Airbnbs near Yosemite National Park
Yosemite has almost no lodging inside the park — a handful of historic lodges that sell out a year ahead — which means most visitors sleep in one of the gateway towns and drive in at dawn. Which town you pick makes or breaks the trip: some are 20 minutes from the valley floor, others are 90 minutes of winding two-lane road that eats a huge chunk of your day. This page ranks the real gateway towns by drive time to Yosemite Valley, gives realistic Airbnb price ranges for each, and covers the seasonal booking wrinkles (peak summer, wildfire smoke, winter chain requirements) that people usually learn the hard way.
Best neighborhoods to book
Right at the Highway 140 entrance. 25 minutes to the valley. The closest gateway to the park.
About 45 minutes out on 140. More listings, a real town with dinner options.
Highway 120 side. About 45 minutes to the valley, closer to Hetch Hetchy.
Highway 41 south entrance. 1 hour to the valley but very close to the giant sequoias at Wawona.
Tiny mountain town 4 miles from the south gate. Charming cabins, small inventory.
The only Airbnbs actually inside park boundaries. Rare and book out months ahead.
Best for
What you'll pay
June–August is peak. September and early October drop 20–30% with better weather. Winter cabins can be a bargain but require chains.
Booking tips
- Yosemite requires a day-use reservation on many peak-summer days — check nps.gov before locking in dates.
- Highway 140 (El Portal / Mariposa) is the lowest-elevation entrance and stays open year-round.
- Fire-season smoke (August–September) can ruin an entire trip; watch AirNow.gov before you go.
- For summer weekends, book 4–6 months out. For in-park listings, 6–12 months.
- Set a free BetterStay watch on your dates — Yosemite cancellations happen constantly.
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Start a free watchFrequently asked questions
Are there Airbnbs inside Yosemite?
A very small number, in the private inholdings of Yosemite West and Wawona. They sell out first and cost the most.
How close is Mariposa to Yosemite Valley?
About 45 minutes of driving on Highway 140 to the valley floor entrance.
Do I need a park reservation to enter Yosemite?
During peak summer weekends and some holidays, yes. The system changes yearly — always check nps.gov/yose the month before you go.
Best time of year for Yosemite Airbnb prices?
Late September through October: great weather, waterfalls are lower but skies are usually clear, prices drop noticeably, and school-break demand is gone.
My summer dates are sold out — anything I can do?
Yes. Start a BetterStay watch and we'll email you when a cabin cancels. Yosemite specifically has a lot of last-minute cancellations from smoke and road-closure worries.