Yosemite Visitors Center

Oakhurst Visitor Center
From Yosemite road conditions to  finding the perfect hotel, our friendly volunteers at the Visitor Center want to help. If you have any questions, call us at (559) 683-4636, or come by our office at 40637 Highway 41, Oakhurst, or our new location: The Fossil Discovery Center in Chowchilla.

Allow us to help you with the following:

• FREE Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau visitors guide
• Area brochures and restaurant menus
• Yosemite Park Ranger (seasonal)
• Local tips and favorite things to do
• FREE coffee, tea and water
• Road Conditions and weather forecasts
• US Forest Service Staff from April to October
  • Wilderness Permits
  • Wood cutting permits
  • Back-country conditions and permits
  • Detailed topographical maps, guides and brochures
• Yosemite Passes sold year round - save time at the gate
• 24 information kiosk and free direct dialing to lodging

Chowchilla Visitor Center at the Fossil Discovery Center
Madera County's newest attraction, the Fossil Discovery Center in Chowchilla is also the region's newest Visitor Center. Thanks to the excellent board at the Fossil Discovery Center, all the tourism information you seek about things to see and do in Madera County: California's Gateway to Yosemite is also available here. Stop by as you head down Highway 99. The Fossil Discovery Center is located at 19450 Ave. 21 1/2, Chowchilla, CA.

U.S. Forest Service staff on site at the Oakhurst Visitor Center from April to October to help those needing Wilderness Permits and wood cutting permits. They can also advise of the latest backcountry conditions for backpackers. Detailed topographical maps, hiking guides and brochures are also available.

Yosemite National Park is providing a ranger throughout the Summer to assist in Yosemite specific questions.

If you come in after hours, you can access local tourism information and lodging at our 24-hr. Information Kiosk.

Lobby hours:
Winter: Monday – Saturday 9 am – 4:30 p.m.
Summer: Monday - Saturday 8:30 am - 5 pm
Sunday 9 am - 1 pm
Call us any time from anywhere at 559-683-INFO (4636).

Our guests are some of the most interesting and fun people!

We like to share our guests with you, and let them share their vacation photos with their friends. From time to time, we'll add some photos from some of our guests who are traveling through Madera County: California's Gateway to Yosemite.

Orcutt Presbyterian Church High School Youth Group who dopped by to get some tips for their Bass Lake scavenger hunt.

Our newest Jr, Rangers, Porter, Kyah and their mom Tami from Utah.

Mark and Emma Potter of England, who were enjoying California's Gateway to Yosemite for their Honeymoon.

Eden - From Israel

Éabha, Isabelle and Aimee, visiting all the way from Ireland, were making friends with the stuffed animals from our gift shop.

The Diwan family, from outside of Dallas, Texas.

Mo Angeles Leal and Joaquin Sanchez-Barroso from Madrid, Spain, get ideas from Visitor Center Manager Judi Hussain. Judi speaks fluent Spanish, and we have volunteers and staff who also speak German, French and Russian.