19 Best Things to do in Yosemite National Park

Looking for things to do in Yosemite National Park? Keep reading! When taking one of our many road trips through California, one of our favorite stops was Yosemite National Park. We had heard so much about it for years and couldn’t wait to see the Half Dome and El Capitan with our own eyes.

Located in the Central Sierra Nevada of California Yosemite is known for its mountain peaks, waterfalls, and hiking trails.

There are so many things to do in Yosemite, it requires a few days to really take it in.

We have rounded up some of the best hiking trails and viewpoints to help you plan your vacation to this bucket list destination. So break out the camping gear, stock up on supplies, and let’s visit Yosemite National Park.

Things to do in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is a 4 1/2-hour drive from Los Angeles and a 3-hour drive from San Francisco. You can rent a car in either San Francisco or Los Angeles. We drove one way each time returning our car at the end in the opposite city. Get car rental prices at CarRentals.com

Best Way to See Yosemite

Yosemite is open year round but some roads are closed due to snow. There are some areas of the park that are closed due to rock falls. Visit the National Parks Service Government Website for road closures and updates.

We toured Yosemite National Park on a self-drive trip, but be warned, you need to get out early to see the sights.

Parking lots fill up quickly so you will want to make your way to the trails or lookouts early in the morning.

Yosemite National Park is huge at 1200 square miles (3,027 km²). However, most of the top things to do in Yosemite are situated around Yosemite Valley. Yosemite has a good shuttle service to take you to the top attractions.

You can park at Yosemite Village you can take the shuttle from the visitors center to see a lot of the top attractions. The YARTS public transit system offers shuttles.

You can also book this highly-rated tour of Yosemite. It includes a stop at Tunnel View to see Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and El Capitan, plus Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls.

Enjoy a boxed lunch included at Cathedral Beach before setting off on a hike at Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. And there are ride-share bikes set up around the park as well.

1. Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley is the main area of the national park where you will most likely spend most of your time. It contains the top tourist attractions including El Capitan, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls.