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Destination Guides
Where To Stay
Reservations within the park for everything from campgrounds to the luxurious and historic Awahnee Lodge can, and probably should, be made as far as a full year in advance.
Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Village
There are seven hotels or lodges within the park itself. The most glamorous is the Awahnee. Right in Yosemite Village, this is truly a world-class hotel and a National Historical Landmark. The lovely Yosemite Lodge, built in 1915, was constructed largely of wood and glass to blend with its natural surroundings. The Lodge offers magnificent scenic views.
At the southern end of the park is the Wawona Hotel, which was built in 1879, and retains much of its 19th century charm. Curry Village also has a long history; it was built more than 100 years ago and maintains a distinct old-fashioned feel. The property offers unparalleled views. Best of all, its accommodations—from standard rooms to tent cabins—suit every budget.
Along the Merced River you will find Yosemite's well-known House Keeping Cabins. These cabins, with canvas roofs and walls and shared restrooms, feature direct access to the river and are hugely popular. Not only are they are relatively inexpensive, but they also offer the 'roughing it' element. Despite some modern amenities, the property is primitive, allowing guests to reflect on how conditions were for the Park's first visitors.
There are seven campgrounds in the Valley set up for just tents or both tents and recreational vehicles. All of these are located at the eastern end of the Valley, clustered on both sides of the Merced River. North Pines, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, Upper River and Lower River are for tent camping. The two walk-in camps, Sunnyside and Backpacker, are both designed to facilitate backpackers and climbers.
Tuolumne Meadows and the High Country
The Tuolumne Meadow Lodge offers tent cabins in the High country on the east side of the park, an area that many consider the most beautiful. Some people spend a week or more here, while others use the cabins as a staging point for backpacking trips. White Wolf Lodge, also in the high country, offers tent cabins along the Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River.
Outside the Park
Yosemite National Park is quite large—750,000 acres. The protected acres are contiguous to several different geographic regions of California. On the east, steep mountains plunging into the almost desert-like Mono Lake area and the Owens Valley. This side of the park is subject to more extremes in temperature as well as altitude, and, in winter is more likely to be snowed in.
On the east, in Lee Vining, accommodations span from the functional Murphy's Motel to the graceful Tioga Lodge nearby on Mono Lake. The glamorous Double Eagle Resort and Spa is not far away. On a creek in the June Lake area, it is the perfect spot for a conference or a wedding.
To the south and west you will find the Pines Resort and Conference Center near Oakhurst, also a good place for weddings. The Yosemite Trail Camp which offers cabins, RV and tent spaces in Midpines, boasts tons of activities for the whole family. The Hounds Tooth Inn is a sweet bed and breakfast with a Victorian flair just outside the Park entrance on Highway 41.
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Where To Stay
