Idahomike

This sounds like some Federal subsidized vacation. Try your Visa card and AAA for motels.

preacherman Loc: Milton/Pensacola, FL

Thanks to all for your responses, very helpful info. Will contact hotels in cities mentioned and try to check everything we can.

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

Just returned from Yosemite. Accommodations in The Valley will be impossible with this short notice. We tried a week ahead and were told Valley accommodations were booked up until September. Mariposa was a good suggestion, a good number of places to stay and eat. The weather can be changeable, we had cloudy afternoons all three days eliminating any sunset shots from the Valley View locale. Take the side trip to Glacier Point for a close up view of Half Dome and an almost aerographic view of the valley floor from directly above. The waterfalls are flowing large this year. There was a large number of visitors for this early in the season. By 2pm in the afternoon all the spots for parking were filled and you had to get creative in your choices. If you take binoculars and a long lens try to capture some of the rock climbers on the face of El Capitan. The meadow below is a good spot. Fish Camp near the south entrance has accommodations still, pricier than Mariposa. The BigTrees Lodge (formerly Wawona Lodge)(4 miles from south entrance and 30 miles from Valley View) had ample reasonable rooms available for immediate occupation if you could get along without a private bathroom. It is an old hotel with about half and half rooms with bath. Enjoy your stay it is a unique opportunity for a photographer.

paulhw Loc: Los Angeles

It's a long trip from Florida to Yosemite, so I'm guessing it's a one-time trip. If this is so, then try to take the time to see Bryce and Zion, as some have mentioned. Little Grand Canyons in their own right, and worth the trip. If you have seen Yellowstone with magma, etc., you'll not be too far from Lassen; once again, worth the trip. You could also see Sequoia and the redwoods/pines there. Lots of stuff not terribly far from Yosemite. Drive carefully.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

I lived in Sonora, for 32 years, Yosemite was our back yard, depends which entrance you go through if you go in through Sonora/Chinese Camp there are quite a few decently priced hotels around, my guess is you will go in the Mariposa way and the towns around there all have hotels at a decent price, make sure you take the time to check out the areas and towns outside the park they all have a massive amount of history starting from the gold mining days, and the creeks and river still have a lot of gold in them, there are many sites to pan either pick up a gold pan they are cheap and give it a try, or go on one of the many gold panning tours around the area the price is not bad and if you go through Jamestown Ca. just 3 miles south of Sonora my son gives tours let me know and I will let him know you are interested and he would be happy to give a nice discount, he found a pocket last week that I had worked 25 years ago and he pulled out 7 ounces with a 2 1/4 ounce nugget.

Gerald Watson

Donot miss the Seqauas. They are at Yosematy.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

a definate must see, there is so much in the area that it would take many trips to get it all

Robeng Loc: California

Gary,
As for a hotel near Yosemite the two I recommend are Cedar Lodge which is about 15 minutes from the front gate of Yosemite. The other is Yosemite View lodge which is 5 minutes outside of the front gate. They are own by the same people. Yosemite View Lodge is nicer but cost more. Both are in the town of El Portal. Feel free to check out my Yosemite pictures, if you have any questions send me a message.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Lemore, CA is "south" of Yosemite, but it is a long drive. Check hotels in Coarsegold which is just south of the Parl entrance on Hwy 41

https://www.hotelplanner.com/Hotels/56132-in-Coarsegold-CA.html#dir-bar

Also, if you're "of an age," (62+) get yourself a USFS Senior Pass, free admission into all National Parks, Monuments and Museums.

the hiker Loc: San Diego

you can also check out hotels or b&b in Groveland 20 miles outside of Yosemite on hwy 120. One thing to consider if you are going to drive from the South Rim to the North Rim it is almosta 200 mile drive.The north rim is nice but I would check to see if it is open yet.If it is you will probley be able to get rooms in the park.If not the closest rooms will be at Jacob Lake whitch is 50 miles from the park. the road is 2 lanes all the way. Have a Great Trip.

Checkmate Loc: Southern California

Believe the firefall was stopped in 1967.

Checkmate Loc: Southern California

If you want to stay in Yosemite, stay in a tent cabin at Curry Village. They are reasonable, right in the Yosemite Valley, includes showers and reasonable food just feet away. The experience will make your trip memorable. If they are too rustic, then try the Yosemite Lodge. Make reservations ASAP if you decide. I have been going to Yosemite since moving to California in 1968. Made at least 65 trips and put on about 40,000 miles just driving from southern California. If the road is open also go to Toulumne Meadows. Enjoy your trip. Yosemite is heaven on Earth.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

Groveland is a fantastic place the town is quaint the Iron Door salon used to be owned by Country Joe McDonald of Woodstock fame don't know who owns it now but my son plays up there a few times a year or at least used too, I will ask him if and when they play again, the hotel also has great food. and as stated before its close to Yosemite, the south fork of the Tuolumne river, Sonora/Jamestown area, Columbia which is a great living ghost town that was built in the gold rush, and almost became California's state capitol so much to do, while in Yosemite you might want to check out hetch hetchy dam, this was a deeper canyon than Yosemite canyon, then head up to Tioga pass and Tuolumne Meadows, and the park is open now no snow on the roads, and remember to bring both warm weather and cold weather clothing the weather can change with the drop of a dime, and check if it is open due to many late summer lightening strikes, I lived there through many fires I could look over towards the park, from my home in Tuolumne city and watch how close they came, the big burn in the late 1980's evacuated us, we did not get hit but the fire came up through the Tuolumne River canyon to the outskirts of Tuolumne city, and many small burn's every year, then in the mid 1990's another fire came so close that the hotshot firefighters were at the bottom of our driveway and the helicopters took water from our pool to drop on the fire which was halfway up our side, God bless those firefighters they saved many homes that week and a half.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

it was limited, to how dry the forest was, I still saw it in the mid 70's, then it stopted but on special occasions it still happened if conditions were just right, I never saw one happen in the 90's and early 2000's then we moved away and though my kids still live in Tuolumne county, I have not been up to Yosemitesince. We drove by a few time through Mono lake and past the eastern park entrance off of Tioga Pass

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

well yes they are all great spots but Bryce and Zion are 700+ miles to the southeast, Yellowstone is 1050 miles,to the northeast, and Lassen is north of Yosemite by 250+ miles, that could make a very long trip, unless the op is planning on a month or more trip then that would make for an awesome trip.