How To Spend One Day In Yosemite National Park

You don’t need to go all the way to Indonesia or Iceland to see awe inspiring waterfalls. (Though I recommend you do sometime!)

Just plan out your next road trip in the states to include a day at Yosemite National Park in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. Massive waterfalls, (home to Yosemite Falls, one of the tallest waterfalls in the world!) towering granite cliffs (which glow like fire at sunset!) and so much untouched natural beauty.

Yosemite National Park’s History

If you know a little bit of history about the park, you might know a man named Galen Clark was diagnosed with tuberculosis and given 6 months to live. Well, instead he relocated to Yosemite where the air is clean and nature can do wonders for a person. Miraculously he lives another 50 years, becomes guardian of the park and helps protect Yosemite from people who want to destroy it. *round of applause* We all owe Mr. Clark a big thank you for saving this paradise because Yosemite’s untouched beauty is beyond comparison

Even one day spent inside this incredible park will leave you feeling invigorated, refreshed and hopefully, a little bit inspired.

Yosemite National Park The Wanderlust Rose — Shop my backpack here!

How to spend one day in Yosemite

Stay nearby the night before

If you’re doing a day trip and driving in from somewhere else, I suggest staying at the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort the night before and after your day in the park.

Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort

Hostel rooms around $38 a night
Private cabins around $175
12 hour access to the spa $12
Amazing cafe with excellent vegan, vegetarian, gluten free options
50 minute scenic drive from the park entrance

This place isn’t a luxury hotel by any means but wow does it have charm!! (Think all the nostalgia of American summer camp like you see in the movies!) Staff members are warm, welcoming and friendly. The cafe serves an incredible menu that really caters to all dietary needs and dishes up some incredible (and very inventive!) vegetarian and vegan options.

If traveling in a group, you can get bunk bed rooms in a shared space. Traveling single or in a pair, they have cute, quirky private cabins if you don’t want a dorm.

Be sure to pack your s’mores ingredients for the communal fireplace! Board games, ping pong tables and best of all- the spa! For $12 you can get access to the hot tub and sauna. After a long day of adventuring and hiking, our group loved relaxing in this mountainside spa at night.

Peaceful, serene and just so dreamy.

Better set your alarm though so you can arrive at the park early and make the most of your day!

The drive into the park

Holy mother of scenic views!! You aren’t even officially in Yosemite yet before the waterfalls, granite cliffs and stunning river views begin. Have a good music playlist cued up and ready to go (there are plenty of pre-made road trip playlists on Spotify) and enjoy this amazing drive to your destination.

My Yosemite Drive Playlist:

I Keep Ticking On – The Harmaleighs
Gypsy- Fleetwood Mac
Love Is A Wild Thing- Kacey Musgraves
Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen
Little Lion Man- Mumford and Sons
Jack and Diane – John Mellencamp
Landslide- Dixie Chicks
The Cave – Mumford and Sons
Can’t You See- The Marshall Tucker Band
All We Get- First Aid Kit
All For You- Sister Hazel
If I Ever Leave This World Alive- Flogging Molly

Once you arrive at the park it will cost you $30 per vehicle for park entry. Be sure to get one of the free maps they offer!

1st Stop: TUNNEL VIEW

Drive into the park and first make a pit stop at Tunnel View. Just follow the signs and the free map you received at the park entrance!

Most likely your google maps have stopped working at this point so time to navigate the old fashion way. This iconic look out point gives you the perfect shot of the Half Dome, El Capitan and Bridalveil Fall.

Once you’ve soaked in the glorious sites and taken your photos, time to drive back down the way you came. But this time, head towards Yosemite Lodge. Park at shuttle stop #7 or #8. You will see the signs with these numbers on them.

Park at Yosemite Lodge (Bus Stop #7)

2nd Stop: Lower Falls

From there use the bathroom, fill up your water bottle and maybe grab a coffee from the cafe before you go stroll Lower Falls.

This easy, flat walk past Yosemite Falls will probably take you about 20 minutes – depending on the amount of time you spend taking pictures, of course.

Once you’ve officially soaked up those waterfall views, set off back towards the lodge. There, you can hop on the free shuttle they offer at the park. If you’re looking at your map, it’s the yellow route. The shuttles run every 15 minutes or so. Just a word of warning, on peak days in the summer, the shuttles may be packed full.

3rd Stop: Vernal Falls (Shuttle Stop #16)

Ride the shuttle bus to stop 16, hop out there to hike up to Vernal Falls! Or if you’re feeling like a longer hike- go all the way to Nevada Falls. (But that is a long one- approximately 4 hours!)

If you go during the spring the waterfalls will be really full and you’ll get quite wet from the splash back near the falls. The water is cool and refreshing, plus by the time you finish your hike, you’ll have dried off again from the sun! Hiking Vernal Falls takes about two hours round trip.

Spring is the best time to visit to see full waterfalls, sometimes by August they have dried up!

And if you’re hiking in the winter, the shorter route to Vernal Falls will be closed and you’ll need to take the longer winter route!

4th Stop: Mirror Lake

As you head back to the shuttle stop, you’ll see a sign for Mirror Lake. If you have more time- I suggest you go! In the spring especially, the lake is beautiful with wild flowers blooming everywhere. The hike to the lake is another 2 miles approximately.

When you are done, ride the shuttle back to the Yosemite Village, keep your eyes peeled for wildlife as you drive along! We’ve seen deer and occasionally you might spot a bear…

Last Stop: Yosemite Village

Once at the village you can check out the museum, shops or cafes! They have some great locally brewed beer on tap you could try as well.

Yosemite National Park tips

Stay nearby the night before to maximize your day in the park
Pack a picnic for lunch in the woods
Wear clothing you’re comfortable getting wet- the spray from the waterfall in peak water season will drench you
Don’t approach wildlife- you might see deer, squirrels or even a bear!
Never drink the water from the park streams- it looks clear but can make you really sick

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Before you visit Yosemite National Park, be sure to watch the documentary Free Solo!

The documentary follows climber Alex Honnold as he prepares to scale the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without a rope. It’s a gripping documentary that will have your stomach flipping at the insane danger of the rock climbing culture in Yosemite.