3 Days in Yosemite National Park: The Perfect Itinerary

Three‑day balanced itinerary in Yosemite National Park covering arrival, key sights, hikes, meals and departure.

Day 1 — Arrival and Yosemite Valley Intro

08:00 — Drive from San Francisco International Airport to Yosemite Valley (Yosemite Valley, CA)
10:30 — Check‑in at Yosemite Valley Lodge (Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite Valley, CA)
11:30 — Lunch at The Ahwahnee Dining Room (The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley, CA)
12:30 — Yosemite Valley Visitor Center (Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, Yosemite Valley, CA)
14:30 — Lower Yosemite Fall Trail (Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Yosemite Valley, CA)
16:30 — Dinner at Base Camp Eatery (Base Camp Eatery, Yosemite Valley, CA)
18:00 — Evening at Yosemite Valley Lodge (Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite Valley, CA)

07:00 — Breakfast at Yosemite Valley Lodge (Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite Valley, CA)
08:00 — Drive to Glacier Point (Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, CA)
09:00 — Glacier Point Viewpoint (Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park, CA)
11:00 — Drive to Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, CA)
12:00 — Walk in Mariposa Grove (Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, CA)
13:30 — Lunch at Wawona Hotel Dining Room (Wawona Hotel, Wawona, CA)
14:30 — Drive to Tuolumne Meadows (Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, CA)
15:30 — Hike to Cathedral Lakes (Cathedral Lakes Trail, Tuolumne Meadows, CA)
17:30 — Dinner at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, Tuolumne Meadows, CA)
19:00 — Return to Yosemite Valley Lodge (Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite Valley, CA)

This itinerary covers Yosemite National Park in 2 days — see the full day-by-day plan above.