Yosemite

Can anyone suggest some lodging outside Yosemite? Needing a hotel room for 2 adults and 2 kids. I don't really want to drive a long ways but don't want to pay those high prices inside the park!!! Looking forward to doing some serious photography and hiking!! Thanks!!

EricL wrote in post #14486378
Can anyone suggest some lodging outside Yosemite? Needing a hotel room for 2 adults and 2 kids. I don't really want to drive a long ways but don't want to pay those high prices inside the park!!! Looking forward to doing some serious photography and hiking!! Thanks!!

whats a long drive? Motels and inns are about 45min to 1 hour out of the park. And 2+ hrs from the valley if you heading in from the north end. Popular areas include Oakhurst, Mariposa and Monolake/Lee Vining area. Sorry i dont have exact recommendations as i havnt been in them for awhile (i camp). Some of those Inns changes ownership every once in awhile, but they also fill up quick, so search early.

Same question as imjason, what's a long drive? Also, what's the budget per night, and does it have to be a hotel, or are you willing to rent a condo or semi-camp at all? What time of year (most places have much higher prices for the main tourist season).

Curry Village is inside the park and relatively cheap, if you're willing to stay in a fabric tent, and deal with shared bathrooms. They also have rooms, but I'm guessing those are outside your desired budget.

You can also rent condos & cabins inside Yosemite, but maybe 20 minutes away from the Valley, near the base of Glacier Point Road. Try HERE or HERE. I'd guess there are more of them in that particular development you can rent from other sources too, or are private homes that are rented out by individuals.

You can go further out and probably get cheaper prices of course, but maybe one of these will fit the bill.

also factor in the cost of gas, gas is not cheap near the park. Gas is easily $0.20-0.30 more per gallon than rest of CA. For example Lee Vining is about 75 miles from the Valley. These are mountain roads, so say youre getting only 20mpg, youre spending 7.5 gallons of gas round trip into the valley and that doesnt include driving around. if you spend 10 gallons a day driving, with gas near $5 in the park, thats about $50 a day just to drive. The cost of gas will only go up more if you visit Yosemite during popular days. the park will literally be stop and go.

When my wife and I need a weekend getaway, we either go to the Yosemite View Lodge on highway 140, the Yosemite Gateway Inn in Oakhurst or the Lakeview Lodge in Lee Vining..

Hikin Mike wrote in post #14489451
When my wife and I need a weekend getaway, we either go to the Yosemite View Lodge on highway 140, the Yosemite Gateway Inn in Oakhurst or the Lakeview Lodge in Lee Vining..

We stayed at Yosemite View Lodge in May '11 and found it to be an excellent base for the Valley. Hotel was a bit pricey, but it was clean, had an indoor pool and hottop and cheap but decent pizza.

I have'nt been there in many years, but the Yosemite Gateway Inn was a nice enough place when I was there in the 90's. I believe back then it was Best Western operated.

We stayed atGroveland Hotel several years ago. Nice B&B with great breakfast(included).

+1 on Yosemite View Lodge and the pizza for dinner. I've been there twice in the last year. Very easy access to the valley and nice rooms.