Yosemite in December: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Shoulder · VisitWhen score 57/100 · #10 of 12 months

December is a solid shoulder-season month to visit Yosemite National Park: crowds run 28% of the August peak (148,661 average visits). Weather: highs average 46°F and lows 28°F, with 5.6″ of precipitation and 9.6 hours of daylight. Roads and services are only partly open this month — see the access note below. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Yosemite in December: what the park service says

By December, Yosemite's high roads are shut for the season: the park service says Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road close for snow sometime in November and do not reopen until late May or early June. The three roads into Yosemite Valley, Wawona, El Portal and Big Oak Flat, are open all year, though chain requirements can apply through the winter. Carry chains and check current road status on the day.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Crowds in December

Yosemite averages 148,661 recreation visits in December — 28% of what August, the peak month, draws. That crowd level sets the tone for parking, permits and lodging.

Weather & daylight

Daytime stays cool (highs average 46°F), and nights drop below freezing (lows average 28°F). This is one of the wetter months (5.6″ of precipitation on average). Mid-month daylight runs 9.6 hours.

NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station YOSEMITE PARK HQ, CA US (3 mi from park coordinates, 4,018 ft elevation) — conditions vary inside the park, especially with elevation. Daylight computed for the 15th of December.

What to pack for Yosemite in December

Computed from the month's weather normals above — not a generic list.

• Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 28°F, below freezing
• Rain shell + pack cover — 5.6″ of precipitation is normal this month
• Headlamp — only 9.6 hours of daylight in mid-December (compare other options)
• Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 5.6″ of precipitation is normal this month

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Want quieter or kinder conditions? The computed best months for Yosemite are March and April.

Also at their best in December

Other parks whose computed December verdict is a best window — same NPS × NOAA formula:

• American Samoa in December — 17% of peak crowds, highs 88°F, score 66/100
• Everglades in December — 72% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 64/100
• Biscayne in December — 77% of peak crowds, highs 80°F, score 62/100

Common questions

See also: the best national parks to visit in December · Last verified 2026-09-24