150 parking spots in Yosemite Valley can be reserved for Saturdays and Sundays in August/NPS, Damon Joyce

The second phase of Yosemite National Park's multi-year pilot program that allows people to reserve a limited number of parking spaces at the Yosemite Falls Parking Area is scheduled for four weekends in August.

Visitors who reserve one of the 150 parking spots will have a space until 4 p.m. Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. There is no charge for day-use parking reservations, but a reservation fee of $1.50 will be required per transaction. All transactions are final; no refunds or cancellations will be accepted. All remaining parking spaces in the Yosemite Falls Parking Area will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations can be made for passenger vehicles up to 20 feet in length. At this time, reservations cannot be booked for RVs or trailers. 

The Yosemite Falls Parking Area is one of two main parking lots in Yosemite Valley, directly west of Yosemite Valley Lodge and south of Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley. The park encourages visitors to park once and utilize the free shuttle system to get to the Valley Visitor Center and all major attractions in Yosemite Valley.

This pilot program is part of a larger effort to evaluate traffic and parking management tools to improve the visitor experience in Yosemite National Park. The pilot will help park staff see if there is public interest or demand for day parking reservations. Other traffic management tools the park has implemented include designated bus lanes, a new traffic roundabout, improved parking facilities, and improved signs and wayfinding tools.

“The pilot day parking reservation program is one of many tools Yosemite National Park is using to address traffic and congestion in the park,” Acting Superintendent Chip Jenkins said in a release. “We are continuously working to improve so we can provide a quality experience for visitors to Yosemite National Park. After this summer season, park staff will evaluate the program and recommend changes based on public feedback.”

The park is expecting a very busy summer season, especially on weekends. Visitors arriving in personal vehicles should plan to expect traffic congestion and travel delays up to three hours before parking your vehicle. Visitors are encouraged to stop at the visitor centers in the park’s gateway communities of Mariposa, Oakhurst, Groveland, and Lee Vining to purchase park passes and get information to help plan your trip to Yosemite.

A great alternative to driving into Yosemite Valley is to consider parking at stops in the gateway communities and riding the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) buses into Yosemite Valley. Visit www.yarts.com for more information. In Yosemite Valley, once you have found a parking space, people are urged to ride the free shuttle, walk, or ride a bike around the Valley to minimize traffic congestion.