Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park

When it’s time to celebrate, no place does it quite like the Ahwahnee Hotel in the heart of Yosemite National Park. Built in 1927, the historic hotel is a fantastic destination if you are looking for a romantic place to bring your significant other or if you want an upscale family getaway. It’s Yosemite’s only AAA® Four-Diamond hotel and it’s a National Historic Landmark.

The Ahwahnee Hotel is conveniently located in Yosemite Valley, an easy walk to trailheads, the valley bike path, the shuttle and a number of restaurants. Plus, it is home to a fantastic restaurant, the Ahwahnee Dining Room, beautiful grounds, a heated outdoor pool, a sweet shop and a gift shop. You’ll find free guest parking, which means you can park your car and not worry about it until you want to leave the park.

Rustic but elegant chandeliers hang from a 34-foot-high ceiling while floor-to-ceiling windows offer beautiful views in the Ahwahnee Dining Room. The dining room offers a lively menu from pumpkin flan to grilled angus filet mignon. Adding to the sophistication is the sound of classical music filling the air as a professional pianist plays on the room’s piano.

How Do I Get a Reservation at the Ahwahnee Hotel?

While the Ahwahnee Hotel is the most expensive lodging in the park, it also is very popular. The hotel offers a range of accommodations from hotel rooms to suites and cottages. Prices can start at $518/night  for a standard room with one king bed and go all the way up to over $1,200 for a Library Suite.

You can make a reservation at Travel Yosemite (www.travelyosemite.com/lodging/the-ahwahnee/), the park concessionaire. If possible, book a year in advance to get the dates you want. While there are periodic openings several months in advance, it’s not a great idea to count on them. The early bird gets the worm here, so book as soon as you know you want to visit Yosemite.

What Types of Rooms Does the Ahwahnee Offer?

Four types of hotel rooms offer a variety of options from Featured rooms with the most outstanding views of Yosemite’s natural wonders to Classic rooms that offer views of Glacier Point, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome.

Standard rooms, located in the rear of the hotel, offer limited views for the budget conscious. Classic rooms take everything up a notch by offering fantastic views. ADA-compliant rooms are designed to make navigating the room and bathroom easier, including low-density carpet. Featured hotel rooms have balconies that give you great views of the park.

There are two junior suites, one of which Queen Elizabeth of England stayed at when she visited Yosemite National Park in the 1980s. Four hotel parlors, which are luxury suites, are available, each with their own features from a sunken living room to a grand bath.

If you are looking for more of a cottage experience, the Ahwahnee Hotel has four types of cottages available. The featured cottages are on the higher end with a fireplace and sitting area. The classic cottages have king or double beds and are larger than the standard cottages, which come with a king bed. There are also ADA-compliant cottages.

Does the Ahwahnee Have a Dress Code?

There is no dress code for walking around the hotel. However, the Ahwahnee Dining Room does have a dress code for guests who dine there. For dinner, men must wear long pants and a shirt with a collar. Women wear a dress, skirt or long pants with a blouse. The dining staff ask that guests do not wear shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, T-shirts or baseball caps.  All children over the age of four are asked to dress per the dress code as well.  Breakfast, brunch and lunch are casual dress.

Before the pandemic, anyone could make dinner reservations. But at present, dinner reservations are limited to hotel guests. There is a waitlist for non-hotel guests in case a table opens up. Call 209-372-1489 to make a reservation or to ask to be put on a waitlist.

For More Information:
Yosemite Central Reservations
(888) 413-8869
www.travelyosemite.com

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