Where to Stay in Yosemite National Park

This is the 7-mile valley floor where El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls live. The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, and Curry Village all sit here. You can walk from Yosemite Lodge to the base of Yosemite Falls in about 10 minutes on the paved path. Northside Drive and Southside Drive form the loop you'll keep crossing. The free shuttle runs every 12 to 22 minutes between Curry Village, Yosemite Village, and the Lodge. Book 6 to 12 months out for summer. Parking at Yosemite Village fills by 9am from May through September, so most guests just leave the car parked and ride the shuttle.

Best for

First-time visitors who want Half Dome out the window and zero driving once they arrive

Walk times

Yosemite Lodge to Lower Yosemite Fall 10 min
Curry Village to Mirror Lake trailhead 25 min
Yosemite Village to The Ahwahnee 15 min

Skip if: You hate crowds, you booked late, or your budget is under $250 a night

Local tip: Eat dinner at the Mountain Room at Yosemite Valley Lodge instead of The Ahwahnee Dining Room. Same valley views, half the price, no jacket required.

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Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$314per night

Wawona

Old Yosemite, 45 minutes south of the chaos

Luxury $220-$450/night

Wawona sits near the South Entrance, 27 miles from Yosemite Valley on Wawona Road (Highway 41). The Wawona Hotel is a National Historic Landmark with white wraparound porches and a 9-hole golf course. From here you're 6 miles from Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, where the free shuttle runs from the Welcome Plaza April through November. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center is a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Evenings are quiet. The South Fork of the Merced River runs right past the property and you can swim in the swimming hole behind Section A. Drive time to Yosemite Valley is around 60 minutes, so plan full days in either direction.

Best for

Familiesrepeat visitorsanyone who wants giant sequoias without the Tuolumne drive

Walk times

Wawona Hotel to Pioneer History Center 5 min
Wawona Store to South Fork swimming hole 8 min
Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza to shuttle stop 2 min

Skip if: You only have 2 days and want to spend them in the Valley

Local tip: The Wawona Hotel has no TVs and limited cell service. That's the point. Bring a book and use the lobby phone if you need to call out.

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$246per night

Tuolumne Meadows

Above 8,500 feet, where the Sierra opens up

Mid-range $140-$320/night

Tuolumne Meadows sits at 8,619 feet on Tioga Road (Highway 120 East), 1.5 hours from Yosemite Valley. Tioga Road only opens late May or June through October or early November depending on snow. Tuolumne Meadows Lodge offers canvas tent cabins with wood stoves and shared bathhouses. The Lembert Dome trailhead is a 10-minute walk from the lodge. Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge are a 20-minute walk across the meadow. This is the base for Cathedral Lakes, Vogelsang, and the Pacific Crest Trail. The Tuolumne Meadows Grill makes a solid breakfast burrito until early September. Nights drop to 35F even in July. Closed every winter and most of spring.

Best for

Backpackersday hikerspeople who want pine trees and granite instead of crowds

Walk times

Lodge to Lembert Dome trailhead 10 min
Lodge to Soda Springs 20 min
Lodge to Tuolumne Meadows Grill 12 min

Skip if: You're visiting between November and May, or you want a private bathroom

Local tip: Reserve a tent cabin the day reservations open in March. They sell out in under an hour. If you miss it, the Tuolumne Meadows Campground takes a few same-day walk-ups at the kiosk.

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$157per night

El Portal

Outside the gate, easier on the wallet

Mid-range $160-$290/night

El Portal sits along Highway 140 about 14 miles west of Yosemite Valley, just outside the Arch Rock Entrance. Yosemite View Lodge and Cedar Lodge line the Merced River here. Drive time to Yosemite Village is 25 to 35 minutes depending on entrance traffic. The YARTS bus runs from El Portal to the Valley year-round, which means you can leave the car at the hotel and skip the parking nightmare. Highway 140 is the lowest-elevation entrance, so it stays open in winter when other roads close. Restaurant options are thin. The River Restaurant at Yosemite View Lodge is your main bet, plus a small market across the street. Bring snacks from Mariposa or Merced.

Best for

Budget travelerswinter visitorsanyone who booked 3 weeks before the trip

Walk times

Yosemite View Lodge to Merced River beach 2 min
Cedar Lodge to YARTS bus stop 5 min
Hotel rooms to Arch Rock Entrance by car 15 min

Skip if: You want to walk to a trailhead from your room, or you hate driving

Local tip: Rooms facing the Merced River cost $40 to $60 more than parking-lot-view rooms and are absolutely worth it. The river noise drowns out highway sound and you can fall asleep with the windows open.

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Prices shown for 1 room, 2 adults. Click to see current availability.

$179per night