How to Find the Best Hotels Near Yosemite National Park

A trip to Yosemite is the adventure of a lifetime, so you’ll want to make sure it’s perfect. Here’s how to find the best hotels near Yosemite National Park.

Nearly 4 million people visit Yosemite Park each year.

And 2015 saw the biggest boon yet, with a little over 4 million visitors.

Yosemite National Park can be an amazing once in a lifetime experience, or it can be something you and your family do often.

Either way, you’ll likely need lodging in one of the hotels near Yosemite National Park.

In this article, we’ll talk about a few things to consider when you decide to visit the park and what kind of accommodation you’ll want with your family and friends.

What Activities Will You Be Doing?

Yosemite Park is home to an array of activities. Whether you’re planning on driving through the park, horseback riding, camping, doing water activities, bird watching or fishing, you’ll want to stay in a hotel that accommodates you.

Yosemite Park itself is rather expansive, so you can’t expect to stay in the park and be able to see and do everything you want.

Instead, it’s a good idea to map out the park and decide the points of interest you and your family are interested in seeing and doing. That way, you can plan your lodging a little bit better.

You can always lodge at several different places to experience different parts of Yosemite National Park, so don’t feel like you’re tied down to one place or experience!

There are countless things to do in the park, so you’ll never be short on activities, no matter where you’ll stay.

Consider Mixing and Matching

As we mentioned above, moving hotels or cabins is a great way to get a feel for the entire park, as well as the areas around it.

You can mix and match to give yourself some time in the park itself, and then stay in a local town to get some of the local flavors.

Yosemite National Park is also well known for camping and hiking, so you can always camp first and then stay at a hotel later. Or you can camp and hike to a different location in the park where you’ll stay at a hotel.

Either way, mixing and matching means you’ll get to see as much of the park as possible, as you’ll get to do all of the activities you’ve set out to do.

What’s Your Budget?

Budget is a big one when it comes to vacations, so you’ll need to know that beforehand.

Yosemite National Park has four official hotels on its property, and they can cost up to $300 a night. However, if you’re looking for something a little more basic, you can get lodging for as little as $29 in surrounding areas.

You should figure out how much you’re willing to spend before you even look at hotels and cabins.

Again, mixing and matching is a great way to save money on hotels, so that you can splash out for a couple of days during your visit and then save for the rest.

When Are You Coming?

When you come to Yosemite National Park will play a big role in where you’ll stay. The summer months are often the busiest for the park, so you may not get to stay in the location you had originally want to stay in. The prices for certain locations may also be out of your budget in some instances depending on the time of year.

If you really want to stay at a certain location, but it’s out of your budget most of the year, consider staying there during the offseason. This means you’ll get a better deal.

How Many People are Coming with You?

How many people are in your party?

This makes a huge difference when it comes to where you’ll stay in Yosemite Park.

You may just be coming with your spouse or significant other. If that’s the case, you won’t really need to look that far and wide for things.

But if you’re holding a family reunion or coming with a large group of friends, this can make a big difference.

Most hotel rooms can only accommodate up to four adults at the most. However, often, four people don’t necessarily want to share a bedroom unless they’re a family.

Getting a cabin can be a good compromise to ensure that everyone gets privacy while you keep costs down. Cabins can be the price of larger and more expensive hotels and can sleep several more people. This is a great way to cut down on the price tag, while still being together with your family.

What Will You Be Doing?

Your activities are not only important for your hotel’s location, but also its amenities.

Do you want a spa getaway that’s steeped in nature? Great! Consider one of the luxury resorts at Yosemite.

Do you want a place to crash after a long day hiking and doing water sports? That’s fine as well. There’s something for everyone.

As long as it meets your needs, it’s the perfect place for you to stay.

What Kind of Food Will You Be Buying?

Are you looking to cook for yourself to save money, or do you want to kick back and relax? Either way, you’ll find the perfect solution.

With larger cabins, you can get them equipped with a fridge and sometimes, even ovens and stoves. This means that you can have a fully operational kitchen and cook several course meals with your friends and family. This makes them excellent solutions for those who want to celebrate a family holiday with a home-cooked meal.

Or, are you looking totally unwind and get away?

If you are, consider booking into a hotel or motel that has catering services available. You can eat at the restaurant and not have to worry about dirtying dishes or getting anything messy. You also won’t have to slave over the stove or yield to the demands of your kids!

And, if you’re feeling especially lazy or tired out after a day of exploring, you can order room service. Or, consider picking up an item from one of the local eateries near Yosemite.

What’s Your Transportation?

Transportation is an important issue when it comes to traveling to Yosemite. Most people drive to it either in a rental car or their own car.

You can get to, and enjoy Yosemite, without a car, of course. But you’ll need to plan out your trip carefully if that’s something you want to do.

Don’t stay in an area that’s totally secluded if you don’t have a car. This is especially the case if you’re staying somewhere without a restaurant or one without one in walking distance.

The prices you’ll pay on taxis and food delivery will start to add up. You may have saved money staying on a hotel away from the park itself, but you’ll end up spending even more money on other items. In the end, you won’t have really saved all that much money!

Consider Renting a Cabin

Do you like to commune with nature, but not get so close that you’re going to have to pee in the woods? Don’t worry, lots of people feel that way, which is what makes cabins a happy medium.

With a cabin, you can get the feeling of camping by being able to wake up in nature and walk around the area. In many places, you’ll get almost total peace and quiet, and it’s ideal for fishing and bird watching.

You’ll be able to have all of the perks of camping (in some cases, you can even have fires where you can cook all of your open fire camp favorites) without the downsides of it.

Cabins are perfect for those who love nature, but also love staying in a warm cabin and peeing and showering indoors!

What About an AirBnB?

An AirBnB is a great way to get a good deal on an entire property or just a room in a property. For many, this is a great alternative to hotels, as it provides basic accommodation without the price tag.

If you do rent an AirBnB, you’ll want to do so in a town near Yosemite. Remember, Yosemite Park is expensive, so there are many, many towns that you can rent in.

Some places nearby include Sonora, Mariposa, Twain Harte and El Portal.

Almost all of these towns are small, but they do provide you with some amenities. They can be overrun with tourists in the summer months, but they’ll also give you a chance to unwind and do something that doesn’t involve nature and camping.

If you’re more of an indoorsy kind of person, many of these towns have things for you to do in them. For steam trains to mining ghost towns to movie theaters and bowling alleys, there are things for you and your family to do.

With an AirBnB, you’ll get to live like one of the locals, as often they’re in neighborhoods or other parts of towns you might have not gone if you were just visiting Yosemite.

Do Some Off-Site Activities

As we mentioned above, there are things to do in the local towns that might strike your fancy.

You should be aware, though, that none of the towns near Yosemite are bustling metropolises. Many are old mining towns that get most of their revenue from being near Yosemite itself. They invite many tourists, which will be the majority of folks you’ll encounter.

Looking for high-end designer stores and a raging nightlife? Well, then going to a town near Yosemite isn’t really the best vacation option for you.

Instead, they are lots of family-friendly activities, including museums and mining experiences. The areas are often steeped in history, and give you a look into what life might have been like for those who lived in those areas searching for gold over 100 years ago.

If you find something that seems interesting, consider booking a hotel or cabin in one of these closeby towns. You may have fun doing things you never thought you would like!

Consider Staying at a Bed and Breakfast

Want the charm and appeal of staying in someone’s home with the privacy and not have an obligation to “visit?” If so, consider staying in one of the many AirBnBs surrounding the area!

Yosemite National Park’s small towns surrounding it are flooded with bed and breakfasts that will make you feel right at home whilst giving you some of the amenities of a hotel. While they may not have pools, massages and room service, they’re still a great way to get away.

Most bed and breakfasts will offer you breakfast, and in some cases, they may even offer you dinner for an extra cost. You can also use the opportunity to mix and mingle with other folks who have made their way to Yosemite. Make friends and find new hiking buddies, or find new activities you didn’t know you’d enjoy.

Hotels Near Yosemite National Park

Hotels near Yosemite National Park are abundant and diverse. Whether you’re looking for a luxury getaway or a place to crash after a long day of waterskiing and hiking, there’s something for everyone.

Even if you’re not all that interested in Yosemite and just want to explore some of the small towns near it, you’ll find great places for you and your family.

Are you coming to Twain Harte? If so, consider staying with us. Have a look at our cabins here.