What to Bring
When visiting Yosemite National Park, it’s important to know what kind weather you’ll run into and what to pack in order to make your vacation trouble-free and thoroughly enjoyable.
If you're planning a trip to Yosemite National Park in California, you may be wondering what gear you need to bring with you on the trip. What you bring depends on your intended activities and duration of stay and the season you arrive, but there are a few essentials you just can’t live without. Knowing what to bring will make everything go more smoothly.
Spring and Summer
Temperatures during spring and summer are generally mild, with average daily highs ranging between 59 to 73 and lows between 31 and 42 in March, April and May, highs in the lower 80s and lows around 48 at night in June, and highs in the lower 90s with 50s as the lows in July and August.
Fall and Winter
Fall temperatures are mild, with highs in the 70s and 80s and lows from 39 to 47 in September and October, highs in the upper 40s and 50s and lows in the 20s and 30s in November and December. In January and February the highs are between 49 to 55 and lows in the 20s.
Suggested Packing Lists
Summer
- Shorts
- Long pants
- T-shirts (both short sleeved and long sleeved)
(Avoid bright colors and white clothes to avoid bees and flying insects) - Underwear
- Sleeping attire (sweats or pajamas)
- Socks
- Hiking and running shoes
- Jacket
- Rain gear
- Toiletries (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.)
- Shower shoes (to wear in public showers)
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Chapstick
- Wide-brimmed hat
- Mosquito repellant
- Flashlight
- Alarm clock
- Camera
- Film or memory card
- Binoculars
Winter
- All the above (except perhaps for shorts and mosquito repellant)
- Heavy waterproof winter coat
- Waterproof boots
- Enough clothes so you can layer them for warmth
- Warm gloves (preferably waterproof)
- Scarf