There are a number of choices of accommodations in the Yosemite area; this page will discuss some of the most common ones. This page will discuss hotel-type accommodations only, not camping facilities, as they require a different type of reservation.

Staying within Yosemite National Park

In general, it is best to start your search for a place to stay within the park itself. There are a few reasons for this: you will have the convenience of being close to the "action", which allows you to make the most of your time in the park (especially if your time is limited) and it is better for the "health" of the park itself. Day travel in and out of the park creates congestion and pollution, and the day may even come when personal vehicles will no longer be allowed in Yosemite Valley. Of course, perhaps the best reason to stay there is the special magic that happens when you wake up in the valley to the sight of the rising sun reflected on the sheer granite cliffs all around you. 

However, Yosemite is one of the most popular National Parks in the world, and you aren't the only one hoping to stay within the park, so  it's advisable to try to get your reservations as soon as possible, especially from May through August, the busiest months. Reservations for DNC (Delaware North Corp.) accomadations who can be made through yosemitepark.com or at (801) 559-4884. Be aware that their actual offices are in Fresno, not within the park itself.  At the website you can get a virtual tour of most of the accommodations that are available, but the following is a brief description, starting at the priciest and most luxurious, and then working down the economic scale:

NOTE: If at first you don't succeed: Because people book their Yosemite holiday a year in advance, there are often cancellations. So try, try again!

Staying in the Valley: yosemitepark.com or at (801) 559-4884.

1) The Ahwahnee Hotel: An historic lodge built in the early 1900's so that royalty and the well-to-do would have a comfortable place to stay. (Indeed, the Queen of England did stay there in the 1980's.)  The standard rooms are small as they were built before the time when hotel rooms were expected to have closets and restrooms. There are a number of luxury suites as well, and seperate cottages on the grounds. The facilities include a heated swimming pool, beautifully appointed Dining Room (with dress code) and a pub, as well as a Great Room with a large fireplace. A once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.

2) The Yosemite Lodge at the Falls: This is more of a standard hotel experience, albeit with something no other hotel in the world has: a view of Yosemite Falls outside your window or deck (in many rooms.) The hotel is actually a cluster of 2 story buildings that are nicely appointed, although there is no AC or elevators. There are larger family rooms available as well. This is a comfortable place to stay, although you may be expecting more of a full-service, high end hotel for the price...but remember the old adage: location, location, location. And this place has the best location of all in Yosemite. Within the lodge's "campus" are a very nice restaurant (the Mountain Room), a bar, a cafeteria, a number of shops, bike rentals, a rather basic but large swimming pool, an ice cream vendor (in the summer), and the starting point for the tours of the park. There are also evening ranger programs in the center of the campus.

3) Curry Village: Curry Village is actually the only remaining guest facility with ties to the Curry Family who created the first accommodations in Yosemite Valley in the mid-1800's. There is still a gate there that says "Welcome" one side and "Farewell" on the other, that used to greet visitors 100 years ago. Curry has 3 levels of accommodations, each less expensive than the last: Hard-sided cabins with bath, cabins without bath, and tent cabins. The hard-sided cabins are rustic but very comfortable, with motel-like furnishings. The tent cabins are the most prolific type of accommodation within the valley, and are built on a raised wooden platform with a fully functioning and lockable front door, windows and electricity. Inside are twin beds with linens. While comfortable, they are situated close together so noise pollution can be an issue. Both the regular cabins without bath and the tent cabins are serviced by large, clean restroom and shower facitilities that are located throughout the village. Since they have canvas sides, no food is allowed in the tent cabins because of the possibilty of animal break-ins.  The village itself is well equipped with many places to eat, bike rentals, a store, and a central "meeting house" with fireplace. There are ranger programs in the evening in the outdoor amphitheatre.

4) Housekeeping Camp: The accomodations at Housekeeping are one step above tent camping. You will have a 3- sided shelter made of concrete with a roof and a fourth wall with a curtain. Inside are beds with linens included. Outside you will have a deck area with a picnic table and an open BBQ pit. You will also have an adjacent food locker. Bathrooms and showers are in central buildings. This is the only non-camping facility in the park where you can do your own cooking.

DNC Lodging Outside the Valley, still inside the park (inside the entrance gates)

1) The Wawona Hotel: This is the most historic lodging facility in the park. The original hotel building dates back to the late 1800's. It is located close to the southern entrance to the park on 41, and close to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. It now includes a cluster of buildings, all with an historic feel. Some rooms have baths, some do not. The rooms in the main building tend to be smaller and have shared bathrooms. The rooms are decorated in a Victorian style and the experience of staying here is very similar to staying in a bed and breakfast. There is a parlor in the main building which often has live entertainment in the evenings, and an excellent dining room. There is also an outdoor swimming pool open in the summer, and for golfers, the Wawona has the only golf course within a National Park. Plan on about a 45- 60 minute drive from the Wawona to Yosemite Valley. DNC also handles their reservations: yosemitepark.com or at (559) 253-5635.

2) Tuolumne Meadows: in the summer when Tioga Pass is open, there are tent cabin facilities similar to those at Curry VIllage available at Tuolumne Meadows on 120, close to the eastern entrance to the park. There are bathroom facilites, a store, and food vendors available. TM is the starting point for many high country/ backcountry hikes, including the High Sierra Loop. Reservations are also handled by DNC: yosemitepark.com or at (801) 559-4884.

3) White Wolf: This is a smaller cluster of tent cabins located on the Tioga Road/120,  but at a lower elevation and closer to Big Oak Flat Road. There is a small store and a dining facility there. This is a good choice for anyone seeking a more isolated, less crowded stay. White Wolf is about midway between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows; reservations also at  yosemitepark.com or at (801) 559-4884.

4) High Sierra Camps: Overnight accommodations in Yosemite at the High Sierra Camps includes full dinner and breakfast, served up family-style in cozy dining tents. Box lunches for the next day on the trail are available at an additional cost and may be ordered the night before departure. All lodging is in canvas tent cabins with dormitory-style steel frame beds with mattresses, pillows, woolen blankets or comforters. Reservations are also handled by DNC: yosemitepark.com or at (801) 559-4884.

Lodging Outside the Valley , still inside the park (inside the entrance gates)

Condo and house rentals: These are the only accomodations within the park that are not handled by DNC. There are clusters of homes and condos for rent at three locations within the park: Wawona (the southern entrance near 41, 28 miles from Yosemite Valley),  near the intersection of Glacier Point Road and Hwy 41 at Yosemite West (about 20 minutes from the valley and close to Badger Pass) and in Foresta (near the western/central entrance on 120 and 10 miles from Yosemite Valley.) These are good choices for longer stays or those with a large family or group and offer more privacy and options. Each facility is unique, so if you are interested in this kind of stay it would be wise to check the trip advisor forums for ratings and descriptions of individual units.

1) Wawona is loacted at the southern entrance gate on Hwy 41 to Fresno. Plan on about a 45- 60 minute drive from Wawona to Yosemite Valley. These sites offer lodging in Wawona:   Redwoods,   Yosemite Vacation Rentals

2) Yosemite West is also on Hwy 41 and about 16 miles from Yosemite Valley. Offering nice homes in a forest setting at 6,000' and only 7 miles from Badger Pass Ski Area. Some good bets are Scenic Wonders and Yosemite West. Com

3) Foresta offers vacation homes in a quite setting and several have views of Half Dome and El Capitan. Located on Hwy 120 and about 10 miles from Yosemite Valley.   Yosemite Vacation Homes offers homes in Foresta. 

4) Additional resources can be found at  or www.aboutyosemite.com and a interactive map at Yosemite Area Lodging

Outside the Park:

Each of the routes to the main entrances to the park have areas where there are hotels and lodges; some are closer to the valley than others. The following list will offer some places and recommendations for each of the main roads into the park, with accomodations listed from those that are closest to those that are farthest. 

Hint: many of these accommodations can be found in websites such as www.staynearyosemite.com, www.yosemitefun.com, and www.aboutyosemite.com.

Hwy 140 to Arch Rock entrance: 

El Portal: The closest accommodations to Yosemite Valley that are not within park boundaries are in a small hamlet known as El Portal. There are two motel/hotels there are the Yosemite View Lodge and the Cedar Lodge. These are located alongside the Merced River, about 15 minutes from the Arch Rock entrance. They have restaurants and there is a (very expensive) gas station located there as well.

Farther away is a rustic lodge called the Yosemite Bug.

Mariposa: The nearest large town to Yosemite on 140 is the gold rush era town of Mariposa. There are a number of chain motels, bed and breakfasts and restaurants in the Mariposa area. Count on about a 45 minute drive from Mariposa to the Arch Rock entrance. www.homeofyosemite.com is the website of the Mariposa County Visitor's Bureau for more detailed hotel information.

Hwy 120 to Big Oak Flat entrance:

Most of the places to stay along this stretch of 120 can be found at www.StayNearYosemite.com .

The closest accomodation to this end of the park is the Evergreen Lodge, which is actually just off 120 on the way to the Hetch-Hetchy entrance. The Evergreen is a lodge and camping facility that caters to families, and has a restaurant on the premisies. It offers a more rustic expereince, with evening programs offered in lieu of television or cable entertainment.

Groveland/ Buck Meadows: The next actual town along 120 is Groveland, although any place in the greater area will have a Groveland address. Groveland is also a gold-rush era town and boasts one of the oldest continuously operating bars in the state, the Iron Door Saloon (now also a family friendly restaurant.) This area does not have larger chain motels, although the Yosemite Westgate Inn in Buck Meadows is similar in facilities. However, there are a large number of B&B's, including the historic Groveland Hotel and Hotel Charlotte, as well as vacation rentals and RV faclilties. The Yosemite Lakes compound has places to rent, including yurts (see www.stayatyosemite.com)

Count on about a 30 minute drive from Groveland itself to the park entrance, then another 45 minutes to the valley floor or 1 1/2 hours to Tuolumne Meadows. Since many accommodations are listed as "Groveland", check to see if they are closer or farther to the entrance than the town of Groveland itself.

Hwy 41 to Southern Entrance:

Fish Camp: The area known as Fish Camp is just minutes away from the southern gate, and a few more minutes to either the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias or Wawona. Count on another 45 or 50 minutes to reach the entrance to the valley. Fish Camp offers the largest full service hotel in or near the park: The Tenaya Lodge. There are restaurants, a pool and all amenities available here year round. In the winter there is also a snow park nearby. Other facilities in Fish Camp include the only bed and breakfast, Big Creek Inn, as well as the Narrow Guage Inn and the Apple Tree Inn.

Oakhurst /Bass Lake: About 1/2 hour from the southern gate is the town of Oakhurst. a good website for this area is www.historichwy49.com/oakhurst/oak.html. There are many hotels, chain motels and B &B's in this area, as well as a full range of restaurants from fine dining to fast food. The Bass Lake area, about 10 minutes out of town, has vacation rental homes and a small village with restaurants, a market, and boat rentals. www.basslakerealty.com can get you more information about rentals in this area.