Last updated on July 18th, 2024
This 2 day Yosemite National Park itinerary shares the must-see highlights with just a couple days in the park!
Tucked into California’s stunning Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite National Park is a paradise for nature lovers. Here you’ll find countless things to do, from quick overlooks, to epic hikes, backcountry adventures, and relaxing strolls. So figuring out how to spend your time in the park can be a bit daunting.
But with our 2 day Yosemite National Park itinerary, we’re taking the guesswork out of how to spend your time in the park, by sharing our absolute must-dos if you only have a couple days to spend!
Check out all of our Yosemite National Park resources
- The 33+ BEST things to do in Yosemite National Park
- Where to stay in Yosemite National Park
- How to spend ONE day in Yosemite National Park
- The Ultimate Yosemite National Park itinerary: Options for 1-6 days!
- The 22 BEST hikes in Yosemite National Park
- The Best Day Hike in Yosemite: Four Mile, Panorama, & Mist Trail
- See more California National Park guides
How many days do you need in Yosemite?
Yosemite National Park is a pretty large park, with 5 different areas to explore and a decent amount of driving to get between them.
In a dream world, we’d suggest spending around 5-6 days in Yosemite National Park. This gives you the chance to visit all areas of the park, go for some longer hikes, and have some time to relax a bit. However, you can still see a lot with less time!
During our first trip to Yosemite National Park we spent about 1.5 days in the park. While it was short, we still were able to see so much. And with this 2 day Yosemite National Park itinerary our goal is to help you maximize your limited time and experience as much variety in the park as possible.
About this 2 day Yosemite National Park itinerary
With 2 days in Yosemite we suggest sticking to Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, and Tioga Road. This will give you the chance to experience both the iconic areas of the park, plus some less popular (but equally as amazing) gems!
A couple things to note about this 2 day Yosemite National Park itinerary:
This itinerary is written for a summer visit, when Glacier Point and Tioga Road are both open. Visiting outside of the summer months? Swap your second day with Hetch Hetchy! We share more about what to do in this region of the park in this guide.
While this is a jam-packed itinerary, it is almost identical to what we did on our first trip, so we know first-hand that it is doable. For a less busy experience, you could spread out the first day’s activities over two days instead.
To learn more about Yosemite National Park, including how to get there, how to get around, when to visit, and more, read this guide. And for more itinerary options, check out our additional Yosemite National Park itineraries, with options for 1-6 days!
2 day Yosemite National Park itinerary
Day 1 (Yosemite Valley)
Sunrise at Tunnel View
One of the most breathtaking views of the Yosemite Valley is from Tunnel View! This is where we got our first glimpse of the park and is a memory we’ll never forget.
If you’ve been dreaming of visiting Yosemite, you’ve likely seen photos from this spot for who knows how long. It’s a bucket list view and we think it’s the perfect spot to kick off your first day in the park!
Hike the Mist Trail
If we could only pick one hike in Yosemite Valley, it would be the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls. This is a steep hike, but you’re rewarded with close up views of two massive waterfalls, plus a refreshing and fun mist as you climb beside Vernal Falls.
We recommend packing a pack cover, rain jacket (if you don’t want to get wet), and picnic lunch to enjoy at the top of Nevada Falls. If the entire hike is too difficult for you, you can just go to the top of Vernal Falls and still get the majority of the experience. Or you can hike the Bridalveil Fall Trail instead!
A+K Tip: The parking lot fills up early for the Mist Trail and if it’s full, you’ll have to take a shuttle. We suggest arriving at sunrise for this hike, as after 9 AM, it turns into a bit of a conga line.
Explore Yosemite Valley
After a strenuous hike on the Mist Trail, enjoy a more relaxing and serene afternoon in Yosemite Valley. Many of the things to see in the valley can be accessed by foot or bike like Yosemite Falls, Swinging Bridge, and the Village Store. But some you’ll want to drive to, like El Capitan Meadows and Valley View.
Here are a handful of our favorite sights to see in the valley:
- A must see spot in the valley is Lower Yosemite Falls which can be accessed from the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail.
- Swinging Bridge is an idyllic bridge over the peaceful Merced River with views of Yosemite Falls and other iconic valley features.
- For a wonderful picnic spot in the valley, look no further than the Sentinel Beach Picnic Area. If the water is calm, you can dip your toes in the Merced River.
- Head over to the Village Store for cold drinks, snacks, and an ice cream treat! You can also explore the Yosemite Museum and Ansel Adams Gallery along the way.
- El Capitan is one of the most impressive of Yosemite’s granite walls. You can view the wall (and see climbers!) from El Capitan Meadows. We suggest driving here and there is lots of roadside parking. But please, only enter the meadow where there are already established paths to protect the meadow.
- Another quick, but stunning view of Yosemite Valley can be seen from Valley View. This is a great final stop in the valley on your way to your next spot! Similar to El Capitan Meadows, you will want to drive here.
Sunset at Glacier Point
To end your first day in Yosemite National Park, drive up to Glacier Point for sunset. While you won’t technically see the sun set here, you get an amazing alpenglow on Half Dome. If you have any energy left, you can hike to Taft Point or Sentinel Dome (or both!) to view the actual sunset instead. Just make sure to swing by Glacier Point beforehand, it’s our favorite view!
This area is only open in the summer and takes about an hour to drive to from Yosemite Valley.
Up for a challenge? Spend the day hiking the Four Mile Trail, Panorama Trail, and Mist Trail instead! This hike will take you up to the top of Glacier Point, along the top of the valley, and down the Mist Trail. In our opinion, it’s the BEST day hike in Yosemite. But it will take all day and is very intense!
Day 2 (Tioga Road)
After spending the first day exploring Yosemite Valley, head over to Tioga Road for your second day in the park. This road runs from Crane Flat to Lee Vining in the Eastern Sierra and is California’s highest highway pass at 9,945 feet.
Compared to Yosemite Valley, this area is far less chaotic and offers a different perspective of the park! There are beautiful views of Yosemite’s high country, different lakes to explore, short hikes and longer backcountry adventures, and more!
Important note: Tioga Road is only open in the summer (usually June through October), with its opening date differing year to year, so be sure to check the conditions before your visit.
Hike May Lake
For a short and sweet hike, with a big payoff, check out May Lake. It mixes much of what makes Yosemite fantastic: forest, granite slabs, and a clear lake with a stunning mountain backdrop!
See the views from Olmsted Point
One of the best views on Tioga Road is from Olmsted Point. Here you can see a different perspective of Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley. The view from the parking lot is great, but we suggest walking on the short trail out to a more open area.
Enjoy Tenaya Lake
There are over 2,000 lakes in Yosemite National Park, but Tenaya Lake is the most accessible. Surrounded by granite peaks and domes, it makes for a pretty epic place to kayak, swim, or paddleboard. Or if you don’t have your own watercraft (there are no rentals near the lake), you can just enjoy a picnic here!
Visit Tuolumne Meadows
Tuolumne Meadows is a wide open subalpine meadow with the Tuolumne River lazily winding through. It is one of the largest high elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada. And it is STUNNING! A couple highlights here are walking to the footbridge and walking to Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge.
Hike Lembert Dome
To get a higher view of the Tuolumne Meadows hike to the top of Lembert Dome! This 3.8 mile (round trip) hike is a great way to experience one of the park’s many striking domes.
Explore outside of the park
The last stretch of Tioga Road leaves Yosemite National Park, as it makes its way down to Lee Vining. If you are able to continue further, we suggest stopping by Tioga and Ellery Lakes. And once making it to the end of the road, stop at Whoa Nellie Deli in the Mobil gas station (don’t let this deter you!) for fish tacos!
Have more time in Yosemite National Park?
If you have more than 2 days in Yosemite National Park, we’ve gotcha covered! We have itineraries for 3- 6 days, which will enable you to experience more regions of the park.
Where to stay for this 2 day Yosemite National Park itinerary
There are countless options when it comes to where to stay in Yosemite National Park. We share tons of options, plus tips, in this guide, but for this 2 day Yosemite National Park itinerary, here is what we’d suggest:
First night (before your first day): If you can, staying in Yosemite Valley itself will make life so much more convenient. However, if you cannot snag a spot in the park, El Portal is the next closest option. Groveland would also be a good pick, as it’s both a doable drive to Yosemite Valley, as well as close to Tioga Road.
Second night (before your second day): Groveland is the closest option outside of park lodging to Tioga Road, so we would suggest staying near here. There are a handful of campgrounds (both RV parks and National Forest campgrounds), glamping, and lodging options.
Third night (after your second day): After driving Tioga Road, the most ideal place to stay is somewhere along Highway 395. Mammoth Lakes is quite possibly our favorite place in California, so this is a great pick! But if you have to head back to Fresno or San Francisco to fly home, going back towards Groveland would be more convenient.
Tips for your 2 days in Yosemite National Park
Be aware of reservations
Since the park is so popular, you’ll need to get a reservation to enter the park between 5 AM and 4 PM on certain days between April 13-October 27, 2024. This reservation costs $2 on top of your entry pass.
However, there are some exceptions to these reservations. If you have an in-park camping, lodging, or vacation reservation, Half Dome permit, or wilderness permit you do not need this reservation. Also, if you’re visiting with a tour or by regional transit, you do not need a reservation.
Reservations do sell out, so buy them as soon as possible. If you do not get a reservation, you can enter the park before 5 AM or after 4 PM without one.
Follow Leave No Trace principles
Before embarking on your Yosemite adventure, please review the Leave No Trace principles to ensure you leave every place better than you found it, so that others can enjoy these beautiful places for many years to come!
Many areas and trails close in the winter
While Yosemite Valley, Mariposa Grove (by foot only in the winter), and Hetch Hetchy are open year round, some other parts of the park like Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road will close in the winter. Some roads both in and outside the park may require snow chains during the winter as well.
You can see all current conditions for the park here.
Dogs are NOT allowed everywhere
If you’re bringing your pet with you to the park, there isn’t a ton for them to do, but there are some options.
Pets are allowed in developed areas, on fully paved roads, paved overlooks, sidewalks, and bike paths, unless there is a “no dogs” sign, and in all campgrounds except walk-in campgrounds. They can also hike on a couple trails, but must be on a 6 foot leash.
- Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
- Cook’s Meadow Loop
- Paved pathway to Mirror Lake
- Tuolumne Grove Trail (only on paved parts)
- Wawona Meadow Loop Trail
Curious what we do with Kona when she cannot join us on a hike? Read this guide about how we travel full time with a dog.
Download offline maps
In many areas of the park there is little to no cell service. We recommend downloading Google Maps for offline use. You’ll want to have the area of the park downloaded so that you can get between places, even if you don’t have cell service. While the park has good signage, there are some kind of confusing one way roads, so it’s nice to have Google Maps to direct you.
We also suggest downloading offline AllTrails maps so that you can navigate on hikes even without cell service.
Want to get 30% off an AllTrails+ membership? Use our code aplusk30 (you must redeem this code on the website, not the app)!
We use AllTrails+ on every single hike and it is the most helpful hiking tool out there! Some of the features we love are offline maps (so we can navigate even without cell service), wrong-turn alerts, and its 3D maps feature, so we can get a feel for trails before we hike.
Traffic and parking
Our biggest tip to avoid overcrowding, traffic, and congested trails is to get into the park as early as possible, preferably, just after sunrise, but ideally, no later than 9 AM. After that there will likely be long delays at the entrance, traffic congestion on the roads, difficult parking, and busy trails and overlooks.
And for your first day in Yosemite Valley, we suggest parking in one spot and either biking, taking the free shuttle, or walking around the valley for the day. Along Tioga Road, you will have to move from spot to spot, as there is no shuttle.
Toilets
While there are plenty of toilets around the park, not all trailheads and parking lots have bathrooms. For example, Tunnel View, a popular viewpoint, does not have toilets. Other hikes, like the Mist Trail, do not have one directly at the trailhead, but rather a short walk away. Make sure to plan ahead!
Be careful in and around water
The rivers in Yosemite can be very swift and every year, people die from being washed over waterfalls or swept down rivers in the park. If you choose to get in or near the water, make sure it is extremely calm.
Respect wildlife & be bear aware
Yosemite is home to a wide variety of animals, including black bears. Make sure you are bear aware while hiking (bear spray is NOT allowed), know what to do if you see one, plus practice proper food storage. When bears get access to human food they often get aggressive. This can lead to the bear being killed in order to protect humans.
Even for less threatening animals, like deer and squirrels, PLEASE do not approach, pet, or feed them. And make sure to drive the speed limit while in the park! Animals can dart out into the road quickly and unfortunately many bears and deer are killed yearly from cars.
Check out all of our Yosemite National Park resources
- The 33+ BEST things to do in Yosemite National Park
- Where to stay in Yosemite National Park
- How to spend ONE day in Yosemite National Park
- The Ultimate Yosemite National Park itinerary: Options for 1-6 days!
- The 22 BEST hikes in Yosemite National Park
- The Best Day Hike in Yosemite: Four Mile, Panorama, & Mist Trail
- See more California National Park guides
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