Yes, Yosemite is open on Thanksgiving, and spending the holiday in a cabin inside the park is one of the loveliest ways to gather the people you love. The park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and in Wawona the long weekend settles into its own rhythm: a walk under the sequoias in the morning, a slow afternoon in the kitchen, and dinner for eight around one table while the forest goes dark outside.
My husband Drew and I made The Wildernest Yosemite for exactly this kind of gathering. Last Thanksgiving, we spent the holiday at the cabin with a former member of our cleaning crew who lives in the park. His family is abroad and he didn't have other plans, so we celebrated together. We're not a big turkey family, so we grilled steak, made a table full of Thanksgiving sides and desserts, and played poker with plenty of laughs. He wasn't able to stay on our team because of other commitments, but we're so thankful for his work. This time last year we were just getting the Wildernest started, and we're full of gratitude for the team that helped us get up and running.
Here's how to plan a Thanksgiving here, from what's open in the park to what to cook, what to bring and how to make the day feel like yours.
Is Yosemite good to visit during Thanksgiving?
Yes, if you plan for a busier weekend in a quiet month. November is one of Yosemite's calmest times of year, and Thanksgiving week is the one stretch when it fills again with families and friend groups. The Valley is the busiest part of the park that week, so go early in the day, and save the slower hours for Wawona, where the meadow and the Mariposa Grove feel much more peaceful.
Expect cool, changeable weather. Late November days in Wawona usually reach the low 50s and nights drop near freezing, and an early storm can bring rain or a dusting of snow. Our guide to Yosemite in November has the full picture on weather, snow and what's open.
- Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, 2026.
- The park is open all day, every day, including the holiday, according to the Park Service.
- The Mariposa Grove shuttle runs through November 30, weather permitting, so Thanksgiving weekend is one of your last chances to ride it this year. Check the Mariposa Grove page before you go.
- Carry tire chains. Chain controls can go up after any storm, so check current conditions before you drive in.
Hosting Thanksgiving for eight in a Yosemite cabin
The heart of a cabin Thanksgiving is the kitchen, and ours was made for long, shared meals. Here's what you'll find when you arrive:
- A full kitchen: a range with stovetop and oven, a roasting pan, pots, frying pans, baking sheets, sharp knives, a dishwasher, a blender, an Instant Pot and a Japanese rice cooker.
- A dining table for eight, with dinnerware and silverware for everyone, plus serving bowls and utensils.
- A five-burner propane grill on the deck, with grill tools, for anyone who wants to cook part of the meal outside.
- A stocked spice rack with rosemary, bay leaves, herbes de Provence, Italian seasoning and more, plus olive oil, avocado oil, salt and pepper.
- Five ways to make coffee and a Fellow electric kettle for tea with pie.
- Filtered drinking water on tap from a reverse-osmosis system, so no one needs to haul water bottles.
Should you roast a whole turkey at the cabin?
Yes, you can. The cabin has a full oven and a roasting pan, so a classic roast turkey is easy here. And if you're like us and not a big turkey family, the deck grill is perfect for steak, which leaves the oven free for sides and pies.
Whatever you choose, keep the menu simple enough that the cook gets to enjoy the day too. A few ideas that work well in a cabin kitchen:
- Divide the dishes. With eight people, give each household one dish to own: a side, a salad, the pies or the drinks.
- Make what you can ahead. Cranberry sauce, pie dough and stuffing bread travel well, and they free up the oven on the day.
- Use the grill. Roasted vegetables or a second protein on the deck grill leaves the oven for the main event.
- Keep breakfast easy. Bagels, fruit and good coffee on Thursday morning, so everyone can get outside before the cooking starts.
What to bring (and where to shop)
There are no big grocery stores inside the park, so plan to do one main shop on the way in. Oakhurst, about 40 minutes before the South Entrance, is the last town on Highway 41 and has large supermarkets and restaurants. In Wawona, the Pine Tree Market and the Wawona General Store are good for the forgotten-onion kind of emergency, not the full holiday shop. Holiday hours can change, so check ahead.
We provide aluminum foil and plastic wrap, so you can leave those at home. A few things worth packing:
- Napkins (cloth ones make the table feel special)
- A meat thermometer and any specialty tools you love, like a baster or a pie dish
- Your favorite coffee beans for the whole weekend
- A cooler for the drive, since the groceries will be in the car for a few hours
My one tip: bring your own containers for leftovers, so you can enjoy them all weekend and take some home.
Where can you have Thanksgiving dinner in Yosemite?
If you'd rather not cook, The Ahwahnee in Yosemite Valley serves a Thanksgiving dinner on November 26, 2026, from noon to 8 pm, with roast turkey, prime rib, carved ham, sides and desserts. Reservations are by phone at 888-413-8869, and the park's lodging concessioner lists current prices and details. The Wawona Hotel is closed, so there is no holiday dinner in Wawona itself this year. Oakhurst, the last town on Highway 41 before the South Entrance and about 50 minutes from the cabin, also has restaurants worth checking for a holiday meal. Call ahead, because Thanksgiving hours and reservations vary.
The Ahwahnee is about 40 to 45 minutes from the cabin, and the drive back to Wawona is very dark after sunset. Many groups do both: a special lunch or early dinner in the Valley, then pie and coffee back at the cabin.
Thanksgiving rituals for a cabin in the forest
The best part of a holiday here is how much slower it feels. A few ways to spend the long weekend:
- A morning walk before the cooking. The Wawona Meadow Loop is an easy 3.5 miles around the meadow, beautiful on a frosty morning, and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is about 10 minutes from the cabin.
- A gratitude round at the table. Go around and share what you're thankful for this year.
- Games after dinner. The cabin has board games and playing cards. Last year it was poker for us.
- The hot tub under the pines. After a big meal, a short soak in the forest hot tub with cold air on your face is hard to beat.
- Stars after dinner. November nights are long and often clear. Our guide to stargazing in Yosemite has the best spots nearby.
- A Friday in the Valley. Go early, stop at Tunnel View, and walk El Capitan Meadow while everyone else is sleeping in.
Spend Thanksgiving with us in Wawona
A Thanksgiving in the forest is quieter than the ones at home, and that's the point: more time at the table, more time outside, and fewer places anyone needs to be. If you'd like to gather here, The Wildernest Yosemite is a three-bedroom cabin in Wawona, inside the national park, with room for eight, a kitchen made for long dinners and a hot tub under the pines. Booking direct on our site is always the best rate, and we'd love to host your holiday.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yosemite open on Thanksgiving Day?
Yes. Yosemite National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including Thanksgiving, according to the National Park Service. Some high-elevation roads close for snow in November, so check current road conditions before you go.
Is Yosemite good to visit during Thanksgiving?
Yes, for a cozy holiday with cool weather and fall's last color. Thanksgiving week is busier than the rest of November, especially in Yosemite Valley, so start your days early and bring tire chains in case of snow.
Where can I have Thanksgiving dinner in Yosemite?
The Ahwahnee in Yosemite Valley serves a Thanksgiving dinner on November 26, 2026, from noon to 8 pm, with reservations by phone at 888-413-8869. The Wawona Hotel is closed, so many visitors staying in Wawona cook their own holiday meal or look for restaurant options in Oakhurst, the last town on Highway 41 before the South Entrance.
Can you cook Thanksgiving dinner in a Yosemite cabin?
Yes, if your cabin has a full kitchen. The Wildernest Yosemite in Wawona has an oven and range, a roasting pan, a deck grill and place settings for eight; plan to shop in Oakhurst on the way in, because there are no large grocery stores inside the park.
