Yosemite National Park has been inspiring climbers, artists, and wanderers since long before John Muir wrote about its granite cathedrals. Home to the Ahwahneechee people, Yosemite became a national park in 1890 and remains a sanctuary of cliffs, waterfalls, and meadows framed by Half Dome and El Capitan.

Spring roars with waterfalls; summer brings warm nights and starry skies; fall glows golden in quiet valleys; winter paints the cliffs in snow. Expect world-class hiking, wildlife, and picture-perfect overlooks like Tunnel View and Glacier Point.

Practical notes: the park entry fee is about $35 per vehicle for 7 days; on some peak dates, day-use reservations may be required. Bears are common—use food-storage lockers. In winter and early spring, carry tire chains. For tight budgets, consider YARTS buses, picnics, and lodgings in nearby Mariposa.

Mariposa

Mariposa is a Gold Rush-era gateway town on the “all-weather” Highway 140, about an hour from Yosemite Valley. It’s a smart base for budget travelers: more affordable stays, good eats, and easy access into the park.

• Why stay here: Cheaper rooms than inside the park, walkable historic district, and the YARTS bus (often $10–$15 each way) that can include park entry.
• Don’t miss: Mariposa Museum & History Center, local roasteries, and sunset skies over rolling foothills.
• Good eats: Happy Burger Diner (massive menu and classic shakes), 1850 Restaurant & Brewery (house beers, elk and bison burgers), Savoury’s (comfort classics), Sugar Pine Café (hearty breakfasts), Pony Expresso and Jantz Bakery (coffee and pastries to-go).

Where to stay: Compare cabins, cottages, and motels on VRBO in Mariposa and deals on Hotels.com Mariposa. For shoestring budgets, look at simple motels or shared cabins just outside town.

Getting to Mariposa: Fly into Fresno Yosemite (FAT, ~1.5–2 hrs drive), Sacramento (SMF, ~3.5 hrs), or Bay Area airports (OAK/SJC/SFO, ~3.5–4.5 hrs). Check fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Typical domestic fares run ~$150–$350 round-trip depending on origin and season.

Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley is the dramatic heart of the park: a glacial corridor lined with cliffs, waterfalls, and wildlife. You’ll wake up to granite walls glowing with first light and end the day photographing alpenglow on Half Dome.

• Top sights: El Capitan Meadow, Yosemite Falls, Cook’s Meadow, Sentinel Bridge, Tunnel View, and Valley View.
• Hikes you’ll love: Lower Yosemite Fall Loop (easy), Mirror Lake/Meadow (easy), Vernal Fall Footbridge or Mist Trail to Nevada Fall (moderate–hard), and seasonally, the Four Mile and Panorama Trails (strenuous).
• Park eats: Degnan’s Kitchen (breakfast burritos, sandwiches), Base Camp Eatery at Yosemite Valley Lodge (affordable food court), Mountain Room Restaurant (sit-down, views), The Ahwahnee Dining Room & Bar (iconic splurge), and Curry Village Pizza Deck (budget-friendly pies).

Where to stay: Compare in-park lodges or nearby vacation rentals on VRBO Yosemite Valley area and Hotels.com Yosemite Valley. Budget choices include tent cabins in Curry Village (seasonal) and simple lodge rooms; book early.

Getting from Mariposa to Yosemite Valley: Drive ~1–1.25 hours via Highway 140 along the Merced River. Without a car, YARTS buses typically run this route (about $10–$15 each way and often include park entry), a great budget move during peak season parking crunches.

Day 1: Arrive in Mariposa (Afternoon Arrival)

Morning: Travel day. Use Trip.com or Kiwi.com to find budget flights. Pick up a car or plan on YARTS buses and shuttles.

Afternoon: Check into your Mariposa stay. Stretch your legs on a short stroll through town and pop into the Mariposa Museum & History Center to set the Gold Rush scene.

Evening: Dinner at Happy Burger Diner for a wallet-friendly classic, or try 1850 Restaurant & Brewery for hearty plates and a local pint. Turn in early—tomorrow starts big.

Day 2: Yosemite Valley Highlights, Viewpoints, and Waterfalls

Morning: Grab coffee and breakfast sandwiches at Jantz Bakery or Pony Expresso. Drive into the park via Highway 140; if you’re driving, cue up this excellent audio guide for a richer road trip:

Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Yosemite

Stop at Tunnel View for the classic valley panorama, then walk to Bridalveil Fall if trail conditions allow. If you’re riding YARTS, head straight to Yosemite Village and explore Cook’s Meadow boardwalks for wide-angle Half Dome views.

Afternoon: Picnic lunch from Degnan’s Kitchen. Walk the easy Lower Yosemite Fall Loop and continue across meadows to Sentinel Bridge for Half Dome reflections.

Evening: Catch golden hour at Valley View (on the Merced River) if you’re driving; otherwise linger in Cook’s Meadow for sunset. Dinner at Base Camp Eatery—budget-friendly with lots of choice.

Day 3: Giant Sequoias at Mariposa Grove + Wawona History

Morning: Drive ~1.5 hours to the South Entrance and park at Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza (winter access varies). Hike the Grizzly Giant Loop (2 miles round trip) among enormous, ancient sequoias; continue to the California Tunnel Tree if time allows.

Afternoon: Visit the Wawona Covered Bridge and Pioneer History Center to glimpse early Sierra life. If snow is on the ground, rent snowshoes nearby or take a winter walk along the meadows.

Evening: Return to Mariposa. Treat yourself to a comfort-food dinner at Savoury’s or breakfast-for-dinner at Sugar Pine Café. Prep bags for tomorrow’s base change.

Day 4: Move to Yosemite Valley Base + Mist Trail Adventure

Morning: Check out and drive (~1–1.25 hrs) or bus into Yosemite Valley. Check into Curry Village tent cabins (budget and central) or Yosemite Valley Lodge (simple, walkable to falls). Stash food in bear lockers.

Afternoon: Hike the Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall Footbridge (1.6 miles round trip; slippery when wet). If you’re fit and trails are open, continue to the top of Vernal or Nevada Fall for thundering viewpoints and dramatic photos.

Evening: Refuel at Curry Village Pizza Deck. After dark, shoot night photos from Cook’s Meadow—watch for headlamps tracing routes on El Capitan.

Day 5: Panorama Trail Epic (Seasonal) or Valley Big-Hike Day

If Glacier Point Road is open (typically late spring–fall), take a shuttle/taxi to Glacier Point and hike the Panorama Trail (about 8.5 miles) back to the Valley via Illilouette, Nevada, and Vernal Falls. Enhance the experience with:

Explore Yosemite Panorama Trail: Self-Guided Audio Tour

When the road is closed, choose a valley-based big hike: Mist Trail to Nevada Fall (strenuous), or the Four Mile Trail up toward Glacier Point if conditions allow. Pack lunch, plenty of water, and a light rain shell for waterfall spray.

Day 6: Classic Photo Day, Bikes, and Ranger Programs

Morning: Sunrise at Sentinel Bridge for Half Dome glowing pink. Grab breakfast burritos at Degnan’s Kitchen. Rent bikes (spring–fall) or walk the car-free paths along the Merced River to Mirror Lake/Meadow for reflections and towering granite walls.

Afternoon: Lounge at Cathedral Beach or El Capitan Meadow, watching climbers through binoculars. Join a free ranger talk if offered—great for natural history and photography tips.

Evening: Celebrate with a sit-down dinner at the Mountain Room Restaurant (reserve if possible). Optional splurge: book a private local-led day with food and history focus:

Private Yosemite Tour Indulging in Nature, Flavors, and History

Day 7: Easy Morning + Departure (Afternoon)

Morning: Coffee at Curry Village Coffee Corner. Take an easy loop to Lower Yosemite Fall for final misty photos or wander Cook’s Meadow one last time.

Afternoon: Check out by late morning and drive or bus back toward your airport. Search flexible fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you have time, stop in Mariposa for a final bite at Sugar Pine Café.

Extra Tools and Alternatives

Prefer a different audio tour or want more commentary while you drive? This option also works well around the Valley:

Yosemite National Park Self-Guided Audio Tour

Budget tips: ride YARTS on busy days (fares often include park entry), picnic for lunches, refill water at trailheads, and aim for shoulder-season weekdays for cheaper rooms and thinner crowds.

In seven days you’ll stand beneath sequoias, feel the roar of waterfalls, and bring home memory-card-busting photos from sunrise to starry night. With smart bases in Mariposa and Yosemite Valley—and budget-minded choices—you get a full Yosemite adventure without overspending.