Yosemite National Park Lifts Reservation Requirement for the Rest of 2024

Great news for those planning a trip to Yosemite National Park for the rest of 2024—weekend visitors will no longer need a reservation to explore the park, according to a recent announcement from park officials.

The National Park Service (NPS) has lifted the reservation system earlier than expected, meaning reservations will not be required for the final two weekends in October. Originally, the system was set to run through October 27, but officials made the decision to end it early based on visitor patterns and impacts.

“The reservation requirement was planned to extend through October 27, but based on our monitoring of visitor use patterns and impacts, we are ending a few weeks early,” Yosemite officials stated in an Instagram post. Additionally, those who had reservations for after October 13 will receive automatic refunds.

Throughout most of 2024, Yosemite required drivers to make reservations to enter or pass through the park during peak hours (5 a.m. to 3 p.m.), particularly on weekends and holidays during the spring, summer, and fall. This policy helped manage the large influx of visitors during the park’s busiest times. In recent years, Yosemite has seen fluctuating visitor numbers, peaking at nearly 4 million visitors in 2021, down from over 4.5 million in 2019.

With the early lift of the reservation system, fall visitors can now enjoy the beauty of Yosemite without the need to plan ahead for park entry—making it easier than ever to explore the park’s stunning landscapes and autumn colors.