Yosemite National Park Travel Guide & Accommodation

Our Yosemite National Park travel guide gives an overview of the park with information on cheap accommodation and gateway lodging.

Established back in 1890 (the nation's third national park), Yosemite covers over 1200 square miles and has awesome scenery.

Glacier Point

For most people, their first encounter with Yosemite National Park's scenery is from the entrance roadway's scenic lookout points, before a descent into Yosemite Valley. The most famous scenic lookouts are Discovery View and Glacier Point.

Glacier Point in particular is considered to offer one of the finest scenic panoramas in the Sierra Nevada and is accessed by taking Glacier Point Road at Chinquapin on Highway 41. From Glacier Point there is a panoramic view of Yosemite Valley, roughly 3,200 feet below - home of most Yosemite lodging and accommodation.

Glacier point also provides a spectacular view of Yosemite Falls as it descends 2425 feet to the valley floor and Nevada Fall (594 feet). Half Dome at 8852 feet and Clouds Rest at 9,900 feet just behind provide a memorable backdrop. Half Dome is one of Yosemite National Park's most famous and photographed landmarks.

Yosemite National Park Highlights

Tioga Pass

Most visitors visit Yosemite National Park for just a few short days and have limited time to explore the parks trails. Even if your time in the park is tight, make sure you take a trip along Yosemite's scenic and world famous Tioga Pass.

The Tioga Pass (Highway 120) is the gateway to Yosemite's most spectacular alpine region and is the only US roadway to cross the Sierra Nevada range. It's also the highest highway in California. Open seasonally, from late spring to the end of fall, Yosemite National Park's Tioga Pass is an unforgettable experience. From its junction with Big Oak Flat Road, the Tioga Pass is about 39 miles to beautiful Tuolumne Meadows and a further 17 miles to the town of Lee Vining, considered to be the eastern gateway for Yosemite National Park on California Highway 120. Basic lodging is available at Tuolumne Meadows or if your prefer, cheap hotel and motel accommodation is offered at Lee Vining.

The Tioga Pass reaches a maximum elevation of 9,945 feet. The picture above was taken at Olmsted Point near the centre of the pass. Nearing the eastern end of the Tioga Pass is pretty Ellery Lake.

Tuolumne Meadows

The Tioga Pass descends past Dana Meadows along side the Tuolumne River reaching Tuolumne Meadows. Tuolumne Meadows was carved out of the action of Yosemite's largest glacier - The Tuolumne Glacier dating back to Ice Age times. Today, many tempting Yosemite National Park hiking trails start at this point. There are trails to Elizabeth lake and the other Cathedral Lakes starting near to the campground.

Tuolumne Meadows is now the prominent centre for Sierra Nevada high country hiking and mountain climbing. Visitor facilities at Tuolumne Meadows include a campground, visitor center, lodging, ranger station, food and fuel.

Spectacular Yosemite Falls

BridalVeil Falls

Bridalveil Falls, pictured left, at 620 feet is the height of a 62 storey building! It is located on the southern rim of Yosemite Valley and an easy walk from the Yosemite Valley road stop-off point. Take care when walking this trail as Bridalveil Fall's spray can make the path slippery.

Vernal and Nevada Falls

At 317 feet, Vernal Falls are viewed from the popular Mist Trail which crosses the Merced River and starts from the end of the Yosemite Valley road loop. Nevada Fall is a short hike further down the trail. All vehicular traffic stops at a point close to Clark Bridge. Our picture of Vernal Falls was taken in the summer. Sunlight creates spectacular rainbow effects on the Vernal fall mist giving the trail its name.

El Capitan

El Capitan is another world famous Yosemite National Park landmark. From El Capitan Meadow in Yosemite Valley sit back and take in the awesome sight of El Capitan rising an incredible 3,600 feet from the valley floor. It's easy to understand how El Capitan provides even the most experienced rock climbers with a considerable challenge. El Capitan has an almost sheer rock face of truly staggering proportions.

Visiting Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is open year-round. Yosemite is only about 200 miles east of San Francisco and 140 miles north of its other Sierra Nevada neighbour Sequoia National Park. Yosemite gateway towns are popular with hotels and cheap accommodation quickly filling up during peak season. Access to Yosemite National Park is from the following California highways:-

Note: Highway 120 Tioga Pass road from Lee Vining open from late spring to end of fall only*

Yosemite National Park Accommodation & Lodging

We provide links to Yosemite National Park lodging and accommodation centers from this page to assist in the pre-booking of accommodation both inside the park or in a nearby Yosemite gateway town. By way of a summary, Yosemite lodging ranges from canvas tent and canvas cabin parks with centralised restrooms and washing facilities, to high grade and often historic Yosemite hotel accommodation.

The main Yosemite National Park accommodation and lodging centers are:-

The Ahwahnee Hotel

Built in 1927 and member of the Historic hotels of America, Yosemite National Park's Ahwahnee Hotel is a four star property with impressive accommodation well known for its beamed ceilings, stone hearths and native American artwork with some rooms overlooking Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point. It has 123 rooms and suites and 24 cottages.

Yosemite Lodge

Located close to the base of Yosemite Falls, this Yosemite accommodation has 226 rooms with maid service. It was modernised in 1998. The en-suite rooms are similar to those typically found in American motels with telephone, desk and chairs (but no TV). The hotel has a restaurant, bar and food court, a shop, ATM, post office, tour desk, bicycle rentals, laid on transportation to various points in the park and a heated outdoor swimming pool.

Curry Village

Curry Village, Yosemite National Park is situated in the shadow of Glacier Point in Yosemite Valley. Accommodation consists of 628 guest rooms, 100 cabins with private baths, 80 cabins with central bath and 427 unusual and fun canvas tent cabins. Food is provided by the Yosemite's Curry Village Pavilion, which serves a hearty breakfast buffet and dinner daily. There's a gift shop and free transportation to various park locations is provided from Curry Village.

Wawona Hotel

One of the oldest mountain resort hotels in the state of California, Wawona Hotel in Yosemite National Park is situated between the Mariposa Sequoia Grove and Yellowstone Valley. Accommodation comprises 104 guestrooms (50 of which have private baths). The hotel is famous for its signature verandas.

Evening entertainment from local musicians is often laid on at this Yosemite National Park hotel. Rooms have daily maid service and there are no telephones or TV to allow you to escape from the day to day pressures of American life. After all, if you're lodging in Yosemite National Park, you won't want to watch TV!

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge in Yosemite National Park has 69 canvas cabins. Accommodation consists of canvas covered tents with a wooden frame on a cement platform. Central shower and restroom facilities are provided. Tuolumne Meadows has a grill which serves hiker breakfasts and fast food. Open seasonally from late spring to early fall.

Yosemite National Park Car Hire

Click on the Ebookers banner below for discount Yosemite car hire with pickup locations convenient for Yosemite National Park or pickup from major California cities such as San Francisco:-

Visit our cheap USA car hire page for Yosemite National Park car rental portals close to the park's main entrances.

Travel Resources

If you can't find suitable Yosemite accommodation from Ebookers (banner above), select other web sites using the pull-down menu below. These resources are to some of the most popular Yosemite web sites, lodging and accommodation providers.

More California State Pictures...

See more great California pictures in our all-new California State Pictures gallery. This page is a comprehensive 2008 Yosemite National Park lodging, accommodation and travel guide.