Where to Stay in Yosemite | Areas + Lodging + Map |

Where to stay inside Yosemite

One option is to stay inside the national park in order to be very close to the best things to do in Yosemite. Here you're going to find several types of accommodation: hotels, lodges, cabins, tents, campgrounds..., but the availability is limited. Staying here has several advantages and disadvantages:

• Advantages of staying inside Yosemite Park
  • ✅Best location
  • ✅More time exploring the park and less time driving
  • ✅More likely to be able to start your visits soon, when visitors haven't yet arrived
  • ✅To avoid the queues at the gates during peak season
• Disadvantages of staying inside Yosemite Park
  • ❌High hotel prices and quality isn't very high
  • ❌High demand means you have to book months in advance. In the case of campgrounds, spots tend to fly when they become available
  • ❌There's usually no cell service inside the park (ideal for get away from it all, but if you need it for some reason, it's not the best option)
  • ❌Fewer services: restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, pharmacies, etc.

If you've already decided that you would like to stay inside the park or simply want to know what prices we're talking about, these are the best places to stay inside Yosemite:

The Ahwahnee

The Ahwahnee, formerly known as The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, is a historic hotel that opened its doors in 1927 and is the only luxury accommodation in the park. Its location in Yosemite Valley is exceptional with views of Half Dome, and its interior, with high-ceilinged rooms, fireplaces, stained glass windows, and antique furniture, is spectacular. As you can imagine, the price is high, around $600-$700/night.

You can check availability and price for your dates here, as well as view photos, although it's true that the rooms are a little old-fashioned. If you're interested, even if you aren't staying here, you can visit the interior and have breakfast, lunch, or dinner in their restaurant (reservations are recommended).

Yosemite Valley Lodge

This lodge is the most popular place to stay in Yosemite Valley, as it's not as expensive as the previous one and also has a spectacular location next to Yosemite Falls. In addition, it has a swimming pool and many rooms for families and groups, and its own stop for the free shuttle bus service, so you won't have to worry about using your car.

You can check availability and prices here, which are usually around $370/night. The rooms are spacious and have everything you need, but it's true that some renovation work is needed.

Curry Village

Curry Village is also located in Yosemite Valley, but on the other side of the Merced River and at the foot of Glacier Point. There're different types of accommodations here: log cabins, canvas tents (some with electricity and heating), and normal rooms.

💡Recommended: The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Yosemite | Info + Tips + Maps |

This is the cheapest place to stay in Yosemite Valley (apart from campgrounds), with rates around $150-$170/night, so it tends to sell out quickly. Check out availability and prices here and see if you're lucky enough to find a spot! A similar option is Housekeeping Camp, a fairly basic (but even more economical) alternative, as the tents have curtains instead of doors.

White Wolf Lodge & Tuolumne Meadows Lodge

Located in the Tioga Road area (north of the park), these lodges consist of canvas tents and wooden cabins. They are perfect for hikers who want to go hiking in the area, such as to Harden and Lukens Lakes or those around Tuolumne Meadows.

They're only open in summer, as they depend on the opening of Tioga Road, and are ideal if you want to be in a quiet setting without the crowds of Yosemite Valley.

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Accommodation in Wawona

Next to the south entrance and inside the national park is the small town of Wawona, known for being home to the Wawona Hotel, a historic Victorian lodge dating back to 1856, which is currently closed for renovations.

Wawona is a perfect place to stay if you want to visit the sequoias in Mariposa Grove, or if you're connecting Yosemite with places south of the park, such as Sequoia National Park, Fresno, or Los Angeles. It's also located 1 hour from the heart of Yosemite Valley.

The typical accommodation here is beautiful wooden cabins, ideal for groups or families as they usually have several rooms (they can be a little expensive for couples). You can find all the lodging options in Wawona here, but we recommend:

• Yosemite Cabin
• 55 Deer Creek (minimum 2 nights)
• 24 Wawona Cabin (minimum 2 nights)

Campgrounds inside Yosemite

If you're visiting Yosemite with a rental RV, camping in Yosemite is the cheapest way to stay within the national park. Yosemite has a total of 13 campgrounds, most of which have restrooms (no showers) and sites with tables and fire pits. Some only have space for tents, while others also accept campers and RVs, but a maximum of two vehicles and six people are always allowed per site.

The vast majority of campgrounds are only open in summer, with only four open year-round: Upper Pinnes, Camp 4, Wawona, and Hodgdon Meadow.

From April to October, all campgrounds are subject to a reservation system through the Recreation.gov app. If you're visiting in late fall, winter, or early spring, three of the four open campgrounds (Camp 4, Wawona, and Hodgdon Meadow) operate on a first-come, first-served basis, which means that spots are filled in order of arrival.

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The spots are opened depending on the campground, as it can be 5 months, 2 months, 2 weeks, or 1 week in advance. Once they're available, they tend to go quickly, so we recommend creating your profile on Recreation.gov in advance and practicing with the app to familiarize yourself with it.

In this table of campgrounds in Yosemite, you can see all of them, where they're located within the national park, when they're open, when reservations open, and the cost. For those that must be reserved 5 and 2 months in advance, reservations open on the 15th at 7 a.m. PT (Pacific Time), i.e., California time. Here are a couple of examples to help you understand:

• Camping with reservations 5 months in advance: for stays between August 15 and September 14, spots will be available on April 15 at 7 a.m. PT.
• Camping with reservations 2 months in advance: for stays between August 15 and September 14, spots will be available on July 15 at 7 a.m. PT.

Another alternative is High Sierra Camps, camps in the heart of nature that can only be reached on foot and offer both accommodation and meals. There're a total of five camps distributed along a loop trail, so you can connect one with another and go on a multi-day trek, sleeping each night in a different camp (you can also do separate stages). Reservations are made by lottery, you can find all the information here.

Where to stay near Yosemite

There are several places to stay near Yosemite National Park, depending on the area you want to enter and/or exit the park from. In our guide to visiting Yosemite you'll find all the information you need about access gates to the park.

Staying outside Yosemite has several advantages and disadvantages:

• Advantages of staying near Yosemite Park
  • ✅More affordable price
  • ✅Greater availability and variety of accommodations
  • ✅More services: restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, pharmacies, etc.
  • ✅More peace and quite, as the park is usually very crowded
• Disadvantages of staying near Yosemite Park
  • ❌More driving time
  • ❌Possible queues at the gates, so it's best to get there very early in high season
  • ❌Less flexibility at the end of the day (e.g., if you want to stay during sunset, it'll be dark by the time you return).

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Where to stay in Western Yosemite

To access Yosemite from the west side, there're two gates: Arch Rock and Big Oak Flat. Both are used to connect Yosemite with San Francisco and the Bay Area, so it's ideal to choose accommodation around here if your USA West Coast trip takes you from San Francisco to Yosemite or vice versa. If you aren't planning to visit Mariposa Grove, you can also use the Arch Rock Entrance to connect with Sequoia National Park.

Accommodation near the Arch Rock Entrance

From our point of view, this is the best place to stay close to Yosemite because of its proximity to Yosemite Valley. Here you can choose several places:

• El Portal: community on the banks of the Merced River and 5 km (3 mi) from the entrance. It's not a town as such, but rather lacks an urban center and therefore there are hardly any services such as restaurants and supermarkets.
  • Yosemite View Lodge: the best accommodation in this area. It has spacious rooms and apartments, as well as a swimming pool. Breakfast can be included if desired. Book here.
  • Cedar Lodge: a little further from the entrance. It has rooms (some older and some newly remodeled), apartments, and a swimming pool. Book it here.

• Mariposa: a charming town that emerged during the Gold Rush, so it still has historic buildings. It's located 52 km (32 mi) from the entrance and has restaurants, shops, a gas station, and a health center.
  • Minners Inn: a decent hotel, but a little old-fashioned. It has a swimming pool and a fairly comprehensive breakfast is included in the price. Book it here.
  • Best Western Yosemite Way Station: a slightly more modern alternative to the previous option, it also includes breakfast but doesn't have a swimming pool. Book it here.

Accommodation near Big Oak Flat Entrance

This entrance, located further north than the previous one, allows you to access Yosemite Valley (though not as directly as Arch Rock) and also connects to Tioga Road when it's open in summer. If you prefer to stay near this gate, it's best to choose one of the towns located on Highway 120, such as:

• Buck Meadows: small community located 22 km (14 mi) from the entrance, right off the highway. Like El Portal, it has very few services.
  • Yosemite Westgate Lodge: this is definitely the hotel we would choose here. It's in a quiet setting, with spacious, modern rooms and a swimming pool. The downside is that it doesn't offer breakfast, but there is a cafe nearby. Book it here.
• Groveland: this town is located 44 km (27 mi) from the gate and was also established during the Gold Rush. Here you will find restaurants, historic buildings such as the iconic Iron Door Saloon, gas stations, and shops.
  • The Groveland Hotel: the best hotel in the area, with spacious and cool rooms. It has its own restaurant and bar, with a very pleasant terrace. Book it here.
  • Yosemite International Hostel: this is the cheapest hotel around Yosemite, with private rooms with shared bathrooms and shared rooms. Book it here.

Where to stay in Southern Yosemite

Staying near the South Entrance is ideal for being close to Mariposa Grove and connecting Yosemite with cities such as Los Angeles and Fresno, as well as with Sequoia National Park. Here are two interesting places to stay overnight:

• Fish Camp: the closest option to the entrance, located just 5 km (3 mi) away. It's a small mountain town surrounded by the Sierra National Forest, so tranquility is guaranteed. Here you'll find the Fish Camp General Store, a historic shop where you can buy basic items, as well as a restaurant.
  • Tenaya at Yosemite: this is the best hotel in Yosemite Southgate and one of the most spectacular around. They have both standard rooms and small cabins, a restaurant, and several swimming pools. Book it here.
  • Some people rent entire houses here, which are ideal for large families or groups. They usually require a minimum stay of two nights. Examples include Yosemite Silvertrip Lodge and Big Creek Inn.

• Oakhurst: this town, located 26 km (16 mi) from the entrance, offers the most comprehensive range of services, as well as more affordable hotels than Fish Camp. Here you'll find a variety of restaurants, hotel chains, supermarkets, gas stations, as well as lakes and hiking trails.
  • Yosemite Southgate Hotel: hotel with good facilities and spacious rooms, with a swimming pool and jacuzzi. Breakfast is included in the price. Book it here.
  • Best Western Yosemite Gateway: hotel with good facilities, indoor and outdoor pool, restaurant, and breakfast included. Book it here.

Where to stay in Eastern Yosemite

The only access to Yosemite from the east is via Tioga Road, a road that is only open from June to October approximately (the dates vary each year depending on weather conditions). Staying here is ideal for connecting Yosemite with Death Valley, Mojave, and Las Vegas, but it only makes sense when the road is open. There are two places we recommend in this area:

• Lee Vining: little town located at the eastern end of Tioga Road and 21 km (13 mi) from the Tioga Pass Entrance. It offers beautiful views of Mono Lake and has everything you need for a simple stay (restaurants, gas station, and small shops), although there aren't many hotels to choose from.
  • Murphey's Motel: simple but adequate motel with spacious rooms, but breakfast isn't included. Book it here.
• Mammoth Lakes: a mountain town surrounded by alpine lakes and 65 km (40 mi) from the gate. It's highly developed for tourism, partly due to its ski resort. There're many hotels, restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and a lively atmosphere all year round.
  • Holiday Haus: hotel with slightly outdated facilities, but offering large rooms and studios with kitchens. Book it here.
  • Alpenhof Lodge: a more modern alternative, with good rooms, an outdoor pool, and an indoor jacuzzi. Book it here.

Map of places to stay in Yosemite

All the areas we've mentioned throughout this post, as well as the hoteles and campgrounds, can be found on this map:

We hope we've helped you choose your place for sleeping in Yosemite! Tell us in the comments where you're going to stay 😊