Looking for recommendations on where to stay near Yosemite

[Drekce]

Planning a trip there next Summer. I was able to get two days at "The Lodge at the Falls" which is actually in the Valley, and have two more days reserved at the Tenaya Lodge off of 41 near the Southern entrance to the Park (and near the Mariposa Grove). We will be flying into/out of and staying in San Francisco as well.

For anyone who has been there, does that seem like an okay plan? What will the drive from Tenaya lodge be like to places like Glacier Point and the Valley?

 

[MikeMike]

make sure you go to the Iron Door Saloon as well... cant remember the town, but its like 25 minutes outside of the valley, you might pass it if you go from SF...

(i broke an $300+ glass plate in The Ahwahnee... )

 

[rockyct]

I'm sure others will chime in, but it's something like a 45 minute to an hour drive from the entrance of the park to the valley floor. It's a beautiful drive, but it takes a while. When I've gone, I've camped in the valley floor. It's great because the camps are close to the bus route through the valley.

 

[DesiPower]

I went there this summer, I stayed there 3 nights but did not do any booking in advance, booked about a month before the trip, everything if Valley was full. I stayed at Best Western, Mariposa, OK hotel no complaints.

Its far but not too bad, about 45 minutes drive but VERY scenic, you will enjoy it.

Oh whatever you do DO NOT miss the drive on Tioga pass, its simply amazing. Keep one day just for that. go the other other end and come back, pack your lunch as there will be no food places along the way.

Oh and be prepared for the crowd and rush, I was not, was very disappointed, IT WAS PACKED

 

[scott916]

I usually stay in El Portal.

 

[Fritzo]

If you go to Yosemite, just stay away from Sam. That guy will keep you up all night shooting at rabbits.

 

[GoSharks]

make sure you go to the Iron Door Saloon as well... cant remember the town, but its like 25 minutes outside of the valley, you might pass it if you go from SF...

(i broke an $300+ glass plate in The Ahwahnee... )

The Iron Door Saloon is in Groveland, about 1.5 hours from the valley on 120.

I'm sure others will chime in, but it's something like a 45 minute to an hour drive from the entrance of the park to the valley floor. It's a beautiful drive, but it takes a while. When I've gone, I've camped in the valley floor. It's great because the camps are close to the bus route through the valley.

From the north/120 entrance. If you come in on 140, it isn't as far from the park border.

South entrance is about 45mins to 1 hour to the valley. I don't venture down there very often so I can't give much more than that.

Oh whatever you do DO NOT miss the drive on Tioga pass, its simply amazing. Keep one day just for that. go the other other end and come back, pack your lunch as there will be no food places along the way.

You can get lunch/food at the Tuolumne Grill in the meadows. A burger will be like 6 bucks, hot dog is 4, soft serve is 2. If you drive all the way down to Lee Vining, you can get restaurant-quality food at the gas station.

I've been going to Yosemite 2-4 times a year for the past 8 years or so. Usually for backpacking, occasionally for climbing.

 

[MikeMike]

The Iron Door Saloon is in Groveland, about 1.5 hours from the valley on 120.


From the north/120 entrance. If you come in on 140, it isn't as far from the park border.

South entrance is about 45mins to 1 hour to the valley. I don't venture down there very often so I can't give much more than that.


You can get lunch/food at the Tuolumne Grill in the meadows. A burger will be like 6 bucks, hot dog is 4, soft serve is 2. If you drive all the way down to Lee Vining, you can get restaurant-quality food at the gas station.

I've been going to Yosemite 2-4 times a year for the past 8 years or so. Usually for backpacking, occasionally for climbing.

i don't remember it being that far... i guess if you are calling it from like "the ahwahnee" yea, its 1.5 hours, iirc it was at max 45 from the booths to the saloon. tuolumne meadows is gorgeous... do NOT forget binocs... cameras... BUG SPRAY!... good hiking boots...

 

[zinfamous]

thread marked...as I'm planning on heading to Yosemite in 2 weeks, ...with little to no planning!

 

[Fayd]

i just got back from yosemite. we camped on the valley floor.

 

[Fayd]

i don't remember it being that far... i guess if you are calling it from like "the ahwahnee" yea, its 1.5 hours, iirc it was at max 45 from the booths to the saloon. tuolumne meadows is gorgeous... do NOT forget binocs... cameras... BUG SPRAY!... good hiking boots...

i didnt have any real problems with bugs. 0.o

so long as you're not near standing water, mosquitoes aren't really an issue. there's the occasional fly, but that's about it.

 

[MikeMike]

i didnt have any real problems with bugs. 0.o

so long as you're not near standing water, mosquitoes aren't really an issue. there's the occasional fly, but that's about it.

yea.. that whole "by water" thing, was difficult to avoid, we went to go down by a river, and got swarmed like a grasshopper approaching a fire ant hill...

 

[GoSharks]

i don't remember it being that far... i guess if you are calling it from like "the ahwahnee" yea, its 1.5 hours, iirc it was at max 45 from the booths to the saloon. tuolumne meadows is gorgeous... do NOT forget binocs... cameras... BUG SPRAY!... good hiking boots...

Groveland is about 45 minutes from the Big Oak Flat entrance station, but that's not the valley. There really isn't much between Big Oak Flat and the Valley, just a couple groves of trees that aren't as impressive as the Mariposa Grove, and a view of Big Meadow.

Bug spray will be required in the Valley from early May through June or so. In Tuolumne, from mid June to late July. Months are approximate depending on the previous winter.

 

[GoSharks]

i didnt have any real problems with bugs. 0.o

so long as you're not near standing water, mosquitoes aren't really an issue. there's the occasional fly, but that's about it.

That's because you just went.

 

[MikeMike]

Groveland is about 45 minutes from the Big Oak Flat entrance station, but that's not the valley. There really isn't much between Big Oak Flat and the Valley, just a couple groves of trees that aren't as impressive as the Mariposa Grove, and a view of Big Meadow.

Bug spray will be required in the Valley from early May through June or so. In Tuolumne, from mid June to late July. Months are approximate depending on the previous winter.

we were staying about 1/2 way between groveland and big oak flat... had a wedding to go to as well...

 

[GoSharks]

For anyone who has been there, does that seem like an okay plan? What will the drive from Tenaya lodge be like to places like Glacier Point and the Valley?

I would consider not staying at Tenaya Lodge and instead, head over to the east side of the Sierra near Mammoth Lakes. You can hit Tuolumne on the drive to and from the Eastern Sierra, and you can also spend a day in the Mammoth Lakes area, which is really nice by itself.

 

[BoomerD]

We make the 2 hour drive at least once per year. USUALLY in the late spring when the waterfalls are still running full force and there's snow at the top of Crane Flat. (6192 ft) We've been there in the fall to see the trees in their fall colors. Not nearly as spectacular as the New England fall colors, but definitely nice.
Since we live so close, we've never stayed overnight, but have considered making a several day trip to Mammoth Lakes. There's a Westin there, and we have a bazillion Starpoints to use...

 

[Drekce]

Thanks for all of the input! I was shying away from going to the East side of the park because I have to make the trek back to SF. How much farther is that than from the south side (140 back to SF)?

 

[GoSharks]

Thanks for all of the input! I was shying away from going to the East side of the park because I have to make the trek back to SF. How much farther is that than from the south side (140 back to SF)?

The Valley to Tuolumne is about 1h15m. Tuolumne is about 1 hour from Mammoth Lakes. Tuolumne to San Francisco is about 4 hours. Valley to SF via 140 would probably be about 4.5hrs, however you probably would not want to take 140 to SF - it isn't the most direct route.

This is just driving time, no stops for scenery and assuming that you pass any RVs and other slow movers. If you're actually looking out your windows at the scenery, the drive will be somewhat slower (if you do this, please help out the ones that do the drive more than once a lifetime and use the turnouts).

I would definitely do the High Country (Tuolumne) rather than the Wawona area. If it is a matter of doing one or the other, pick Tuolumne and Mammoth.

Are you planning on doing any hiking, or just car-touring?

 

[Drekce]

The Valley to Tuolumne is about 1h15m. Tuolumne is about 1 hour from Mammoth Lakes. Tuolumne to San Francisco is about 4 hours. Valley to SF via 140 would probably be about 4.5hrs, however you probably would not want to take 140 to SF - it isn't the most direct route.

This is just driving time, no stops for scenery and assuming that you pass any RVs and other slow movers. If you're actually looking out your windows at the scenery, the drive will be somewhat slower (if you do this, please help out the ones that do the drive more than once a lifetime and use the turnouts).

I would definitely do the High Country (Tuolumne) rather than the Wawona area. If it is a matter of doing one or the other, pick Tuolumne and Mammoth.

Are you planning on doing any hiking, or just car-touring?

We are leaving the kids behind on this trip, so we will definitly be doing some hiking.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Man I really wanna do half dome, but I'm so out of shape Maybe next summer then!

 

[GoSharks]

We are leaving the kids behind on this trip, so we will definitly be doing some hiking.

When are you going? And what's a reasonable hike for you, in terms of elevation and mileage?

 

[Drekce]

When are you going? And what's a reasonable hike for you, in terms of elevation and mileage?

We are both in pretty good shape (my wife runs about 40 miles/week), but we are from flat Florida. We were in the Rockies (Colorado) this Summer and the elevation didn't seem to bother us.

 

[GoSharks]

We are both in pretty good shape (my wife runs about 40 miles/week), but we are from flat Florida. We were in the Rockies (Colorado) this Summer and the elevation didn't seem to bother us.

I meant elevation gain.

Do Cathedral Lakes to Sunrise Lakes and out (or the other way around). About 11 miles, and you take the shuttle back to your car. This is up in Tuolumne.

If you want to dayhike Half Dome, be sure to reserve your permit if you plan on doing it Fri/Sat/Sun. They should be reservable early-ish next year.

 

[rockyct]

Oh, and last time I went, I stopped by the Hetch Hetchy valley. It quite interesting to hear the story of it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetch_Hetchy_Valley It really is beautiful even though it's dammed up.