Yosemite on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes, if you camp or book a tent cabin early and bring your own food; the scenery and most trails are free once you have paid the entrance fee. A realistic minimum is about US$105 a day per person sharing a site or cabin — around US$40 for a bed, US$35 for food, US$10 for sights and US$20 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | US$40 | US$150 | US$350 |
| Food & drink | US$35 | US$65 | US$120 |
| Sights & tickets | US$10 | US$25 | US$80 |
| Local transport | US$20 | US$35 | US$60 |
| Per person, per day | US$105 | US$275 | US$610 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Yosemite day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Tunnel View over El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome
- The walk to Lower Yosemite Fall
- The Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls
- Mirror Lake and Sentinel Bridge at sunset
- The Yosemite Museum in Yosemite Village
- The Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, reached by free shuttle from the Welcome Plaza
Cheap eats
- Picnic from a grocery store in Mariposa, Oakhurst or Groveland — the cheapest option
- Groceries from the store at Yosemite Village — dearer, but convenient
- Pizza from the Curry Village pizza deck — about US$15–30 per person
- Yosemite Valley Lodge food court — about US$15–30
- A sandwich or burger in the park — about US$12–20
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers camp in Valley or other park campgrounds, or book a Curry Village tent cabin, at about US$40–200; reservations open months ahead and sell out fast. Outside the park, motels in Mariposa, Groveland and Oakhurst cost US$150–300 a room, cheaper per person when shared.
Getting around cheaply
Share a rental car and fuel, and use the free Valley shuttle once inside. Without a car, take Amtrak or a bus to Merced and the YARTS bus up Highway 140 (about 2.5 hours). The US$35 entrance fee covers a car for seven days.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Tunnel View, then the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Fall (free)
- Lunch: picnic from groceries bought outside the park (about US$10)
- Afternoon: Lower Yosemite Fall and Mirror Lake by free shuttle
- Evening: sunset at Sentinel Bridge and pizza at Curry Village (about US$20)
- Total: about US$105 including a shared campsite or tent cabin (about US$40) and a share of the car
More ways to save
- Bring a cooler and food from outside the park.
- Visit in May or October for full waterfalls or autumn colours without peak summer prices.
- Use the free shuttles in the Valley and to the Mariposa Grove.
- Split car hire, fuel and the entrance fee with travel companions.
- Check the NPS website for entry reservation rules before you go, so you do not waste a day.
- Fill up with fuel outside the park or at Crane Flat before Tioga Road.
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Common questions
Can you visit Yosemite on a budget?
Yes. Camp or book a tent cabin early, bring your own food and use the free shuttles; about US$105 a day is realistic.
Can I visit Yosemite without a car?
Yes: take Amtrak or a bus to Merced and the YARTS bus to the Valley, then use the free shuttles.
What is free in Yosemite?
After the entrance fee, all the main viewpoints, trails, the Valley shuttle and the Mariposa Grove shuttle are free.