By hannover-web.com Yosemite National Park officials have announced that starting from last weekend, visitors no longer need a reservation to drive into or through the park, a policy that may remain in effect until next spring. According to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle, the reservation system will conclude two weeks earlier than originally planned.
On social media last Thursday, the National Park Service stated that reservations would not be required for the final two weekends of October. In an Instagram post, park officials mentioned, “Reservations were initially supposed to run until October 27. However, based on our monitoring of visitor usage patterns and impacts, we have decided to end reservations a few weeks early.”
Visitors who made reservations after Sunday, October 13, will receive automatic refunds, with the park noting a $2 service fee charged in addition to the entry ticket.
The reservation system was implemented in Yosemite in 2020 to prevent overcrowding and protect the park’s environment. While the park has not yet announced plans for 2025, officials aim to make the reservation system a permanent part of their long-term visitor management strategy, which is expected to be released by the end of this year.
Under the 2024 policy, most of the year—specifically during peak summer months, as well as weekends and holidays in spring, early summer, and autumn—drivers wishing to enter or pass through Yosemite during peak hours (typically from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.) will still need to make a reservation.
The reservation system has received mixed reactions from visitors and local communities reliant on park tourism. Nevertheless, park officials assert that it is essential for alleviating congestion at entry points, which once caused delays of up to four hours.
According to the Park Service, Yosemite attracts approximately 4.4 million visitors annually, with about 94% arriving by private vehicle. This year’s reservation system allows individuals entering the park via public transportation, biking, horseback riding, participating in guided tours, or hiking to bypass the reservation requirement.
