Packing for Adventure

We had already checked three national parks off our list, but this was the one we had been looking forward to the most: Yosemite National Park. After days of driving, hiking, and exploring, we were finally on our way to the destination that had inspired the entire trip.

And we didn’t just pass through—we stayed here a whopping six nights, making it the longest stop of our adventure. That extra time gave us the opportunity to explore different areas of the park at a more relaxed pace and truly experience what makes Yosemite so special.

Where We Stayed:

Indian Flat RV Park | 9988 CA-140, El Portal, CA 95318

This was probably my favorite campground of the trip.  Our site was close to the showers, which is always nice, but the campsite’s best feature was its proximity to the park.  It’s about a 25-30 minute drive to the heart of Yosemite Valley.

Where We Ate:

We mostly ate food we packed ourselves, but we did eat out two nights in the Yosemite area.

Parkside Pizza | 11120 CA-140, El Portal, CA 95318

We ordered cheese bread and shared a chicken cordon bleu pizza.  As you probably know by now, we eat a lot of pizza. 

The cheese bread was our favorite, and it was quite unique.  It looked like it was burnt, but it was actually quite tasty. 

As for the pizza, the chicken had a funky taste to it, and we liked the pizza much better once we took off the chicken.  We also felt the ranch was too subtle.  The crust was the best part of the pizza; I actually ate the crust off of the leftover slices and tossed the pizza part!

The Ahwahnee | Ahwahnee Drive, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389

Dining at the Ahwahnee was quite the experience, and it definitely deserves its own post. I’ll share all the details in a later entry in this series.

The Major Areas of Yosemite National Park:

Yosemite is a massive park, and it helps to understand the main areas before you visit. While there are several regions within the park, these are the primary destinations most visitors talk about and explore.

Yosemite Valley

This is the heart of the park and what most people come to see.  This is where you’ll find some of Yosemite’s most famous landmarks, including:

• Bridalveil Falls
• El Capitan
• Half Dome
• Mirror Lake
• Yosemite Valley Lodge
• Curry Village
• The Ahwahnee

If you only have one day in Yosemite – this is where you’ll spend it.

Glacier Point

Glacier Point offers one of the most breathtaking views in the entire park.

One of the best things about this area is that it’s accessible to visitors of all ability levels. You can drive directly to the viewpoint and enjoy an incredible panoramic view of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley with minimal effort.

Along the drive, you’ll also find several trailheads offering hikes of varying lengths and difficulty levels.

* A note about the road: Glacier Point is one of the easiest ways to experience a jaw-dropping Yosemite view—but you can’t always count on being able to drive there. The road is typically closed in winter and occasionally shuts down for construction or snow.

Wawona

To reach this area, you drive through the Wawona Tunnel, which is a fun and memorable experience all on its own.

This route leads you to the Wawona Hotel, a golf course, and Mariposa Grove, home to hundreds of giant sequoia trees.

Crane Flat

Crane Flat provides access to the Tuolumne Grove, another grove of giant sequoias. It’s typically less crowded than Mariposa Grove, making it a great option if you want a quieter experience among these massive trees.

Tuolumne Meadows

Tuolumne Meadows sits at a much higher elevation than Yosemite Valley, which means cooler temperatures and a completely different landscape.

This area is known for:

• Wide open alpine scenery
• Scenic river views
• Hiking trails
• Picnic areas
• Stargazing opportunities

It’s especially beautiful in late summer and early fall, when the weather is mild and the crowds are generally smaller than in Yosemite Valley.

Hetch Hetchy

This is the one area of the park we didn’t make it to.

Hetch Hetchy contains a large reservoir created by a dam built in the early 1900s to supply water to San Francisco. The project flooded a valley that many people believed was just as beautiful as Yosemite Valley, which is why the reservoir remains controversial even today. Even though we missed it, many visitors say this area offers excellent hiking and fewer crowds.

Things to Know:

Reservations May Be Required

Entry reservation requirements change from year to year. When we visited in September 2023, reservations were not required, but during some peak seasons—especially summer—you may need a reservation just to drive into the park. Always check the current rules before your trip.

Traffic and parking fill early

In Yosemite Valley, parking can be full by 8-9 AM on busy days.  Plan to arrive early or use the free shuttle system.

Weather varies a lot by elevation

It can be hot in the valley and snowy at higher elevations on the same day.  Bring layers, even in the summer.

Limited Cell Service

Cell service is spotty at best in most areas.  During our stay, we discovered that the area near Yosemite Valley Lodge had the most reliable service. We went there every day to FaceTime with the kids, who were staying with grandparents.

Up Next

If you didn’t get your fill of sequoia trees in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, don’t worry—Yosemite has plenty more to see.

In the next post, I’ll share which sequoia groves are worth visiting, what surprised us, and how to decide which one fits best into your itinerary.

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