When is the best time to visit Yosemite?? I know some of the roads are not open until May. Due to wildfires burning in most all of the West during Summer and Fall I'm very concerned about planing a trip and having it ruined by smoke. The crowds are another concern. Right now I'm thinking May or September would have typically smaller crowds. September having a much higher chance of wild fires. So this question is for the experienced traveler who has visited here more than once.

Crowds: Memorial Day to Labor Day. Worst on weekends.Wildfires: A month after the snow melts to a month after the snow starts falling.Since you have no control over when a wildfire anywhere will impact Yosemite, and the prescribed burns are very flexible, there really is little planning you can do about the smoke issues. In late March you can call the district and see if they have scheduled any prescribed burns and about when they might occur. You can also monitor NIFC to see what fires are occurring and their severity so you can alter plans if needed.Otherwise, worry about the crowds cause fire/smoke is what fire/smoke will be.

Thanks for your input. Looks like I may end up with little planning to go on. This makes reserving a campsite very difficult. I usually like to make a base camp a few miles from an attraction and then commute to the park. This worked well for us while in Southern Utah and Colorado the past two years. Also, what are your recommendations on a good campground in the area?? Say within 25 miles or so of the park entrance.

The waterfalls run in the spring! We could only get there in the fall and it was beautiful but most of the waterfalls are dry by then.

“When is the best time to visit Yosemite?” Whenever you can. I like the Lee Vining area, USFS CGs, entering over Tioga Pass but it closes in winter.

We went late April 2018. the weather was great, the falls were full and no fires..... yet. We stayep at the Mariposa Fairgrounds, right near Mariposa, and commuted to the park. TAND

When to visit Yosemite?? | Good Sam Community

Likes_to_tow
Nomad
Dec 02, 2018
Thanks for your input. Looks like I may end up with little planning to go on. This makes reserving a campsite very difficult. I usually like to make a base camp a few miles from an attraction and then commute to the park. This worked well for us while in Southern Utah and Colorado the past two years. Also, what are your recommendations on a good campground in the area?? Say within 25 miles or so of the park entrance.
ItsyRV
Explorer
Dec 02, 2018
Crowds: Memorial Day to Labor Day. Worst on weekends.

Wildfires: A month after the snow melts to a month after the snow starts falling.

Since you have no control over when a wildfire anywhere will impact Yosemite, and the prescribed burns are very flexible, there really is little planning you can do about the smoke issues. In late March you can call the district and see if they have scheduled any prescribed burns and about when they might occur. You can also monitor NIFC to see what fires are occurring and their severity so you can alter plans if needed.

Otherwise, worry about the crowds cause fire/smoke is what fire/smoke will be.

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