californiaroadtrip

I'm looking at Yosemite View Lodge. Is it easy to hop on to the Yosemite Valley Shuttle Service if one stays in the Yosemite View Lodge, I wonder? And I read somewhere I have to make a reservation to go into Yosemite National Park if I visit 6-8 June - correct ?

janisj

The YARTS bus stops right at Yosemite View Lodge. If you drive your personal car into the park you must have a reservation, if enter the park on a YARTS bus you do not need a reservation.

californiaroadtrip

Thanks Janis

I have a few more follow up questions for you, if you don't mind.
1) So to go to Yosemite View Lodge, I don't have to make a reservation to enter the area where it's located ?
2) The bus stop at Yosemite View Lodge the one for YARTS bus and then we take it to the valley to take the Shuttle?

janisj

1) Nope, no park reservation required to get to TVL -- the Lodge is just outside the park boundaries.

2) Yes - YARTS is the regular public transit and the bus fare includes the Park entrance fee. The shuttles are inside the park and are run by the Park Service concessionaire.

If you are visiting the Valley multiple times -- driving will be a little less expensive since you'd only be paying the entrance fee once (its good for 7 days when entering by car) but not having to hunt for parking and you probably only entering the Valley two straight days makes using YARTS a practical / reasonable option.

californiaroadtrip

If I go in by YARTS bus, what is the entrance fee per person to the Valley ?

janisj

Look at the YARTS website - and the Merced > Mariposa > El Portal > Yosemite Valley route -- as I mentioned previously, whatever the fare listed from El Portal to Yosemite Valley will be inclusive of the park entrance fee. They don't come on the bus at the entrance gate and collect the park fees - if you are on the bus you will have already paid. The bus will take either exact change cash or credit cards

J62

Pay close attention to the YARTS schedule, both directions. These are the winter schedules in effect until early May. Summer schedule probably more runs throughout the day but not necessarily greater frequency. You dont want to have to wait an hour or longer for the next bus.