If you’re looking for simply the coolest Yosemite cabins to make home base while exploring the park, I found them for you. I’ve visited Yosemite National Park tons of time and haven’t found anything quite as unique as the Sierra Meadows Micro Cabins near the South Gate entrance.
Come take a tour of these cute AF national park cabins with me – $10 bet I can convince you to book a stay here by the time you’re done reading.
Sierra Meadows Has The COOLEST Yosemite Cabins – Take A Tour With Me!
>> Got a question about Sierra Meadows or Yosemite that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!
These brand new tiny Yosemite cabins are located inbetween Oakhurst and Ahwahnee CA, just outside the South entrance to Yosemite National Park. The property is tucked in the country amongst trees, meadows and with the Awanhee golf course across the street with tons of walking trails. Guests have free access to bikes, so you can use those paths for a ride, too!
This is the perfect place to make home base when exploring Yosemite!
We stayed in one of their new Micro Cabins that are glamping cabins, but super posh. We’ve been glamping all over California and you never really know what you’ll be getting, but I’m here to report with good reviews that the Sierra Meadow cabins are AMAZING.
Their tiny cabins blend the camping and hotel experience perfectly. I loved stepping outside and being right there in nature, but I’m also a lover of an outlet to charge my phone. The wifi is strong, too, and while there are no TVs, you won’t need one with all the fun things to do in the area. (Or, you can download episodes of Doctor Who on an iPad as we did!)
Each one these tiny cabins are unique – as in the shapes of the windows all looked different and everyone had different color chairs on their patio. We had #28 on the corner, which I loved since it was close to the bathroom. If you can pick, I’d recommend booking #23-28 as they are in the back corner facing the woods so they are more private.
The inside of the cabins is one big room with a bed, nightstands, bench, hooks, fridge, etc. The area is small but perfect for a couple looking for a nature-filled getaway. If you are in need of more rooms and space, Sierra Meadows also has larger standard cabins with kitchens, a bathroom and Bluetooth speakers. Those mostly seemed to be booked by families.
Oh – on the note of the bathroom, what makes these glamping cabins are the lack of private bathrooms. Don’t worry, Sierra Meadows has a huge bathroom and shower facility. They’re clean and modern. At night the property is lit pretty well so I never felt scared walking to the bathroom, and they also provide tiny cabin guests with lamps to help if you need more light.
During 2020 times, cabin bookings are limited so guests can have one whole wing of the bathrooms to themselves for safety. We got the men’s bathroom and our own private door code to use, so I felt super safe.
About Sierra Meadows Amenities
- Free Wifi
- Heat
- Air Conditioning
- Outlets
- Lights
- Fan
- Mini Fridge
- Coffee station (with tea, coffee, pour over)
- Trash
- One-bedroom
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Robes + towels
- Tissues
- Hand held lamp
- Patio chairs
- Dedicated parking
- Bathroom
- Showers
- Shampoo + Condiontor
- Pool
- Bikes for guests
- Helpful on-site staff
- Dog friendly / Pet Friendly
- 4pm Check-In time
- 11am Check Out time
Book Your Cabin On Hotels.com Here!
Are There Cabins Inside Yosemite?
Here’s the thing – there is a super limited amount of cabin rentals inside Yosemite park, and the ones that are there may only be open during certain seasons. Hey, it’s a National Park after all! The majority of vacation rentals and lodging are outside the park. It’s just how it is.
That being said – one of my absolute favorite glamping spots in the entire country is at Curry Village in the heart of Yosemite Valley. You get to wake up under Glacier Point and be right there, ready to go hiking! These glamping tent cabins are only available during the warmer months, though so if you are visiting in the fall-early spring, book a stay at Sierra Meadows glamping houses instead.
Sierra Meadows to Yosemite Valley is about 1 hour and 20 minutes, which is average for all the neighboring towns with hotels (Groveland, Mariposa, etc). But, they are just 35 minutes from the redwoods at Mariposa Grove. On days you plan on going into the valley, I always recommend to travelers to get up early to maximize your time inside the park.
Personally, next time we visit Yosemite, I want to spend a couple of days at Sierra Meadows and then a couple of days at Curry Village to split our time between the sites around Yosemite South Gate and Yosemite Valley.
My Favorite Things To Do In Yosemite + Around The Entrances
There are simply so many dang beautiful scenic wonders around Yosemite. We’ve been countless times now and I still haven’t been able to see them all (no problem here, I’m ok coming back each year!) I do have a whole guide on things to do in Yosemite during fall or early winter, but here’s some of my favorite highlights:
- Glacier Point + Taft Point (stunning views of the valley and Half Dome!)
- Mirror Lake Trail Hike
- Tunnel View
- Yosemite Falls
- Mariposa Grove (Redwoods with a tunnel tree!)
- Kayaking Bass Lake
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Stroll the Merced River in the Valley
- Craft Beer (South Gate Brewing in Oakhurst + Grove House in Mariposa are favorites!)
If you’re looking for unique cabins outside Yosemite National Park, you’ll simply love Sierra Meadows tiny Mirco cabins!! If Sierra Meadows is all booked up AND it’s offseason for Curry Village Yosemite, I do have a few other hotel recommendations for you in a pinch.
We stayed at Tenaya Lodge a few winters ago and LOVED it! So dang cozy for winter stays. They put up a big Christmas tree in the lobby and have ice skating. The hotel is about a 10-minute drive from the park entrance. This lodge is one of the best places to spend Christmas in California.
I’ve also seen some friends on Instagram visit Evergreen Lodge, a new hotel in Groveland, the North Entrance to the park. I haven’t been personally, but it looks cute if you are looking to stay at the Groveland entrance instead (though be warned – the road up to this town has TONS of hairpin turns, it’s not my favorite.)
And of course, there are a few other really great Yosemite Airbnbs and cabins to rent around the park at different entrances. These are my top 10 favorite cabins, including the coolest A-Frames and even a converted train caboose!
If you stay at Sierra Meadows, I’d love to hear how you liked it! Drop a comment below so everyone can see. If you have questions about the cabins or things to do in Yosemite or Oakhurst, drop a comment or you can DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help.
Happy adventures!
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