In a Rather Surprise Announcement Yosemite National Park Will Not require Vehicle Reservations in 2023
Yosemite National Park, November 15, 2022 – In a rather shocking announcement Yosemite National Park today announced it has decided not to require vehicle reservations in the summer of 2023. We for one are going to need to eat a little crow on this one, as we have often promoted that they would have no intention of dropping this system. However today Mariposa County dropped this email out to its subscribers:
As announced on November 15, 2022, Yosemite National Park will not require temporary peak-hours vehicle reservations to enter the park in summer of 2023. The decision follows three years of a reservation system that originally was implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and later assist with significant construction projects in the park. The decision will make it easier for travelers to plan their visit to Yosemite Mariposa County.
The suspension of the reservation system in 2023 will allow NPS to conduct a full environmental assessment in the coming year which will include public input.
In previous years, the National Park Service has required temporary vehicle reservations from May to September. The system was first introduced in 2020 and continued in 2021 as a way to limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep staff and guests alike safe. In 2022, the temporary peak hours vehicle reservation was put in place due to a high number of construction and renovation projects in Yosemite such as the repaving of Glacier Point Road and Tioga Pass, the Bridalveil Fall Rehabilitation Project and the construction of a new Welcome Center in Yosemite Valley.
Upon checking the Yosemite National Park website these are the current reservations announcements:
Entrance Reservations
Reservations are not required to visit Yosemite National Park. As always, we strongly recommend that you make a reservation if you plan to stay overnight in Yosemite. The park entrance fee is $35 per car (valid for seven consecutive days).
Reservations for 2023– Reservations will not be required to visit Yosemite National Park during the summer of 2023. Reservations were required in the summers of 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic and in summer 2022 when numerous key visitor attractions were closed for critical infrastructure repairs.
Planning for the Future – Yosemite has been grappling with congestion—even gridlock—for decades. We want to build from the lessons learned from the last three summer of managed access. Look for an announcement in December, when we’ll start seeking your help to design an approach that provides a great visitor experience while protecting Yosemite’s natural and cultural resources.
