Yosemite in July: Crowds, Weather & What to Pack

Peak crowds · VisitWhen score 55/100 · #11 of 12 months

July is peak season — expect the year's biggest crowds at Yosemite National Park: crowds run 100% of the August peak (535,577 average visits). Weather: highs average 89°F and lows 57°F, with 0.3″ of precipitation and 14.5 hours of daylight. Computed from NPS and NOAA data.

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Bring for Yosemite in July

A light layer you can shed by midday (long sleeve or windbreaker)See it on AmazonWhy: a 32°F swing between the average low of 57°F and high of 89°F.
Sun protection and 2L+ water per personSee it on AmazonWhy: highs average 89°F.
Sturdy, broken-in hiking bootsSee it on AmazonWhy: every park, every month.

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Yosemite in July: what the park service says

Yosemite dropped its timed reservation system for 2026, so a July visit needed no entry booking. Instead the park said it would manage peak days with traffic monitoring, parking management and extra staff, and it asked visitors to come on weekdays where possible and to plan early for weekends and holidays. Check the park's current conditions before a summer trip, or call 209-372-0200.

Source: NPS, checked 2026-11-05.

Granite dome with trace amounts of snow. — Yosemite National Park — photo: NPS / Cindy Jacoby (public-domain NPS media)

Crowds in July

Yosemite averages 535,577 recreation visits in July — 100% of what August, the peak month, draws. Trailheads and parking fill accordingly — book early and start days at dawn.

Average visits (July)

535,577 (mean 2021–2025, NPS)

Share of the year

13.9% of annual visitation

vs. peak (August)

100%

Weather & daylight

Days run warm (highs average 89°F), and nights stay mild (lows average 57°F). It is typically dry (0.3″ of precipitation). Mid-month daylight runs 14.5 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 July.

What to pack for Yosemite in July

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

A light layer you can shed by midday (long sleeve or windbreaker) — a 32°F swing between the average low of 57°F and high of 89°F
Sun protection and 2L+ water per person — highs average 89°F
Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — every park, every month

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If your dates are flexible, consider shifting: The computed best months for Yosemite are March and April.

Common questions

Is Yosemite crowded in July?

Yes — July runs 100% of Yosemite's peak, averaging 535,577 recreation visits (NPS, 2021–2025). See every month at Yosemite.

What is the weather like in Yosemite in July?

Average highs of 89°F, lows of 57°F, 0.3″ of precipitation (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, YOSEMITE PARK HQ, CA US station). Compare it with other national parks in July.

What should I pack for Yosemite in July?

A light layer you can shed by midday (long sleeve or windbreaker); Sun protection and 2L+ water per person; Sturdy broken-in footwear, navigation and a basic first-aid kit — the full weather-computed list is on this page. Going in August instead? Yosemite in August has its own list.