Best time to visit Yosemite National Park
The short answer
Best months to visit Yosemite National Park: July–September. Daily highs run about 70–80°F, with visitor numbers near the yearly peak (August).
Hardest months: December–March, mostly because of cold weather.
How we picked these months: each month is scored on daily highs (65–82°F is ideal), rain, snow and seasonal closures, then reduced by up to 30% for crowds, measured against the park's busiest month. We list the months within 15% of the top score (at most 5).
Weather and crowds by month
Yosemite National Park month by month
Park-wide averages across 9 locations. Crowds compare each month with the park's busiest month: Quiet is under 35% of it, Moderate under 60%, Busy under 85%, Peak above that.
| Month | Rating | High / low | Rain | Snow | Crowds | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 41° / 22°F | 1.6 in | 45.6 in | Quiet | – |
| February | Poor | 41° / 21°F | 1.6 in | 36.0 in | Quiet | – |
| March | Poor | 42° / 23°F | 1.8 in | 40.0 in | Quiet | – |
| April | Poor | 49° / 27°F | 1.3 in | 14.5 in | Moderate | – |
| May | Poor | 56° / 32°F | 1.3 in | 7.5 in | Busy | – |
| June | Good | 70° / 43°F | 0.8 in | – | Peak | – |
| July | Best | 78° / 52°F | 0.6 in | – | Peak | – |
| August | Best | 76° / 51°F | 0.7 in | – | Peak | – |
| September | Best | 70° / 45°F | 0.8 in | 0.8 in | Peak | – |
| October | Good | 61° / 36°F | 1.4 in | 2.9 in | Busy | – |
| November | Poor | 48° / 26°F | 1.1 in | 17.3 in | Moderate | – |
| December | Poor | 40° / 20°F | 1.9 in | 36.0 in | Quiet | – |
Weather by location
Parks with a big range of elevation can differ a lot from one area to another. Open a location to see its own numbers.
Park-wide (center of the park)
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34°F | 17°F | 0.1 in | 52.8 in |
| February | 33°F | 15°F | 0.1 in | 42.1 in |
| March | 35°F | 17°F | 0 in | 44.8 in |
| April | 41°F | 22°F | 0.3 in | 17.6 in |
| May | 47°F | 27°F | 0.4 in | 10.0 in |
| June | 63°F | 38°F | 0.7 in | 0.9 in |
| July | 71°F | 47°F | 0.8 in | – |
| August | 70°F | 46°F | 1.0 in | – |
| September | 63°F | 39°F | 0.7 in | 1.5 in |
| October | 55°F | 31°F | 0.5 in | 5.9 in |
| November | 41°F | 21°F | 0.1 in | 21.8 in |
| December | 32°F | 15°F | 0.1 in | 45.0 in |
Yosemite Valley
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 51°F | 31°F | 2.9 in | 37.5 in |
| February | 51°F | 30°F | 2.9 in | 29.0 in |
| March | 52°F | 33°F | 3.2 in | 33.1 in |
| April | 59°F | 36°F | 2.0 in | 11.4 in |
| May | 67°F | 42°F | 2.0 in | 5.0 in |
| June | 80°F | 53°F | 0.8 in | – |
| July | 87°F | 62°F | 0.3 in | – |
| August | 86°F | 60°F | 0.4 in | – |
| September | 79°F | 54°F | 0.7 in | – |
| October | 70°F | 45°F | 1.8 in | 0.9 in |
| November | 58°F | 35°F | 1.8 in | 12.4 in |
| December | 50°F | 29°F | 3.5 in | 24.8 in |
Glacier Point
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41°F | 20°F | 1.1 in | 49.6 in |
| February | 40°F | 18°F | 1.1 in | 39.2 in |
| March | 41°F | 21°F | 1.2 in | 42.3 in |
| April | 47°F | 25°F | 1.0 in | 15.9 in |
| May | 54°F | 30°F | 1.2 in | 9.5 in |
| June | 68°F | 41°F | 0.9 in | – |
| July | 76°F | 49°F | 0.6 in | – |
| August | 75°F | 48°F | 0.7 in | – |
| September | 69°F | 42°F | 0.8 in | 0.6 in |
| October | 60°F | 34°F | 1.4 in | 2.7 in |
| November | 48°F | 23°F | 1.0 in | 17.9 in |
| December | 40°F | 17°F | 1.2 in | 41.1 in |
Mariposa Grove & Wawona
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43°F | 26°F | 2.3 in | 42.1 in |
| February | 42°F | 25°F | 2.1 in | 32.4 in |
| March | 43°F | 27°F | 2.4 in | 36.3 in |
| April | 50°F | 31°F | 1.5 in | 13.6 in |
| May | 57°F | 37°F | 1.6 in | 6.1 in |
| June | 70°F | 48°F | 0.9 in | – |
| July | 77°F | 56°F | 0.4 in | – |
| August | 76°F | 55°F | 0.6 in | – |
| September | 70°F | 50°F | 0.8 in | – |
| October | 61°F | 42°F | 1.8 in | 1.3 in |
| November | 50°F | 32°F | 1.4 in | 15.6 in |
| December | 42°F | 26°F | 2.5 in | 32.2 in |
Tuolumne Meadows
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 35°F | 17°F | 0.1 in | 52.8 in |
| February | 34°F | 16°F | 0.1 in | 42.1 in |
| March | 35°F | 18°F | 0 in | 44.8 in |
| April | 42°F | 23°F | 0.3 in | 17.6 in |
| May | 48°F | 28°F | 0.4 in | 10.0 in |
| June | 64°F | 39°F | 0.7 in | 0.9 in |
| July | 72°F | 48°F | 0.8 in | – |
| August | 71°F | 46°F | 1.0 in | – |
| September | 64°F | 40°F | 0.7 in | 1.5 in |
| October | 55°F | 32°F | 0.5 in | 5.9 in |
| November | 42°F | 21°F | 0.1 in | 21.8 in |
| December | 33°F | 16°F | 0.1 in | 45.0 in |
Tenaya Lake
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37°F | 15°F | 0.4 in | 55.9 in |
| February | 36°F | 14°F | 0.6 in | 44.3 in |
| March | 37°F | 17°F | 0.4 in | 51.2 in |
| April | 43°F | 21°F | 0.7 in | 19.1 in |
| May | 50°F | 25°F | 1.0 in | 9.6 in |
| June | 66°F | 37°F | 0.8 in | 0.9 in |
| July | 74°F | 46°F | 0.9 in | – |
| August | 72°F | 44°F | 1.0 in | – |
| September | 66°F | 38°F | 1.0 in | 1.6 in |
| October | 57°F | 29°F | 1.3 in | 4.3 in |
| November | 44°F | 18°F | 0.5 in | 22.8 in |
| December | 35°F | 13°F | 0.7 in | 47.3 in |
Hetch Hetchy
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52°F | 31°F | 4.7 in | 23.5 in |
| February | 52°F | 31°F | 4.4 in | 18.2 in |
| March | 54°F | 33°F | 5.4 in | 20.1 in |
| April | 62°F | 37°F | 3.0 in | 3.9 in |
| May | 68°F | 44°F | 1.9 in | 1.6 in |
| June | 81°F | 53°F | 0.5 in | – |
| July | 89°F | 60°F | 0.1 in | – |
| August | 87°F | 60°F | 0.2 in | – |
| September | 80°F | 54°F | 0.8 in | – |
| October | 71°F | 46°F | 2.0 in | – |
| November | 59°F | 36°F | 3.0 in | 6.6 in |
| December | 51°F | 31°F | 5.8 in | 11.8 in |
White Wolf
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 38°F | 16°F | 0.4 in | 55.9 in |
| February | 37°F | 15°F | 0.6 in | 44.3 in |
| March | 38°F | 18°F | 0.4 in | 51.2 in |
| April | 44°F | 22°F | 0.7 in | 19.1 in |
| May | 51°F | 26°F | 1.0 in | 9.6 in |
| June | 67°F | 38°F | 0.8 in | 0.9 in |
| July | 75°F | 47°F | 0.9 in | – |
| August | 73°F | 45°F | 1.0 in | – |
| September | 67°F | 39°F | 1.0 in | 1.6 in |
| October | 58°F | 30°F | 1.3 in | 4.3 in |
| November | 45°F | 19°F | 0.5 in | 22.8 in |
| December | 36°F | 14°F | 0.7 in | 47.3 in |
Crane Flat
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43°F | 23°F | 2.6 in | 40.2 in |
| February | 43°F | 22°F | 2.6 in | 32.1 in |
| March | 44°F | 25°F | 2.9 in | 36.2 in |
| April | 51°F | 28°F | 1.9 in | 12.7 in |
| May | 59°F | 34°F | 2.0 in | 5.9 in |
| June | 72°F | 45°F | 0.8 in | – |
| July | 80°F | 54°F | 0.5 in | – |
| August | 78°F | 52°F | 0.5 in | – |
| September | 72°F | 46°F | 0.8 in | – |
| October | 63°F | 37°F | 1.8 in | 1.1 in |
| November | 51°F | 27°F | 1.7 in | 14.0 in |
| December | 42°F | 21°F | 2.9 in | 29.3 in |
Yosemite National Park by season
Spring (March–May)
Spring (March–May) is a difficult time to visit Yosemite National Park. Daily highs average 42–56°F and lows 23–32°F. Expect about 1.4 in of rain a month and 20.7 in of snow, with up to 53 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 25–70% of the busiest month, which is moderate by this park's standards.
Summer (June–August)
Summer (June–August) is a good time to visit Yosemite National Park. Daily highs average 70–78°F and lows 43–52°F. Expect about 0.7 in of rain a month; some snow can linger on the ground. Visitor numbers run 93–100% of the busiest month, which is peak by this park's standards.
Fall (September–November)
Fall (September–November) is a mixed time to visit Yosemite National Park. Daily highs average 48–70°F and lows 26–45°F. Expect about 1.1 in of rain a month and 7.0 in of snow, with up to 4 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 41–90% of the busiest month, which is busy by this park's standards.
Winter (December–February)
Winter (December–February) is a difficult time to visit Yosemite National Park. Daily highs average 40–41°F and lows 20–22°F. Expect about 1.7 in of rain a month and 39.2 in of snow, with up to 44 in on the ground. Visitor numbers run 21–28% of the busiest month, which is quiet by this park's standards.
For what to do in each season, see our guides to trip planning, fees and hours, trails, camping and things to do, where the planning page also has our written advice on when to go. In-depth topic guides cover individual places and hikes.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)
Weather: modeled monthly averages for 2014-2023 (Open-Meteo Archive API), averaged over 9 locations. Modeled grid cells can read cooler than weather stations in deep canyons and deserts, and warmer or colder at high elevation. Visits: monthly recreation visits for 2021-2024, National Park Service.
