Yosemite Park in 1 day
 

Hello everybody,

I booked 2 nights (Aug 25-27) at Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal for my elderly mother and myself. What is the best way to see as much as we can during 1 day without too much of walking? Should we book in advance any specific tour or just drive around? I will appreciate any advice, tips etc....thank you

High season you really can't just "drive around." Well, you an can drive, but you can't park and get out anywhere due to the limited parking a most places you'll want to visit.

Better way is to use the valley shuttle bus system. There may even be a bus that runs from El Portal into the Valley. You can ride the bus to many different places, get off, and walk short distances to many of the different views/sights.

To get to sights outside the valley you can drive, but you should do so early in the day before the hordes of cars arrive.

>> . . . or just drive around? <<

Ain't really an option. The shuttle buses are definitely the way to go. You can either drive in to somewhere _(Yosemite Valley Lodge if you can find a paring space) and ride the shuttles. OR -- Take YARTS from in front of Yosemite View Lodeg in to the Valley and then the shuttles around the Valley.

IF you drive yourselves, enter the park early in the AM before day trippers start arriving so you can get a space.

Tanks for tips. Are there any shuttle buses going to Glacier Point and Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias or we will have to book a tour? I will drive to Yosemite Valley Lodge early AM, park there and considering taking either Valley Floor tour (2hr) + Giant Sequoias/Glacier Point on my own OR just book Grand Tour (8h) to cover all these places. The point is my mother does not speak English so guided tour is not for her. On the other side tour goes to all places and parking problem is avoided.

If you are staying in El Portal driving around can be an option in the morning of later evening. During the day there is a lot of traffic as mentioned before.

But Glacier Point can be reached by car, just try to be there around 1-2 hours before sunset. We did this and even could park the car in summer season (august).

But definitely try to avoid Yosemite Village by car during the day.