Charging in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite has in-park Level 2 charging, but the bigger decision is how much range to bring through the entrance. Plan around your approach road, parking demand and a gateway-town backup.

Arrive with enough range to leave again if the in-park Level 2 spaces are occupied. Busy parking can make even a working charger unavailable.

Use the gateway town on your actual approach—such as Mariposa, El Portal or Oakhurst—as the dependable part of the plan.

Charging around park entrances

CA-140 through Mariposa and El Portal

This approach follows the Merced River into the park. A gateway charge before entering can provide flexibility if Yosemite Valley charging is busy.

CA-41 through Oakhurst and Wawona

South-entrance travelers can pair a gateway stop with Wawona charging. Think about the return direction so you do not leave the park with less energy than the onward drive requires.

CA-120 and Tuolumne travel

Seasonal road access matters. Tuolumne Meadows is far from the Valley, and Tioga Road conditions can change; confirm road status before planning a charger around this approach.

Road access and backup charging

Check road conditions before you leave. Closures or seasonal access changes can completely alter the charging plan and the distance between reliable stops.
Use Level 2 charging inside the park when it matches a long hike, meal or overnight stay rather than waiting beside the car for a slow session.
Save at least one gateway-town fast charger on the route you expect to use when leaving the park.
Do not count on cellular service everywhere. Save charger addresses and your return plan before entering remote areas.

Search Yosemite and gateway towns

Use Yosemite Valley, El Portal, Wawona, or Mariposa as the starting point for station results.

Yosemite Valley El Portal Wawona Mariposa

Check current Yosemite National Park conditions

Before a long or remote leg, use NPS Yosemite EV charging and Caltrans road conditions to verify current access and charging details.

Yosemite National Park: charging questions

What connector do Yosemite’s in-park chargers use?

The National Park Service says the charging stations within Yosemite use J1772 connectors. Drivers who need an adapter should have it ready before entering the park.

Can I rely on an in-park charger for the trip home?

It is better not to make one charging space your only plan. NPS warns that parking can be challenging during busy periods, including EV charging spaces.

Where should I charge before entering Yosemite?

That depends on the entrance. Search the gateway town on your route—such as Mariposa/El Portal for CA-140 or Oakhurst for CA-41—and compare it with your remaining range.

Related guides

Check the station before you go

Charging and parking costs: Compare the charging price with any separate parking or garage fee. Open the parking icon when shown for available fee and access details. Free charging does not necessarily mean free parking.
Restrooms and access: A restroom icon opens nearby OpenStreetMap information when available. Distance is approximate and straight-line; check access and hours on arrival. No icon means information may be missing, not that there is no restroom.
Recent driver reports: Check the report time. “Available” means at least one working port was reported free, not a live count of open ports. After charging, you can report availability or price to help other drivers and earn points when eligible.
Driver ratings and reviews: Open a charging station Details view to read driver ratings and written reviews when available. Signed-in drivers can leave a rating and optional comment; reviews describe past experiences, not live availability.

Plan a trip with charging stops How reports and badges work

You can save a trip after signing in, or share a public station link from its Details view without an account. Keep an alternative stop: reports and directory information can be out of date.

Find a charging stop

Start with Yosemite Valley or your entrance town, select your EV and save a backup charger before you lose time—or cellular service—inside the park.

Search chargers

Guide updated October 14, 2026. Local-source review: September 21, 2026. Charger details and access rules can change. Confirm time-sensitive information before a critical trip. Station data includes AFDC and OpenStreetMap; community reports are separate. Map data: OpenStreetMap.