Budget Travel to Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park is more than just a national park – in fact, although it’s been a park since 1890 it was also named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. Yosemite was also the spearhead for the whole concept of national parks, and remains one of the most popular parks in the United States.

As one of the popular national parks, it’s a common stop on summer family vacations – and large crowds of visitors almost always mean high prices. Unfortunately, the cost of visiting Yosemite has gone way up in recent years (mostly due to accommodation prices), so it’s important to do your research if you want to do Yosemite on a budget.

Best Airports to Use for Yosemite

While Yosemite itself is a natural wonderland, there are a few major airports that are close enough to the park’s entrance to be reasonable options – these aren’t tiny airports we’re talking about at all. The closest airport, however, is almost never the cheapest one, so your best bet is to plan on renting a car when you arrive and make the rest of the journey a road trip.

>> Look for cheap airfare to California

Here are the airports to look at when you’re flying to Yosemite.

• Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT) – This is the closest airport to the park, but it’s tough to find cheap fares to Fresno. If you’d like to check, Fresno’s airlines include Aeromexico, Allegiant Air, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, American Eagle, Delta Connection, United Express, US Airways, and Volaris. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive to the South Entrance and a 2.5-hour drive to Yosemite Valley.
• Sacramento International Airport (SMF) – This is a good option for flying to Yosemite because it’s a less congested area than the San Francisco area, making it easier to get in and out. It’s also well-served by budget airline Southwest. Other budget carriers flying to Sacramento include Horizon Air, jetBlue, Frontier, and US Airways; major airlines include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. It’s about a 4-hour drive to Yosemite Valley. Find cheap airfare to Sacramento
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO) – This is the largest airport on the list of airports near Yosemite, so it’s worth checking. Budget airlines serving SFO include Virgin America, Air Berlin, AirTran, Frontier, Horizon Air, jetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country, US Airways, and WestJet. San Francisco is served by a long list of major airlines, too. It’s about a 4-hour drive to the park’s nearest entrance and a 5-hour drive to Yosemite Valley. Find cheap airfare to San Francisco
• Oakland International Airport (OAK) – The Oakland airport is a good alternative to SFO, as there are often cheap flights into OAK. Budget airlines flying to Oakland include Southwest Airlines, Allegiant Air, Horizon Air, jetBlue, and US Airways – major carriers include Alaska, Hawaiian Airlines, and United. It’s about a 4-hour drive to the park’s nearest entrance and a 5-hour drive to Yosemite Valley. Find cheap airfare to Oakland
• San Jose International Airport (SJC) – This airport is another Bay Area option for Yosemite. Budget airlines flying to/from San Jose include Southwest, jetBlue, Horizon Air, and US Airways. Other carriers include American Airlines, Continental, Delta, and United. It’s about a 4-hour drive to the park’s nearest entrance and a 5-hour drive to Yosemite Valley. Find cheap airfare to San Jose
• Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO) – Despite being in neighboring Nevada, the Reno airport is quite a good option for getting to Yosemite. Budget carriers serving Reno include Southwest and US Airways; other airlines include American, Continental, Delta, and United. It’s about a 3.5-hour drive to the park’s nearest entrance and a 5-hour drive to Yosemite Valley. Find cheap airfare to Reno

Times of Year When Yosemite is Cheaper to Visit

The most popular time to visit Yosemite is during the summer months – the busiest months are June-August, with the July 4th holiday being a particular high point. Busy times in the park mean more expensive trips, so if you can plan your trip for May-June you’ll probably have a better experience overall (and spend less) than if you go in July-August.

Another time of year to take advantage of smaller crowds is the early fall – September-October. The fall colors can be a big draw at this time of year, and the weather is typically still quite warm.

Keep in mind that visiting Yosemite (or anywhere) during a shoulder season does mean the weather can be unpredictable, especially if you’re visiting on the end of the season that’s closer to winter. It’s important to plan for variable weather, and to know that you might save money on your trip with a shoulder season visit but that the park may not be at its best. It’s a trade-off you need to be comfortable with making.

Finding Cheap Accommodation in Yosemite

Sleeping cheap at Yosemite has gotten more and more difficult over the years, regardless of the type of accommodation you’re looking for. If you’re traveling on a budget, your best bet to find cheap lodging is to go camping or book one of the tent cabins. Even the cabins aren’t cheap, but if you’re traveling with a small group/family it can be a good option.

Camping in Yosemite is the cheapest way to go – just remember that you can make reservations at only some of the campgrounds in the park, and those will book up fast in the high season. You can take your chances on finding an open spot at one of the campgrounds that doesn’t take reservations, but that’s a big risk from about April through September. It’s smart to book a campsite at least six months ahead of your visit (longer if it’s during the peak months).

General Yosemite Visitor Information

You can get current information on everything from the park’s entry fees to what roads are closed on the official Yosemite website (part of the National Park Service site).

>> Official Yosemite National Park website

There are several days each year when entry fees to Yosemite and other national parks are waived, so one way to save money is to plan your visit on one of those days – just know that you won’t be alone in that thinking!

>> Yosemite National Park fees

photo by Dawn Endico