Yosemite in 2 Days Itinerary

With its unique and iconic granite formations and waterfalls, it’s easy to see why Yosemite National Park is one of the most visited National Parks in the United States. Nestled in the Sierra Mountains, Yosemite has been making visitors stop in admiration for hundreds of years. Every year millions of hikers, climbers, and artists make the trip to Yosemite. While you could easily speed a week or more in Yosemite, a weekend itinerary will allow you to see some of the best waterfalls and hikes in Yosemite National Park. Below is the information you need to visit Yosemite in 2 days.

Yosemite has several amazing sections, including Mariposa Grove, Tuolumne Meadows, and Hetch Hetchy, each with its own unique characteristic. However, Yosemite Valley is the most well-known with the most iconic views. This guide will walk you through how to make the most out of a two-day itinerary in Yosemite Valley.

How to Get to Yosemite

Yosemite is an extremely popular destination, and the perfect place for a weekend trip at only 3 hours from San Francisco and 2 and a half hours from Sacramento. There are three main highways you can take into Yosemite, 120 from the North, 140 from the West, and 41 from the South.  You can take a combination of plane, train or bus to get to Yosemite.

If you are arriving by plane, the nearest airport to Yosemite is the Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 97 miles from Yosemite Valley (2 hours 20 minutes of driving). You also may be flying in from San Francisco or Sacramento. The San Francisco International Airport is 191 miles (3 hours 40 minutes) from Yosemite Valley. Sacramento’s International Airport is not much closer to Yosemite at 174 miles (3 hours 20 minutes).

Getting to Yosemite from San Francisco

Getting to Yosemite from Sacramento

Taking a Bus to Yosemite

There is a bus system, YARTS, that can get you to and around Yosemite, from a few of the nearby towns including Sonora, Merced, Fresno, and Mammoth Lakes. You can also use Amtrak or Greyhound to get from a more major city and use YARTS to travel into Yosemite. Once in the valley, Yosemite has shuttles to get throughout the valley.

We came South, and I’m so glad we did because as you drive 41 it will turn into Wawona Road and lead you through a tunnel and out to the Tunnel View photo spot. This is probably the most photographed spot in Yosemite and for good reason. You are treated to amazing views of El Capitan, Bridalveil Falls, and Half Dome (on a clear day). 

Even if you come a different way into Yosemite, I highly recommend making the drive over to Tunnel View. You won’t regret it!

Itinerary for Yosemite in 2 Days

Day 1 in Yosemite- Hiking in the Valley

Sunrise in Yosemite National Park

If driving yourself, arrive in Yosemite Valley early to score a prime parking spot near what you want to see for the day. Getting to Yosemite at or before sunrise will both allow you to beat most of the crowds and watch the colors change on the granite walls as the sun rises. 

If you are taking public transit or YARTS, take the first bus into the park to be able to enjoy an entire day in Yosemite National Park!

Spots to Watch the Sunrise in Yosemite

Below are just a few of the amazing spots in Yosemite National Park to watch the sunrise in the valley.

• Tunnel View
• Glacier Point
• Mirror Lake
• Valley Loop Trail
• El Capitan

Yosemite Valley Hike

A trip to Yosemite is incomplete without a hike through the valley gazing up at the granite formation surrounding you. Most pull-offs in the valley are only a short walk to reach a winding trail through the valley. Parts of this path are even and wooden like above, making it a great accessible trail for everyone. 

While you can find a trail to walk almost anywhere in Yosemite Valley if you are looking for a destination for your hike, head to Mirror Lake. Mirror Lake Trailhead starts near shuttle stop #17 near Curry Village. This 4.4-mile loop follows a section of the Valley Loop Trail. Mirror Lake is found only 1 mile into the hike.

Lower Yosemite Falls

After sunrise head to Lower Yosemite Falls. Lower Yosemite Falls is part of the magnificent 2,435 foot tall Yosemite Falls. The lower part is an impressive 320 feet tall.

The trailhead is near Yosemite Village and Yosemite Lodge, at shuttle stop 6. It is only about a quarter of a mile from the Yosemite Lodge to the bridge that goes over the creek where you can view Lower Yosemite Falls. This trail is paved and accessible for most people, so it is the perfect activity for families in Yosemite. You don’t want to miss this waterfall!

Hike Upper Yosemite Falls

• Length: 7.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 3,218 feet
• Difficulty: Very Difficult
• Popularity: Very popular
• Time to Hike: Approximately 6-8 hours
• Trailhead Location: Shuttle Stop #7

After marveling at Lower Yosemite Falls, consider hiking to the top of the Upper Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Falls is the largest waterfall in North America, and the views from the top are magnificent. The Upper Yosemite Falls Trails ascends above Yosemite Valley with views that keep getting better and better.

However, do not attempt this hike unless you are prepared and in reasonably good shape. This hike is no joke and ascends over 3,000 feet in under 4 miles. The beginning of the trail is very shaded but the last section consists of many switchbacks completely exposed to the sun, so make sure to stay hydrated!

Columbia Rock

Upper Yosemite Falls trailhead is located next to Camp 4 and Yosemite Valley Lodge, at shuttle stop #7. If you are also visiting Lower Yosemite Falls it is only 0.3 miles from the Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead to the Upper Yosemite Falls Trailhead.

You will begin the hike by climbing up through a mile of switchbacks through the shaded forest. After a mile, you will reach Columbia Rock. There is a great lookout here of the valley and Half Dome in the distance. This also makes a great turnaround point if you don’t want to hike the entire Upper Yosemite Falls Trail.

Top of Upper Yosemite Falls

After Columbia Rock, the trail continues for another half a mile around the bend. After this, the trail starts to ascend steeply and rapidly up a mile of countless switchbacks. The majority of these switchbacks are on granite rock and completely exposed to the sun. Start earlier so you can minimize hiking in the heat of mid-day.

At the top of the falls, there are views for miles and miles downs the valley. You can even see Yosemite Creek before it drops over the falls. You can even walk down to look over the falls, although the path is very narrow with a handrail and a steep drop-off, so I would not recommend it if you are fearful of heights.

Yosemite Point

On the other hand, if you want to add even more mileage to your hike you can make the additional trek to Yosemite Point, adding about a mile to the trip. From here you can see Half Dome and feel on top of the world. 

Make sure to watch the weather and start your trip early to avoid afternoon rain! About 30 minutes after reaching the top of the falls a hail and thunderstorm rolled in and we made a hasty retreat back into the safety of the trees. The last portion of the trail is mostly rock which gets very slippery in rain and hail. 

NOTE: On this trail, I saw several groups without enough water or looking unprepared. Please make sure to do your research before beginning a hike and pack the 10 essentials of hiking for even a day trip. 

Day 2 in Yosemite- Waterfall Hikes

Bridalveil Falls Trail

• Length: 0.4 miles
• Elevation Gain: 82 feet
• Difficulty: Easy
• Popularity: Very popular
• Time to Hike: 20 minutes
• Trailhead Location: Off Wawona Road

After an extremely tiring first day in Yosemite, pick a few easier hikes and stops for your second day. I highly recommend this sort of itinerary, as it leaves you feeling accomplished, but with plenty of time to see a lot of sights. 

Bridalveil Fall is an easy first stop your day in Yosemite Valley. At 620 feet tall, Bridalveil Falls is an impressive waterfall in Yosemite. It is also one of the first waterfalls you will see if entering from Wawona Road and Tunnel View. It is only a short quarter of a mile walk to the falls, or you can view them from afar. There is no shuttle stop near Bridalveil Falls, so you will need to park nearby or walk-in from a different parking area.

Yosemite Village & Visitor Center

After your easy first hike head to Yosemite Village, back near Lower Yosemite Falls. Here you will find Yosemite’s Visitor Center with park history. Nearby is also the Village Grill, a cafeteria-style place to grab a bite for lunch, and the Village Store to pick out your souvenirs. 

The Ansel Adams Gallery is also located here, showcasing some of his beautiful photographs, and a place to pick up some prints of your own. Personally, I found this stop a bit of a disappointment, as it felt more like a store than a gallery, but it is worth a visit if you want to see more of his work. 

Vernal & Nevada Falls Trail

• Length: 6 miles (3 miles just to Vernal Falls)
• Elevation Gain: 2,162 feet (1048 to Vernal Falls)
• Difficulty: Difficult
• Popularity: Very popular
• Time to Hike: 4 hours (2 hours to Vernal Falls)
• Trailhead Location: Shuttle Stop #16

Mist Trail to Vernal Falls

For another long hike, you can hike the 3 miles to the top of Vernal Falls. This trail begins close to Curry Village (formerly known as Half Dome Village) at Shuttle Stop #16. The beginning of this trail is paved and leads up to a footbridge over the Merced River with a glimpse of the falls in the distance.  Afterward, the trail splits to the John Muir Trail and the Mist Trail. Both trails will lead to Vernal Falls, but the Mist Trail will be shorter.

I would strongly recommend waterproof hiking shoes for the Mist Trail. The trail consists of uneven steps carved out of the stone along the river and right up the falls. When the falls are raging, the mist sprays into the trail (hence the name), and the water pools in the stairs. This is an experience you won’t soon forget in Yosemite!

Be patient on this trail! It can get quite crowded and you will have to step over for people to pass you going down and vice versa. 

Nevada Falls

At the top of the falls, you can see the trail you just hiked and the water pouring over the falls. From here you can decide whether or not to hike the additional mile and 1,000 feet of elevation to Nevada Falls and return via the John Muir Trail. 

After trekking back down, cold and wet, get some hot chocolate and coffee in Curry Village to warm up!

Sunset in Yosemite

End your 2 days in Yosemite by watching the sunset from one of the many lookout points in the park. Below are just a few of the places you can watch the sunset in Yosemite

• Glacier Point
• Sentinel Bridge
• Taft Point
• Tunnel View

If You Have More Time: 3 or More Days in Yosemite

More Hikes in Yosemite

If you have more than 2 days in Yosemite, there are plenty of more trails in the park to check out. Yosemite is a hiker’s paradise and there are so many more hikes in the valley and outside of it. Below are just a few to see if you have more time.

Hikes in Yosemite Valley

• Glacier Point– At 0.6 miles this is barely a hike, but I felt Glacier Point needed to make this list as one of the most viewed points in Yosemite. Check for road closures before driving here on Glacier Point Road. As mentioned above this is also a great spot to view sunrise or sunset in Yosemite. 
• Artist Point– This 2.3 moderate trail begins at Tunnel View and will lead you to a similar viewpoint without as many crowds. 
• Half Dome– How can you see Half Dome and not want to climb it? An advanced hike at 15 miles long and over 5000 feet of elevation gain, if you are lucky enough to get permits, you will have unbeatable views of Yosemite and get to experience hiking up Half Dome’s cables. 
• Four Mile Trail– Four Mile Trail begins in the valley and switchbacks up to Glacier Point. Perhaps deceptively named, it is closer to 9 miles if hiked both ways, although it can also be hiked just up or down if you can arrange proper transportation. 
• Sentinel Dome Trail– This is an easy 2-mile hike off Glacier Point Road, with stunning views all around from the top of Sentinel Dome. 

More Hikes Outside Yosemite Valley

• Cathedral Lakes Trail– Cathedral Lakes Trail is a longer 8.6-mile hike to, you guessed it, several lakes. It is located off Tioga Pass in the Tuolumne Meadows area.
• Mariposa Grove of Sequoia Giants– That’s right, you don’t have to go to Sequoia National Park to see some of these giant trees. This trail, South of the valley will let you walk among them and, with several paths, can be as short or as long as you want it to be.
• Chilnuala Falls– Near Wawona and over 8 miles, this trail leads to a few lesser-known waterfalls in Yosemite.
• Wapama Falls– Located in the Hetch Hetchy section of Yosemite, this 4.6-mile trail will lead you through a lesser-visited area of the park.
• Rancheria Falls– Also in Hetch Hetchy, this trail travels along the reservoir and, at 12 miles, is good for a short backpacking trip. 

If You Have Less Time- 1 Day in Yosemite

If you have just a day to spend in Yosemite, you will have to make the most of it! Choose one of the day itineraries above, or check out the below itinerary for one day in Yosemite:

• WatcWatch the sunrise at Mirror Lake
• Hike the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls
• Get lunch in Yosemite Village or Curry Village
• View Lower Yosemite Falls
• Hike through the Valley to see Upper Yosemite Falls
• View El Capitan and Bridal Viel Falls
• Watch Sunset from Glacier Point

When to Visit Yosemite

This might sound like a bit of a cop-out, but there really is no bad time to visit Yosemite. The summer is guaranteed to have the most roads and hikes open and snow-free. You can use Yosemite’s list of historical openings for Tioga Road and Glacier Point to help plan your trip. Spring is a great time to visit and when the waterfalls will be at their largest. However, Fall and Winter are likely to have you competing with fewer crowds.

Where to Stay in Yosemite

The best place to stay in Yosemite is without a doubt in the valley itself. This will allow you to get early access to the most popular spots and make it easy to take in the sunrises and sunsets that grace the valley. Of course, if you cannot stay in the valley there is plenty of great camping and hotels in the area. 

Below is by no means meant to be a comprehensive list of lodging, but should help you see what is nearby in Yosemite. While you are planning your trip, keep in mind most reservations in Yosemite are booked months in advance. 

Where to Stay in Yosemite Valley

Campsites in Yosemite Valley

• Upper, North, and Lower Pines– These campgrounds all have spots for tents, RVs, and trailers. Upper Pines is open year-round, while North and Lower Pines are open seasonally.
• Camp 4– Unlike most campgrounds, Camp 4 is reserved through a daily lottery May through September, and first-come, first-served in the off-season. Due to its location near El Capitan, it is popular with climbers. 
• Curry Village– Curry Village (formerly known as Half Dome Village) is within Yosemite Valley, with several types of lodging, mostly canvas tents, with plenty of food nearby.
• Housekeeping Camp– Similar to Curry Village, Housekeeping Camp has structures made of concrete and canvas. However, these are a little less private with six to a tent. 

Hotels & Lodges in Yosemite Valley

• The Ahwahnee– The Ahwahnee is a vintage lodge located in the heart of Yosemite Valley. It is a pricier stay, but perfect if you want to experience Yosemite in luxury.
• Yosemite Valley Lodge– This hotel is close to the base of Yosemite Falls and a slightly less expensive option than the Ahwahnee.

Other Places to Stay Near Yosemite

Campsites in Yosemite

• Wawona Campground– Wawona Campground is on Wawona Road and close to the South entrance of the park. 
• Hodgdon Meadow Campground– Hodgdon Meadow Campground is about 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley near the North entrance. This is where we stayed, and it is a great location, with a gas station close by for necessities and firewood. 
• Tuolumne Meadows Campground– This campground is seasonally operated off Tioga Road, approximately an hour and a half from Yosemite Valley. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is also nearby with canvas tents. 

Hotels & Lodges Near Yosemite

• Wawona Hotel– Wawona Hotel is a vintage, Victorian hotel, near the South entrance to Yosemite, and filled with historic charm.  
• White Wolf Lodge– White Wolf Lodge is seasonally operated off Tioga road and has both canvas tents and wood cabins. 

Tips for Spending 2 Days in Yosemite

• Arrive Early– I cannot state enough how crowded this park gets. The early bird gets the worm, or in this case, the parking spot.
•  Leave No Trace– This applies to any outdoor area, but National Parks, in particular, tend to get treated more like theme parks than protected nature areas. Stay on the path and throw away your trash!
• Check for Snow– Even in the summer, snow can be found at higher altitudes. Check recent trail reports to see if microspikes are recommended and be careful when driving in snow. We heard over 40 cars off the road on the way to the valley one of our days. If you have snow chains, bring them!
• Be Flexible– Speaking of snow, be flexible with your plans. We essentially lost one day of our trip because snow had made the roads hard to drive and we weren’t comfortable driving or hiking in the mountains in snow. And this was on Memorial Day! Mother Nature will throw you curveballs so roll with them.

Yosemite National Park Packing List

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

Below see some recommendations for what to pack for Yosemite. Keep in mind the weather is highly unpredictable in the mountains, and even in the summer, it can get chilly at altitude!

• Rain Jacket– Marmot makes top-quality rain gear, and Columbia has a great, inexpensive option.
• Heavy Coat– Even in the summer the Olympic Peninsula can get quite chilly. Bring a packable heavy coat, so you will be prepared for chilly mornings or nights!
• Fleece Jacket– A fleece jacket or quarter zip is a great midlayer to bring if it’s not cold enough for a heavy jacket but you still need to cover up.
• Hiking Boots– You will need some good hiking boots in the mountains. Make sure they are waterproof as well for hiking in the rainforest. Merrell’s are a great option for beginner hikers. If you are wearing hiking boots, make sure you are also wearing the right socks to avoid blisters.
• Sandals– If you are visiting the beach you will need to pack some sandals. They are also great to change into when you are done hiking and need to relieve your feet. Teva’s are my favorite sandal, but even a cheap pair of flip flops will do.
• Hat– I always bring both a beanie hat for warmth and a baseball cap if it warms up to control my hair and keep ticks off in the forest.
• Headlamp or Flashlight– If you are staying for sunset bring a headlamp or flashlight to help you find your way back in the dark.
• Water– You may not feel like you need water when hiking in the rainforest, but make sure to bring some on your hikes! Keep extra water in your car, because there are not a lot of places to fill up. Although most visitor centers should have drinking fountains.
• Cooler– A cooler will both keep your lunch cold for a picnic lunch or dinner and can be used to chill your snacks and drinks as you road trip around the Olympic Peninsula.
• Blanket– If you are going to the beach a beach blanket is a must!
• Backpack– If you are going to be doing a lot of hiking, be sure to wear a good backpack! A proper daypack made for hiking can make all the difference.
• Trekking Poles– Trekking poles can be a knee and joint saver on any steep hike. Mount Storm King and Hurricane Hill in particular are very steep hikes where you might find trekking poles helpful.
• Map & Navigation– It is not uncommon to lose signal in Olympic National Park. Bring a hard copy of your route and a map of the hiking trails you plan to do. You can buy a trail map of the National Park here.
• Portable Batteries– If you plan on camping bring some portable batteries to keep your electronics charged. They are also great to bring on hikes, especially if you take lots of photos and videos like me.
• First Aid Kit– A medical kit is something you should always bring in your pack hiking for emergencies.

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