By Car
The most popular way to get around the parks is by car. It follows that, in peak season, the roads can get swamped with traffic, hitting a zenith around 3 or 4pm in the afternoon. Trips including both Yosemite and Sequoia & Kings Canyon nearly demand a car to get between the two areas.
Taking Aim at Traffic -- An estimated 7,000 cars enter Yosemite National Park on any given day, leaving many visitors mired in traffic jams. To help ease the traffic volume, an in-park bus system has been in operation for nearly a decade. The project, a joint effort between the National Park Service and the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS), shuttles visitors into Yosemite from nearby communities and commuter lots along the three highways leading into the park. For more information, visit www.yarts.com.
By Bus
Daily bus transportation into Yosemite is provided by the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System, or YARTS (tel. 877/989-2787 or 209/388-9589; www.yarts.com). Buses are not subject to park entrance delays during peak season.
Within Yosemite National Park, there are free shuttles in Yosemite Valley, Tuolumne Meadows, and Wawona, and a free bus between Wawona and the valley in summer and between the valley and Badger Pass in winter. For a fee, there are also buses between Tuolumne Meadows and the valley, and between the valley and Glacier Point.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
