[MartinAnt]

Hi there,

Going to be over the west coast this summer, doing San Fran, Vegas, San Diego, etc, but 2 places we'll be going will be Yosemite National Park and the Grand Canyon. As overnight prices can be fairly crazy in these places, we are thinking about camping.

Has anyone ever camped in these places? We will have no camping gear whatsoever with us, so does anyone know if its possible to rent the whole lot, tent, sleeping bags, etc, and any idea of prices?

Any help appreciated!

Cheers,
MartinAnt

[coylemj]

http://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm

http://www.nps.gov/grca/index.htm

[lc180]

I've camped at both and these parks are amazingly beautiful. I highly recommend camping there, it'll be a great escape from all the cities and highways on your trip.

I'm not sure if you can rent tents and camping gear, me and my mates brought our own stuff. There is loads of outdoor & camping stores along the highways and in malls so it will be easy to buy supply's. But I'm guessing you don't want to spend a fortune on gear if you're only gonna use it a couple times.... tricky situation.
The links provided by coylemj will give you all the info you need about the parks. I think they provide VIP style camping facilities but I'm sure it comes at a hefty price.

One piece of advice is book your camp-space early because they seem to fill up fast during the summer months.

Enjoy your trip!

[M5]

you will need to book both well in advance, have done both and it comes highly recommended!

What time of year are you planning, weather is a big consideration. It gets really hot in the summertime at the GC and its cold in both during the winter

You can always get a motel in Flagstaff for the grand canyon (1.5hr drive), nothing much bar route 66 there, i have stayed in the highland inn (nice motel) and the luxury inn about a mile outside flagstaff but extremely cheap. Williams is about 30 mins closer but usually more expensive and again not much to see there

Renting an RV an option?

[MartinAnt]

Sorry about the late response, and thanks for the replies. I'd actually been on that site already, and Yosemite is completely booked out. I didnt think it would be booked out 2 months in advance, so a bit naive on my part.

I'm sure it doesnt help that it'll be a Friday and Saturday night we are looking to camp in Yosemite, so weekends are obviously busier. Didnt plan it that way, just with flights and things, thats the 2 nights we will be in that area.

Any other ideas!!??

Cheers,
MartinAnt

[M5]

Originally Posted by MartinAnt

Sorry about the late response, and thanks for the replies. I'd actually been on that site already, and Yosemite is completely booked out. I didnt think it would be booked out 2 months in advance, so a bit naive on my part.

I'm sure it doesnt help that it'll be a Friday and Saturday night we are looking to camp in Yosemite, so weekends are obviously busier. Didnt plan it that way, just with flights and things, thats the 2 nights we will be in that area.

Any other ideas!!??

Cheers,
MartinAnt

If your there at 8am you can get cancellations, we did it in September for both nights. There were at least 10/15 every day. Getting there early is crucial, its first come first served. They take names from 8am to 3.30. You have to be there at 3.30 to get your spot

Double check that times though, they may have changed since I was there

[MartinAnt]

That sounds promising M5, but i dont think i'd liek to take the chance of not getting a cancellation and really being stuck then.

Looking like could just have to fork out for these 2 nights.

[Cream Cake]

Hi,
You could camp in Curry village- the main campground with Yosemite park.
The prices are reasonable. They offer canvas tents with beds and sheets. Perfect for overseas travellers.

Staying withing yosemite saves all the travelling to and from the park everyday on the YARTS bus.
We stayed in just outside the park and this was still and hour drive in every morning.
Yosemite is unbelievable, most awe-inspiring scenery i have ever seen. You will love it.
All accomod within the park is controlled through a central reservation telephone line which is on the nps.gov/yose website. There are lots of cancellations on this. Just have to keep trying/ring diff times to get lucky as most accom in the park are booked out up to a yr in advance.

[FernandoTorres]

I can recommend this place: http://www.yosemitebug.com/

It's about a 30-40 min drive from the park itself but in a nice area and has really good food. We had a car so went out to Yosemite that way but they also have regular buses. Way cheaper than staying in the park itself.

[M5]

Originally Posted by MartinAnt

That sounds promising M5, but i dont think i'd liek to take the chance of not getting a cancellation and really being stuck then.

Looking like could just have to fork out for these 2 nights.

take the chance an get a Motel somewhere further out if it falls through...

[Idbatterim]

hey op, i did a very similar trip in 08, was bout 6 weeks. I would recommend adding lake tahoe to your list only 3-4 hours from San Fran, on your way up the coast I would recommend a night or two in santa barbara, Hearst Castle is also on the way up to San Fran and worth checking out. A drive through death valley on way into vegas is also an experience. We did it in a loop, start La, work up coast to San Fran, across to lake tahoe (google images it, also its on cali / nevada border, so 2 big casinos on the border, with big nightclubs, gambling etc), down to yosemite, down through death valley in nearly 50 degree Celsius heat! then across to san diego and back up to LA. We were able to rent cabin in Yosemite, was fairly reasonable.

[MartinAnt]

Its not easy this!

Curry Village is booked out, all the reasonable priced options anyway.

Looking like camping is a non runner now, so looking at other accommodation. Anybody familiar with Cedar Lodge / Yosemite View Lodge? Similar, EUR300 for 2 nights give or take. I'm confused about reviews on location, on all places, not just these 2. Somewhere might say 5 mins to the park, while another will say 30 mins to the centre of the park, I'm thinking anywhere claiming to be close to the park means the boundary, so you'll be further again before you're properly inside it or near the main attractions?

Have seen other places, some alright, some not great, so although as M5 said, i could take the chance on a cancellation, I don't want to miss out, then be in some crappy enough motel, i may as well be in one of the 2 i mentioned, which have pools, and the river, etc, as going to be there 2 nights.

Idbatterim - considered Tahoe but not happening i dont think now. San Fran - Napa - Yosemite - Vegas - Grand Canyon - San Diego - Santa Barbara.

Cheers,
MartinAnt

[Cream Cake]

It is very difficult to get lodging within the park. Alot of it is luck and timing.
In Mar 2011 we rang the nps parks reservation no to book Yosemite lodge or curry village and they were fully booked.
But when out there in July, we fell in love with the place and wanted to stay on longer and rang the reservation # while actually out there in the Ahwanhee hotel lobby (which is within the park), we got lodgings! Haunted.

Anyway when booking last march, We then booked Cedar lodge for 4 nites via booking.com.
It is a lovely, basic motel. It had 2 double beds and ensuite with fridge.
It has a pool and mini shop and bar.
Cedar lodge is 50mins/ 1hr from yosemite valley. Yosemite valley is the hub of the park- all the restaurants, shops, museums, etc. This is about 25mins from the parks gate.
Every day there is a YARTS bus- Yosemite Area Transportation bus Service stops at cedar lodge( all lodges enroute) at various times.
Cedar lodge is 20 mins from the parks main entrance. The YARTS bus drops u off in the centre of yosemite( yosemite valley).
The only motel nearer to the park gate is Yosemite view lodge. Its about 10mins nearer. But thats it, nothing else nearer. U have to stay in the park to get nearer.

[MartinAnt]

Yeah I look the look of Cedar Lodge. Its looks closer than 50 mins on the map to Yosemite Valley, looks max 30km?? Mate of mine stayed in Oakhurst, which seems further away, and said it took half an hour from there into the centre.

Confusing stuff this!