2 days in Yosemite
 

Hi,

We will have 2 full days in Yosemite in mid-May (week days). We will be coming from Fresno. We want to stay outside the parks (cheaper accomodations)

What route should we take so we don't miss anything? Where should we spend the night ? In Mariposa or Oakhurst or Fish Camp ? How would you plan those 2 days ? We will be heading for SF after.

I read and answered on your other thread. You itinerary is fine -- BUT staying outside of Yosemite Valley is really a false economy. One of the best things about being in the valley -- is being IN the valley. It is a whole different world after all the day trippers have left.

I agree that staying in the park is well worth it. Can you camp? Camping fees are only $18.00 per night. What about the tent cabins or just the cabins without baths at Curry Village?

Spend one day in Yosemite valley. Visit Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls. Both short and easy walks. If you like hiking then do the hike to Vernal Falls and if you're really into hiking go to Nevada Falls. Ride the shuttle buses and just walk around on the many paths in the valley. You can also rent bikes to ride the bike paths. I personally would spend both days in the valley but there are other sites to see in Yosemite.

Utahtea

Thanks Janis and Utahtea,

We are flying from Montreal (no space for a tent in our luggage).

I was looking at the possibility of staying the first night in Fish Camp then visit the south part of the Park which includes the Valley then sleep the second night in El Portal then visit the northern part then off to San Francisco via 120.

Hotels in the park are definetly out of our price range

The only expensive accomodations in Yosemite Valley are @ the Ahwahnee -- which is VERY expensive. But Yosemite Lodge, Camp Curry, etc are not any more than you would have to pay outside the Valley.

But if you have firmly decided against it I guess I won't beat this dead horse . . . . . .

If you decide on the Oakhurst area, I would recomend The Pines Resort at Bass Lake. It's a gorgeous property, we're headed there ourselves for a couple of days. :D www.basslake.com

In Fish Camp, check out the Tenaya Lodge, a very nice property, just beautiful. www.tenayalodge.com Enjoy! You may also want to check out the Chukchansi Gold Resort in Coarsegold, we just saw the Cirque des Amis show there and had a wonderful dinner at the Vintage Steakhouse. ***kim*** ((l)) ((f)) ((l))

The entrance to the valley isn't really near the south entrance. I assume you are leaving Fresno in the morning to go to Yosemite. I think you might be better off touring whatever you want to in the south entrance (Mariposa Grove, Wawona) and then going on to stay both nights at El Portal. El Portal is only about 15 minutes from the entrance to the Valley. It is also only about 10 minutes from the road going to the northern part (Tioga Road). We went last May 15 and Tioga Road had just opened for the year. Are you aware that it is possible that it will not be open by the time you go? Your plan is good about going there and then on to San Francisco, but even if it is not open yet--you could find plenty to do in the Valley for that extra time.

Fish Camp to the Valley is about 35 miles one way and will take one hour of mountain driving and then you have to drive back. You will again drive 28 of the same miles on your way to El Portal.

I'm not sure what you consider the Northern part. Tioga Pass is more than likely still going to be closed for the winter over the pass so you can't get to the high country. Glacier Point should be open, but I will tell you the best parts of Yosemite are in the Valley especially in the spring when the waterfalls are at their peak.

Utahtea

mist, have you considered the Wawona Hotel? It's inside the park a bit. It's a very nice Historic Hotel and it's gorgeous in Mid-May when the weather will be warming up. We've enjoyed dinner there on the outside patio when the weather is nice. ***kim*** ((l)) ((f)) ((l))

Thanks to all of you for your help.

We will arrive in the area after Dinner on May 22nd so we will start visiting the southern part of the Park early in the morning driving up to the valley from the south entrance near Mariposa I believe. We would not have to drive back to our hotel in Oakhurst if we stay the second night in El Portal. Unless there is nothing interesting to see driving from the south (41) up to the valley ? I thought that Miraposa Grove had beautiful giant trees there?

I checked the rate for the hotels in the park:
Wawona Hotel is $170 USD per night!!!
Yosemite Lodge is $113 /night
Curry Village is $108/night (cabin with bath)
White wolf $105/night(cabin with bath)

I assume that restaurants are also more expensive in the park right?

(Our maximum for a room is $85/night)

The Mariposa Grove is beautiful. Go early in the day as they limit the number of cars permitted in the parking lot.

oops forgot, yes, Mariposa Grove has huge Redwoods.

Where are you staying in Oakhurst? The Shilo Inn? It's a nice place. If you love Mexican food, check out El Cid in Oakhurst! There's also a very good place called Three Sisters there. We tried to get in for lunch a couple of weeks ago, but they were closed. ***kim*** ((l)) ((l)) ((l))

We went to the area for the first time last May and I understand how confusing it is to try to figure out which way to go and how long it takes. When you reach Oakhurst (which is the last real town, in my opinion, before the park), you will turn west, I believe, to get to Mariposa. (and from there to El Portal--that is the way we went on arrival) and the southwest entrance to the Park. If you go straight, it will take you to the South Entrance (and I think Fish Camp). Utahtea can definitely give you better directions, times, etc. so hopefully she will see this. I would take the South Entrance into the park. Whether you stop at Mariposa Grove and how much time you spend there, depends on how you want to spend your time. If you already saw the Giant Sequoias in Kings Canyon, you may want to spend less time in Mariposa.(if any- we enjoyed it, but we had 5 days at Yosemite). I would still go this route--it is a scenic mountain road and you will see Tunnel View (which you don't want to miss) and can go to Glacier Point on the way in. Also,you can see Bridalveil Falls on this road--will save you some backtracking. This road will end at the road into the Valley.

As far as food, there are very few restaurants available. There is one in El Portal and also a pizza place. In the park there are a couple of food courts with a big vaiety (one at Curry Village and one at Yosemite Lodge), an expensive restaurant at Ahwanhee and some snack (hamburgers, pizza, coffee shop) at the Village. That is all I can remember. There is also a well stocked market in the Village. You can make it as expensive or as cheap as you want. Are you staying at Yosemite View Lodge? Our room had a refrigerator (may have had a stove top and/or microwave too--can't remember).

Thanks so much again! We were actually looking at the Shilo Inn (very cheap indead) and hesitating but you are helping us make up our mind.

So my idea of coming in thru the south entrance (near Mariposa Grove) is a not so bad idea right?

Thanks again to all of you!

Going through the south entrance is a great idea. You can see the Mariposa Grove and then head into the valley. This is what we did on our first trip to Yosemite.

When you are on your way into the valley, you will go through a tunnel and immediately on the other side of the tunnel is a vista point with a parking lot. Stop here because the view is absolutely amazing. You can see El Capitan, Bridal Veil Falls, Half Dome, Clouds Rest and a bunch of other landmarks from this vantage point.

Thanks J Correa. I will make sure that we stop and park when we come out of that tunnel :)

I am having difficulties finding cheap accomodations in El Portal. I could only find 2 hotels there and they are very expensive...Any suggestions?

That is about all there is to El Portal. Along with a very small gas station (with very expensive gas). That is probably why everyone is encouraging you to stay in the Valley. You might want to reconsider the cabin at Curry Village. You would probably eat up your savings on the room with the cost of gas driving to a cheaper spot. Mariposa is another option, but to me it would be a lot of driving since you have so little time there.

What about the tent cabins in Curry Village? They are less expensive than the hard-sided cabins. These are basic units, a step above camping in that you have beds to sleep in and are on a raised platform with canvas walls. You still have the centralized bathrooms and showers like you do when you are camping. You can rent a camp kit, which includes bedding so you don't need any camping gear - just your personal items.

I miss understood, I thought the first day you were going to be siteseeing and then going back to Fish Camp.

Mid-May can get cold at night so if you do decide to stay in Yosemite Valley, make sure you have either a heated tent or cabin. A heated canvas tent looks like it's only $71.00. You really won't regret staying in the Valley, even if you have to splurge just a little bit. There is a grocery store in the Valley and you could always just buy items to make sandwiches for your meals.

Utahtea