If you hope to reserve a room at any one of Yosemite’s seven lodges during the busy summer season, book your room early. Otherwise, plan on visiting during the offseason when rooms are easier to come by and are often sold at discounted rates (a welcome relief, because lodging is pricey).
In Yosemite Valley, visitors have four choices for lodging: The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Lodge, Curry Village, and Housekeeping Camp. The Ahwahnee is often regarded as the finest lodge in America. But comfort, beauty, and premium location have their price: $400+/night for a standard room and suites can exceed a nightly rate of $1,000. Yosemite Lodge provides more reasonable accommodations at $180 – 220/night. It offers large family rooms with one king bed, two single beds, and a sofa sleeper (queen). Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp are the “budget” options, with both units checking in at about $100/night. Curry Village has small rustic cabins, motel-style rooms, and canvas tent cabins. Tent cabins are affordable and somewhat of a novelty, but the canvas is thin, providing little to no protection from noisy neighbors. Housekeeping Camp is simple living. Each of the 266 units has a bunk bed, a double bed, table, chairs, mirror, lights, and outlets. All that separates the living space from a covered patio is a curtained wall. Bear-proof food storage containers are provided.
Located near the park’s southern boundary is Wawona Hotel. Wah-wo-nah means “Big Tree” and that’s what you’ll find near this Victorian-style hotel. Rooms come with or without a private bath. Golf, swimming, tennis, fishing, stable rides, and ranger-led walks are available nearby. The best perk is that these rooms are much easier to reserve than those found in the valley. Alternatively, White Wolf and Tuolumne Meadows are great High Sierra lodging options located off Tioga Road. Canvas tent cabins, sprinkled about the Sierra Nevada, are open from mid-June until mid-September. Illuminated by candlelight, they do not have electricity. Shared showers and restrooms are available nearby. White Wolf also offers a few wooden cabins with propane heating, private baths, and limited electricity.
Finally, there are five High Sierra Camps in the backcountry. These comfortable camping accommodations give hikers the opportunity to enjoy the peace and quiet of the backcountry with the comforts of a bed, hot shower, and hearty home-style meals. Not having to carry a tent, sleeping bag, and food is an added bonus. A night’s stay at any one of the High Sierra Camps includes a filling dinner and breakfast. Camps are located at: Merced Lake, Vogelsang, Glen Aulin, May Lake, and Sunrise Camp (see the park map). May Lake is the easiest to reach, just 1.2 miles from May Lake Parking Area (1.75 miles north of Tioga Road). Located 14 miles from Tuolumne Meadows, Merced Lake is the most remote camp. All of the camps are most easily accessed from hiking trails beginning along Tioga Road.
All of the park’s lodges, hotels, and High Sierra Camps are operated by Delaware North Companies. For reservations and additional information call (801) 559-4884 or click www.yosemitepark.com.
Facility | Open | Rates | Location/Notes
The Ahwahnee (favorite) | All Year | $476 – 600 | Yosemite Valley • Elegant accommodations, perfect location
Yosemite Lodge | All Year | $180 – 220 | Yosemite Valley • Close to Yosemite Falls, family favorite
Curry Village | All Year | $118 – 250 | Yosemite Valley • Cabins, motel rooms, and tents
Housekeeping Camp | All Year | $99 | Yosemite Valley • 266 units that accommodate six guests each
Wawona Village | All Year | $155 – 230 | Wawona • Victorian accommodations, some shared baths
Tuolumne Meadows | mid-June – mid-Sept | $107 | Tioga Road • A collection of private candlelit tent cabins
White Wolf Lodge | mid-June – mid-Sept | $95 | Tioga Road • Smaller complex of 24 canvas tent cabins
High Sierra Camps (favorite) | mid-June – mid-Sept | $151 | Tioga Road • Comfortable camping includes lodging and meals
All in-park lodging facilities are operated by Delaware North Companies, call (801) 559-4884 or click www.yosemitepark.com