Yosemite - importance of staying in park?
 

This forum has been a critical part of the success of our last few family trips. Most recently we went to Yellowstone and delayed the trip for a year in order to follow the advice of having in park lodging. We would like to spend two weeks exploring California next summer, including a few days in Yosemite. Lodging is pretty booked up already.

So the obvious question: how important is in park lodging at Yosemite? I'm fine with aiming for summer of 2019 if it's critical (just have to come up with a new destination for next year's trip - not a bad problem to have!).

I think staying in the parks is best, and I don't think you need to postpone.

I didn't decide till march to go to Yellowstone this past Aug/Sept. Lodging gets reserved early, but that means people cancel as it gets closer and their plans fall through. I checked the website repeatedly, and eventually got lodging in Yellowstone that worked for my trip.

It's not critical, just much more convenient. It is very nice to be in the park 1st thing in the morning and in the evening when they day crowds are gone.

I think Yosemite lodging is harder to get than Yellowstone. Is everything sold out? Even the cabins?

I would book what you can get as a back up and then check back like elberko said. The challenge is getting specific, consecutive nights.

I stayed out of the park about an hour. Pros: I would have left the park anyway for food. I ate in the park but the places in towns outside were better. I was only there for 2 days and it was just me, so the drive wasn't that bad. I really liked where I stayed. Park lodging struck me as horribly overpriced. Cons; serious crowds, slow going to get in and out of the park, slow getting parking. That ate up time so I didn't see much more than the Valley, but
I had plenty to do so that didn't bother me.

Basically, there are some people here who will tell you it's necessary to stay in the park. I don't agree. Staying in the park is hard to beat, but staying outside might make sense. I wouldn't do it with elderly or very young relatives, but I'd do it myself again. Do you mind driving? How many in your family? What kind of lodging are you looking for and how essential is it to your vacation success?

You could stay out of the park but you shouldn't need to. Lodging becomes available as the year passes. Just stay diligent trying to get in park lodging and you should be able to get something. Many people reserve in advance then their plans change and cancel. I've found this to be true in virtually all the N.P. If it would make it easier for you to plan, you could always get out of park reservations that you can cancel as a back up. It's so much nicer to stay in the park instead of making that drive every morning and evening and taking time away from your enjoyment of the park.

My biggest concern is that this is a two week trip and will involve flights and tons of logistics. So I don't particularly want to dink around with trying to get reservations as they open up. Driving is a non issue but I have zero familiarity with Yosemite so I'm honestly trying to gauge importance of in park relative to overall experience. If it's an hour drive in...then I'd prefer to stay in park. If it's more of the "wow it's cool to stay in park" and not a convenience issue then I'm willing to stay outside. Family of four with two teens so we want to hike easy to moderate and really enjoy the scenery.

Waiting a year for Yellowstone lodging that worked within our trip (another two week trek) was 100% worth it to me...but Yellowstone is so vast and immense...not sure at all how Yosemite is laid out and where we would be spending the bulk of our time...

Yosemite is immense. Given what you just posted, you need to stay in the park! It's definitely a convenience issue, and it's one of the few national parks that I would shell out the money to stay in, despite what I said above.

You do NOT need to stay in the park. But there are only a very few locations that are a decent substitute. Yosemite View Lodge in El Portal, a cabin in Foresta, or a condo/house in Yosemite West. All three are very convenient to Yosemite Valley.

Don't stay in places that advertise as being close to the park -- Mariposa, Fish Camp, Oakhurst, etc. They are 'close' to the park boundaries but are 60-90+ minutes to the Valley.

You can easily book at El Portal and the keep trying for a cancellation in the Valley - most of the time you will be successful, but if not, Yosemite View is a nice property.

Summer traffic is also an issue to consider. If you can get up early to drive into the park, then it's fine, but even the relativeky shirt drive from El Portal can be longer as you sit in line at the gate, and then navigate traffic into Yosemite Valley. Traffic in other parts of the park isnt bad, but traffic in the valley can be rough.

I think I have my answer. I'd rather have the convenience and spend more time hiking and sightseeing so staying in the park it is...so that trip will be in 2019. Thanks for all the feedback!

Given your comments, you made the right choice.