle are allowed only in a campsite where you are registered to stay. If campgrounds are full, you need to find legal camping outside the park or leave the park to sleep. Parking in a turnout, trailhead lot, or picnic area overnight is not a workaround.
Campground openings change by season. The NPS conditions page lists current campground status, while reservations are handled through the park’s campground reservation channels and Recreation.gov when applicable.
Related reading
- How Big Is Yosemite National Park?
- Yosemite Wilderness Permits: How to Get One
- Is the Grand Canyon Open? Rims, Trails and Seasons
- Is Yellowstone Open? Seasonal Roads and Entrances
FAQ
Is Yosemite open 24 hours a day?
Most of Yosemite is open 24 hours a day, but Hetch Hetchy Road is different. As of November 2026, NPS lists Hetch Hetchy Road as open from sunrise to sunset only.
Is Yosemite Valley open in winter?
Yes, Yosemite Valley is generally accessible in winter when roads are open and conditions allow. You may need tire chains, and storms can cause delays or temporary closures.
Is Tioga Pass open?
Check the same day. As of November 2026, NPS listed Tioga Road as open but temporarily closing at 5 p.m. on November 12 because of a forecast of snow; seasonally, Tioga Road closes from roughly November through May.
Can you drive to Glacier Point right now?
Only if Glacier Point Road is open that day. As of November 2026, NPS listed Glacier Point Road as open but temporarily closing at 5 p.m. on November 12 because of snow in the forecast.
Do you need chains in Yosemite?
You may need chains any time winter conditions hit. As of November 2026, NPS tells drivers to carry tire chains and be ready to use them, even with four-wheel drive.
Do you need a permit for Half Dome?
Yes, when the Half Dome cables are up, you need a permit to ascend the subdome steps or cables. As of November 2026, the cables are down for the season, but permit rules return when the cables go back up.