ITINERARIES
Yosemite National Park
3-Day/Weekend Trip for Families
Yosemite National Park in central California is one of the most beautiful places in the world and an awesome destination for families who want to enjoy the outdoors. This 3-day itinerary outlines the best kid-friendly activities around Yosemite Valley. (Yosemite is also included in some of our longer California itineraries.)
Deciding when to go
Yosemite includes some high-elevation areas that close in the winter due to snow and ice. I recommend going between April – October to avoid major snow. If you want to see waterfalls in Yosemite, April through June will be best. During dry times the waterfalls disappear.
Flights if Needed
If you need to fly to the area, there are multiple major airports nearby:
- Top choice: Fresno-Yosemite International (FAT) – 2.5 hours to Yosemite Valley
- Oakland International (OAK) – 3.5 hours to Yosemite Valley
- Sacramento International (SMF) – 3.5 hours to Yosemite Valley
- San Jose International (SJC) – 4 hours to Yosemite Valley
- San Francisco (SFO) – 4 hours to Yosemite Valley
- You can also fly into Reno/Tahoe which is 3 hours to Tuolumne Meadows but about 4.5 hours to the Valley when Tioga Road is open (usually May – November). If you do this, I recommend spending more time in this less crowded area of the park – it’s not as jaw-dropping as the Valley but really beautiful and so much less crowded. Most people don’t come in this way, so this itinerary does not include this area. (We have done a Lake Tahoe + Yosemite trip that includes this area so that itinerary will be added soon.)
Car Rental
Unless you can drive to Yosemite from where you live, you will need to rent a car for this trip. We recommend comparing prices on multiple companies at booking.com to find the best deal with free cancelation.
I recommend renting a minivan if you have a family of 4-6 people. I don’t care if you think minivans “aren’t cool”, they are the most spacious and convenient for road trips with kids and have plenty of room for luggage.
Check the prices on car seat rentals at your car rental place. I have rented before and sometimes got great seats and other times did not. Sometimes they are unavailable or too pricey and it may be better to bring your own. You can pack them in a car seat travel pack or a big suitcase and check them as luggage.
Lodging
You will need to book 3 nights near Yosemite Valley
- In the Valley, we recommend Yosemite Valley Lodge. Some of the rooms have views of Yosemite Falls and they have family rooms and bunk rooms that fit families of 5 or 6. Staying in the Valley is very convenient so you don’t have to worry about finding parking in the Valley. The rooms are not fancy, so you’re definitely paying for the location.
- Our favorite off-property place to stay is Yosemite View Lodge – it has spacious rooms, an indoor pool, a convenience store, and a restaurant on site. It is typically more affordable than the hotels inside the park.
- Another option inside the Valley is The Ahwahnee. This one is much more elegant and is undergoing renovations in 2024 so it’s soon to be even nicer. We have not personally stayed here with kids because they don’t have affordable rooms that fit a family of 5, but if it fits your family size and budget, try it out and let us know how it is!
- There are other options within the park that are more rustic including cabins and tents. Check out the options here >
Park Reservations
Yosemite National Park often requires reservations, especially if you’ll be visiting during a weekend. Get your reservations here: https://www.recreation.gov/timed-entry/10086745
- Clothes that match the season. Some parts of Yosemite can be very hot in the summer. It can also be cold and snowy in Spring. Check the weather and make sure you are prepared. Overall, clothing should be casual and suited for outdoor activity. You can also bring a few pairs of nicer clothes if you’d like to dine at the park restaurants in the evenings.
- Athletic or hiking shoes (something good for hiking with good tread)
- Tevas or other shoes that can get wet if you or your kids want to play in rivers and lakes.
- All Toiletries
- Backpage or cross-shoulder bag for carrying essentials during hikes
- If you have toddlers or babies, I highly recommend bringing a backpack carrier for hiking. This is the one we used and liked >
- All chargers – phones, watches, tablets, etc.
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Medicines
- Coats/jackets
- Ponchos or rain coats
- Bug spray
Prices are always going to vary! But here are some ranges/estimates to help you budget:
- Flights (if needed) – $300-600 per person
- Rental Minivan for 3 days (if needed) – $300-600
- 2 hotel nights – $150-600 per night (varies greatly depending on where you stay)
- Food – $60-80/adult per day, $30-40/kid per day
- Gas – this will really depend on the car you rent and the price of gas, but keep it in mind!
- Shopping – this can vary a lot depending on your shopping habits. There is a great gift shop at the Visitor’s Center.
Jump to a Day
Day 1
Arrive in Yosemite - Mariposa Grove, Bridalveil Falls
- We are going to assume you’re flying in from Fresno or driving in from the South. If that’s not the case, adjust accordingly.
- Enter the park using Highway 41 and head toward Marisposa.
- Address for GPS: Mariposa Grv Rd, Fish Camp, CA 93623
- Aim to arrive by 3pm if possible
- Big Trees Loop Trail – this trail is only .3 miles (about a 30 minute hike) and is wheelchair and stroller friendly.
- Grizzly Giant Loop Trail – we highly recommend this trail if you have kids that can handle a 2-mile hike. This hike will take about 2 hours and has about 300 feet of elevation gain. It will take you to notable trees such as the Bachelor and Three Graces, the 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant, and the California Tunnel Tree.
Drive further into the valley on Southside Dr. and enjoy the evening views. Turn left onto Northside Dr. and follow the signs to Yosemite Valley Lodge. There are two options for dinner at the Lodge.
1. The Mountain Room – A lovely restaurant with views of Yosemite Falls serving steaks, seafood, and more, plus it has a kids menu. Reservations are available on Open Table >
2. Basecamp Eatery – If you didn’t get a reservation at the Mountain Room or don’t want to do a traditional table-service restaurant, this food court offers a lot of good food variety sure to please everyone. View the Menu >
If you’re staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge – you’re home! They did not have rooms available that fit a family of 5 during our last trip so we stayed at the Yosemite View Lodge and thought it was perfect for our family. It’s a short drive from the valley, had spacious rooms with rollaway beds available, an indoor pool, friendly staff, and a convenience store to grab snacks. Check out this list of other lodging options close to Yosemite.
Day 2
Option 1: If Visiting in Winter or Early Spring
This is the time of year when the falls have plenty of water, Glacier road is closed, and there may be some snow on the ground. Make sure you have proper winter apparel.
- If staying at the Yosemite View Lodge, they do not offer free breakfast but they do have a restaurant on property and a convenience store where you can grab protein bars and quick convenience foods.
Try to get up fairly early and eat breakfast quickly if you are visiting on a weekend between April – October. Even with a reservation, parking can get tricky if you don’t get there early. - If staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, head to Base Camp Eatery to get breakfast from 6:30-10:45am. You do not need to get started as early if staying in the Valley since you don’t have to worry about parking.
If staying at Yosemite View Lodge, you will come to this trail before you enter the Valley, which also means it’s not very crowded! Enjoy the bit of tranquility before entering the valley! It’s a short hike to get a view of the falls with some fun rocks for kids to traverse over, but watch out for ice and don’t get too close to the water if the flow is quick.
*If staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, you may want to skip this as it may not be worth giving up your parking spot to drive out here.
If driving, continue to drive on El Portal Rd. and enter into the Valley. Turn left at Sentinal Drive and find parking near the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail (several options for parking including at the Lodge or the Village, then walk, bike, or take a shuttle to the trailhead).
If staying in the Valley, walk to the Lower Yosemite Falls trailhead.
This flat, .5 mile trail will take you close to the base of the falls. Stay on the trail and watch out for ice. There should be some nice snow and ice off the trail this time of year that makes for lovely pictures. There are several entrances to the trail but it will lead you toward the base of the falls and then loop you around to another good viewing location. See the map below:
When you exit the Yosemite Falls Trail, cross over the road and continue to the Cook’s Meadow Loop. This flat trail will give you more great views of the Valley and the Merced River, and then back toward the Visitor’s Center. Follow this route:
Keep walking to the Visitor’s Center and watch the movie in the theater to take a break from the cold. You can also walk over to Degan’s Deli for lunch. If you’d like some souvenirs or snacks, walk over to the Village Store. All of these are in the Yosemite Village area.
Take a free shuttle, re-park in the campground lot, or bike to the trailhead for Mirror Lake.
This is a longer hike at 4.4 miles, but is pretty easy and a good family trail. The trail can be done as a loop or an out-and-back and you don’t have to go the whole way to enjoy the beauty. Most of the trail is natural but 1.5 miles of the trail is paved (the first part if you go counter-clockwise). Check out the map below.
Don’t be too fooled by the name – there is never a true lake here. But in winter/early spring, there should at least be SOME water, although I’d call it a pond. About mid-way, there is an area that usually has some water in it and a sign that marks Mirror Lake, and at the apex of the trail is a beautiful open meadow (sometimes with some water in the middle) where kids can run around underneath the beauty of half-dome. Just watch for ice.
By this point in the day and time of year, the sun should be lower and if it’s clear it will shine beautifully golden on the rocks around the valley. You can enjoy this from almost anywhere in the Valley. You could also travel back to Tunnel View to enjoy the view from there if you’re staying outside the park.
If staying at Yosemite View Lodge, there is a good restaurant on-site called The River Restaurant and Lounge. If staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, you can eat at The Mountain Room (table service restaurant serving steak and seafood + a kids menu), Basecamp Eatery (food court with a variety of options), or walk or take a bus to the Ahwahnee Dining Room (currently buffet only, table service should be returning – check the website).
Yosemite View Lodge has an indoor pool that may be nice to swim in after a cold day if your kids still have some energy. The indoor pool is in a separate building, so just a warning that the walk in between your room and the pool will be cold!
Otherwise, enjoy relaxing at your hotel after a long day and get some rest!
Option 2: If Visiting in Late Spring/Early Summer
This is the time of year when the falls still have water (although maybe not as intense) and Glacier Point Road is open.
- If staying at the Yosemite View Lodge, they do not offer free breakfast but they do have a restaurant on property and a convenience store where you can grab protein bars and quick convenience foods.
Try to get up fairly early and eat breakfast quickly if you are visiting on a weekend between April – October. Even with a reservation, parking can get tricky if you don’t get there early. - If staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, head to Base Camp Eatery to get breakfast from 6:30-10:45am. You do not need to get started as early if staying in the Valley since you don’t have to worry about parking.
If staying at Yosemite View Lodge, you will come to this trail before you enter the Valley, which also means it’s not very crowded! Enjoy the bit of tranquility before entering the valley! It’s a short hike to get a view of the falls with some fun rocks for kids to traverse over, but watch out for ice and don’t get too close to the water if the flow is quick.
*If staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, you may want to skip this as it may not be worth giving up your parking spot to drive out here.
If driving, continue to drive on El Portal Rd. and enter into the Valley. Turn left at Sentinal Drive and find parking near the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail (several options for parking including at the Lodge or the Village, then walk, bike, or take a shuttle to the trailhead).
If staying in the Valley, walk to the Lower Yosemite Falls trailhead.
This flat, .5 mile trail will take you close to the base of the falls. Stay on the trail and watch out for ice. There should be some nice snow and ice off the trail this time of year that makes for lovely pictures. There are several entrances to the trail but it will lead you toward the base of the falls and then loop you around to another good viewing location. See the map below:
When you exit the Yosemite Falls Trail, cross over the road and continue to the Cook’s Meadow Loop. This flat trail will give you more great views of the Valley and the Merced River, and then back toward the Visitor’s Center. Follow this route:
Keep walking to the Visitor’s Center and watch the movie in the theater to take a break from the cold. You can also walk over to Degan’s Deli for lunch. If you’d like some souvenirs or snacks, walk over to the Village Store. All of these are in the Yosemite Village area.
Glacier Point Road is usually open to cars late May – October or November. The drive to the top will take about an hour. Park in the lot and walk the short, paved, accessible trail to the viewing area where you’ll be 3,214 feet above Yosemite Valley. The views are truly breathtaking!
Go back down Glacier Point Road a bit and find parking near the trailhead for Sentinal Dome/Taft Point. Map >
This 2.2 mile out-and-back trail doesn’t have too much elevation gain until the very end (and even then it’s pretty short) and when you reach the top you are treated to incredible 360 degree views of Yosemite. I would do this hike with babies/toddlers in back carriers. Kids should be fine to hike this one and will enjoy climbing the rocks at the top, but definitely keep an eye on them at the top. It is a large, rocky dome with some large flat areas so it feels safe, but there are no guard rails so don’t let them venture far.
Ideally, you will be doing this hike in the late afternoon/early evening to get the best lighting. If you’re a bit early, feel free to hang around at the top and soak in the views. But don’t wait until it’s too dark to hike back down.
If staying at Yosemite View Lodge, there is a good restaurant on-site called The River Restaurant and Lounge. If staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, you can eat at The Mountain Room (table service restaurant serving steak and seafood + a kids menu), Basecamp Eatery (food court with a variety of options), or walk or take a bus to the Ahwahnee Dining Room (currently buffet only, table service should be returning – check the website).
Yosemite View Lodge has an indoor pool that may be nice to swim in after a cold day if your kids still have some energy. The indoor pool is in a separate building, so just a warning that the walk in between your room and the pool will be cold!
Otherwise, enjoy relaxing at your hotel after a long day and get some rest!
Option 3: If Visiting in Late Summer/Early Fall
This is the time of year when the falls may be dry, but Glacier Point road is still open.
- If staying at the Yosemite View Lodge, they do not offer free breakfast but they do have a restaurant on property and a convenience store where you can grab protein bars and quick convenience foods.
Try to get up fairly early and eat breakfast quickly if you are visiting on a weekend between April – October. Even with a reservation, parking can get tricky if you don’t get there early. - If staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, head to Base Camp Eatery to get breakfast from 6:30-10:45am. You do not need to get started as early if staying in the Valley since you don’t have to worry about parking.
Park in the campground lot if you’re driving in, or take a free shuttle from the Lodge.
This is a longer hike at 4.4 miles, but is pretty easy and a good family trail. The trail can be done as a loop or an out-and-back and you don’t have to go the whole way to enjoy the beauty. Most of the trail is natural but 1.5 miles of the trail is paved (the first part if you go counter-clockwise). Check out the map below.
Don’t be too fooled by the name – there is never a true lake here. About mid-way, there is an area that might have some water in it and a sign that marks Mirror Lake, and at the apex of the trail is a beautiful open meadow (sometimes with some water in the middle, but not during late summer) where kids can run around underneath the beauty of half-dome.
You can lunch eat in the campground area or walk or take a free shuttle to the Visitor’s Center. You can eat at Degan’s Deli or get some snacks at the Village Store.
If you need a break from the heat or rain, there is a movie inside the Visitor’s Center you can watch. You can also check out the Village Store for souvenirs.
From the Visitor’s Center, follow the map below to Cook’s Meadow Loop. This flat trail will give you great views of the Valley, Yosemite Falls (if it has water), and the Merced River. You can catch a bus near the Yosemite Falls trail back to the campground if your car is there.
Head to your car and start the drive to Glacier Point. The drive to the top will take about an hour. Park in the lot and walk the short, paved, accessible trail to the viewing area where you’ll be 3,214 feet above Yosemite Valley. The views are truly breathtaking!
Go back down Glacier Point Road a bit and find parking near the trailhead for Sentinal Dome/Taft Point. Map >
This 2.2 mile out-and-back trail doesn’t have too much elevation gain until the very end (and even then it’s pretty short) and when you reach the top you are treated to incredible 360 degree views of Yosemite. I would do this hike with babies/toddlers in back carriers. Kids should be fine to hike this one and will enjoy climbing the rocks at the top, but definitely keep an eye on them at the top. It is a large, rocky dome with some large flat areas so it feels safe, but there are no guard rails so don’t let them venture far.
Ideally, you will be doing this hike in the late afternoon/early evening to get the best lighting. If you’re a bit early, feel free to hang around at the top and soak in the views. But don’t wait until it’s too dark to hike back down.
If staying at Yosemite View Lodge, there is a good restaurant on-site called The River Restaurant and Lounge. If staying at Yosemite Valley Lodge, you can eat at The Mountain Room (table service restaurant serving steak and seafood + a kids menu), Basecamp Eatery (food court with a variety of options), or walk or take a bus to the Ahwahnee Dining Room (currently buffet only, table service should be returning – check the website).
Yosemite View Lodge has an indoor pool that may be nice to swim in after a cold day if your kids still have some energy. The indoor pool is in a separate building, so just a warning that the walk in between your room and the pool will be cold!
Otherwise, enjoy relaxing at your hotel after a long day and get some rest!
Day 3
Tuolumne Meadows and Head Home
Pack up and check out of your hotel and get breakfast.
If you have time for a bit more Yosemite beauty before leaving the area, I highly recommend driving away from the Valley and heading up Tioga Road toward the Tuolumne Meadows area.
*Check to see if the road is open. If visiting in winter and the road is closed you’ll need to find an alternative. You could do the Yosemite Falls to Columbia Rock Trail.
While on Tioga Road, stop at Olmsted Point and walk the short path to get a great view of Half Dome from the North side.
Drive further on Tioga Road and find parking near the Soda Springs Trailhead. You can start the hike from 2 different areas depending on where you find parking. The first spot you come to is here. But if that lot is full you can park at the Lembert Dome Picnic Area.
From whichever place you start, this is an easy flat trail with beautiful views of the meadow, rocky domes, and the river. The trail leads to Soda Spring, a natural carbonated spring.
This isn’t a trail you need to stay on the whole time – kids can enjoy wading in the river, playing in the meadow, looking for marmots, and exploring!
Stop by the Tuolumne Meadows Grill for lunch. They serve kid-friendly lunch items.
*Check in advance if the Grill is open. If not, you may want to pack snacks or a picnic lunch. It will be a bit of a drive before you’re around other restaurants.
Time to say goodbye to the prettiest place in America and head home.
If you have more time, there are so many places to explore in Yosemite! Or start making plans to come back!
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