Best Month to Visit Yosemite? Here’s Why May Was the Perfect Escape

I booked Yosemite on a bit of a whim.

 No big plan, no packed agenda—just a feeling that I needed space. And some mountains.

Late May turned out to be the perfect time.

🌿 Why May?

The waterfalls are in full swing. The park feels alive but not crowded.

 Temperatures are ideal for hiking—cool mornings, warm afternoons—and the trails are dry but still fresh with spring colour.

If you’re like me—someone who works remotely, lives mostly online, and travels light—Yosemite in May is exactly the kind of reset you crave without knowing it.

🚗 Getting There

I drove from San Francisco, just over four hours.

 It’s an easy enough route, but fill up your tank before you reach the park entrance—fuel options inside are limited and expensive.

Parking fills quickly at popular trailheads. Get up early, or better yet...

🏡 Stay Inside the Park (It’s Worth It)

I booked accommodation inside Yosemite Valley.

 Yes, it was pricier than staying outside—but it saved me the stress of lines at the gate, traffic, and chasing a place to park.

If you’re lucky, you might snag a cancellation at The Ahwahnee or other lodges via Travel Yosemite. I found a room late one night after refreshing endlessly.

🎒 What I Packed

Just one expandable backpack.

 It fit my layers (nights are cold), a rain shell for waterfall mist, a guide map (no phone signal), snacks, water, and a camera.

Minimal kit. Maximum freedom.

 I wasn’t managing stuff—I was living in the moment.

📌 Travel Tips to Keep in Mind

- Entry fee: $35 per vehicle, valid for 7 days

- Reservation needed for some dates between April–October ($2, book early)

- Download offline maps in advance—mobile signal is patchy

- Bring layers: temperature shifts are real, especially after sunset

- Arrive early for trailhead parking or stay inside the park to avoid the rush

- May = waterfall season; June–Sept = best weather but busiest

Yosemite gave me more than views.

 It gave me mornings without notifications. Trails without noise.

 And the kind of clarity that comes not from ticking off highlights, but from walking slowly through a place that doesn't need to impress—because it just is.

👉 Click here for my extend backpack