Places to Stay at Yosemite
Information on all the different palces to stay at Yosemite National Park and nearby areas in Yosemite Valley.
There are all types of places to stay at Yosemite, both within Yosemite Valley and in other areas of the park. The two main regions are Yosemite Village, which lies roughly in the center of the park at Yosemite Valley, and the High Sierra region in the north of the park. Other popular areas are Wawona in the south near the Badger Pass ski area and Foresta toward the west.
Accommodation options in Yosemite include hotels, lodges, cabins, and campsites. Most places are overseen by the National Park Service (NPS) and can be booked through them, while there are also many independent operations that have cabin and lodge vacation rentals. Demand for accommodation in Yosemite is extremely high for most of the year and in particular between May and September.
Main areas to stay in Yosemite
Yosemite Valley: The main accommodation base is in the center of the park which contains Yosemite Village. The most popular places to stay here are the Ahwahnee Hotel, the top hotel in Yosemite; the equally impressive Yosemite Lodge at the Falls; and the two main camping areas of Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp. Most of the facilities are in Yosemite Village, which comes with shops, restaurants and the park headquarters.
Foresta: This pretty area is popular with vacation homes and has a nice tranquil setting after the general din of Yosemite Valley. It is located on a quiet road south of Highway 120, about 10 miles west of Yosemite Valley, and has good views of Half Dome and El Capitan.
Yosemite West: This area is located on Highway 41, around 16 miles west of Yosemite Valley and seven miles from Badger Pass, and comes with nice cabins and lodges in a forest setting. Altitude is around 6,000 feet.
Glacier Point and Badger Pass: They have the best views of Yosemite Valley, where the iconic Half Dome is. It is near the Badger Pass ski area and around 1 hour by road from Yosemite Village. Part of the road closes off in the winter but there are many types of lodging here to stay at in the summer.
Wawona: Located just within the southern entrance gate of Yosemite National Park and on Highway 41, Wawona is an hour from Yosemite Valley and is one of the most popular places to stay at Yosemite. It is best known for the historic Wawona Hotel on the accommodation front, is well within reach of the Badger Pass ski area, and is accessible by car year-round.
Mariposa Grove: Even closer to the southern entrance and south again of Wawona, this area features a huge stand of giant sequoias (Sierra redwoods) and comes with some choice accommodation consisting of independent lodges and cabins. Mariposa Grove is often closed in the winter (November through March).
Crane Flat: A nice forested/meadow area 16 miles from Yosemite Valley and on the way to High Sierra. It is open year round and is most popular with hikers owing to the pleasant terrain and groves of sequoias.
Tuolumne Meadows: The main settlement up in the north of the park in High Sierra country, Tuolumne Meadows lies on the Tioga Road (Highway 120) and is generally only open June through November. It is most popular with hikers and horseback riders and is right in the wilderness at high altitude. It is mainly campsites and tent cabins here.
Accommodation outside Yosemite
There are also many places to stay at Yosemite on all routes into the park. Highways 120, 140, and 41 serve from east and west, from the west, and from the south respectively and they all have accommodation options. The communities of Groveland, Mammoth Lakes, El Portal, Mariposa, Fish Camp, and Oakhurst are worthy places to stay.
