Yosemite National Park | A Family Guide

Every year National Parks Week is celebrated in April and it just so happens that we visited Yosemite National Park in April this year during Spring Break.  Yosemite is full of stunning views! We really are blessed in the United States with so many gorgeous National Parks. Did you know California alone has nine National Parks, more than any other state!

As a grown adult and now parent I still have very fond memories of my first visit to Yosemite as a teenager.  I expressed to my children I hope they too will pass on a love for nature and our National Parks as a result of visiting Yosemite. If you do not yet have any summer vacation plans I highly recommend visiting a National Park!

One of my favorite things about Yosemite is there really is something to do for every age and skill level.  You do not have to be an avid hiker or climber, although you can be.  There are trails for families with young children as well as trails for the more adventurous. Our youngest is six years old and he did great.  I was also recovering from a back injury and did not think I would be able to do much on this trip.  We actually planned on just driving on our first day in the park, but we were able to get out and walk easy, flat trails and take in stunning views without hiking.  We went back into the parks with grandparents on another day and again easily did some basic trails/hikes and had no issues. So if you have young children or are not the most active hiker, do not let that keep you from visiting Yosemite.  

What to pack for Yosemite

Good walking shoes for sure. Layers of clothing, even with the cooler temperatures in April, it did warm up later in the day, so while we needed a sweater in the morning, it was nice to be able to have something underneath.  I also have heard even in the warmer months, the same goes, there are cooler mornings and cooler evenings.  A backpack is another great thing to bring along especially if you are going on longer trails and hikes. A backpack is perfect to carry your sweater, lunch, and water bottle.  We saw quite a few families with bikes, if you are camping or staying in the park I could definitely see bringing bikes. If you are staying farther out like we did, I would leave the bikes at home, but I like to travel light, the less stuff we have to bring the better. 

Summer is a popular time to visit Yosemite, with children on summer break.  If you can visit in April, you will often still see some snow on the mountain tops, which definitely provides some beautiful views, you also get to see Spring wildflowers.  Visiting in May is said to be a great month to visit because the waterfalls have a nice flow from the melting of snow.  I have not visited during the Autumn months but I read that September and October provide beautiful Autumn views, with the many colors of Fall. No matter when you visit be sure to check and know when reservations are required as well as be aware of road conditions and closures.  There were two popular roads closed during our visit. I also recommend discussing with your family patience, many of the roads are only two lanes and on one of the days we were in the park there was a tipped-over vehicle, we had to wait quite a while until the road was cleared. 

Yosemite is about a three-hour drive from Sacramento, which now after taking our kiddos for the first time, I wish we would visit more often.  It really is a treasure to have so many National Parks near us in California.  If you are a fellow Californian I encourage you to plan to explore more of them.  It is so nice to unplug from the hustle and bustle of life and get outdoors.  There is something so refreshing, and rejuvenating about experiencing nature.

Admission to visit Yosemite National Park was only $35 for our vehicle and our receipt was good for seven days. I thought it was going to be $35 each day we visited, so that was a nice surprise.  

Once inside the park, you will spot plenty of informative signs to help you with your trip planning, learning about trails, and more. 

Yosemite Valley is a great place to start, there is plenty of parking, there are a number of different trails as well as a museum and this is the place where your children can become a junior rangers.  You can pick up a Yosemite Junior Ranger Handbook for free at any Visitor Center.  You can also download a free printable here. During our visit, the Yosemite Museum was closed. 

Must-see spots:

Tunnel View is definitely a must-see, it is right off of Highway 41 and you can see views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridalveil Falls.  There are two parking lots, that fill up quickly, but from what we saw, people are pretty quick to park, snap a few photos and be on their way.  We stopped at Tunnel View on two days, one day was sunny and gorgeous and one day was drizzly, both views were majestic.  

Half Dome, there are quite a few different spots to view Half Dome, the first was a turn-off from the highway, you can also get a great view of Half Dome from Mirror Lake. 

El Capitan, again kind of like Half Dome, since it is so large, you can get quite a few views of El Capitan, no map is needed, definitely find a spot to pull over and take in the massive monument. 

Yosemite Falls is absolutely gorgeous, really all of the waterfalls, we loved them all and stopped to see every waterfall.  I will say discuss safety with your children as many times you pull over on the side of the road with others to view waterfalls.  Also, be sure you park safely and be mindful of those around you.

Mirror Lake, this is one of the easier trails to follow, it is paved most of the way, and there are bathrooms along the trail and perfect for bike riders.  We did this trail, for most it is easy, I was grateful there were benches at the halfway point to rest a bit.  

FREE Shuttle Service:

The Yosemite Valley Shuttle System is FREE and runs year-round, a great way to get around. This free shuttle runs approximately every 10-30 minutes depending on traffic and season.  You can check the Yosemite Guide newspaper for updated hours of operation.  The stops are served in numerical order and you can get off and on the shuttle at any stop on the route. 

The El Capitan Shuttle serves some of the western end of Yosemite Valley.  This route is available in summer only and runs about every hour depending on traffic.  

Where to stay:

You can camp inside the National Park, there are also hotels nearby and even inside the National Park. Hotels: The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village.  Just outside of Yosemite is Rush Creek Lodge. We chose to rent an Airbnb, with four growing boys who are oftentimes loud, we need space, we also had invited my parents to join us on this trip, so an Airbnb was the way to go for us on this trip.  

Our vacation rental was in the Pine Mountain Lake neighborhood in Groveland, CA, it was spacious, and cozy with extra touches perfect for families like ping pong, air hockey, basketball, and more.  The Pine Mountain Lake neighborhood has a golf course, pickleball courts, a shooting range, and trails near the lake.  There is a park on the lake and such a beautiful location.  Here is the link to the rental we chose.  The drive into Yosemite was about 30-40 minutes, which was perfect for the couple of days we wanted to spend in the National Park.  

We spent a day enjoying the small town of Groveland, CA and we loved the small-town vibes. We enjoyed delicious pizza at Two Guys Pizza Pies, we loved shopping at the small shops and checking out the local thrift store and even enjoyed a trip to their local meat market.  The Grove Mercantile was another favorite stop, they have fresh-made ice cream and the cutest merch.  

Where to eat:

There are NO fast food places nearby when going into the National Park, so packing a picnic lunch is a great idea.  There is a restaurant inside the Ahwahnee Hotel and there is a large grocery store, with pre-made sandwiches and everything you would need for a meal.  The first day we spent inside Yosemite National Park, we actually did not take enough snacks with us, so we were so grateful for the Village store.  There are two entrances to the Village Store and there are picnic tables near both entrances, perfect to sit and enjoy your lunch. 

If you stay or drive through Groveland, be sure to check out Two Guys Pizza Pies, we loved the pizza so much we ate here two times during our visit.  They have delicious pizza, of course, we also enjoyed the salad and wings.  They also have a great lunch buffet option and we saw quite a few locals enjoying sandwiches.

In Groveland, a couple other local and tourist favorites are the Historical Iron Door Saloon, which is the oldest saloon in California.  There is also a Mexican Restaurant Cocina Michoacana. Be sure to save room for dessert and visit The Grove Mercantile, it is the cutest gift shop, perfect to pick up souvenirs and it is a creamery with homemade ice cream, unique flavors, and a coffee shop. 

How many days do you need to visit Yosemite? I know quite a few friends from Sacramento who will drive in for the day, they leave early in the morning, spend the day in the park, and drive home. With kids in tow, we feel we need to spend the night for anything that is a 3+ hour drive away. It also depends on what you want to do, if you plan on not doing any major hikes and driving through some of the scenic spots with a stop in the Yosemite Valley, you could easily do that in one day.  If you want to do more than one hiking trail you will need multiple days.  Especially if you want to enjoy a picnic lunch and take your time taking photos, I think spending 2-3 days in the park is best especially with kids, this way you get to take your time, enjoy the sights and not overdo it on any one day.  We went out of town for the entire week but only drove into the National Park for two days.  

Fun Facts:

Yosemite became a National Park on October 1, 1890. President Lincoln signed a Yosemite Land Grant in 1864 to protect the land.  The idea of National Parks came following this event.

Yosemite Falls is the tallest water in North America, with a 2,425-foot drop to the valley floor.  May is one of the best times to view the falls.

Yosemite is home to over 400 species. Some of the amazing wildlife found in the park include: black bears, coyotes, mule deer, bighorn sheep, red foxes, chipmunks, squirrels, mountain lions, and many more.

We did not spot any bears although my youngest was prepared, he was sure to read up on what to do if you encounter a bear. We did see a lot of birds and deer.  I loved watching my children looking for wildlife, here are a couple of photos my son captured of birds. 

I'll leave you with some famous quotes about Yosemite:

“Yosemite Park, none can escape its charms. Its natural beauty cleans and warms like a fire, and you will be willing to stay forever in one place like a tree.” John Muir

“But no temple made with hands can compare with Yosemite. Every rock in its walls seems to glow with life as if into this one mountain mansion Nature had gathered her choicest treasures.” John Muir

“Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space. I know of no sculpture, painting or music that exceeds the compelling spiritual command of the soaring shape of granite cliff and dome, of patina of light on rock and forest, and of the thunder and whispering of the falling, flowing waters. At first the colossal aspect may dominate; then we perceive and respond to the delicate and persuasive complex of nature.” Ansel Adams

“There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias and redwoods, the Canyon of the Colorado, the Canyon of the Yellowstone, the Three Tetons; and our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children’s children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred.” Theodore Roosevelt