Yosemite / Mariposa Tourism Bureau

From happy camping to cushy luxuriating, there’s a lodging option for every type of vacation in Yosemite National Park.

Stretch your dollars in a cozy canvas cabin. Or splurge on upscale accommodations with spectacular park views, such as Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. And of course, there is The Ahwahnee, Yosemite’s AAA Four-Diamond, national historic landmark hotel which is visited by celebrities and heads of state from all over the world.  (Even if you’re not staying at The Ahwahnee, it’s definitely worth a visit, whether to take the tour, visit the restaurant or lounge, or simply marvel at the size of the fireplace.) Or you might choose to stay just outside the park, such as in El Portal’s Yosemite View Lodge or Cedar Lodge, both of which are alongside the picturesque Merced River and offer great comfort and amenities.

To review accommodations in Yosemite, check out “Where to Stay” on the menu to the left. Accommodations in Yosemite Valley and the Yosemite high country are listed under the location “Yosemite”. Foresta, access to which is within the Park, is also listed under "Yosemite". Accommodations in Wawona and Yosemite West are listed under “Fish Camp, Wawona & Yosemite West”. Note that technically Yosemite West is private land lying just outside the park boundaries, but access is via Wawona, and guests in Yosemite West do not have to leave or re-enter the Park.

These accommodations range from elegant and expensive, to comfortable and moderately priced, to simple and economical. Information on making reservations is available in the listings. In addition there are campgrounds in Yosemite Valley, at Wawona, and along Tioga Road. See the park service site for more information. Backpackers, after obtaining a free wilderness permit and following certain restrictions, are allowed to camp in most of the ninety-four percent of the Park designated as wilderness. The Yosemite Association's site tells you what to do.

Accommodations in the park are often full at busy times, especially in Yosemite Valley. The best solution is to plan ahead and make reservations early.

Many visitors have their hearts set on staying in the Valley, or in a high country campground. However, if no reservations are available, and if you cannot visit at another time, staying outside the Valley, or outside the Park, need not ruin your vacation. At peak times, when the Park becomes very crowded, staying elsewhere for the night may actually be more peaceful. One advantage to staying in the Park is being able to take a stroll at dawn or in the evening, but remember that the roads are open twenty-four hours, and driving home later in the evening, or coming back early in the morning will let you avoid most traffic. If the idea is to avoid driving, you can leave your car and take the YARTS buses to El Portal, Mid Pines and Mariposa (and to destinations on Highway 120 east of Tioga Pass and on Highway 395 during summer).