Yosemite Hotels and Lodges: Where to Stay in and Around the Park
The short answer is simple: if you can get a reservation inside the park, take it. Sleeping beneath El Capitan changes a Yosemite trip. If the lodges are full, as they often are from May through September, gateway towns to the west can get you to the valley in under 30 minutes. Lodging is genuinely competitive; our complete Yosemite guide will help you plan the rest.
Park lodges and gateway towns (0)
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Inside the Park or Outside?
For a fuller comparison, our Yosemite lodging guide weighs immersion against price flexibility. In short, lodges inside the park offer an unmatched experience, but they book up months ahead and remain expensive. Gateway towns give you more flexibility on both price and availability.
Lodges and Hotels Inside Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Hospitality, an Aramark company, operates all lodging inside the park as its sole authorized concessioner. Reservations open 366 days in advance, and peak-season weekends sell out within minutes.
The Ahwahnee
Built in 1927 and designated a National Historic Landmark, The Ahwahnee is Yosemite's signature hotel. It overlooks the valley floor with Half Dome across the way, offering about a hundred rooms and granite-and-redwood cottages. The grand dining room, with its 36-foot beams, is worth a restaurant reservation on its own, even if you're not staying there. Rates start at around $500 per night in the off-season and can exceed $900 in July. You come here for the experience, not the savings.
Yosemite Valley Lodge
With more than 200 rooms just steps from Yosemite Falls, Yosemite Valley Lodge is the valley's accessible comfort option. Its style is contemporary and functional, without The Ahwahnee's grandeur. Rates range from $200 to $400, depending on the season. The Falls restaurant and bar serves decent meals after a long day on the trails.
Half Dome Village
Formerly Curry Village, Half Dome Village is the most affordable option in the valley. Accommodations range from tent cabins, with canvas walls, shared showers, and rates starting at $80, to wooden cabins with bathrooms for around $150, plus a few solid-walled rooms costing up to $200. The atmosphere feels like an organized camp; views of Glacier Point from the property more than make up for the spartan entry-level accommodations.
Wawona Hotel
At the park's southern end, about 19 miles from the valley via Highway 41, Wawona Hotel has welcomed guests since 1879. It's one of California's oldest resort hotels and is also a National Historic Landmark. Its 104 rooms, some without private bathrooms, have retained their Victorian character. It's a good fit for visitors entering from the south who want to avoid the valley's bustle, and it makes a natural base for visiting Mariposa Grove, the park's largest stand of giant sequoias.
White Wolf Lodge and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge
Open only in summer, roughly from mid-June to mid-September, these two seasonal lodges sit along Tioga Road above 8,200 feet. White Wolf Lodge has four cabins with bathrooms and 24 tent cabins. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge has 69 tent cabins in a striking alpine setting. Both are rustic, with no electricity in the accommodations. They fill up very early and suit hikers who want to explore the High Sierra by heading out at dawn without having to spend an hour on the road first.
Where to Stay Around Yosemite: Gateway Towns
When the park is full or out of budget, gateway towns take over. Most lodging is west of the park, with access via Highways 140, 41, and 120.
El Portal (Highway 140)
El Portal is the last community before the park's western boundary. About 9 miles from the valley, it's the closest option outside the park. Cedar Lodge and Yosemite View Lodge offer several hundred rooms between them, ranging from $150 to $350. The Merced River runs alongside the highway, making the morning drive into the park pleasant.
Mariposa (Highway 140)
About 34 miles from the valley, Mariposa offers a wider selection of hotels, motels, and B&Bs for every budget, generally at lower prices than El Portal. The town also has several decent restaurants. Plan on a 45- to 60-minute drive to the Arch Rock entrance.
Groveland (Highway 120)
On Highway 120 north, by Big Oak Flat Entrance, Groveland has about a dozen properties, including the Groveland Hotel in an 1849 building. The park's northern entrance is about 45 minutes away. It's the logical base for reaching Tuolumne Meadows or Hetch Hetchy.
Oakhurst and Fish Camp (Highway 41)
To the south, Oakhurst is the most developed hotel hub around the park, with about 20 properties ranging from budget motels to chain hotels. Fish Camp, 3 miles from the South Entrance, is home to Tenaya Lodge, a resort with a spa, pool, and on-site restaurants. It's the premier comfortable option outside the park, especially for families who want amenities without depending on the park shuttle.
Lee Vining (East Side, Summer Only)
Lee Vining, on Highway 395, provides access to Tioga Pass about 9 miles away. Keep in mind that the park's east entrance remains closed from November through May or June, making this strictly a summer option. Lodging is limited, including Tioga Lodge, Murphey's Motel, and a few others; book several months ahead because demand outstrips supply as early as June. Mono Lake is an added bonus.
How Many Nights Should You Plan for Yosemite?
Two nights is the minimum for seeing the valley without rushing. Three nights lets you add Glacier Point or Mariposa Grove. Five nights or more opens up Tuolumne Meadows and the High Sierra trails. Our Yosemite itinerary guide lays out suggested sequences for different types of trips.
When to Book and What to Expect to Pay
Lodging inside the park can be booked 366 days ahead on the official Yosemite Hospitality website. Set an alarm: the best dates go within minutes of opening. For gateway towns, booking six months ahead is sensible during peak season, from June through August and on spring weekends. Rates peak between June and August. October and November offer a good compromise, with fewer visitors, fall colors, and more reasonable prices. Our guide to the best times to visit Yosemite covers seasonal price changes and the budget trade-offs month by month.
Our Recommendations by Traveler Profile
Total immersion: The Ahwahnee or Yosemite Valley Lodge. Book a year ahead and be ready when reservations open.
Best balance of experience and value: A wooden cabin at Half Dome Village puts you in the valley without draining your bank account.
Families with kids: Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, for the on-site amenities and the South Entrance just 3 miles away without shuttle logistics.
Tight budget, west-side access: Mariposa or Groveland, depending on your primary entrance. The lodges inside the park can wait for your next trip.
Alpine hikers in summer: Tuolumne Meadows Lodge or White Wolf Lodge, so you can head out at dawn at elevation on the High Sierra trails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should you stay inside Yosemite National Park?
Yosemite has six lodging properties operated by Yosemite Hospitality: The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, and Half Dome Village in the valley; Wawona Hotel to the south; and White Wolf Lodge and Tuolumne Meadows Lodge at higher elevations, open in summer only. All can be booked through the official website, ideally 366 days before your desired date.
Where do most visitors stay when they visit Yosemite?
Most visitors stay outside the park, in gateway towns along Highways 140, 41, and 120. Lodges inside the park have limited capacity and fill up months ahead. El Portal, 9 miles from the valley, is the closest alternative outside the park.
What's the best time to visit Yosemite?
May through September gives you access to the entire park, including Tioga Road. It's also the busiest period, with lodging rates peaking in July and August. For seasonal price changes and practical trade-offs, our When to Go page is the best place to start.
What does Yosemite mean?
The name comes from the language of the Ahwahnechee, an Indigenous people who lived in the valley. The exact translation is debated; one common interpretation is "those who kill them," a reference to this people's reputation as warriors in the eyes of neighboring tribes. American soldiers who entered the valley in 1851 adopted the name for the valley.