entrance fees & how early to arrive?

Question

Hi, we are staying in oakhurst on 6/14. We are headed to the grove on 6/15. We have 1 full day to enjoy the grove & then drive to El Portal where we will stay 2 nights.

We plan to head to the valley on 6/16 & spend 1 full day. Altho we have a reservation for 6/15 that is good for 3 days we planned on arriving at both places by 5am to ensure that we get parking.

Is arriving this early necessary?

How many days is park entrance fees good for?

We have handicap placard. I have read that at the grove we can drive the 2 miles to the trail head.

How much parking is there in handicapped at the trail head?

Since we plan to arrive much earlier than the tram starts to run (8am) we would definitely need to drive the 2 miles.

Answer

Visiting Yosemite National Park in mid-June means you’re arriving during one of the busiest times of the year, so careful planning around parking and timing is important. Since you have a reservation for the Mariposa Grove and plan to spend time in Yosemite Valley, here’s some guidance.

Park entrance fees: The standard vehicle entrance fee for Yosemite National Park is typically valid for 7 consecutive days. This means your entry on 6/15 covers both your Mariposa Grove visit and your Yosemite Valley visit on 6/16 without needing a separate fee. Your senior or disabled entrance pass may reduce this fee or provide additional benefits.

Arriving early: You mentioned planning to arrive at 5am to secure parking. While this is not strictly necessary, early arrival has several advantages:

Mariposa Grove parking is limited. Even with a reservation, arriving early ensures you can drive directly to the trailhead, particularly important since the shuttle does not start until 8am.
Early morning means cooler temperatures, fewer crowds, and better photography conditions.
In Yosemite Valley, arriving early (around 7–8am) is generally sufficient for parking at popular trailheads and overlooks, but 5am is more than adequate and gives you maximum flexibility.

Handicap considerations at Mariposa Grove: Since you have a handicap placard, you can drive the 2 miles from the parking area to the Mariposa Grove trailhead. There are a limited number of designated handicap parking spots at the trailhead:

Handicap parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis, but arriving early (as you plan) should make it easy to secure a spot.
If all handicap spaces are full, rangers may provide guidance for alternative parking near the trailhead with shuttle access.
The Grove has paved and partially accessible paths, but some areas of the trails are uneven or have stairs, so plan accordingly.

For your day in Yosemite Valley:

Many popular parking areas, such as near Yosemite Falls or trailheads for Mist Trail and Lower Yosemite Fall, fill quickly by mid-morning. Arriving around 7am–8am is usually sufficient, especially for those with handicap placards.
The Valley has some designated handicap spaces at main points of interest, including trailheads and viewpoints.
Shuttle service operates throughout the Valley, but since you are arriving before service starts, driving directly to points of interest is the best approach.

In summary, your early 5am arrival for Mariposa Grove is a good plan to ensure parking at the trailhead. The park entrance fee covers multiple days, so you are set for both your visits. Handicap parking is limited but accessible if you arrive early. In Yosemite Valley, arriving slightly later than 5am is usually sufficient for parking and access to popular sites.

entrance fees & how early to arrive?

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