Here's Travel for Kids list of best family hotels in and around Yosemite, all styles and price ranges, near to fun things to do with kids.
Hotels are selected for their amenities for families, such as proximity to Yosemite National Park, rooms with refrigerators and microwaves, swimming pools and jacuzzis, complimentary breakfast, children's' programs, coin-operated laundry and more. Hotel policies can change, however, so be sure to check with the hotel at the time you make your reservation to be sure your desired family amenities are still available.
Tip: Yosemite Village is located inside the national park in Yosemite Valley, and is open year round. If you stay at The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge, or Curry Village, no day-use reservation is required (during times when this is required).
- Ahwahnee Hotel – Historic hotel with stellar views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley in all seasons; rooms with two double beds or king bed plus sofa bed (sleep 4), suites are available; mini fridges in all rooms; outdoor swimming pool; room service; on-site restaurants serving breakfast lunch and dinner with children's menu (be sure to have a meal in the dining for a memorable treat); tea and cookies every afternoon in the Great Lounge; babysitting for kids 3 and older; stories and activities for kids 6 and under once a week.
- Housekeeping Camp – Housekeeping Camp is in the trees along the Merced River; canvas tent cabins with double bed and two bunk beds (sleep up 4 - 6); sheets, blankets, pillows are extra, can be rented when you check in; hot showers; covered patio area with picnic table, cooking area; food storage containers (don't store food in your tent); coffee shop serving breakfast, lunch and dinner next door; coin-operated laundry; camp is a short distance from Half Dome Village, with restaurants, grocery store and ice cream; car parking.
- Yosemite Valley Lodge – Lodge is located close to Yosemite Falls: rooms with one queen bed and twin bed (sleep 3), two double or queen beds (sleep 4), family rooms (sleep 6); outdoor swimming pool (seasonal); on-site restaurant and food court serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus picnics to go, ice cream in summer; car parking; free shuttle bus stop.
- Curry Village – Rustic cottages with or without bath - one double and one single (sleep 3), two double beds (sleep 4); canvas tent cabins (sleep up to 5), some tent cabins are heated, bedding provided, showers and restrooms close by; outdoor swimming pool (seasonal); restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with kid-friendly food; grocery, ice cream and pizza in the village; shuttle
El Portal
Tip: El Portal is close to the west park entrance on highway 140, and convenient to Yosemite Valley.
- Yosemite View Lodge – Outdoor and indoor swimming pools and jacuzzis; rooms with two queen beds (sleep 4), connecting rooms are available; mini-fridge in rooms; some rooms have kitchenettes (refrigerator, microwave oven, two burner stove and cookware); coin-operated laundry; coin-operated laundry; on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, pizza delivery; convenience store; free car parking; hotel is located right next to the Merced River.
- Cedar Lodge – Private access to the Merced River; outdoor picnic tables and barbeques; rooms with two queen beds (sleep 4); mini-fridge in rooms; rollaway bed or crib available upon request; on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with family-friendly food; access to coin-operated laundry (up the road); car parking; indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and jacuzzi.
Mariposa
Tip: If accommodations in Yosemite Valley are booked up, stay in the town of Mariposa. It's about a 30 mile drive to Yosemite Valley on scenic highway 140, so plan on extra drive time to go to and from the park.
- Best Western Plus Yosemite Way Station – Outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi; rooms with two queen beds or king bed plus sofa bed (sleep 4), king bed, double bed plus sofa bed (sleep 6); air conditioning; breakfast is included in room rate.
- Quality Inn Yosemite Valley Gateway – Outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi; rooms or suites with two queen beds or king plus sofa bed (sleep 4), with extra bed (sleep 5); suites have living area and kitchen; breakfast included in room rate; air conditioning; restaurants close by.
- 5th Street Inn – Rooms with two queen beds and sofa bed or studio with two queen beds and sofa bed (sleep 6), rooms with two queen beds, or studio with queen bed and sofa bed (sleep 4); microwave and mini-fridge in rooms; air conditioning.
- Miners Inn – Outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi; queen rooms with two queen beds, or king bed plus sofa bed (sleep 4); microwave and mini-fridge in rooms; air conditioning; restaurant on-site, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, children's menu.
- River Rock Inn – Queen suites with two queen beds (sleep 4); mini-fridge and microwave in rooms; air conditioning; picnic area and outdoor terrace.
Groveland
Groveland is located on Highway 120, northwest entrance to Yosemite National Park.
- Yosemite Westgate Lodge– Outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi; rooms with two queen beds, dining area (sleep 4); microwave and mini-fridge in rooms, dining area in deluxe queen rooms; air conditioning; on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, grocery store; children's play area; coin-operated laundry; hiking trails.
- Evergreen Lodge – Outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi; one bedroom cabins with queen bed and two bunk beds, or king bed and sofa bed (sleep 4), two bedroom cabin, one bedroom with king bed, two twin beds in second bedroom, plus sofa bed (sleep 6); air conditioning; game room, including toddler play area; board games, puzzles; ping pong, bocce ball; on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, general store, packed lunches, snacks; nightly s'mores.
- Rush Creek Lodge – Outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi; suites with king bed and sofa bed, rooms with two queen beds (sleep 4), one bedroom villa with king bed and sofa bed (sleep 4; two bedroom villa with two king beds and sofa bed (sleep 6); mini-fridge and microwave in rooms; children's playground; game room with pool table, board games and puzzles; air conditioning; packed lunches, on site convenience store; picnic areas; crib available upon request; restaurant serving breakfast lunch and dinner, poolside barbeque in summer.
- Firefall Ranch– Outdoor swimming pool and jacuzzi; one bedroom cottages with king bed plus sofa bed (sleep 4), two bedroom cottages, one bedroom with king bed, queen bed, second bedroom with two twin beds (sleep 6), three bedroom villas, one bedroom with king bed, second bedroom with queen bed, loft with two twin beds, sofa bed in living area (sleep 8); cottages have microwave and mini-fridge, kitchenette in villas; air conditioning; on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; general store with packed lunches and snacks, nightly fireside s'mores.
- Hotel Charlotte– wo bedroom suite with queen bed and two twin beds, room with two queen beds (sleep 4), room with two twin beds (sleep 2); air conditioning; board games and puzzles; on-site restaurant serving lunch and dinner; in lobby, microwave, complimentary muffins and fruit; located in Groveland, with restaurants, ice cream, town park and picnic tables.
Fish Camp
Tip: Fish Camp is located just outside the south entrance to Yosemite, convenient to Wawona and Badger Pass skiing in winter.
- Tenaya Lodge – Indoor and outdoor swimming pools; rooms with two queen beds (sleep 4), family bungalow or two bedroom cottage with king bed, queen bed or two bunk beds, sofa bed (sleep 6); mini-fridge in all rooms, cottages have mini-fridge and microwave; air conditioning; babysitting service available; room service; on-site restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with children's menu, plus outdoor barbeques in summer; packed lunches to go; convenience store; family game room; flashlight hikes; gold panning and campfires; snowshoe hikes, sledding and snowboarding, ice skating rink in winter.
Oakhurst
Tip: Oakhurst is convenient to Wawona and Mariposa Grove in Yosemite, about 15 miles away. However, drive time from Oakhurst to Yosemite Valley typically takes an hour and a half.
- Best Western Plus Yosemite Gateway Inn – Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, jacuzzi; rooms with two king or queen beds (sleep 4), queen suite with three queen beds (sleep 6); breakfast is included in the room rate; mini-fridge and microwaves in rooms; on-site restaurant serving dinner; air conditioning; picnic tables, outdoor barbeque, children's playground; restaurants, cafes, bakery, deli, supermarket in the neighborhood.
- Hampton Inn Oakhurst-Yosemite – Indoor swimming pool (seasonal); rooms with two queen beds (sleep 4); continental breakfast included in room rate; microwave and mini-fridge in rooms; air conditioning; coin-operated laundry; convenience store on-site.
- Yosemite Southgate Hotel and Suites – Family suites with two queen beds, or king bed mini-suites with sofa bed (sleep 4); mini-fridge and microwaves in rooms; air conditioning; cafes, restaurants, deli, supermarket in the neighborhood.
- Fairfield Inn and Suites – Outdoor swimming pool; rooms with two queen beds or suites with king bed plus sofa bed (sleep 4); microwave and mini-fridge in rooms; continental breakfast included in room rate; air conditioning; coin-operated laundry.
- Queen's Inn by the River – Room with two double beds (sleep 4), rooms with king or queen bed (sleep 2), extra bed available upon request (to sleep 3); air conditioning; continental breakfast included in the room rate; mini-fridge in rooms; quiet location next to the river.