The Perfect Yosemite 2 Day Itinerary | How To Spend A Weekend In Yosemite

I remember the first time I went to Yosemite National Park in 2016. I was completely in awe of its natural beauty, raging waterfalls, and mesmerizing valleys. I was speechless. Since then, it has been on my mind. I wanted to come back and explore it even more, and I finally got to in 2022. You definitely need more than a day to see this wonderful place, but if you are limited on time, I list out the best Yosemite 2 day itinerary with many excellent hikes, viewpoints, beaches, and much more.

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YOSEMITE National Park

Reservation

Before we dive into the magical wonders of Yosemite, here’s something super important for your 2024 adventure plans: Yosemite now requires reservations to drive into the park during specific periods in the summer.

January 1 through February 9: No reservation required to drive into Yosemite.
February 10 through 25: A reservation is required 24 hours per day on Saturdays, Sundays, and on Washington’s Birthday (Monday, February 19).
February 26 through April 12: No reservation required to drive into Yosemite.
April 13 through June 30: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (May 27 and June 19).
July 1 through August 16: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day.
August 17 through October 27: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and on holidays (September 2 and October 14).

Where To Stay

Curry Village: Curry Village was my go-to spot for food, drinks, gift shops, etc. They also have cabins and campgrounds. This is the best spot to stay inside Yosemite National Park. >Book Accommodation Now
Yosemite View Lodge: Located very close to the park and has four pools and a hot tub. >Book Accommodation Now
Hounds Tooth Inn: This is a cute modern hotel with some rooms that include a jacuzzi and patio, which is worth the extra bit of money for the ultimate post-hiking relaxation. >Book Accommodation Now

Best Time To Visit

Yosemite can bring in hot temperatures and large crowds in the summer, so this is probably not the best time to go. Winter brings in fewer crowds, but there is likely to be snow in the area. Late Spring and Early Fall are probably the best times to visit Yosemite National Park because the temperatures are milder and crowds are lower.

What To Pack For Your Yosemite National Park 2 Day Itinerary

Sunscreen: Yosemite gets HOT! Even in the winter, we were hiking in bright sunny weather at times. >Buy Sunscreen
Hiking Boots/Shoes: If you use tennis shoes, you can easily hurt your toes by hitting a rock by accident (Trust me, I have done it so many times before). >Check Out My Hiking Shoes
Hiking socks: Having the correct socks helps you prevent getting blisters. Smart Wool is probably my favorite brand out there. >Buy Hiking Socks
Water Reservoir: Water reservoirs help prevent me from getting dehydrated while hiking. >Here Is My Water Reservoir
Water: Stay nice and hydrated.
Sunglasses: It can get very sunny, so make sure to pack some sunglasses. >Check Out These Sunglasses
Snacks: The best snacks are jerky, nuts, and energy bars. Clif Bars are great for hiking.
Camera: The Sony A6000 was one of the first cameras I started traveling with. The Sony A6000 is an excellent camera for people that want to start improving at travel photography. >Buy Sony Camera Here
First Aid Kit: This is one of the first things I bought when I first started going on adventures. It is super portable. >Buy This Awesome First Aid Kit Here
Day Pack to carry all your things: The REI bag I have linked, we have had for seven years now, and it is still going strong! >Buy This Great Quality Backpack
Headlamp: A headlamp is an absolute must in case you get stranded in the dark! It is a lot more portable and easier to use than a flashlight. >Buy A Headlamp Now
Leggings or shorts: Shorts are good for hot days! >Click For These Cute Shorts
Breathable sweat-wicking shirts: Cotton shirts soak up your sweat when hiking, so make sure to wear something breathable. >Check out this awesome breathable shirt here.
Sports Bra: For women. >Buy One Here
Jacket: In case you go during the winter months. >Buy My Favorite Jacket
Tripod: This is an optional item, but it is excellent for getting the ideal sunset pictures. >Check out this tripod
Knife: I always carry a knife in my backpack just in case. >Check Out My Knife Here
National Park Pass: I highly recommend getting a year-long America The Beautiful Pass. >Get It Here
Sandals: Hiking sandals are great for easy trails or walks. >Click Here
Trekking Poles: This helps with balance and it makes it easier on the joints. >Buy Some Here
Bug Spray: We were eaten alive on some of the trails. >Buy Some Here
Bathing Suit: Yosemite gets hot! Many people love lying around in the lakes and rivers and relaxing. >Check Out This Cute Suit
Yosemite Map: Love the National Geographic Maps! >Buy Here

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Bus Information

I’m not going to lie to you; it was a struggle getting around Yosemite National Park. Parking was a nightmare. So I suggest learning the bus schedule in Yosemite, and it helped with getting around trailheads more easily. You can learn about the bus schedule here.

When you get to the park, the ranger will give you a map of the bus routes and schedule. I recommend taking that map because the park does not do a good job with having maps around the bus stops, and cell service is limited.

Yosemite 2 Day Itinerary Map

Below is a map of the 2 days in Yosemite National Park. If you want to buy an official map, click here.

A Note About Reserving A Permit For Your Two Days In Yosemite

A reservation is required to enter Yosemite during popular times. I say popular because you can enter the park before 6 am and after 4 pm without a permit. You can read more about getting a permit here.

Other ways to get a permit are taking a tour, getting a campground in the park, or getting a wilderness permit.

How To Get To Yosemite

The best way to get to Yosemite National Park is to fly into Fresno Yosemite International Aiport, rent a car and drive up to Yosemite. I planned the trip about six months in advance and was surprised at the pretty good direct flight ticket prices for the small airport (I was coming from Seattle, and my friend was coming from Denver). Here are some options for getting to Yosemite National Park.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport: 1 hour and 23 minutes, 64 miles,
San Francisco International Airport: 3 hours and 5 minutes, 169 miles,
Los Angeles International Airport: 4 hours and 40 minutes, 283 miles,
Sacramento International: 2 hours and 50 minutes, 155 miles.

Yosemite 2 Day Itinerary

Yosemite Day 1

Hike Nevada Falls and Vernal Falls AKA The Mist Trail

Distance: 6.4 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,162 ft.
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty: Hard
Trail Guide: Link

If you love waterfalls, then you need to hike this trail! I recommend you get there early because we had to hike an extra mile just to get to the trailhead as the parking lot was full. You can also take the bus if you don’t want to add mileage.

I also recommend bringing plenty of water and sunscreen, especially during summer. This trail was hot! Both me and my friend overheated on this trail, so definitely listen to your body, take it slow, and bring plenty of water. I refilled my water bladder at the water refill station on the way back down the hike (near the loop junction).

Vernal Falls is the first waterfall you will see. The spray on this waterfall is powerful so bring a raincoat if you don’t want to get wet. This waterfall has stairs all around it, and it was my favorite waterfall of the two. It had more people around it, though, because it was easier to get to.

You will climb to the top of both these waterfalls if you decide to hike the whole loop. I will warn you that it is steep! It was a struggle to get through this trail, but it was very well worth it. There are many restrooms on this hike which I appreciated.

Sentinel and Cook’s Meadows Loop

The Sentinal and Cooks Meadow Loop is located in the middle of the valley and has jaw-dropping views of half dome and Lower Yosemite Falls. I loved walking around this area and taking in all the beauty.

The photo of Half Dome above was taken next to the Lower Falls Trailhead. The photo below with Yosemite Falls was taken at a boardwalk located right between the Yosemite Valley Chapel and The Swinging Bridge Area. It was hard to find this specific location, so I wanted to make it easy for you. Here are the coordinates: 37.739202, -119.594644

Lower Yosemite Falls

Distance: 1.2 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 59 ft.
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Trail Guide: Link

This is probably my favorite hike in Yosemite. It is so easy, and the views of Yosemite Falls are glorious. We walked the whole loop, but you don’t need to, to enjoy this view. If you start the hike at bus station number 6 and hike clockwise, you can see the waterfall viewpoint shown in the photo above. You can get even closer to the waterfall, as shown in the photo below.

Bring plenty of mosquito spray if you go in the summer because they were eating us up throughout the hike. Also, to get photos with no one in them, as shown above, you will need to either hike during sunrise or sunset. We hiked near sunset to get these fantastic photos.

Yosemite Valley View

The Valley View is an Instagram famous spot that showcases El Capitan, the Merced River, and Bridalveil Fall. It is a fantastic spot for sunset and sunrise. Photographers love this beautiful viewpoint, and no hiking or walking is required.

Sunset At Tunnel View

When I came to Yosemite National Park years ago (before I was even a blogger), Tunnel View was my first glimpse of Yosemite Valley. I was stunned and excited when I saw this area and took many photos. I could not believe my eyes! It remains my favorite viewpoint of Yosemite.

It is a very touristy, crowded area no matter what time of day you come. My most recent visit to Yosemite was so packed with people that it was a struggle to take the picture above with no one in it.

That being said, I still think everyone should experience this touristy, busy area. It is so beautiful. If you don’t want to deal with the crowds, hike up to Artist Point to see the same views without the crowds.

Yosemite Day 2

Sunrise At Mirror Lake

Distance: 4.4 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 301 ft.
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Guide: Link

Mirror Lake is a fantastic place for sunrise. The reflection of the mountains in the distance is incredible. Even if you don’t go during sunrise, it is worth it to experience this lake, especially at the beginning of summer when the lake is full of water, and the sun is out. This is a great swimming hole for the whole family. During the middle of the summer, the lake might get dried up, so make sure to read trip report reviews before heading out.

Olmsted Point

Olmsted Point is a great pit stop on the way to Tuolumne Meadows. The views are breathtaking, and you can see Half Dome in the far distance. This is a great place to take photos if you have a good telephoto lens. The viewpoint was named after Frederick Law Olmsted, an American landscape architect best known for designing New York’s Central Park.

Tenaya Lake

Oh, how I wish we had endless time to sunbathe in Tenaya Lake. This lake is gorgeous and has a beach, which is excellent during California summer heat waves. This is also a fantastic option for people that do not want to hike over 8 miles in Cathedral Lake (listed below). Instead, you can grab your bathing suit and sunscreen and lay on the beach for hours.

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Tuolumne Meadows

When I explored Tuolumne Meadows, it felt like time was going to slow. It was so quiet, relaxing, stunning, and tranquil. I could have stayed here and relaxed by the river for hours.

Many people were doing just this and having a good time by the Tuolumne River. We walked on the Sierra High Rte Trail for a bit until we got to the river. It was pretty flat with no tree cover so bring sunscreen.

Cathedral Lakes

Distance: 9.5 miles, roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 1,607 ft.
Route Type: Out And Back
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Guide: Link

Want to get away from the heat and crowds? Cathedral Lake features beautiful lakes, minimal crowds, and ample shade. The way to the lakes is a moderate uphill climb, but you should still bring plenty of water because the hike is very long. The trail features Upper Cathedral Lake and Lower Cathedral Lake. The trail views are not the best. Only until you see the lakes does it become epic. The ranger told us we should bring bug spray, but we were not bothered by them on this hike.

Other Alternatives For Your Yosemite National Park Itinerary

Other great things you can switch out with the itinerary include:

Hiking up Half Dome,
Upper Yosemite Falls Trail,
and Bridal Veil Falls Trail (please note it was in construction the year we went)
Go Horseback Riding,
See the Giant Sequoia Trees at Mariposa Grove.

Best Tours Of Yosemite National Park

If you want someone else to plan your trip, then take some of the tours below!

Final Thoughts On The Best Way To See Yosemite In 2 Days

Thanks for reading all about the perfect 2 day Yosemite itinerary. Make sure to check out some of my other California blog posts:

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