Yosemite NP

Please refer to the bottom of this page for the cost of two people.

The Small but mighty
National Park

May 28 - 31, 2022
When you think of Yosemite, do you immediately think of giant cliff walls, or do you imagine a large vast National Park? Yosemite expands up rather than out, and the valley floor is only 7.5 miles deep and 1 mile wide. But don’t let that fool you. Make sure to pick your jaw off the floor when entering the park.

Day 1: May 28
- Indian Flat Campground

Our original flight was canceled, so the next flight we could book left us getting into San Francisco later in the day, leaving us no choice but to cancel mariposa grove trees. The drive from San Francisco Airport (SFO) to Yosemite is a little over three hours, with no traffic. Other options include Sacramento Airport (SAC) at 2 hours and 45 minutes and Oakland Airport (OAK) at 3 hours and 50 minutes.

I booked the cutest tent cabin for the first two nights at Indian Flat Campground (See Photos Below). I couldn’t find much information on this place, so I blindly agreed to stay here, but it was perfect when we checked in and got in our tent! The infamous Curry Village was sold out the first two nights, and this was the next closest option. Indian Flat has options to stay in tent cabins or the campground for tents and RVs. There are shower rooms and bathrooms, but beware, the water was freezing. Within a short walk was a motel with a pool that you could use and a small restaurant that served home-cooked food on paper plates. Bedding and towels were included, and the front office supplied basic microwave food, drinks, and camping supplies. At the same time, the tent cabins had electricity, plugs for charging things, a mini fridge, and a mirror. The one thing that was a con was that the tents were within two feet of each other, and you could hear your neighbors talking. Overall, the price of $315 was good for two nights. It was a great place to stay and was very clean and spacious.

Gas: $38 Food: $25 (We didn’t eat much due to traveling)

Day 2: May 29
- Tioga Pass

To enter Yosemite National Park, you must have reservations and be within the scheduled timed entry, or else you will be turned around at the gate. We wanted to get there at sunrise and beat the early crowds. Leaving at 550am was still too late. The lines to get in were already formed, and the crowds started getting heavy. The crowds did not stop us from getting fantastic morning sun pictures of El Capitan.

If you want to get to the other sides of the park or the two roads above the park, you must go through the middle and out the other side, so you always have those butterflies each time you pass through. We were heading to Tioga Pass to start the trip off. Tioga Pass is on one side of the upper rim, overlooks the valley floor, and contains mostly hiking trails with stunning views. We stopped at some easy-to-reach places along the way before turning around and heading back. The pass is undeniably beautiful, but the relaxation of each stop was the peak of the drive, so make sure to get out and stretch your legs and take in all of its beauty.

Along Tioga Pass, we found a flat trail to stop at to take a short walk. We saw Soda Springs off a small trail leading to Parsons Memorial Lodge. The trail was flat and made for a nice walk. Soda Springs was not much to look at but a few small bubbling holes in the ground that made up some rusty orange water. I would not stop here if this is all you have in mind to see.

If you plan to drive Tioga Pass, make sure to pack your lunch because you will not find anything along the way; plus, there are some of the most enchanting views to sit and eat lunch while looking in the distance. The day was about relaxing and doing nothing, and we did just that, minus bringing our food. Instead, we returned to the valley and ate at the food court in the Park. It was jam-packed, and service was slow, but we got some killer food. I ordered a chicken cous cous bowl, and Stephen got the poke bowl; each bowl was $15 - $20 and had a fair amount in it.

On the way back to the park, you will pass the main road into the park and come up on one of two National Park signs, make sure to get a picture with the tall trees surrounding it! We continued our drive and just took in the views. I don’t know if I have ever been so relaxed in a National Park. Before calling it an early night, we stopped by the Village store in the valley to grab snacks before heading the 20 minutes back to our cabin. Along the way, we passed a hotel with a fancy restaurant and a pizza place. The pizza at Parkside was AH-MAZING and decently priced; we almost returned the next night.

Gas: $42 Food: $258 (Snacks included for the week) Gift Shop: $147

Day 3: May 30
- Mariposa Grove
- Tunnel View
- Curry Village

On our third day in Yosemite, I made it our mission to see the giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove. To get to the Sequoias, you must pass through the park. On your way out, you will pass by Tunnel View, one of the most famous spots in the park. This is a view you will not want to miss. Make sure to see it on your way out, and especially on your way back into the park. The afternoon light is the best!

The drive to Mariposa Grove is full of tight turns for a good hour. Once you pass through the south park gates, you will come up to the entrance to Mariposa Grove and find yourself in a large parking lot. There is a free shuttle to jump on that will take you the next two miles into the park. There are many trails you can follow. The most common one is a large ring that will take you by the more famous trees in the park, and if you feel more up for a further hike, there is a whole back section to hike to as well. We just completed the front ring in about two hours.

There are limited places to stop on the road between Yosemite and Mariposa Grove. So we decided to check out the Wewona Hotel for lunch. The food was decent and well-priced for being out in the middle of nowhere. We ordered a burger with fries, a salad, and a beer for $38. After lunch, we walked around the old haunted hotel and headed out.

Our plans for the rest of the day were to relax again and take it all in. We laid out a blanket on the river and watched climbers set up their cots for the night. Make sure to bring binoculars! It is jaw-dropping and fun to find people as small as ants clinging to the side of El Capitan.

Later that evening, we were able to check into Curry Village. The village is sprawling with cabins, and it is very easy to get lost. Checking in took a while but was easy; ask for more blankets at check-in just in case it gets cold. Parking was another story. The parking lot is packed, and the walk to your cabin can be a hike, so pack lightly; roller bags do not do well over gravel. Once settled into our cabin, we headed out to find food. Unfortunately, only the Pizza Deck was open while we were there, and the line was very long to order. Once our pizzas came, the squirrels swarmed like rats. I recommend taking your pizza and finding a good spot with a view.

To end the night, we went to the village store for a pack of cards and played cards in our cabin before going to bed.

Gas: $0 Food: $70 Gift Shop: $64

Day 4: May 31
- Mist Trail to Vernal Falls
- Rental Bikes
- Mirror Lake

Waking up in Curry Village made such a difference time-wise. We were already in the park and could get a head start on the day. We packed our hiking packs and started towards Vernal Falls on Mist Trail. The falls were beautiful and had a continuous rainbow. The hike was strenuous in some spots, but we made it to the base of the falls. We felt we didn’t need to go to the top since everything was wet and slippery, so we returned to camp.

Once back at camp, we felt there was still so much more to see. In Curry Village, there is a bike rental shop packed with bikes of all sizes; for $40 a person, you can rent a bike all day. Renting bikes was a highlight of the whole trip and made it easy to see the valley floor and stop anywhere quickly. There are bike racks all over the park, making it easy to get close to the best views, including Yosemite Falls and Half Dome.

Another place that was a leisurely bike ride to was the Ahwahnee Hotel. In the Ahwahnee Hotel, there are a few places to eat, including the dining room that boasts the best views from any window in the park. We were sat within 3o minutes in the large dining room. The food was excellent and slightly expensive. For two entrees (Seafood Mac and Cheese and Steak Frites), two mouth-watering desserts, drinks, and a side salad, we were set back $107. However, it was still worth it since the views and the food made up for the prices. After lunch, we dropped into the gift shop in the hotel, where you will find some cool handmade and unique gifts.

Continuing on our bikes, we found a small town area with an Ansel Adams Gallery that didn’t have much and a deli full of people. We stopped and watched waterfalls, rode our bikes on wooden walkways through the valley, and saw things we would not have seen in a car. Renting a bike was indeed something to experience in Yosemite. If riding a bike isn’t your thing, there is a free hop-on hop-off shuttle that will drive you around the park and stop at many places.

After a long day and an expensive lunch, we opted for Lunchables and called it a night.

Gas: $0 Food: $131 Gift Shop/Extra: $84

If you follow the trail back to Half Dome/Mirror Lake, follow it on the left side. We had to take our shoes off and wade knee-deep through the river to cross over to get a view of half dome.

During my visit, Glacier Point Road was closed for construction.