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Yosemite · December
December is a good time to visit Yosemite — quieter than November, about as busy as January.
Expect moderate crowds (4/10), highs near 48°F, and about 9.6 hours of daylight.
Crowd score
A comfortable middle ground: some company on popular trails, but no gridlock.
About 35% of this park's busiest month.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Data: NPS visitation 2023–2025 · crowd scores computed Jul 2026 · alerts checked Jul 10, 2026. How this is calculated →
Computed from federal data · Methodology by Sharon Ben-Moshe
Visitation
December draws about 5% of Yosemite’s yearly visitors.
Typical monthly recreation visits, averaged over the most recent three full years.
Source: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, 2023–2025
Weather
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Yosemite Valley
What's open
Open 24 hours; Tioga and Glacier Point roads close in winter; peak-season reservations
No seasonal road or area closures reported for this park.
Source: NPS Data API
Conditions
When the park is very busy, you can get updates on current traffic conditions in Yosemite by texting ynptraffic to 333111.
Source: NPS Data API
Context
Alternatives
FAQ
December rates 4/10 for crowds (Moderate) at Yosemite National Park — about 35% of its busiest month. Typical recreation visits: 181,943.
In December, Yosemite averages a high of 48°F and a low of 29°F, with about 5.6 inches of precipitation.
Entrance to Yosemite costs $35 ($35 per private vehicle, valid 7 days).
Yosemite is quietest in January and February. If your dates are flexible, those months bring the thinnest crowds of the year.
In mid-December, Yosemite gets about 9.6 hours of daylight, with sunrise around 7:06 AM and sunset around 4:40 PM.