We have booked for Mid-October (13th - 15th) in the Half Dome Village. I have some worries - we have read online that there can be snow in October and that tire chains may be required (by law?) to travel?
As someone from the UK I have no experience of tire chains whatsoever - and we plan on renting the car so I am unsure if we would be allowed to use them. What's unclear to me is if being in possession of chains is required even if the weather conditions are okay, the tire chain requirements (https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tirechains.htm) refer to "designated chain control areas" and states "You must have tire chains or cables in your possession when entering a designated chain control area". Are there designated areas heading into Half Dome Village all year round or just when storms hit?
Our trip is a 3 week one starting September 28th in Vegas, onto LA then San Fran, Yosemite being near the end of the trip. Would it be wiser to flip it and make Yosemite closer to the start of the trip, 1st/2nd October? Or would the difference in weather be negligible? (We can cancel with full refund and rebook).
Any advice would be much appreciated.