Epic One-Day Kid-friendly Itinerary: Yosemite National Park
Breathtaking Tunnel View
SHARING IS CARING!
UPDATED POST: May 8, 2022
“Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space.”
- Ansel Adams
Boy, was he right. I don’t think one could ever fully explore the beauty that is Yosemite National Park (YNP). One could most certainly try. And tried we did. We have been to YNP three times now and we have barely scratched the surface. This park has countless magnificent waterfalls, meadows, cliffs and canyons so the task of narrowing down which ones to go to for your first trip can be daunting. One weekend would be a good starting point to explore YNP but if you only have one day to see this famous wilderness wonderland, read this epic one day itinerary and try not to miss these sights.
Warning: This itinerary is jam-packed. Adjust according to the needs/wants of your family :)
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
As of 5/2022, there are certain restrictions and closures in the park to limit the spread of Covid-19. A reservation is required to drive into Yosemite National Park during peak hours (6 am – 4 pm) from May 20 through September 30, 2022.
If you have another reservation in the park, you may not need a peak hours reservation and can pay the entrance fee at the park entrance station. You do not need a peak hours reservation if:
you have a camping or lodging reservation
you have a wilderness or Half Dome permit
you have a vacation rental reservation inside the park
you enter via the local public transit system (YARTS buses)
you enter with an authorized tour
you have a special use permitHours: All park entrances are open 24 hours a day (except Hetch Hetchy entrance)
Fee: $35 per vehicle (15 or fewer passenger seats) for 7-day pass
$70 Yosemite Annual Pass (free entrance to YNP for 12 months)
$80 National Parks Pass (free entrance to all national parks for 12 months); Senior Lifetime Pass
$20 Senior Annual Pass
Free for US Military, 4th graders and families, US citizens/permanent residents with disabilities
Thrifty Tip
We get a National Park Annual Pass ($80) every year. The pass pays for itself with just 3 visits to any national park. You can buy an annual pass at the entrance or online on the USGS site. If you have a 4th grader, he/she gets a free annual pass so he/she can take your entire family for free! Get your 4th grader’s free pass here. Every year, US national parks offer free entrance days. Check the NPS website for the schedule. If you are willing to log in 250 hours of volunteer service at any of the six participating federal agencies, you can get a free Annual Volunteer Pass.
The park welcomes over four million visitors each year so expect traffic delays and limited parking. Two out of the three times we visited YNP, we were sitting in our car waiting close to an hour just to get to the entrance! :0 Save yourselves the headache and get to the park early. Try to get to the Arch Rock entrance (west via Highway 140) by 7am.
Tunnel view
Parking: Lot
Restrooms: Yes
Pets: Allowed with leash
Allow: 30 minutes
HEART.STOPPING.VIEWS. This is the quintessential image you see when you google Yosemite National Park. You will see the bigshots here: El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome in one breathtaking vista. I can stare at this view for hours and not get tired.
It can get especially crowded mid-day. This viewpoint has a small parking lot. If you get there and don’t find a spot, just wait a bit for a spot to open up as people come and go. If you can, come back here after your last stop on this itinerary (Tenaya Lake) right before sunset so you can get different perspectives. From pictures I have seen of sunsets here, they are phenomenal.
Photo by Anshul Jain on Unsplash
Yosemite Valley/Yosemite Village
Parking: Yosemite Village, Curry Village and Yosemite Falls parking lots
Restrooms: Yes.
Pets: Allowed when leashed.
Allow: 1 hour
Just exploring the valley would take days as there is so much to see and do here. Visitor centers and museums are located here but if you only have one day, I would suggest to limit your time exploring inside and instead explore the beauty outside. Stop by the Valley Visitor Center (open year-round but closed indefinitely due to Covid-19) to buy your souvenirs and maps and the Village Store (8am-8pm) to buy groceries, picnic essentials, camping supplies, and various Yosemite souvenirs. There is also an ATM inside the store.
Yosemite Valley
The park is always crowded so getting in line for food will eat into your precious time so I would suggest to pack sandwiches for lunch. There are several eating areas and picnic tables in the village as well as all over the park. Check out the picnic areas in Yosemite valley on this map. You can also download this map in PDF form.
Thrifty Tip
Make your own sandwiches before you leave your campsite/cabin/hotel. Always bring water in your own water bottle - not only good for the Earth, good for your wallet too :) All these little expenses can add up. Some parks will have water fountains but just come prepared so that you don’t have to waste precious time searching for water/fountains.
Cook’s Meadow Loop
Parking: Yosemite Village, Curry Village and Yosemite Falls parking lots
Restrooms: Yes.
Pets: Allowed when leashed.
Allow: 1 hour
Cook’s Meadow
This flat, easy 1-mile loop takes you through a large open meadow with fantastic views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock and the Royal Arches.
Yosemite Falls valley view in May
Lower Yosemite Falls
Parking: None.
Restrooms: Yes
Pets: Allowed when leashed.
Allow: 1-1.5 hours
Yosemite Falls roaring in the spring
Magnificent views with very little effort. YNP has countless waterfalls but this is one of the easiest ones to get up close to. The Lower Yosemite Falls is the base of one of the tallest waterfalls in North America, the Yosemite Falls. The Yosemite Falls is made up of three separate falls: Upper Yosemite Falls (1,430 feet), the Middle Cascades (675 feet), and Lower Yosemite Falls (320 feet). This paved trail is easy and short (1-mile loop) making this a very good “hike”/walk for families with very young children. Although this trail is open year-round, spring and early summer (April-June) are the best times to visit as the water volume is at its peak. By late July, this waterfall often dries up. Watch the kids and stay on the paved trail as the rocks and boulders that crosses Yosemite Creek might be slippery even when dry.
Leashed pets and strollers are allowed on the trail. There is no parking at the trailhead so you might want to park in Yosemite Village and walk to or ride the free Valley Visitor shuttle (7am-10pm, year-round) to shuttle stop #6. Prepare to encounter a lot of people here because this is a very popular attraction.
Olmsted Point
Parking: Lot
Restrooms: None. Closest restrooms are at Tenaya Lake, 1.5 miles east
Pets: No
Allow: 30 mins
The eastern section of Yosemite National Park is least explored because of its distance to the valley but it boasts some of the best sights you will see in the park. Olmsted Point is one of them. If you are going to Tenaya Lake, try not to miss this viewpoint. This is only 2.4 miles away from the lake and offers stunning views with very little effort, and by effort I mean getting out of your car lol. To the west, you will see Clouds Rest and beyond that, the Half Dome. To the east, you will see Tenaya Lake surrounded by impressive granite domes. While wonderful views can be had just at the parking lot, a short walk to the top of the small dome takes you to a spot that gives you an even better view with a glint of Tenaya Lake on the horizon.
A glimpse of Tenaya Lake on the horizon
This viewpoint is located along Tioga Road so note that this road is only open from June through October. Both times we were there (summer and early fall), we had to share the spot with a few people but it does not get obnoxiously crowded as some other popular Yosemite viewpoints like Glacier Point.
Tenaya Lake
Parking: Lot
Restrooms: Yes, pit toilets at each end of the lake
Pets: Allowed when leashed, not in water.
Allow: 2-2.5 hours
Summer in Tenaya Lake
I don’t know about you but I try to squeeze in a lake/beach (or two!) whenever we go somewhere :) Alaina loves being in the water and she always looks forward to splashing around in the water. Tenaya Lake is probably the most beautiful lake inside YNP. The majestic granite bluffs mirrored in the crystal clear waters truly make for a postcard-perfect shot.
Tenaya Lake in the fall
We spent a good deal of time swimming and lounging around in our inflatable lounger and inner tube. If you only have one day though, you might need to limit your time here since this is quite a ways from the valley.
Can you hear the laughter in this photo? :)
The road (Tioga Road) leading up to the lake is winding and narrow so be prepared with anti-nausea medication if you get carsick easily. Tioga Road opens June through October and closes during winter due to heavy snowfall. Plan your trip to Tenaya Lake during the summer or early fall. Fall weather lends to cooler water temperatures so take note if you plan to swim.
There are picnic areas on both east and west ends of the lake. Because of how far flung it is from the Valley (over an hour drive!), this place rarely gets crowded. This is one of my favorite places inside the park so we make the trek in spite of its remote location.
You could choose to end the day here and exit out of the east entrance of the park (Tioga Pass Road) and explore Mono Lake, Bodie (ghost town) and Mammoth Lakes area or leave the park out of the northwest entrance to get you to the west side, closer to where you entered the park in the morning. If you want to leave the park out of Arch Rock entrance (where you entered the park), add about 20-30 minutes to your drive time.
Itinerary Map
This itinerary starts in the Arch Rock Entrance and ends in the Big Oak Flat Entrance of the park. Consider where you are staying to figure out where you should exit the park. Download all the maps you will need for your trip and save them on your phone. Most of the National/State parks and campgrounds have spotty wifi so having all the maps you need for your trip be readily accessible will save you both precious sightseeing time and unnecessary stress.
What To Expect
This itinerary will take you about 10 hours (from the time you enter to the time you exit the park) to complete. You will get the best chance to see all these if you visit June and July, when Tioga Rd opens and when Yosemite falls has not dried up for the season yet. All of the must-dos/visits in this 1-day itinerary are very kid-friendly and will keep them engaged and entertained. This is a super-packed itinerary so adjust according to what is most important for you. Yosemite National Park is notoriously crowded and heavily trafficked so try to pack a picnic lunch and plenty of snacks and drinks so you don’t have to wait ages to purchase food.
There are bears inside the park so dispose of your food in bear-proof trash cans and dumpsters. NEVER feed wild animals and if a bear approaches you, yell as loudly as possible to scare them away.
We always try to practice the Leave No Trace principles whenever we wander to respect the outdoors and keep wildlife wild.
Plan ahead and prepare.
Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
Dispose of waste properly.
Leave what you find.
Minimize campfire impacts
Respect wildlife.
Be considerate of other visitors.
We got lucky and saw a baby brown bear on our third visit to the park
How To Get There
The most direct route from the SF Bay Area is the Big Oak Flat Entrance on Highway 120 via Modesto and Manteca. Before planning a trip, always check the National Parks Services website for alerts on road or park closures.
Road open all year
Highway 140 from the west (cities of Merced, Mariposa, Midpines, El Portal) - Arch Rock Entrance
Roads open summer only
Highway 120 from the west (cities of Buck Meadows, Groveland, Sonora) - Big Oak Flat Entrance
Highway 120 from the east (cities of Lee Vining, June Lake Mammoth Lakes) - Tioga Pass Entrance
Highway 41 from the south (Fish Camp, Oakhurst, Fresno) - Wawona Road Entrance
There are only two gas stations inside the park, Wawona by the south entrance and Crane Flat by northwest entrance, so try to fill up before your adventure.
El Capitan Meadow
Transportation
There is a free Yosemite Valley Shuttle system which provides bus service around eastern Yosemite Valley, including stops at or near all overnight accommodations, stores and major attractions. Bicycles are also available for rent in Yosemite Valley.
Where to Eat
There are several dining options inside Yosemite. For this epic one day itinerary, I recommend that you bring your own food or grab sandwiches or ready-to-eat food in the Village Store or in Degnan’s Bakery, both in Yosemite Village.
If you would like to have a sit-down meal, we have tried the following places but I should mention that these places have mediocre food with tourist pricing.
Ahwahnee Dining Room - This fine-dining destination’s grand banquet hall is a sight to behold with its 30-foot high ceilings and enormous windows.
Village Grill - Open seasonally, this restaurant features outside seating on their deck and offers simple food items (grilled sandwiches, hot dogs, etc.). Wait can be crazy long especially in the summer.
Meadow Grill - Like the Village Grill, this is open seasonally and has burgers, sandwiches, salads and other vegetarian options on the menu.
Village Grill
What to Pack
Daypack/backpack
Sunscreen - The sun is intense especially in the summer so pack that sunscreen! We have stopped using chemical sunscreens because of hormone disruption in our bodies caused by the active ingredients widely used in chemical sunscreen. We also prefer using mineral reef-safe sunscreen because compounds in chemical sunscreens can add to damage and bleaching of hard corals. Coral reef bleaching is real and very serious. Coral reefs are home to 25% of the world's marine species with some being home to species that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth so it’s important to protect them and keep them viable to prevent wiping out whole ecosystems. We always check the label and use only mineral or “physical” sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredients. These physical sunscreens usually leave a white cast on your skin but for me, the benefits far outweigh that negative. We also try to choose lip balm formulations that are organic, natural and have zinc oxide for sun protection. Badger lip balm with sunscreen has been a good choice for us so far.
Insect repellant - By the same token, I have stopped using DEET-containing products because the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) rates DEET under Toxicity Category III - slightly toxic to birds, fish and aquatic invertebrates. We use plant-based, DEET-free Repel. I find that the eucalyptus smell is a little intense out of the bottle so I have Alaina wear a mask or cover her nose during application. The intense smell dissipates after a few seconds.
Camera and tripod - We still bring my DSLR camera occasionally but we have been shooting images mostly with our iPhones and waterproof camera. We like not having to worry about our cellphones falling in the water so we chose to invest in an underwater camera. Our 5-year old camera still delivers not only top-notch underwater images but high quality landscape images as well. The most recent model of our Olympus Tough camera is the Olympus TG-6. If you do purchase an underwater camera, get the float strap. This has saved our camera many times from falling to the bottom of the ocean lol. A tripod is always nice to have too especially if you are shooting images under low light conditions.
Olympus Tough camera unedited image
Hiking shoes and socks - Alaina is very picky with shoes but she does not complain about these hiking shoes. She prefers regular walking shoes over hiking boots but for longer hikes, I prefer for her to use hiking shoes with ankle support. For longer hikes, merino wool socks provide breathability and comfort.
Picnic lunch and plenty of snacks or protein bars
Cooler and picnic backpack - We always bring a car cooler on day trips because we ALWAYS bring a lot of food and drinks to save money on eating out. Since we eat mostly picnic lunches in parks, this picnic backpack also travels with us constantly. I swapped out the plastic wine glasses for these silicone kid-friendly cups.
Jackets/Windbreakers - it could get pretty windy and cold in some overlooks due to the high elevation so we always just come prepared.
Hiking pants/comfortable walking pants - Love that these pants are convertible so that A can unzip the bottom half of the pants to wear as shorts when it becomes too hot.
Hat/sun hat
Sunglasses
Swimsuit
Water shoes - You could use flip flops but water shoes really are the way to go for lake adventures. They stay on your feet and has good grip to keep you stable on slippery surfaces.
Towels - Technical towels are our towels of choice whenever we travel. They pack light, are quick drying and don’t take up a lot of precious camping bag real estate.
Pelican case - Our watertight, crushproof Pelican hard case keeps our electronics and valuables safe and dry.
Dry bag - Because who wants to wear wet clothes and shoes on the drive back home from your fun water adventure? LOL We don’t! Dry bags keep your gear from getting wet. Once we’ve changed into dry clothing from the bag, we stuff our wet clothes and water shoes inside.
Water toys/inflatable boats or loungers - We have been taking this inflatable lounger with us on lake trips since it is so lightweight and fun. The material is flimsy but has not ripped on us yet lol.
First aid kit - We always keep a first aid kit in our car so we are always ready in case of an emergency.
Anti-nausea medication - YNP has a lot of long, winding roads so it’s wise to keep anti-emetics/anti-nausea medication in your medicine kit for your trip.
Binoculars (optional)
Tenaya Canyon natural waterslide
ALTERNATIVE ATTRACTIONS
If you are going in the spring, fall or winter when Tioga Road is closed, or when Yosemite Falls has dried up in the late summer to winter, there are plenty of attractions in the park definitely worth seeing in case any of the sights in this itinerary are not accessible.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is a beautiful glacial lake which is easily accessible in the valley any season.
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir
Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is a stunning albeit remote recreation mecca in the park. Because of its relatively low elevation, Hetch Hetchy has one of the longest hiking seasons in the park. Backpacking, bird watching, and fishing are some of the other activities you can do here. The road which leads to HH is only open daylight hours so plan accordingly.
Glacier Point
From May to November, enjoy this overlook with breathtaking views of Half Dome, Yosemite Valley and the High Sierra. The drive to Glacier Point is winding so keep your anti nausea medication on hand.
Glacier Point overlook (Half Dome on the right)
Sentinel Dome
When Glacier Point Road is open, try not to miss Sentinel Dome Trail. It is a 2.2 mile trail that rewards you with amazing 360 degree views of the park on top of the dome. Ansel Adam's 1940 photo of the Jeffrey Pine tree made this summit famous, thus, it is heavily trafficked. The famed tree decayed irreversibly in 1977, and finally fell over in 2003. This ranks as a moderate hike but this lil ole lady didn’t find it too bad. A and B breezed through this, though.
Atop Sentinel Dome
Mariposa Grove
Mariposa Grove is the largest sequoia grove in the park located close to the southern entrance. The grove houses one of the oldest living sequoia still around, the 3000 year old Grizzly Giant. The little ones will also enjoy walking (or rather, running) through the Tunnel Tree. This is also one of my favorite places in the park for kids because there is just so much to discover and learn while walking through this forest.
Mariposa Grove tree huggers
BEST TIME TO GO
To me, regardless of the season you go to Yosemite, there will always be something magical to see. That being said, here are the advantages and disadvantages of each season.
Spring
Pros: Amazing waterfalls, Lesser crowds, Milder weather
Cons: Some roads closed so some sights not accessible
Summer
Pros: Wide range of activities, More roads open so more sights accessible
Cons: Waterfalls dry, Extremely crowded, Heavy traffic, Challenging booking accommodations
Fall
Pros: Mild weather, Lesser crowds
Cons: Waterfalls dry, Some roads closed so some sights not accessible
Winter
Pros: Least crowded, Winter activities, Accommodations abundant and least expensive
Cons: Some roads closed so some sights not accessible, Snow and icy conditions lend some activities unsafe
I hope this post can help you plan for your epic one day adventure to our favorite national park, Yosemite National Park. Yes, it’s a pretty intense itinerary so feel free to tweak it and leave out some areas if you are feeling overwhelmed. Let me know in the comments below if you were able to visit any of these places and what you thought of them. As always, happy wandering!
-Ellie
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