Looking for the perfect 3 day Yosemite itinerary? Whether you’re spending a long weekend in Yosemite or are including the national park as part of a longer California road trip, you’re in for a real treat!
Although Yosemite National Park is absolutely massive (fun fact, it’s roughly the size of Rhode Island!), you can still get a good feel for the park and have an amazing experience in just a few days.
I recently spent 3 days exploring Yosemite with my husband Derek, and it turned out to be one of our all-time favorite adventures in California so far. This 3 day Yosemite itinerary is based on our exact experience, and I can vouch firsthand for what an incredible time we had.
A few notes about our long weekend in Yosemite:
- We took the day off work Friday to drive into the park; Saturday was a full day in Yosemite, and we drove home Sunday.
- We took the northern entrance into the park and the southern entrance out, since we wanted to see Glacier Point on the way out.
- We stayed inside Yosemite National Park at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. I highly recommend staying inside the park if you can, as it will help you maximize your time. If not, there are many lodges and Airbnbs to choose from in the towns outside the park.
Day One: Get Acquainted with Yosemite
- Drive into Yosemite National Park from San Jose, Oakland or San Francisco
- Tunnel View
- Cook’s Meadow Loop
- Lower Yosemite Falls Trail
Your 3 day Yosemite itinerary begins with a long drive into the park. Starting from either San Francisco, San Jose or Oakland, you’re looking at a 3.5 – 4.5 hour drive, depending on your exact starting point and traffic conditions.
It’s in your best interest to arrive to the park as early as possible, but as long as you arrive by late afternoon you’ll still be able to follow this itinerary. Stop by Tunnel View on your way into the park; it will be directly on your route if you’re taking the south entrance into the park, or is just a short detour away if you’re taking the north entrance.
This panoramic viewpoint is one of Yosemite’s most iconic destinations – no doubt you’ve seen countless photos of famous Yosemite landmarks like El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Fall from this spot!
After snapping a few photos and soaking in the sweeping scenery at Tunnel View, we continued on to Yosemite Valley Lodge and immediately checked into our room. We were eager to get the car parked and unpacked so we could start enjoying our long weekend in Yosemite!
From the lodge, it was a short walk down the road to one of the valley’s easiest and most picturesque “hikes” – Cook’s Meadow. This flat, scenic 1-mile trail yields amazing views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome right from the valley floor, and is the perfect way to get acquainted with the park.
On our way back to the lodge, we also did a quick stroll along the Lower Yosemite Falls trail. Not quite as flat as Cook’s Meadow (but still completely paved and with a very minimal incline) this 1-mile loop brings you to a small footbridge right at the base of the falls. The powerful spray from the waterfall was unreal in mid-June!
This trail was very crowded when we visited in the early evening (lots of kids and families) but it was still peaceful and awe-inspiring walking through all the trees, with the mountains poking through in the distance.
If you’ve arrived early in the day and have a bit more time before it gets dark, you could always rent a bike and explore the valley, or hop on a two-hour Valley Floor bus tour.
Visitors staying outside the park will want to start heading back to their accommodation before the sun sets completely. If you’re staying inside the park, you’ll have the opportunity to watch the daytime crowds clear out, and witness the calm that settles over Yosemite Valley in the evening. It’s one of the most relaxed times of days!
Day Two: Explore the Great Outdoors
- Embark on a half-day or full-day hike
- Chill out by the pool or river
- Pack a picnic or grab lunch in the park
- Dinner and drinks at Mountain Room Lounge/Restaurant
Today is the big day! You’ve got a full day to spend in Yosemite National Park, so let’s make the most of it. One of the very best ways to truly explore Yosemite is on your own two feet.
Pick a day hike that appeals to your fitness level and interests, and then hit the trail!
We opted for the Upper Yosemite Falls Trail, mostly because the trailhead was a short walk down the road from our lodge. With 7.2 roundtrip miles of switchbacks, stairs and steep inclines, this trail was no joke. Plan to spend around 6-8 hours on the trail (we finished in 6.5, with an hour of rest at the top) and bring plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks.
Other moderate-to-strenuous hiking trails in Yosemite include the Mist Trail and John Muir Trail Loop, Four Mile Trail, and of course the iconic Half Dome (although keep in mind a permit is required for this one). Pro Tip: Whichever Yosemite day hike you choose, get started EARLY.
We were on the trail by 6:30am, when the weather was nice and cool and the sun was barely up. It was also peaceful and enjoyable having the trail largely to ourselves the whole way up; we only passed (or more accurately, were passed by) a handful of other hikers during our ascent.
The descent was a different story: the June heat was absolutely brutal by 11am, the sun was starting to bake our skin, and there were loads of people huffing and puffing their way up the switchbacks as we breezed down past them. I truly felt sorry for everyone hiking up in that heat! I honestly don’t think we would have made it if we started any later than 8am.
After your day hike, spend the remainder of the afternoon and evening relaxing & soaking in the natural beauty of Yosemite.
By 1pm, we were back in the Yosemite Valley Lodge parking lot. One of the HUGE benefits of staying right there in the valley is that we were able to head up to our room, take a quick nap (no joke, Derek immediately fell asleep on the floor while I managed some painful stretching and devoured trail mix) and recuperate a bit before heading back out.
We also spent an hour or so hanging out at the Lodge’s amazing pool. Apparently you can purchase a day pass if you’re not staying at the lodge, so that’s always an option. The icy water felt so good on my aching legs and feet!
Alternatively, skip the pool altogether and find a spot to lounge by the Merced River instead. Pack a picnic lunch, or grab a bite to eat somewhere else in the park.
There are quite a few fast-casual dining options in Yosemite, where you can order sandwiches, burgers, pizza, ice cream and more. If you’re in need of a more potent pick-me-up after that grueling hike, there’s even a Starbucks at the Yosemite Valley Lodge.
While you could embark on another adventurous activity like rafting, cycling or more hiking, I recommend spending the rest of the afternoon blissed out beneath a redwood tree or soaking in views of a gorgeous meadow.
Seriously, it’s okay to relax on vacation once in a while! Spread out a blanket or find a picnic table, and whittle away the afternoon soaking in Yosemite’s iconic sights, reading a book, playing card games, or drinking beers. What could be better than booze, good company and views like these?
Speaking of booze, the Mountain Room Lounge at Yosemite Valley Lodge is a great place to grab an appetizer and a glass of wine as afternoon begins to fade into evening. Also located on the property is the Mountain Room Restaurant, which is a phenomenal spot for dinner.
The lobster mac-n-cheese fritters were divine, and so was the wagyu burger with brie. We tried the grilled portobello with ancient grains and the campfire trout with roasted potatoes the night before, and both dishes were excellent as well. In other words, you can’t go wrong!
Day Three: Glacier Point & Head Home
- Scenic drive to Glacier Point (optional hike)
- Drive home / back to the airport / onwards to your next destination
After our strenuous hike the day before, it’s safe to say Derek and I weren’t up for any more physical activity. So instead, we opted for a scenic drive up to Glacier Point, home to some of the most dramatic views in all of Yosemite National Park.
From way up here above the valley, you can gaze upon iconic sights like Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, and see all the way across to Yosemite’s high country.
If you are up for another hike today, you can choose from the 2.2 mile Taft Point trail, the 1.8 mile Sentinel Dome trail, or the 4 mile loop that connects the two trails. Both hikes are listed as “moderate.”
Pro Tip: The drive from Yosemite Valley Lodge to Glacier Point took us around 1 hour. Also, keep in mind that the Glacier Point Road is only open to cars between May and October or November.
From Glacier Point, the drive home to San Jose took us around 4.5 hours through the park’s south entrance. Plan accordingly if you’re trying to catch a flight!
Read Next: The First Timer’s Guide to Yosemite – What to Know Before You Visit
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If you’re planning a long weekend in Yosemite National Park, I hope you’ve found this 3 day Yosemite itinerary to be useful! What questions do you still have about visiting? As always, I’ll do my best to answer them in the comments section below. Happy travels!
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Thank you for sharing! I found your blog on Pinterest. I have read a lot of 3 day itineraries already but I think I like this schedule the most. Getting excited for my trip next spring!
That makes me so happy to hear! I hope you enjoy your Yosemite trip, happy travels!
Thanks for putting together this guide. Yosemite is high on the bucket list.
It’s well worth a visit!
We are planning on driving there this weekend but we are taking our RV. Did you see RV day parking inside the park?
How was the pool? What was the water temp, and how were the staff?