2025 Trip to Yosemite Tuolumne Meadows Lodge

August 10-24, 2025

LAST UPDATED: 6/29/2025
I’ve reserved several cabins. You’re invited (while supplies last).
Welcome to the information page for the August 2025 Yosemite trip. If you have questions after reading this page, please ask me so that I may update this page with our Q&A, which may be helpful to others planning to attend.
I have several cabins available for family and friends. Each sleeps 4 people. Single travelers may request a bed in a cabin, perhaps even in my cabin. Couples and families may request a cabin for yourselves. If you wish to bring guests, they may have to stay in your cabin if I run out of cabins for my guests.
It’s best to request a cabin or bed and plan your trip around the Key Dates below. Do not purchase travel until I have confirmed your cabin or bed dates and availability.

COST:

A cabin costs about $186 for 2 people and slightly more for 3 or 4 people. We must transfer my reservation to you so that you can get into the park without a park reservation. Your cabin reservation must match your ID to avoid the new park reservation system.

KEy Dates:

I have Tuolumne Meadows Lodge cabins reserved for August 10-15 and August 16-24. For the missing night, August 15-16, I may stay in Curry Village or Lee Vining. I have the greatest availability starting August 17. Let’s break down the dates so you can work out when you will arrive and when you will depart:

August 10-14: I have three cabins: one for me and two for family members, so these dates are all claimed. Check back later for a family cancellation if interested in these dates.
August 14-15: I have one cabin only, and I plan to use it, but I’m happy to open up two of the beds in my cabin to anyone who needs a bed this night.
August 15-16: I have no cabins, so I will likely stay in Curry Village or Lee Vining. If you are interested in joining, let’s coordinate. See https://reservations.ahlsmsworld.com/Yosemite/Plan-Your-Trip/Accommodations for availability.
August 16-23, I have three cabins: I have one, another is claimed (E&B), so one remains available.
August 17-24, I have six cabins: four are claimed (B&S, C&R, C&P, W&H), so two remain available.
August 17 is my birthday, if that matters. I hope to have dinner with all present. Expensive gifts welcome.
August 20 or 21 will likely be my last day in the park, but you can stay on until the end of your reservation.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

Hantavirus is the deadly virus that killed Gene Hackman’s wife and, in 2012, killed three visitors to Yosemite. The hantavirus gets excreted by deer mice and dries into dust, which you then inhale. Mortality is probably greater than 50%. While the risk of contracting hantavirus is low, consequences are high, so here are some things I will do to protect myself and I advise you to do:
- 1. Never sweep your cabin. Sweeping disturbs the dust that holds the virus and makes it easier to inhale. Many people who die were sweeping or stirring up dust.
- 2. If you see dust or urine or feces, spray it with a 10% solution of bleach. I will have a spray bottle of 10% bleach in my cabin you can use.
- 3. Report any mice or mice urine or feces to park staff and make sure they don’t sweep it. I advise spraying it before reporting it.
- 4. Bring an N-95 mask (I bring one everywhere) and wear it while spaying and cleaning dust and mice urine and feces.
Elevation: Tuolumne Meadows lies at about 8,600 feet. Some people adapt quickly to the high elevation. I adapt slowly, taking 5 days or so before I’m not breathless walking across a room. Don’t plan big hikes too early in your stay. Drink lots of water to avoid altitude effects and sickness.
Cold: Nights are cold. Bring layers you can wear in case your cabin and blankets are not enough to keep you warm. There are wood-burning stoves in cabins — another reason to bring an N-95 mask, given the ash from the wood is bad for your lungs.
No power in cabins, so if you have a CPAP or oxygen machine, be sure to make appropriate arrangements.
You should have, and can buy locally, sunscreen and mosquito spray. It’s a good idea to have a first aid kit on hand and for hikes.
No cooking is allowed in cabins. Meals are available at the lodge. People also bring food, especially lunch and snack fixings, and store it in the bear boxes.
No food allowed in cabins or cars due to bears. Bears will peel off the doors of your car to get food. Use bear boxes to store food.

Q&A?

Is there coffee at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge? YES! You can also get hot water and make your own instant or pour-over coffee. Same for hot chocolate.
Is there a laundry facility at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge? Not that I know of. Laundry is likely available in Lee Vining, the town closest to the Lodge.
Where should I fly into and get a car? SFO has the most direct flights and competitive prices on car rental. Consider also Oakland, Reno, San Jose, and Sacramento airports.
Do I need a reservation to get into the park? Yes, but there is an exception for people who have an accommodation reservation in the park that matches their ID.
What should I pack? I’ll create a list and update this page shortly.
I’ll add more questions and answers as I receive them.

what IF I’M NOT SURE I CAN MAKE IT?

You can cancel up to one week (let’s say 8 days to be safe) before arrival at no risk (you get a FULL REFUND). And when they make the reservation, they only take a one-night refundable deposit. So not only is very little of your money tied up in the reservation, but you have a lot of time to request a full refund.

That said, before you cancel, please offer to transfer your reservations (back) to me. I’ll accept if I can find someone who needs a cabin.

POSSIBLE ITINERARY (EXEMPLARY, NOT PLANNED):

Because it’s hard to coordinate big groups, we don’t try. Half of people typically will join on that day’s decided activities, and half of people will do their own thing like stay by the Lodge and do a short hike, or drive to the valley, or sit by the river and read a book between naps. We also bring games!

That said, here is how some of the days may unfold:

August 15: Visit Yosemite Valley if you’ve never been before or you just miss it (warning: it’s packed in summer), and spend the night at Curry Village. Alternatively, visit the tufas and ghost town (Bodie) near Lee Vining and stay overnight in Lee Vining.
August 16: Do one or more of the easy Yosemite Valley day hikes if you woke up in the Valley, or one of the hikes near Lee Vining if you woke up there. If you have a cabin at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge this night, make your way there. Otherwise consider spending a second night where you are.
August 17: My birthday, yay. Plan to join me for dinner at Tuolumne Meadows Lodge (reservations essential) if not at the Whoa Nelli Deli. For people who arrived yesterday or who are arriving today, consider relaxing as you adjust to the altitude. Walk around the flats of Tuolumne Meadows, or go horseback riding (stables are near Tuolumne Meadows Lodge), or walk from the Lodge to Twin Rivers and beyond. See https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tmhikes.htm
August 18: If you’ve adjusted to the elevation, take a hike. Me, it takes 4-5 days to adjust. If you’re chilling this day, consider the relaxing, easy pace of visiting the ghost town at Bodie or the tufas of Mono Lake or both followed by dinner at the Whoa Nelli Deli.
August 19: If you’ve adjusted to the elevation, attempt one of the lake hikes, typically about 4 miles each way with a stop for lunch. If you’re still adjusting, the Tuolumne Meadows walk along the river is nice as are other day hikes in the area of the Lodge, and you might even see bear.
August 20: See prior days and do the things you missed. I may check out this day and return home.
August 21: See prior days and do the things you missed. I may check out this day and return home.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

Wild fires that close roads or mandate evacuation could derail all the best-laid plans. Have a Plan B just in case. If you usually buy travel insurance, do so.
Government cuts to the National Park Service may also upset plans.