Yosemite Memorial Day Weekend Plan

Redwood City → Yosemite Valley → Oakhurst → Mariposa Grove → Bay Area
Strategy: arrive early, park once, do Mist Trail on Sunday, keep Monday easier.
Annual Pass: use it Memorial Day crowds Airbnb: Oakhurst Main hike: Mist Trail Monday: redwoods

Final Decision

  • Do Mist Trail on Sunday afternoon, not Monday morning.
  • Reason: everyone is already awake from the early Bay Area drive. Monday has checkout, fatigue, and Memorial Day traffic.
  • Monday becomes Mariposa Grove + easy exit, which fits the Oakhurst Airbnb better.
  • Use the annual national park pass at the entrance. No extra Yosemite entrance payment needed.

Parking and Walking Logic

  • Park once in Yosemite Valley. Do not try to drive between every attraction inside the Valley.
  • Lower Yosemite Fall, Cook’s Meadow, Yosemite Village, and lunch are walkable from each other.
  • The annoying part is Yosemite Village → Happy Isles / Mist Trail: about 1.5 to 2 miles, around 35 to 45 minutes walking.
  • Use the shuttle if the line is reasonable. If the shuttle line looks terrible, walking may be faster and less stressful.

Day 1: Sunday

Valley classics + Mist Trail

4:30 AM Leave Redwood City.
Bring breakfast, water, snacks, sunscreen, hoodie, annual pass, and ID.
8:00 AM Enter Yosemite.
Show America the Beautiful annual pass.
8:15 AM Tunnel View
First major view: El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall. Stay 15 to 20 minutes.
8:45 AM Bridalveil Fall
Easy waterfall stop. Expect spray, wet ground, and crowds.
9:30 AM Park once in Yosemite Valley.
Target Curry Village, Yosemite Village parking, or Yosemite Valley Trailhead parking. Once parked, avoid moving the car.
9:45 AM Lower Yosemite Fall Trail
From Yosemite Village area: about 10 to 15 minutes walk. Trail itself is flat and easy, about 1.2 miles roundtrip.
10:30 AM Cook’s Meadow Loop
Connected from Lower Yosemite Fall area. Extra walking about 5 to 10 minutes. Good Half Dome and Yosemite Falls views.
11:15 AM Yosemite Village / Visitor Center area
Extra walking about 5 minutes. Bathroom, water refill, quick museum or gallery if needed.
12:00 PM Lunch.
Eat before Mist Trail. Do not start the hike hungry.
12:45 PM Move toward Happy Isles / Mist Trail trailhead.
From Yosemite Village: about 1.5 to 2 miles, around 35 to 45 minutes walking. Shuttle is good if the line is short. On Memorial Day, walking may be more reliable.
1:15 PM Start Mist Trail.
Main goal: Vernal Fall. Nevada Fall only if everyone still feels strong.
5:00 PM Finish hike / return to car.
5:30 PM Optional quick stop: El Capitan Meadow or Valley View.
Only if energy is good and traffic is not horrible.
6:30 PM Drive to Oakhurst Airbnb.
Avoid driving out too late. Oakhurst roads are mountain roads.

Day 2: Monday

Mariposa Grove + easier return

8:30 AM Wake up / breakfast / pack.
10:00 AM Check out Airbnb.
10:30 AM Drive to Mariposa Grove area.
Best fit because the Airbnb is in Oakhurst, near the south side of Yosemite.
11:00 AM Mariposa Grove shuttle / trailhead logistics.
Use the park shuttle if operating. Build in waiting time because it is Memorial Day weekend.
11:30 AM Big Trees Loop.
Easy, short intro to giant sequoias. Good if everyone is tired.
12:15 PM Optional: Grizzly Giant / California Tunnel Tree route.
Better experience if energy is good. Skip if everyone is cooked from Mist Trail.
1:30 PM Lunch in Wawona / Oakhurst area.
Possible food stop: Smokehouse 41 BBQ in Oakhurst if timing works.
2:30 PM Start driving back to Bay Area.
Memorial Day traffic can be rough. Earlier exit is safer.
7 to 10 PM Arrive Bay Area depending traffic.

Mist Trail Details

Goal A Happy Isles → Vernal Fall Footbridge
About 1.6 miles roundtrip, about 400 ft elevation gain. Moderate. Good minimum goal.
Goal B Top of Vernal Fall
About 3 miles roundtrip, about 1,000 ft elevation gain. Steep stone stairs, wet sections, very crowded. This is the recommended main goal.
Optional Nevada Fall
About 7 miles roundtrip, 2,000+ ft elevation gain. Strenuous. Only do this if everyone is strong, conditions are good, and time is comfortable.
  • Wear shoes with decent grip.
  • Expect mist, slippery stone steps, and crowds.
  • Bring water and snacks.
  • Do not force Nevada Fall just to complete the trail.

Walkability Summary

Parking → Falls Yosemite Village parking to Lower Yosemite Fall: about 10 to 15 minutes walking.
Falls → Meadow Lower Yosemite Fall to Cook’s Meadow: about 5 to 10 minutes extra walking.
Meadow → Village Cook’s Meadow back to Yosemite Village: about 5 to 10 minutes depending exact route.
Village → Mist Yosemite Village to Happy Isles / Mist Trail: about 1.5 to 2 miles, around 35 to 45 minutes walking.
Shuttle Use it if line is short. If line looks bad, walking may be faster on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day Rules

  • Leave Redwood City early. Late start ruins the trip.
  • Park once inside Yosemite Valley.
  • Use shuttle only when useful. Walking may be faster during crowd peaks.
  • Do not rely on perfect parking at every stop.
  • Keep Monday lighter because checkout, traffic, and fatigue are real.

Optional Add-ons

  • Glacier Point: amazing, but only add if energy is high and road/time works.
  • Taft Point: beautiful, but it adds driving and hiking. Not ideal if Mist Trail is the priority.
  • Mirror Lake: nice but optional. Skip if parking or shuttle situation is bad.
  • The Ahwahnee: good quick indoor stop if you want a historic hotel vibe.

Packing

  • Annual pass + ID
  • Water, electrolytes, snacks
  • Good walking shoes
  • Light jacket / hoodie
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
  • Power bank
  • Small towel or extra socks for Mist Trail spray
Plan optimized for Memorial Day crowds, Oakhurst stay, Sunday Mist Trail, and Monday redwoods.