Yosemite National Park is a beautiful place and often packed with visitors. It can be tempting to park for just a few minutes (or longer) at an overlook to get the perfect picture or a choice location for a hike.
But irresponsible parking can create a danger to everyone on the road, damage the environment, and lead to a potential citation or even a tow. And, really, it’s just plain rude.
Park officials posted the photo above as an example of how not to park when sightseeing. As you may notice, the RV in the photo is a rental, which may help explain a newbie’s bad behavior. Of course, it’s not just RVers who cause problems.
“We understand that parking can be tough and stressful in Yosemite,” the park noted in its social media posting. “To relieve that stress a bit, here are a few ways to safely and responsibly secure a spot.”
- Most parking lots in Yosemite fill by mid-morning. Arrive as early as possible (before 8 a.m.). When the park is extremely busy, get parking updates by texting ynptraffic to 333111.
- If you are visiting Yosemite Valley, park once and stay parked for the day. You can get to most trails in the Valley by walking, biking, or using the free Yosemite Valley shuttle system.
- If parking lots are full, stay flexible, have a backup plan, and come back at a later time. Many popular parts of the park are better seen at less busy times, like early morning or sunset.
- Navigating through Yosemite can be confusing. Get familiar with highway names, park road names, locations, and parking areas before arriving. While in the park, pay attention to signage and pull over to reference a map if you are lost. Emergency lights do not mean automatic protection against accidents.
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RVT1262
I saw a lot of this at Yellowstone last year. A rental Class C taking up 3 parking spaces or just pulled off the road with the awning, lawn chairs, and grill out.
Yosemite is unbelievably popular. Looking at recreation.gov, there is not a single campsite available forever. Furthermore, each Valley campground will be closed for two weeks this summer for repaving. This is not the year to visit Yosemite.
It wasn’t too long ago that I could fetch a campsite on the whim, or drive in sans traffic. Hence, I don’t blame any RVer, especially once-in-a-lifetime foreigner or faraway visitor, for rogue approaches. Yosemite is indeed beautiful, and the frustrations of enjoying that beauty are increasingly overwhelming.
True! And all over my beautiful state. Overpopulation is a drag…
A remote national park should have parking for motorhomes, yes, at overlooks. It’s not like there are side streets where one can pull over.
SO many ‘public’ facilities have small lots with single-row car parking. There are always some jerks parking stupidly, but I’m inclined to think this may have just been someone who came a long way to this park and then had nowhere ‘legal’ to park.
I saw a lot of this at Acadia National park when I drove for Downeast and quit after 2 summers when because of parking I was in a bus and could not get around them and I asked the motor coach to move he refused. Then I got threatened by a motorist stuck behind me and when I asked for help by management they did nothing and nothing by the park rangers. Driving as a bus driver and being a motorist is not worth risking being killed by crazed drivers. So this is nothing new to me. I was threatened during my 16 years as a school bus driver. At least law enforcement showed up. At the park level? Nothing. So stupid is as stupid does.
Whilst this is sad, drive up the 101 along the Pacific coast and count the number of vistas you cannot enter due to RV’s not merely visiting but flat out living there.
At first I was undeterred and walked in to take a picture. They’re my people, fellow RV’ers just down on their luck, they won’t mind me using the vista for which is was created, right?
Nope, if they weren’t trying to hustle a toll from me, they were indignant over their perception that I was trespassing on their property. I spoke to a CalTrans worker who was sweeping up needles and human excrement at a rest stop and he said that’s just how things are now….
The inconsideration in this picture ain’t nuttin’…..
Reading the comments it is clear that Yosemite and scenic spots along Highway 101 and by extension I suppose California Highway 1 no longer offer casual stopping. Could this be the summer crowd that thins markedly during off season?