Has anyone stayed at the Four Seasons Vacation rentals just inside the south gate of Yosemite?

we just came back from yosemite and rented a condo from them. it was nice, basic & clean. had a full kitchen (even had a blender for smoothies!) and satellite tv. it was about a 1/2 hour ride into the valley and very close to the road that goes up to glacier point.

we would stay there again if we can't get accommodations in the valley.

Thank you, for your response. It's been hard to find a place on short notice.

How long of a Drive from San Francisco?

it is about a 4-1/2 ish hour drive from SF. actually the gate closest to SF is via hwy 120 on the north end. i would say yosemite west is between the north & south gates.

Chickenegg, to clarify, the Four Seasons Vacation Rentals are NOT just inside the south gate of Yosemite as you place them. They are far north of that gate, maybe even closer to the West (El Portal-Arch Rock) entrance than the South entrance. They are in the Yosemite West area, and Quimbymoy has accurately described how far that area is from other points.

If you are coming from San Francisco, to get to Yosemite West you should use either the West (Highway 140) entrance to the park or the North (Highway 120)entrance, both of which will offer you roughly the same driving time from S.F. As Quimbymoy points out, the North-Big Oak Flat Road entrance (Highway 120) is actually the closest to S.F., but the roads are slower. 140 is lower altitude driving and enters the Valley along the River, with many pretty River views; 120 is twistier mountain driving, with more high altitide and waterfall views as it descends sharply from the mountains into the Valley. But coming from S.F., you would go way out of your way and dramatically increase your travel time by using the South entrance. It's the most convenient entrance for those coming from Fresno and all of Southern California, so it's very busy, but it's not the way to enter from Northern California.

I have had good experiences renting condos in the Yosemite West area, although not from Four Seasons. There are a number of different owners and groups offering rentals in that area.

Like most people who have experienced doing so, I would urge you to stay in the Valley itself if you possibly can. All Valley accommodations are owned by the same concessioner. If it is sold out, keep checking--cancellations often open up vacancies. But if you can't get into the Valley, Yosemite West is the location I would most recommend.