Yosemite View Lodge

Yosemite National Park, USA

Yosemite View Lodge, Yosemite National Park, US
Yosemite View Lodge, Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite View Lodge, Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite View Lodge, Yosemite National Park, US
Yosemite View Lodge, Yosemite National Park, California
Yosemite View Lodge, Yosemite National Park, California

The hotel

As the name suggests, Yosemite View Lodge is so close to the park that any closer and you'd actually be in it! It also straddles the banks of the Merced River on which river rafting is available in season (Apr-Jun) together with excellent fishing. Virgin Holidays guests will be spoilt for choice with not one, but three swimming pools to choose from, as well as five whirlpools and two restaurants. There is also a cosy lounge bar in which to discuss the day's adventures.

Amenities

  • Bar
  • Swimming Pool
  • Free Parking
  • Safety Deposit Box
  • Laundry Service
  • Internet Access
  • Near National Park
  • Restaurant

Where is it

A 5-minute drive from the Western 'Arch Rock' entrance to Yosemite. The bus for the national park stops here.

Hotel information

336 rooms on 3 floors in 6 buildings with 3 lifts. All rooms have kitchenette, coffee maker and hairdryer. Mountain View Rooms have 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.

River View Rooms have air-conditioning, private balcony, fireplace, spa tub, kitchenette and 2 queen-size beds, sleeping maximum 4 adults.

The River Restaurant & Lounge (open for breakfast and dinner). Parkside Pizza restaurant (closed Nov–Mar). Cocktail lounge. Indoor/outdoor swimming pools. Whirlpools. WiFi*. Safe at front desk. Coin-operated laundry service*. Gift shop and convenience store. Complimentary self-parking.

Wheelchair accessible rooms available on request. Please note that these rooms are subject to availability and may be restricted to specific room categories and bedding arrangements. Rooms and facilities vary between hotels so please check at the time of booking. For more information and contact details please check out our Special Assistance page

*Denotes local charge.

Tioga Pass is subject to closure due to adverse weather conditions, for up-to-date information please check www.nps.gov/yose/.

Rating summary

  • Location Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Sleep Quality Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Rooms Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Service Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Value Image of the Tripadvisor rating
  • Cleanliness Image of the Tripadvisor rating

Traveller rating

  • Excellent (698)
  • Very good (1669)
  • Average (1403)
  • Poor (602)
  • Terrible (341)
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great place to stay

Dec 11, 2020 Jim C SoCal

Just outside the gates of Yosemite this is the place to stay. Units are basic but clean and accommodating. Staff made us feel welcome and in light of circumstances we could not be happier (actually we could not be happier in normal times) highly recommend!!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Good option for location and dogs

Dec 1, 2020 reannatong

I booked this hotel and came here knowing what I was getting myself into. First by fully acknowledging that Yosemite View Lodge is not a five-star resort, I was able to appreciate it and enjoy it for what it was! This is a clean hotel, beautifully located next to the Merced River (most rooms have an awesome river view), just a few minutes from the… Read more
I booked this hotel and came here knowing what I was getting myself into. First by fully acknowledging that Yosemite View Lodge is not a five-star resort, I was able to appreciate it and enjoy it for what it was! This is a clean hotel, beautifully located next to the Merced River (most rooms have an awesome river view), just a few minutes from the west entrance to Yosemite, allows dogs, and a pretty decent restaurant and bar. Though not in tiptop shape, this place had everything that I needed in place to enjoy Yosemite for the day. I love that the rooms are equipped with a kitchenette (and stove!), dual showerheads, and hot tub/bath. The service at the pizza restaurant and lounge were also great but I'll leave a separate review for those. We split our time between this place and another a bit farther out from the park, each with its advantages! Yosemite View Lodge takes the cake for most convenient, which I think is worth it at least for one of your nights best Yosemite. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating You're paying for the location and nothing else

Nov 18, 2020 whatlevelisthis Boston, Massachusetts

I came here with low expectations, and they were definitely met. Bottom line-- you stay here because of *the location*. It's safe and clean enough and the staff were polite, but don't expect much more. Yosemite is a beautiful place but it's annoying that there are few lodging choices close to the park, unless you stay inside the park. This… Read more
I came here with low expectations, and they were definitely met. Bottom line-- you stay here because of *the location*. It's safe and clean enough and the staff were polite, but don't expect much more. Yosemite is a beautiful place but it's annoying that there are few lodging choices close to the park, unless you stay inside the park. This place is basically the closest outside-of-the-gates hotel (20 mins to Yosemite Valley attractions). (Also, if your dog is traveling with you, you basically have no choice in hotels. Tenaya Lodge is an hour to the south but costs 2-3x more, and there are some hotels in Oakhurst even further south like the new Holiday Inn Express that allow dogs.) If you stay here, don't expect anything to work properly. We had a river view two queen room on the 1st floor, and in our room, the fireplace was broken. One of the ceiling lights was burned out. The 2 burner electric stove--- well, it turned on, but it barely got hot, so it took 2-3x longer to make anything. It took 30 minutes to boil some water. I had to boil water in the microwave as a last resort (oh, and the microwave is weak and takes a long time too). The stove does get hot enough to cook eggs, but expect it to take 20 minutes. If you search on Tripadvisor, several people have complained about the slow stoves. Apparently it's due to low voltage in the rooms. I'm shocked the management thinks this is ok and doesn't bother fixing it. The WiFi was slow but fine; as noted by others, you have to pay $9.99 for two devices. We were worried about noise from adjoining rooms, but we never heard any sounds from the room next door even though there were 4 people staying there. Maybe they were just super quiet. There are some pools and tubs scattered around the property, but they all looked like they hadn't been cleaned or maintained in some time (lots of leaves in the water and grime and and it looked like no one was using the pools). Now, I paid only $149 for my room during midweek low season. I'm not one of those people on Tripadvisor who complain about motels in good locations charging $200-$300, because it's basic supply and demand and the motel will charge whatever price people are wiling to pay. *That said*, I'd be miffed if I paid $200-$300 to stay here and everything in my room was broken. I think there's a basic standard of decency for a hotelier to at least maintain their rooms in good working order if they're going to rake in $200-$300 a night. It feels like the owner/management here are just coasting. Also, I noticed some of the cleaning staff were not wearing masks. That said, the woman who checked me in at the front desk was masked and was perfectly polite and helpful. Read less
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Wifi issues

Nov 17, 2020 Alyita

Filthy place is a big turn off. Wifi was patchy. The only good thing is that location is the best. Food we had in restaurant was also very nice. A well appointed renovated rooms would just be great!!!
Image of the Tripadvisor rating Great location and nice size room

Oct 29, 2020 sbkava Santa Barbara, California

Stayed 2 nights the last week of October. Was a very nice stay . Had river view room with 2 "hotel queen" beds. Location is just a few minutes from the Yosemite gate and the Yosemite valley. Very nice size room and kitchen had everything we needed to prepare lunch for yosemite and in room breakfast and dinner. Nice patio overlooking river to… Read more
Stayed 2 nights the last week of October. Was a very nice stay . Had river view room with 2 "hotel queen" beds. Location is just a few minutes from the Yosemite gate and the Yosemite valley. Very nice size room and kitchen had everything we needed to prepare lunch for yosemite and in room breakfast and dinner. Nice patio overlooking river to enjoy wine after a day of yosemite hiking. Beds were comfortable. Room is dated with large 2 person spa/tub in bathroom. Room had no indications that any special attention was given to cleaning specifically for covid (eg no santized sign on door, bathroom fixtures, kitchen utensils). The only other hotel I gave stayed in since covid was one that had a sticker on the door indicating time room was last entered, and indications in room that things were sanitized. No big deal - It is just comforting to think there is an extra level of hygiene vigilance these days. Front desk staff very helpful and friendly. Nice gift shop in lobby and a decent selection of snack food, milk, beer, wine, etc. The Pizza place in parking lot was open for takeout but we brought all our food to prepare in room. We had read restaurant was closed. I think they might have offered a breakfast somewhere - not sure. Kitchen in room was bigger and better equipped than we expected. We had 2 significant issues during our stay : (1) The room walls are VERY thin. The guests in the room next to us work up before 6AM both days and we could hear them opening and closing cabinet doors, making breakfast, talking, banging things around until we would finally have to give up on sleeping and get out of bed ourselves. Luckily I don't think there was anyone above us because I could only imagine what that might sound like. Not sure what hotel could do about it until next remodel. (2) As we read in reviews the wifi is not free and we had no phone signal (Tmobil). You can buy 24 hours to connect 2 devices for $10. My daughter is a student and needed to study remotely. On the 2nd day the 24 hours expired and the wifi dropped her sometime during a 1.5 hour midterm exam. She was unable to submit the exam at the end of the period because the wifi session was lost. I anticipated the 24 period running out and worked with the front desk and the wifi provider company to extend another 24 hours before she started the test. I was assured that the access period was successfully extended before she began the test. She ended up having to retake the 1.5 midterm again later that evening. The only reason I bring this up is because I don't think it is acceptable not to have wifi included in a hotel rate anymore in 2020. Every guest needs it especially with carrier service and it is just a big hassle to have passwords, device limits, purchase plans, The hotel needs to just charge $10 per night more to guests or whatever and eliminate the old hotel wifi cost model from 20 years ago. Read less