Honeymoon stays at Wawona Hotel: what to expect
Wawona Hotel is a historic, family-friendly mountain hotel inside Yosemite National Park that historically offered Victorian-style rooms, on-site dining, a seasonal outdoor pool, tennis and a nine-hole golf course. Note: the hotel has been closed since December 2, 2024 for a National Park Service condition assessment and is not accepting reservations until reopening updates are posted.
In this guide
Location and setting
Wawona Hotel sits on Wawona Road near Yosemite’s South Entrance, close to Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the Wawona Meadow Loop and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center. The property’s address is 8308 Wawona Road, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389.
Historically the hotel has been used as a base for exploring nearby trails, the golf course across the street, and the park’s south-side attractions; Yosemite Valley is a drive from Wawona rather than a walk. Guests should confirm current access before travel because the hotel is closed for an ongoing condition assessment.
- Near the Wawona Meadow Loop trailhead (about 3.5-mile mostly flat loop)
- About a 20-minute drive to Mariposa Grove (roughly 8 miles)
- Wawona Golf Course directly across the street
| Nearby place | Typical distance/time |
|---|---|
| Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias | About 8 miles / ~20 minutes by car |
| Yosemite Valley | Roughly a 45-minute drive |
| Wawona Meadow Loop trailhead | Across the road / walkable |
Rooms and the historic vibe
The property historically offered 104 guestrooms across six Victorian-era buildings, including both private-bath and shared-bath rooms. The official room type listing names the guest unit as Room (; beds: 1 Queen Bed).
To preserve the historic character, guestrooms do not include in-room televisions or telephones; Wi‑Fi is available only in designated common areas such as the Sun Room and Golf Shop (not in guest rooms).
- 104 total guestrooms across six buildings
- 50 rooms with private baths, 54 with shared/central bathrooms
- No in-room TV or telephone; limited Wi‑Fi in common areas
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Room name | Room (; beds: 1 Queen Bed) |
| Bathroom types | Private or shared/central depending on room |
| In-room tech | No TV or phone; Wi‑Fi in Sun Room and Golf Shop only |
Dining, drinks and evening atmosphere
Wawona Hotel has one on-site restaurant, the Wawona Hotel Dining Room, which served American comfort classics and operated seasonally. Meals were charged in addition to room rates rather than included.
The hotel historically had a lounge/piano bar with evening live piano music on select nights and a sun deck where drinks were served; exact hours varied by season and were limited.
- Dining Room: breakfast, lunch and dinner (seasonal service)
- Lounge/Piano Bar: limited evening hours; live piano some nights
- Meals and drinks were additional charges (not included in room rate)
| Venue | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wawona Hotel Dining Room | Seasonal hours; wheelchair-accessible dining; reservations often recommended |
| Lounge / Piano Bar | Limited evening service with intermittent live piano music |
On-site activities and nearby outdoor options
The hotel traditionally offered seasonal recreational amenities: a seasonal outdoor swimming pool (typically open June–September), outdoor tennis courts, and a nine-hole golf course across the street. The golf course is one of the few located inside a U.S. national park.
Nearby outdoor attractions include the Wawona Meadow Loop (trailhead across the road), Mariposa Grove trails, Chilnualna Falls trail access, horseback-riding options from nearby stables, and a local swimming hole on the South Fork Merced River.
- Seasonal outdoor pool (typically June–September when open)
- Nine-hole Wawona Golf Course (seasonal; clubs and carts can be rented)
- Outdoor tennis court on property
- Wawona Meadow Loop trailhead across the road
- Guided horseback rides available nearby
| Activity | Typical availability |
|---|---|
| Swimming (hotel pool) | Seasonal (usually June–September) |
| Golf | Seasonal; nine-hole course across the street |
| Tennis | Outdoor court on property |
Weddings and meetings
The Sunroom Venue at Wawona Hotel has been used for weddings and receptions; it features three walls of French doors to the Veranda and a listed indoor capacity of up to 80 guests. The hotel also offers an outdoor wedding lawn suitable for ceremonies (outdoor capacity up to 80).
The property provides multiple meeting and event spaces (six spaces in total) with combined meeting space reported around 5,572 square feet, supporting groups from roughly 25 to 150 people depending on layout and use.
- Sunroom indoor reception space with French doors to the Veranda
- Sunroom listed capacity: up to 80 guests (indoor or outdoor)
- Six meeting/event spaces total; total meeting space ~5,572 sq ft
| Event option | Typical capacity |
|---|---|
| Sunroom (indoor/outdoor) | Up to 80 guests |
| Meeting rooms combined | Groups of 25–150 (varies by configuration) |
| Outdoor wedding lawn | Up to 80 guests |
Practicalities, accessibility and booking status
Important: Wawona Hotel has been closed since December 2, 2024 for a National Park Service condition assessment and is not accepting reservations until official reopening information is posted. Prospective visitors should check the National Park Service or concessioner pages for updates before making travel plans.
Practical on-property services that were available when open included free self/guest parking, a 24-hour front desk, smoke-free grounds, and wheelchair-accessible dining room, lobby and restrooms; the property has no elevator service. Payment methods historically accepted included major credit cards, debit cards and cash.
- Closed since December 2, 2024 for condition assessment — not taking reservations
- Free self/guest parking on site; designated accessible parking on north side
- Accessible public spaces (dining, lobby, restrooms) but no elevator service
- Check-in generally began at 4:00 PM with check-out by 11:00 AM (some sources list slight variations)
| Item | What to expect / note |
|---|---|
| Booking status | Property closed for condition assessment; check official updates |
| Check-in / Check-out | Standard listed: check-in 4:00 PM (arrivals accepted to midnight); check-out 11:00 AM (some listings vary) |
| Pets | Pets not permitted except service animals (ADA Title III) |
