MERCED – The YARTS 2024 summer service schedules to Yosemite National Park are now available to the public. Prospective passengers may make reservations on the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) for trips they plan to take during the summer months. Reservations are highly encouraged to ride YARTS as only a limited number of walk-on tickets are issued.
The seasonal service from Sonora and Groveland along west Highway 120 will commence on May 17th while the service from Mammoth Lakes along the Highway 395/120E corridor will not begin until July 1st. YARTS operates year-round coach service from Merced and Mariposa to Yosemite along Highway 140 but will transition to its expanded summer schedule on May 13th. Summer service along the Highway 41 corridor will originate in Oakhurst starting May 10th with a possibility of expanding service into the Fresno area as soon as June 1st pending the County of Fresno taking action to become a member of YARTS.
“YARTS is ready, willing and able to provide service from Fresno,” said Serenity Anderson, Transit Director. “We are optimistic about the new partnership with the Fresno community and the ability to link visitors to the central valley with a world-class national park, such as Yosemite.”
All YARTS buses are equipped with lavatories and both undercarriage and overhead storage for personal items. Reduced ticket prices are available for seniors, disabled passengers, veterans, and older children. Children under five are always free and each child between the ages of 6 and 12 years-old ride free if accompanied by a full-fare paying adult. Passengers riding into Yosemite on YARTS do not need a day-use pass issued by the National Park Service on days when one is required for those entering in private vehicles. For more information about YARTS schedules, fares, routes, to reserve tickets, or apply for free passes for Merced or Mariposa residents between April 20-27th, visit www.yarts.com or call (877) 989-2787.
YARTS is a California Joint Powers Authority comprised of Merced, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Madera and Mono Counties in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, National Park Service and United States Forest Service. The Merced County Association of Governments provides administrative services and operational support for YARTS.