Valley Visitor Center
Valley Visitor Center
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
368 reviews
Excellent
179
Very good
132
Average
43
Poor
8
Terrible
6
nickss1
Southend-on-Sea, UK4,566 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
This is a good place to stop to get information from the park rangers. It also contains a small exhibition on the Yosemite Valley and has a theatre attached which plays a movie about the area.
Written 15 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheExplorerFamily
Somerset, NJ6,451 contributions
Jun 2022
After lunch at the Ahwahnee Dining Room, we boarded the Shuttle to the Yosemite Village Stop. This is where this Visitor Center is located.
We made this stop, so that I could get my Stamp and Sticker for the Parks Passport. But we also found lots of Maps, Brochures and a general orientation to the National Park. There was also an informative board that informed us of the road and weather conditions for the day, plus the fire dangers.
The 3-D Exhibit was amazing and very educational. The Gift and Souvenir Store inside was pretty good, and all the Park Rangers there were extremely pleasant and very helpful.
Worth a stop here if you are visiting for the first time.
We made this stop, so that I could get my Stamp and Sticker for the Parks Passport. But we also found lots of Maps, Brochures and a general orientation to the National Park. There was also an informative board that informed us of the road and weather conditions for the day, plus the fire dangers.
The 3-D Exhibit was amazing and very educational. The Gift and Souvenir Store inside was pretty good, and all the Park Rangers there were extremely pleasant and very helpful.
Worth a stop here if you are visiting for the first time.
Written 19 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia Vitale
Sacramento, CA103 contributions
Jan 2022
closed due to covid or winter. the staff who were uselessly ignorant directed us there, only to find it is closed. a sign said there might be a kiosk with some info if you wanted to walk 7 minutes (and no directions given as to WHERE to walk...)
Written 7 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The_Travel_Family
Las Vegas, NV783 contributions
Aug 2021 • Family
I agree with others on this. Another NP and more visitor center’s closed. I feel this approach to covid and closing these centers is just ridiculous. Elsewhere is the park they have shops, cafes open but nope the largest building in the park remains closed tut.
Additionally charging $3.50 for junior ranger books really grips me. Why do they always charge kids just to claw back money? Why not charge $0.50 for every park map they hand out instead? You are mean to be teaching the future generation. All you are teaching them is corporate greed! Also they don’t even allow you to download the booklet and print like other parks do. Very disappointed.
Additionally charging $3.50 for junior ranger books really grips me. Why do they always charge kids just to claw back money? Why not charge $0.50 for every park map they hand out instead? You are mean to be teaching the future generation. All you are teaching them is corporate greed! Also they don’t even allow you to download the booklet and print like other parks do. Very disappointed.
Written 28 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph Robba
Charlotte, NC2,198 contributions
Sep 2020
I was incredibly disappointed with Yosemite's approach to how to handle guests at the Visitor Center during Covid. Firstly, I'll say that because of the smoky conditions due to the Creek Fire, it was not desirable to be outside much of the time, as many apps we checked regularly told us not to spend extended periods of time outside.
The visitor center itself was closed completely, no visitors allowed in at all, which I simply couldn't understand. First, the safety risk with the smoke was far greater than the Covid risk, Second, the park was so empty at the time of our visit, they very easily could have limited the number of entrants at any given time without issue, and thirdly, as dumb as this may sound, our 5 year old son was looking forward to visiting this place more than just about anywhere, after we had seen several vlogs saying the visitor's center was a great stop for children.
The thing that really bothered me about them not opening the visitor center, was that they had no issue with having the gift shop open, which was far more crowded that the visitor center area would have been, with no buses running, etc...With the mask mandate, and social distancing in place, it made no sense to me why the visitor's center was closed, especially given the hazardous smoke conditions outside.
The visitor center itself was closed completely, no visitors allowed in at all, which I simply couldn't understand. First, the safety risk with the smoke was far greater than the Covid risk, Second, the park was so empty at the time of our visit, they very easily could have limited the number of entrants at any given time without issue, and thirdly, as dumb as this may sound, our 5 year old son was looking forward to visiting this place more than just about anywhere, after we had seen several vlogs saying the visitor's center was a great stop for children.
The thing that really bothered me about them not opening the visitor center, was that they had no issue with having the gift shop open, which was far more crowded that the visitor center area would have been, with no buses running, etc...With the mask mandate, and social distancing in place, it made no sense to me why the visitor's center was closed, especially given the hazardous smoke conditions outside.
Written 10 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ELKW
United States11,862 contributions
Jun 2019
this visitor center is similar to others, with a 3D map of the park, also has ranger to answer questions if you have, also has some exhibit about the park, it's a good point to stop by to know about the Yosemite park, and there were ranger programs everyday during peak season, where the kids can attend in order to fulfill one of the requirements in order to get ranger badge. The shuttle bus has has stop at here, so you can go to other points by taking shuttle from here during the peak season.
Written 15 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy L
Allen, TX1,157 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This place is where you must stop to get basic or advanced information about Yosemite. You can all you can soak up. Display and information is every where to see, get, and buy. NPS Park Rangers can answer all your questions and have all the information you’ll ever need. The Rangers are most helpful. This is the place to get any information you’ll need for anything to do with the entire park.
Written 14 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indiana_Jonesse
San Francisco, CA7,370 contributions
Feb 2020
If you are new to Yosemite, there is much to conquer and discover. There is only so much time and you want to visit the Visitor Center to organize and plan and maximize your visit. You can also get your national park stamped. The center is huge and full of valuable resources. There is also a bus in the park that you can take to promote ecologically friendly visit.
Written 7 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Satyabrata Dam
New Delhi1,782 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
Simply put it is wonderful, right from the smiling well informed staff, to the museum, book store, bear can renting, and movie theatre plus the Indian village set up. You get your wilderness permit and Half Dome permit from here. I greatly enjoyed chatting with the staff and the movies.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
UlrE2015
Vaxjo, Sweden132 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
Before entering the shuttle bus this is a stop to recommend. Easy to park your car in the area and walk here before starting the yosemite Valley adventure.
Friendly staff. A lot of souvenirs for those who are interested. I had to by a sticker with the sign "speeding kills bears" since my heart was melting everytime we saw this on the road on our way to the valley. Best part for me was the explanations on how the mountains change their form even today and why rocks are falling etc. Definitely a place to bring your kids or go yourself for some educational moments. Also have toilets.. Friendly staff. I lost my phone and they made sure I got it back from another customer... (oops!)
Friendly staff. A lot of souvenirs for those who are interested. I had to by a sticker with the sign "speeding kills bears" since my heart was melting everytime we saw this on the road on our way to the valley. Best part for me was the explanations on how the mountains change their form even today and why rocks are falling etc. Definitely a place to bring your kids or go yourself for some educational moments. Also have toilets.. Friendly staff. I lost my phone and they made sure I got it back from another customer... (oops!)
Written 17 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shalyceryan
181 contributions
Hi there,
We are wanting to visit Yosemite early May 2017, however we cannot find information on how to get from Yosemite to Fresno Airport on May 5 as Yarts do not operate this route until May 15.
Does anyone know any other way?
Thank you
Cantwaittogohiking
1 contribution
I'm trying to find housing and we want to be on the side of Yosemite valley. I can't figure out if the valley is on the north,south,east or west side. I was wondering if you can tell.me
TeriPugh
Mount Laurel, NJ597 contributions
We stayed in El Portal on rt 140. Perfect location. Rented the only house in ElPortal right on the river. It was excellent.
LucasCoelho_Brasil
Sao Manuel, SP353 contributions
Olá, alguém sabe me informar se há onde guardar uma mochila durante o dia?
Hello, does anyone know if there are lockers available?
What number address can put on my GPS navigation system?
PacificNWFamily
Washington State100,809 contributions
Maybe the ranger on the Yosemite Facebook page knows.
Note that questions posted on the TripAdvisor Yosemite forum will be answered the same day that they are asked. This Q&A feature is seldom viewed by anyone.
rob64_9
bunbury wa15 contributions
Hi, we are travelling from San Francisco or Sacramento in Dec 2015. We would love to visit Yosemite National Park but are not comfortable driving on the roads.
Could you tell us what are some options available at this time of the year?
Regards,
Robyn Grigson
Australia
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Claim your listingVALLEY VISITOR CENTER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Valley Visitor Center
- According to Tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience Valley Visitor Center:
- Yosemite National Park & Giant Sequoias 2-Day Semi-Guided Tour (From ₱15,455.35)
- Yosemite National Park & Giant Sequoias 3-Day Semi-guided Tour (no accom) (From ₱15,455.35)
- Yosemite National Park - Full Day Tour from San Francisco (From ₱11,023.71)
- San Francisco to Yosemite One-Way Transfer (From ₱8,253.93)
- A Drive through John Muir’s Yosemite Valley: A Self-Guided Audio Tour (From ₱553.40)
- Hotels near Valley Visitor Center:
- (1.08 km) Housekeeping Camp
- (1.17 km) The Ahwahnee
- (1.09 km) Yosemite Valley Lodge
- (1.81 km) Curry Village
- (13.10 km) Yosemite Gateway/Horse Ranch Cottage/Outdoor SoakingTub & Shower/Views/Trails
- Restaurants near Valley Visitor Center:
- (0.15 km) Degnan's Kitchen
- (0.15 km) Degnan's Kitchen
- (0.16 km) Degnan's Loft
- (0.21 km) Base Camp Eatery
- (0.31 km) Village Grill