Best Time to Visit Yosemite National Park
The best months to visit Yosemite National Park are March, April, May — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. August is the crowd peak (537,020 monthly visits); January is quietest at 21% of peak.
Monthly crowd curve
Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.
Yosemite month by month
| Month | Verdict | Avg visits | % of peak | High / Low | Precip | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Shoulder | 115,014 | 21% | 48°F / 29°F | 7.0″ | 9.8h |
| February | Shoulder | 129,412 | 24% | 51°F / 30°F | 6.5″ | 10.8h |
| March | Best window | 136,081 | 25% | 57°F / 34°F | 5.5″ | 11.9h |
| April | Best window | 256,083 | 48% | 63°F / 38°F | 3.2″ | 13.2h |
| May | Best window | 383,092 | 71% | 71°F / 45°F | 1.9″ | 14.2h |
| June | Peak crowds | 507,617 | 95% | 81°F / 51°F | 0.5″ | 14.8h |
| July | Peak crowds | 535,577 | 100% | 89°F / 57°F | 0.3″ | 14.5h |
| August | Peak crowds | 537,020 | 100% | 89°F / 57°F | 0.2″ | 13.6h |
| September | Peak crowds | 472,983 | 88% | 83°F / 51°F | 0.4″ | 12.5h |
| October | Peak crowds | 412,607 | 77% | 71°F / 41°F | 1.6″ | 11.3h |
| November | Shoulder | 216,341 | 40% | 56°F / 33°F | 4.0″ | 10.2h |
| December | Shoulder | 148,661 | 28% | 46°F / 28°F | 5.6″ | 9.6h |
Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station YOSEMITE PARK HQ, CA US (3 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.
Common questions
What is the best month to visit Yosemite?
March, April, May rank best for Yosemite on VisitWhen's computed score — the strongest balance of low crowds (NPS data), comfortable weather (NOAA normals) and daylight, among months when the park’s headline access is typically open.
What is the most crowded month at Yosemite?
August: an average of 537,020 recreation visits (NPS, 2021–2025). The quietest is January, at 21% of the August peak.
How many people visit Yosemite per year?
Yosemite National Park averaged 3,850,488 recreation visits per year over 2021–2025, per official NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
Dive into a month
Last verified 2026-07-16 · all parks