Itinerary suggestions for 2 day visit in July

Question

Hi everyone,

First time visitors and looking to nail down an itinerary for our two whole days to make the most of it. We are both fit and able but would like to mix hikes with scenic views and less strenuous times too.

We are mostly unsure about how much shuttling we will need to do as we imagine moving the car will be tricky to find new spaces.

Our thinking is to spend one whole and busy day in the valley then the second on Tioga road.

We will be staying in Mariposa and visiting July 8-10th. We already have our reservation booked and do have the option of arriving very late afternoon on the 7th and may use this just to get bearings.

Day 1:

5am: Arrive at park at 5am and head to glacier point for sunrise. (Not sure if we should swap this for tunnel view due to crowds being large at tunnel view for sunset and that it may be better to secure parking).

6:30am: Drive back down to a valley parking lot (probably curry village) and make our way to the most trail to beat most of the crowds and head up that trail, coming back down John Muir loop.

9:30am: Head into the valley for a bite to eat.

10:30am: Head to and hike the mirror lake loop, again, hopefully before peak crowds. (We know this will be busy but hopefully beat).

12:30am: Lunch back in the valley, likely curry village.

1:30pm: head to see the Awahnee.

2:30pm: cooks meadow loop.

4:00pm: El capitan meadow

6:00pm: Possibly dinner in the park or head to see tunnel view on the way out before sunset.

7:30pm: Tunnel view for sunset if we haven't already left for dinner back at our accomodation.

Day 2

I won't bore people with listing all our stops but we plan to drive the opposite end of Tioga road first thing and hit all the stops on the way back so the bulk of the driving has been done first thing.

We might hit anything we missed in the valley this evening if anyone thinks our day 1 is too crammed.

Little side note is that we head to sequoia the day after this so aren't fussed about seeing Mariposa grove in these 2 days.

Thanks for any advice at all!

Answer

Your plan is very solid, and visiting in early July means you’re doing exactly the right things: arriving extremely early, keeping your car parked once in the Valley, and separating one full day in Yosemite Valley from one full day on Tioga Road. With that in mind, here is a breakdown of what’s realistic, what’s overstuffed, and what tweaks will make the days flow more smoothly and stress-free.

First, parking: arriving at 5:00 am absolutely solves the parking problem. If you get your Valley parking before 7:00 am, you’re set for the entire day. Moving the car later is indeed difficult in July, so keeping it in one lot (Curry Village or Yosemite Village) is the perfect approach.

Your Day 1 is packed but doable if you pace it and are comfortable being on the go the whole time. Here is a refined version that keeps your spirit but improves flow, reduces backtracking, and matches typical July conditions.

DAY 1 — Yosemite Valley + Glacier Point sunrise

5:00 am — Glacier Point for sunrise. Excellent choice. Tunnel View is also beautiful for sunrise, but Glacier Point at dawn is more peaceful, far less crowded, and more impactful for first-timers. Parking will be easy at this hour.
6:15–6:30 am — Drive down to the Valley. Aim for Curry Village or Yosemite Village parking. Both are connected by shuttle; Curry Village is closest to Mist Trail.
7:00 am — Mist Trail to Vernal Fall / Clark Point / John Muir Trail loop. Starting this early is ideal to beat July crowds and heat. Your loop plan is perfect: go up the Mist Trail and down the John Muir Trail.
10:00 am — Breakfast or snack in the Valley. Mist Trail usually takes 2.5–3 hours depending on pace and crowds, so expect to eat closer to 10:00 than 9:30. Curry Village or Yosemite Village are convenient.

Midday adjustments: This is where your original plan was too ambitious. You listed Mirror Lake, Ahwahnee, Cooks Meadow, and El Capitan Meadow all in the early afternoon—this is possible, but Mirror Lake is often the least rewarding at this time of year. The lake itself may be more of a meadow by July.

11:00 am — Mirror Lake (optional). If you strongly want to do it, do the short out-and-back or the partial loop, not the whole 5-mile loop. Otherwise, skip it and use the time elsewhere.
12:30 pm — Lunch in the Valley. Curry Village, Meadow Grill, Village Grill, or packed picnic works well.
1:30 pm — Visit the Ahwahnee Hotel. A beautiful, cool break indoors during the hottest part of the day.
2:30 pm — Cooks Meadow Loop. Lovely views, flat, and great for photography.
3:30 pm — Swinging Bridge, Sentinel Bridge, or a rest along the Merced River. These are prettier mid-afternoon options than rushing to El Capitan Meadow immediately.
4:30 pm — El Capitan Meadow. Afternoon light is terrific here, and often climbers are visible with binoculars.

Evening exit options

6:00 pm — Dinner in the park or head out toward Mariposa.
7:30 pm — Tunnel View for sunset. If you still have energy, sunset at Tunnel View is the perfect closing moment to your Valley day. Parking will be full at golden hour, but as sunset hits most people leave, so arriving slightly later can help.

Summary of Day 1 improvements

Your early start + Glacier Point + Mist Trail loop = excellent.
Mirror Lake optional and shortened (your day is too full without reducing it).
More relaxed sequence in the Valley with better spacing.
Tunnel View for sunset is the perfect end.

DAY 2 — Tioga Road highlights (your plan is great!)

Your approach—start at the far end (near Tioga Pass) and work your way back—is exactly the most efficient and scenic way to do Tioga Road on a busy summer day.

Here is a suggested lineup of stops and short hikes, all within your preferred hiking distance:

Tuolumne Meadows early: Morning light is stunning. Walk part of the meadow loop or stroll near the river.
Lembert Dome (1–3 miles depending on how far you go): One of the best short hikes on Tioga Road with big payoff views.
Tenaya Lake: A beautiful stop for relaxing, walking the shoreline, or having lunch.
Olmsted Point: A must-see viewpoint with dramatic granite scenery.
Optional short walks: Gaylor Lakes (steeper, 2–4 miles), Tuolumne Grove (if you decide you do want to see giant sequoias), or May Lake (2.5 miles RT).

Your idea to return to the Valley only if you missed something on Day 1 is wise. The Tioga Road day is usually full enough, and the light on Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows in late afternoon is gorgeous, so you may prefer to stay up high.

Additional tips

Arriving the afternoon of July 7 is smart. You can drive through the Valley once, orient yourself, check parking areas, and reduce stress on Day 1.
Bring food for at least one meal each day; lines in the Valley get long.
Hydration and sun protection are crucial in July, especially on Tioga Road at high altitude.
Keep your car parked on Day 1 and rely on shuttles if needed—they run frequently.

In summary: Your two-day outline is excellent. With a couple tweaks to pacing in the Valley and making Mirror Lake optional, your itinerary becomes very doable and deeply rewarding. You’ll hit Yosemite’s greatest hits—Glacier Point, the Mist Trail, Tunnel View, and Tuolumne Meadows—without rushing or fighting parking.