Booking Yarts tickets from Mariposa to Yosemite

Question

My family and I are visiting Yosemite in August. I've tried to book Yarts tickets from Midtown Mariposa to Yosemite Village on the Yarts website but it says there are no tickets available.

Am I entering in the wrong info? Is it too early to book? Or are the tickets actually all sold out?

Any advice gratefully received.

Answer

Good question. Yes, trying to book YARTS tickets ahead of time is smart — and sometimes tricky. Here’s a breakdown of what might be going on, why you might be seeing “no tickets available,” and some advice.

What YARTS is and how it works:

YARTS (Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System) provides bus service into Yosemite Valley on several routes, including from Mariposa via Highway 140.

The tickets you buy for YARTS include the Yosemite park entrance fee, so you don’t need to pay separately for park access when you ride.

Why you might be seeing “no tickets available” for your August ride:

High demand in summer: YARTS summer service is very popular. In fact, YARTS itself strongly encourages advance reservations because there are only a limited number of walk-on tickets issued.
Your dates may be sold out: It’s quite possible that for your specific date and time, the advance reservation allotment is full. That doesn’t always mean there’s no seat at all — but your preferred trip may be taken.
Reservation window issues: YARTS opens its summer reservations well in advance. For example, their 2025 summer service (May–September) tickets went on sale before or by May. If you’re trying to book very late or very early, check whether you’re inside YARTS’ reservation window.
Mistaken origin/destination selection: Double-check that you’re selecting “Midtown Mariposa” (or the correct Mariposa pick-up) and “Yosemite Village” or “Yosemite Valley” (depending on the stop you want). YARTS has multiple stops, and choosing the wrong one could restrict availability. Their ticket-fare page lists Mariposa to Yosemite Village as a valid origin-destination pair.

Other things to know / tricks:

You can still try to ride “walk-on” even if online reservations are sold out — on many buses, YARTS allows walk-on passengers when there is space.
If you choose to walk on, bring exact cash or a credit card: YARTS lets you pay on the bus.
For less common or “request” stops (REQ), YARTS requires a reservation at least 12 hours in advance.
If the online system shows “no availability,” you might also try calling YARTS directly (877-989-2787) to check for last-minute spots, cancellations, or “standby” options.

My advice:

Since you’re planning for August — peak season — I recommend doing this:

Try the YARTS website early in the morning (or when you first have time) to see if any tickets open up.
Call YARTS customer service to ask directly about your trip; they might be able to tell you if things are sold out or if there’s a wait-list / standby.
Be prepared to do a walk-on if reservations are full — but give yourself some buffer time, especially on busy days.
Have a backup plan: If YARTS doesn’t work out, you could drive (if you have an entrance reservation) or consider other transport options like shuttle services or guided tours.

Bottom line: It’s possible that the tickets are sold out (or at least for the trip/time you selected), but there’s also a chance you just need to adjust how or when you’re booking. Trying both online and by phone, and being open to walk-on, will give you the best shot.

Booking Yarts tickets from Mariposa to Yosemite

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