Yosemite Hotels
All You Need To Know About Hotels In Yosemite.
Yosemite doesn’t have that many full-blown hotels; it’s mainly about lodges, cabins and camping here. There are only a few full service Yosemite hotels/lodges within the park boundaries and they generally fill up fast and are very expensive. Hotels in the surrounding towns and near the park entrances are often a better bet with straightforward commuting.
There are three main areas for hotels in Yosemite. Yosemite Valley is the epicenter and main draw to Yosemite National Park. It has all the allure, with huge waterfalls, excellent rock climbing, and Yosemite Village conveniences. You will not find many view-spoiling hotels here, though; it is mainly singular cabin rentals and camping. The second accommodation area is elsewhere in the park, while the gateway communities of El Portal, Mariposa, Lee Vining, Oakhurst, and Groveland provide cheaper options.
Hotels within Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Valley is the main hub for lodging and shopping and also has shuttle buses. Curry Village lies in view of Half Dome and Glacier Point and is the main hotel/lodge here. It has a range of standard motel rooms, cabins and canvas tents and can sleep over 600 people. Curry Village is in the thick of the action and also has a grocery store and outdoor shop although it doesn’t come cheap.
Lodgings at Curry Village include 18 motel-style rooms, 56 cabins with private baths, a cabin suite, and over 300 canvas tent cabins. There are also 14 cabins with shared bath houses nearby, along with 91 tent cabins.
Yosemite Lodge is another popular, yet expensive, Yosemite hotel in Yosemite Valley. It’s just half a mile from the Village and has motel-style rooms and restaurants. It is more popular with tour groups and is somewhat congested and boisterous.
Arguably one of the best Yosemite Hotels is Wawona. It is just four miles inside the park’s southern entrance and is a Victorian-style hotel amid stunning scenery. It is a fine looking hotel with excellent facilities, minus phones and TVs, and has much to see and do nearby. There is a nearby golf course, a museum, and the Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski Area is just 30 minutes away.
Hotels outside the park
There are many more Yosemite hotels outside the national park for those who absolutely must stay in a hotel and don’t like, or are not inclined, to spend huge amounts on in-situ hotels. One of the most popular hotel options near to Yosemite National Park is Yosemite Lodgings. It is just west of the park along California 120 and is a collection of historic hotels, inns, and cabin resorts. Yosemite Lodgings is not far from Big Oak Entrance.
Also in this region are vacation rentals at Yosemite West. There are many hotels and vacation rentals here as well as bed and breakfasts. Although not in the park, this area lies within the National Forest, 20 minutes or so from the Yosemite Valley.
Booking Yosemite hotels
Demand for hotels in Yosemite Valley in particular is very high and you need to book way in advance. This is especially so in late spring through summer and fall – May through September. Booking Yosemite hotels long before your vacation is the best bet for getting a better deal.
