Tuolumne Meadows is an incredible spot to visit in Yosemite National Park! With beautiful alpine lakes, flowers, and mountains, this is a perfect day trip that complements Yosemite Valley nicely, with the bonus of fewer crowds.
I’ve visited Tuolumne Meadows and all the amazing stops along the way, and I will describe my perfect day in Tuolumne Meadows to help you plan yours!
Make your trip planning EASY, avoid the crowds, and see places most people don’t know about
Inside the guide:
*Step-by-step plan that will take you to the best hikes, viewpoints, drives, and must-do stops
*Exact time-frames and star-ratings so you can make the best use of your time and money
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back
*Stay in the right spot with our area recommendations to reduce time driving and waiting in entrance lines
Tuolumne Meadows is as secluded from the rest of the park as you can get. To get there, you must take Tioga Road from the Valley, which is roughly 55 miles long and takes anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours without any stops. You can also enter from the East Entrance via Lee Vining, which is roughly 13 miles away.
This is the only area of the park where the Lee Vining Entrance is convenient.
Because it is such a long drive, it is best to stop along the way. There are quite a few incredible stops, such as Tenaya Lake, Olmstead Point, and Tuolumne Grove, which I will go into greater detail about later. These are just as incredible as Tuolumne Meadows, so unless you are really in a hurry, I highly, highly recommend that you make a few stops.
This day is more about the journey, less about the destination.
Because of the high elevation, Tioga Road is closed from November to late May each year, depending on snowfall and conditions. Its more remote nature also means that flush toilets, water stations, and facilities in general are very scarce here. There are definitely adequate pit toilets at most stops, but be sure to bring enough water and anything else you may need for the day, as there is no guarantee that you can buy it while there.
There is a gas/grocery stop about 1/4 of the way on Tioga, as well as flush toilets and potable water in the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, but I would err on the side of caution on the off chance water or food is unavailable.
CHECK OUT: Driving in Yosemite: 10 Things You Need to Know
1. Leave before 8:00 am
2. Have Breakfast at the hotel/nearby cafes, or bring your own
3. Stop at Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
4. Stop at Tenaya Lake + have lunch here
5. Arrive in Tuolumne Meadows
6. Use flush toilets at visitor center
7. Stop at Soda Springs Trail OR Twin Bridges OR Pothole Dome
8. Leave before sunset
9. Stop at Olmstead Point
10. Have dinner near lodging
I like to start my day around 6:00 am. This helps me avoid the lines into the park and to be able to see everything I want to see on my own time. Consider leaving before 8:00 am or earlier to make the most of your day if your accommodation is outside the park. For those staying in the Valley, leaving before 9:00 am is ideal.
Yosemite rewards those who enter early. Waiting even an extra hour to begin your day could mean cutting hours off of your adventure with entrance lines and traffic. You will already have a lengthy drive to begin with, so avoiding hours-long lines to enter the park is important.
For most visitors, it will take at least 90 minutes to get to Tuolumne Meadows from inside the park without stops…and you really can’t do Tuolumne Meadows without stopping on the journey there.
The only exception to this is if you are coming from the Lee Vining entrance and changing accommodation to somewhere near the Valley. This way, you are only going down Tioga once, not having to go back. Leave by 10:00 am…but beware of the entrance lines. (They are literally my worst enemy.) You can read more about entrances in our article What is the Best Entrance to Yosemite? Yosemite’s 5 Entrances.
For breakfast, I typically will bring something premade and eat it on the drive up or at my first stop. There are not a lot of places to get a good breakfast on the way to Tuolumne Meadows, and I like to make the most of my time by eating on the go.
I would recommend eating breakfast at your accommodation if they provide it, or packing a breakfast/early lunch to go. You can also stop at Crane Flat Gas Station, which is about 25 minutes up Tioga, for gas, bathrooms, and snacks.
My first stop of the day would be a hike at Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. This is a very slight detour from Tioga Road, but it is incredibly beautiful. I like to do the Tuolumne Grove Trail, a reverse hike that begins descending 500 feet into the Grove. This is a great way to wake yourself up and is perfect with a bag of trail mix to munch on along the way.
Alternatively, you can also do a short, self-guided nature trail that begins at Tunnel Tree. This stop is more optional than anything, especially because I usually only have time to fit this in if I enter the park before 6:00 am.
After a brief stop at the Grove, I would head to Tenaya Lake.
Tenaya Lake is absolutely stunning, and it is a must-visit on the way to Tuolumne Meadows. You will end up right next to it as Tioga Road follows part of the lake.
PRO TIP: Don’t stop at the first small pull-out/parking lot–make your way to the second parking lot. It has much better beach access and has pit toilets along with a picnic area.
This area is super peaceful and rarely has too many people at one time – at least that is how I experienced it the few times that I have been able to visit. Even if there are groups of people, there is plenty of space to spread out and find a nice quiet area.
There is a lot to do and see here, so I recommend spending at least 30 minutes to an hour exploring. For those who like water activities, the water is crystal clear and great for paddle boarding or kayaking. The only downside is that you have to bring in and pack out all of your equipment, as there are no facilities on site.
For those who prefer not to venture into the cold waters, there is a nice light hike around the lake that has stunning views. I personally have never done this hike and prefer to wander around aimlessly, but I have heard great things and plan on doing it on my next trip out here. It is around 3.5 miles long and takes around 90 minutes to complete. It is great for all ages.
Picnics are also really nice here. After a moderately long drive – it takes roughly one hour from Yosemite Valley to arrive – having a light snack or full-blown picnic just feet away from the water is surreal. Have an idea of what time you are leaving to decide what works best for you. I like to have a light snack here and take a late lunch at the end of another hike later in the day.
My ideal morning at Tenaya Lake is to take a dip in the lake and set up my hammock, read a book, snack, or take a nap. Because I wake up so early for this day, I’ll use this time to relax and recharge so that I can fully enjoy the rest of my day.
After a relaxing stop at Tenaya Lake, I would finish my drive up to Tuolumne Meadows. My first stop would be the visitor center. I like to do this to use their very clean flush toilets. As much as I love National Parks, I cannot stand pit toilets or dirty bathrooms, and this one is definitely more than tolerable for me.
The visitor center is incredibly small, but I like to check it out for their awesome ranger-led programs or nature walks for the day.
Starting from the visitor center, there is a short hike called Soda Springs Trail. This light stroll of a hike covers a lot of really cool things and is perfect for everyone. You will cross over two bridges and visit Parsons Memorial Lodge, which is a center with books and information on the history of Tuolumne Meadows. I talked to a ranger here and found it super interesting.
From there, you will make your way to the soda spring, which has fresh, carbonated water that is safe to drink. If you remember to bring a cup of some kind, it tastes a little funny, but it is a really cool experience. My friends had me give it a try, and it was totally worth it. This hike takes around 30 minutes to complete and is completely flat. We also saw many playful gophers and squirrels on this easy hike.
I have done this hike twice before, and I think it is a must-do for everyone, especially those who are low on time. If you can only do one hike in Tuolumne Meadows, do Soda Springs.
Another good afternoon hike is Twin Bridges. When I went, there was no proper signage, and we were recommended this by a park ranger at the visitor center. It covers a small part of the Pacific Coast Trail and has you walking through forests and over rivers to get to three small bridges with a thin layer of water rushing in between each one.
I have seen a few people fish here, although most people will sit down and enjoy the sights and scenery. This is my go-to spot for a picnic. You can also make good conversation with PCT hikers, and they usually have a lot of fun stories to tell.
My last recommended hike is Pothole Dome. It is a short but a bit more strenuous hike that has the best views of any comparable hike around. The beginning is quite tame, but the second half requires that you scale a granite slope to the top of the dome. It is doable for most people and takes about 30 minutes each way.
I also think that this would be perfect for kids to get their energy out. You can watch them for quite a distance, and I could see any kids racing up the slope to see who gets there first. This is also a great place for snacks and/or a picnic.
This hike is best to watch the sunrise and sunset. The views overlook a massive meadow, and I happened to see a herd of Elk around sunset one evening.
CHECK OUT: 7 CAN’T-MISS Hikes in Yosemite National Park
As I have stated before, it is best to have a picnic at the end of your hikes or possibly at Tenaya Lake.
Tuolumne Meadows Grill, as well as the Tuolumne Meadows Market, are available to purchase food, although I can promise you that nothing you can buy to eat here is going to be outstanding. The few options available are there to give you sustenance if you need it, or for those hiking the Pacific Coast Trail and need to refuel with some real food.
I always like to head back around 1-2 hours before dark. I am not super comfortable driving 90+ minutes on a dark, windy road that is likely to have animal activity nearby. If you are comfortable, great! That means you can spend some more time in Tuolumne Meadows and maybe watch the sunset from a nice viewpoint like Pothole Dome.
Make your trip planning EASY, avoid the crowds, and see places most people don’t know about
Inside the guide:
*Step-by-step plan that will take you to the best hikes, viewpoints, drives, and must-do stops
*Exact time-frames and star-ratings so you can make the best use of your time and money
*Best Friend Guarantee: love it or get your money back
*Stay in the right spot with our area recommendations to reduce time driving and waiting in entrance lines
Once I start heading back, I usually stop at Olmstead Point for a nice picture and possibly sunset. It is about halfway down Tioga Road and is an iconic Yosemite photo spot. The actual Olmstead point is a short walk from the parking lot, but the views don’t differ too much, regardless.
Alternatively, watching the sunset from Tunnel View in the Valley is a great idea. Being in the Valley for sunset is my favorite way to spend this day because I typically would have another long drive back to my accommodation in Bass Lake, which is where I worked all summer. This should not be as big an issue for most visitors staying closer to Yosemite.
The main issue with Tunnel View for sunset is that parking will be atrocious. This should not be news to you if you have read our Yosemite Valley day guide, which is a great read after finishing this post.
–When to Start Your Days. Start as early as you comfortably can.
The earlier you enter the park, the more time you will have to
enjoy the park without crowds. 8:00 am is ideal for most travelers.
–What to Wear. Light and comfortable clothes. A majority of your day
will be in the car, so make sure you are comfortable.
Sticking an extra jacket in the car is super helpful in case it gets a little chilly.
–What to Bring. Comfy walking shoes, binoculars to see wildlife, a good camera, picnic supplies, and a water bottle! You can check out our
packing list blog post and/or packing video.
–For Your Safety. Comfy shoes, sunscreen, a camera, water, and picnic supplies are great to have. There are very few facilities besides pit toilets available,
so be sure to pack anything else you may need for the day.
–Road Conditions. All roads are paved and are perfectly fine for all vehicles (that includes all RVs) from May to November. The rest of the year, this area is closed. There are restrictions for RVs elsewhere in the park, though. Check here for specifications.
–Cell Phone Service. As with anywhere in the park, service is spotty at best. You may have a better signal at the top of some domes you can hike to, but there is no guarantee.
–Don’t Bring Your Doggo. Dogs are not allowed in Yosemite National Park.
Of course, as always, this does not apply to service animals.
–Services Within the Park. There are very limited gas stations, restaurants, and facilities. Bring enough food and water for the day, and be sure to fill up your car
before you head out. Pit toilets are available along the way,
with the bathrooms at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center
being the best (and only) flush toilets on Tioga Road.
–Elevation Factors. The elevation gains pretty significantly from the Valley. At 8,600 ft above sea level, keep it in mind when planning what activities you want to accomplish.
Have dinner in the Valley or near your accommodation. You will likely be done with picnic food for the day. There are a handful of places near El Portal, and Tenaya Lodge has a few dining options, depending on where you are located.
If you really want to eat in Tuolumne Meadows, there is a single ‘restaurant’ called Tuolumne Meadows Grill. They serve burgers, hot dogs, fish, and vegetarian options all day long. This place is nothing fancy.
It makes the most sense to stay closer to Yosemite Valley and do day trips to the different parts of the park.
If you are coming from the East, stay the first night in Lee Vining or Mammoth. Make your way through Tuolumne Meadows to the west side of the park. Change lodging to El Portal or inside the Valley and stay here for the rest of your Yosemite trip.
If you want to stay in Tuolumne Meadows, you can check out the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge or the Tuolumne Meadows Campground. The ‘lodge’ consists of canvas tent cabins that have no electricity or cell service, and the campground is just what you would expect. Some camping spots can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet.
You can find out more places to stay in our article Where to Stay When Visiting Yosemite: The Complete Guide (Inside and Outside the Park).
YOSEMITE TRIP PLANNER: To read or watch all of our content about Yosemite National Park, check out our Yosemite Homepage.
THINGS TO DO: Don’t miss all that Yosemite has to offer, including hiking, things to do in Yosemite Valley, and floating the Merced River.
WHERE TO EAT: Don’t miss the best places to eat in Yosemite National Park
WHERE TO STAY: Learn all you need to know about where to stay inside and outside the park
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Find out how to get there, the best time to visit, which is the best entrance, and all about driving around Yosemite.
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