Which Entrance to Yosemite is Best for Your Trip?
(This article was updated in July 2026 with refreshed recommendations and images to better help guests plan their Yosemite getaway.)
There are four main entrances to Yosemite National Park: the Big Oak Flat Entrance, Arch Rock Entrance, South Entrance, and Tioga Pass Entrance. Each option offers direct access to different areas of the park, from waterfalls and lakes to stunning mountain and forest views. Many travelers on epic road trips will enter through one gateway, pass through the park, and then exit through a different gateway.
There is a lesser-known fifth entrance which is your only option to access the Hetch Hetchy region in the northwest section of Yosemite.
When you visit Yosemite, choose the Big Oak Flat Entrance for famous sights, Hetch Hetchy for fewer crowds, or Arch Rock for easy access to the center of the park. Yosemite’s South Entrance is the quickest route to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, and the Tioga Pass Entrance is on the east side in Yosemite’s pristine High Country.
We’ll outline the features and landmarks near all five Yosemite entrances to help you choose your ideal path into the park.
A Quick Guide to Yosemite Access
Yosemite’s Big Oak Flat (Highway 120 West), Arch Rock (Highway 140), and South (Highway 41) entrances are open year-round. The Hetch Hetchy Entrance is also open throughout the year, but does not allow you to pass through the park to another gateway. The Tioga Pass Entrance closes for the winter each year due to snow, typically from November through late May.
You can drive into Yosemite without a reservation, thanks to a new real-time traffic management system introduced in Summer 2026. The standard entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, is valid for seven consecutive days, and may be purchased online in advance to help minimize wait times at the entrances.
Big Oak Flat Entrance
Best for: Seeing Yosemite’s most famous sights
Seasonal access: Open year-round
For the most direct route to Yosemite from the San Francisco Bay Area and all points north, the best entrance to use is the Big Oak Flat entrance. Less than a mile from Rush Creek Lodge, this northwest entrance to Yosemite gives you access to many of the Park’s most iconic attractions, including Yosemite Valley’s hit parade of Tunnel View, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Valley is home to world-famous big wall climbing on El Capitan and Half Dome, and visitors can comfortably watch experienced climbers scale these granite monoliths. October is commonly known as “Rocktober” in Yosemite Valley, when climbing conditions are ideal.
The Big Oak Flat Entrance is also your most convenient western gateway to Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite’s High Country, and the Tioga Road that takes you across the Park to east side adventures in Mono, Mammoth, and a chance for road trippers to turn left to Lake Tahoe or right toward Los Angeles or Las Vegas. A portion of the Tuolumne River flows through Tuolumne Meadows, and further downstream you’ll find world-class whitewater rafting in Tuolumne County. All along the way you’ll have endless opportunities for hiking away from the masses, peaceful birdwatching, fishing, picnicking, photography, and mind-blowing stargazing of the Milky Way and galaxies beyond.
Hetch Hetchy Entrance
Best for: Encountering fewer crowds
Seasonal access: Open year-round
The Hetch Hetchy Entrance of Yosemite National Park is best for those seeking an extra peaceful experience in Yosemite. Located the farthest northwest section of the park — and a short 24-minute drive from Rush Creek Lodge — Hetch Hetchy is one of the least crowded sections of the park. It’s open daily from sunrise to sunset, and is only accessible by car (there is no public transportation).
Hetch Hetchy is one of the best Yosemite entrances for hiking due to the long hiking season (early spring through the fall) and the universal appeal to all fitness levels. Some visitors are happy to simply stroll out on the dam to soak in the stunning views and step back in time while taking in all of the historic exhibits. Beginner to moderate hikers like to stroll along the shores of the reservoir to year-round Wapama Falls. More adventurous hikers and backpackers love Hetch Hetchy for its many points of access into Yosemite’s wilderness.
Not sure where to start? Let the experts at nearby Rush Creek Lodge guide you. You can enjoy a leisurely and fascinating 4.5-mile hike high above the shores of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir on the Hetch Hetchy Wapama Falls Naturalist Hike. Your knowledgeable guide will share history, science, and local lore you can’t find anywhere else. Learn more about our guided excursions in Yosemite National Park.
Arch Rock Entrance
Best for: Access to the center of Yosemite National Park
Seasonal access: Open year-round
Yosemite’s Arch Rock Entrance welcomes visitors to the park with two house-sized boulders that form an archway large enough to drive through. This route puts you close to the center of the park as well as Yosemite Valley icons such as Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and the Merced River.
This western Yosemite entrance offers a direct route to Yosemite Valley via a gorgeous, 10-mile drive through the Merced River Canyon. You’ll be treated to views of Bridalveil Fall, Pohono Bridge over the Merced River, and the iconic El Capitan. Though Arch Rock is considered one of the most scenic routes into Yosemite, it is often considered the easiest because of its lower elevation and fewer curves than other options.
South Entrance
Best for: Seeing the Giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove
Seasonal access: Open year-round
The Yosemite National Park South Entrance is best if you’re traveling to see the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. While the road to the grove is closed to private vehicles, you can hop onto the free shuttle there from the Welcome Plaza, just two minutes from the entrance. You can also grab a park map and pay your admission fee at the Information Station.
The South Entrance is also ideal if a visit to Wawona is on your itinerary. This historic town is home to the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, historic buildings, a charming golf course, seasonal horseback riding at the Wawona Stables, and interactive experiences — including blacksmith demonstrations and horse-drawn carriage rides — during the summer.
Tioga Pass Entrance
Best for: Access to Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite High Country
Seasonal access: Typically open late May through November
The Tioga Pass Entrance to Yosemite National Park is best for seeing Yosemite’s pristine High Country, Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake and Olmstead Point. This east Yosemite entrance opens in the summer, and access continues through early fall. It provides the only access to Yosemite from the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, and closes each winter due to heavy snow.
Tioga Road is the only road through the High Country and is your ticket to epic camping, hiking, and backpacking through endless miles of untouched meadows, alpine lakes and granite peaks that are otherworldly. At times it can feel like you have the park all to yourself.
Tenaya Lake is terrific for a roadside picnic or a day of kayaking or Stand Up Paddling. (Inflatable SUP equipment rentals are available through Rush Creek’s Recreation Desk.)
Whether you’re up for a wild adventure or just a leisurely day of sightseeing, stopping at Olmstead Point is a must for the sweeping views of miles of Yosemite wilderness and an unusual perspective of Half Dome.
The Best Yosemite Entrance for Every Traveler
No matter where you start in Yosemite National Park, you’re surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and opportunities for adventure at every turn.
- Hikers of all abilities, and visitors looking to avoid crowds appreciate the Hetch Hetchy Entrance.
- The South Entrance is great for tree lovers and history buffs, thanks to its proximity to Mariposa Grove and Wawona.
- Big Oak Flat is best for tourists wanting to experience the park’s most iconic sites, traveling from Northern California, or staying at Rush Creek Lodge.
- For access to the easiest in-park driving route, take the Arch Rock Entrance.
- The seasonal Tioga Pass Entrance is a good choice for visitors looking to access the park from the east in summer, and to soak in Yosemite’s pristine High Country wilderness.
From cascading waterfalls and granite peaks to gentle rolling meadows and meandering streams, you can see it all in Yosemite National Park. Save your precious exploring time when you stay nearby at Rush Creek Lodge, just minutes from two of Yosemite’s best entrances. Book your Yosemite stay today!
Frequently Asked Questions about Which Entrance to Yosemite is Best
Visitors to Yosemite wondering which entrance to the park is best will find different answers depending on their Yosemite itinerary. There are 5 park entrances, each offering access to unique trails and sights.
Which entrance is the best for Yosemite?
The best entrance to Yosemite National Park depends on what you want to see and do, but many visitors agree that the Big Oak Flat entrance is a great choice for seeing iconic sights, including Yosemite Valley and two of Yosemite’s Giant Sequoia Groves. It also provides access to Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite’s pristine High Country wilderness.
Which is the best route to enter Yosemite?
The best route for reaching the center of Yosemite is through Arch Rock. For an uncrowded sightseeing experience, choose the Hetch Hetchy entrance, and to visit the most popular landmarks, enter through Big Oak Flat. The South Entrance is best for visitors who want to see the Giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove, and Tioga Pass Entrance is home to Yosemite’s High Country wilderness and is only accessible outside of winter.
Which Yosemite entrance for Tunnel View?
You can easily access Tunnel View via Big Oak Flat or Arch Rock, but Yosemite’s South entrance, located about 45 minutes away by car, provides the classic perspective made famous in 1930s photography.
What is the easiest drive into Yosemite Valley?
The easiest drive into Yosemite Valley depends on where you’re coming from. The Big Oak Flat Entrance is easiest if you want the most direct route to Yosemite from the San Francisco Bay Area and all points north. Arch Rock is easiest for being the lowest elevation with the least curves.
