So I am going on a National-Park-Vacation and unfortunatly I underestimated the driving times from my hotel to the interesting sites. My hotel is located a little south of Coarsegold and it takes about 1.5 hrs to get to the valley. I will have visited Glacier Point and Taft Point on my day of arrival but what to do with the other 2 days?

My question ist: How should I spend two full days? Should I spend one day in Yosemite Valley and 1 day exploring Tioga Road, or should I spend both days in Yosemite Valley? Is it a problem to drive to the Hotel in the dark?

My travel time will be the first week of June.

I hope some of you have been there and can give me some advice.

Massive snow fall this past winter, 143% of the average, so I strongly recommend monitoring this website https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tiogaopen.htm

Driving in dark is no problem as long as you go slow and be mindful of animals on road, especially right around dusk.

I recommend taking the shuttle from Valley Floor to Glacier Point and then hiking down to Valley floor. When you reach valley floor you can catch another shuttle for free back to where you parked car.

So do you recomend to explore both, Tioga Road and the valley?

Thx for the hiking tip, I just might do that!

Regarding the Glacier Point Hike to Valley Floor. I recommend taking the private bus one way. In order to take private bus, it is strongly recommended to book in advance as it fills up. It is operated by a third party, not the park service. You can read about it here and I think book through website as well.

http://www.travelyosemite.com/things...ded-bus-tours/

http://www.yosemitehikes.com/glacier...taking-the-bus

I recommend hanging out and picnicking on valley floor one day. From Tuolumne Meadows, below Half Dome. Bring binoculars if you can. Other day, take Glacier Point bus one way up and hike back down, it's like an 8 mile trail, easy almost all down.

Also, if you can find copy of movie, Valley Uprising, watch it before your trip.

Waterfalls are going to be epic this year, super jealous. Driving in from outside of the park sucks. Start calling housekeeping everyday or even twice a day and ask if there have been cancellations for the days you'll need. I've done this multiple times and have always scored a sight for the days I need.

This I do not understand. Do you mean you recomend me hanging out on the valley floor or at Tuolumne Meadows? Or hike from one to the other?

I feel the same way! Can you recomend a Hotel in the valley? Not too pricey if possible.

For clarification. I'll be there 3 days. Here is my plan for the first day (driving time according to google 5:21:


Here the second day (driving time 3:56)


Question is: what to do on the third day? Drive Tioga Road and stop at all interesting points?

I recommend both, hanging out at one of the many picnic spots along river for like an hour. If it's really hot you can take a dip in river, although unlikely in June. And/or going over to Tuolumne Meadows with binoculars and watching some of the big wall climbers.

An option includes renting bicycles at Yosemite Village and riding around the floor to various spots.

Last time I came to Yosemite, two years ago, I stopped in Oakhurst and picked up food supplies. If you are particular, there is also a good Whole Foods in Fresno if you are driving in that way.

Housekeeping
Google it

do the upper yosemite trail, even with snow. I did it a month ago, was worth it hehe