A Weekend in Yosemite National Park with Kids

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. My stay at Rush Creek Lodge and Evergreen Lodge were provided at no cost to me by the properties in exchange for content written for Bay Area Moms.

One of my all-time favorite weekend getaways is escaping to the beautiful Yosemite National Park. With so many things to do from driving around the Yosemite Valley to more adventurous fetes like rock climbing and hikes, there really is something for everyone. Continue below for an itinerary and tips for planning your weekend in Yosemite with kids.

Itinerary from the Bay Area:

Day 1:

• Depart the Bay Area by midday at the latest.
• Stop in Oakdale for a break – Bloomingcamp Ranch (10528 CA-120, Oakdale, CA 95361) offers a bakery with delicious treats, play areas for the kids and bathrooms. Some other great choices: Stevie’s Pizzeria (821 W F St, Oakdale, CA 95361) and Oakdale Cheese & Specialties (10040 CA-120, Oakdale, CA 95361).
  • Seasonal fun in Oakdale: grab fresh cut flowers from Backroad Blooms.
  • Check out the almond blossoms throughout the city in the early spring.
• Arrive in Groveland by dusk and get dinner at your hotel

Day 2:

• Grab breakfast and then venture out to start your day. Consider starting with the lesser-visited Hetch Hetchy section of Yosemite. Walk across the O’Shaughnessy Dam and through a tunnel to a waterside trail. Wapama Falls is a 5.5 mile round trip hike with a flat, easy trail.
• Head over to the Yosemite Valley via the Big Oak Flat entrance – we love to start with a stop at Tunnel View for a picturesque vista of the valley, including Half Dome. Continue back down Wawona Road and drive along Southside Drive. There are a few spots to pullover to snap pictures of sights like Bridalveil Falls.
• • Winter months: Head further up Wawona Road until it meets Glacier Point Road. This junction gets a decent snowfall and there is a little parking lot and a hillside that is great for a quick snowball fight.
• Looking for an easy hike with kids in Yosemite? Try Mirror Lake (1 mile round trip loop) or Lower Yosemite Falls.
• For lunch, Curry Village, Yosemite Village and the Ahwahnee are the best spots if you have not packed a picnic lunch.
• For winter: Curry Village offers outdoor ice skating for a fee.
• Head back to your hotel for a relaxing swim or hot tub after a busy day of exploring.

Day 3:

• Get a day pass to the Rush Creek Spa located at Rush Creek Lodge. Children are invited to use the facilities between 8-11am daily. Kids 5-12 are $40 for the 3 hour window, children under 5 are free with accompanying adults. Adults are $60-80 (higher price gets a magnesium foot soak) but their pass is valid all day.
• Grab lunch in Groveland or Oakdale on your way back to the Bay Area.

When to go:

The best part of Yosemite….you can visit anytime. Each season brings a different look to the park. While the summer months (and late spring/early fall) can bring the crowds, you also get warm weather that makes a plunge into the Merced River very appealing. Likewise, the winter months, while cold, are free from crowds and you might even get to catch a peek of Yosemite with a dusting of snow.

Where to stay:

Yosemite has a plethora of accommodation options from campsites to vacation rentals to lodges. With kids, Rush Creek Lodge and Evergreen Lodge (sister properties) are recommended. They both cater to families and offer an array of amenities.

Evergreen Lodge is a bit more rustic and has a 100-year legacy. Here, you’ll find a variety of cabins including a spacious family cabin that can sleep up to 6. On the property, you’ll find a restaurant, tavern, general store (with a barista), pool & hot tub, play structures and zipline for kids, recreation room and even fire pits for nightly s’mores.

Rush Creek is a newly built property that has more of a hotel-feel but also caters to groups or families with their villas. An enormous pool is the focal point of the property as well as a recently open spa offering treatments and expansive spa facilities. The Main Lodge offers toys, games and cozy seating and daily programming ranges from crafts to educational sessions.

Whether you stay a week or a weekend, you can easily fill your days with the the property amenities, visiting the local Yosemite sights and taking in the fresh mountain air.

Where to dine:

Both lodges have on-site restaurants and taverns. The parks also have dining options, although limited in the current pandemic. There won’t be a ton of other options so best to plan ahead for meals. The lodges do have general stores with snacks and grab & go type items.

Not comfortable eating indoors yet? No worries – both lodges will prepare food orders to go to eat in your room or outside.

What to pack for a Yosemite trip with kids:

• Comfortable, quick dry clothing for exploring; casual clothes for around the hotel properties
• A sturdy water shoe will come in handy for a splash in the Merced River in summer
• Swimsuits (two per person is good if you’ll be in the water a lot)
• Toiletries including sunscreen and bug spray (warmer months)
• Hats and sunglasses
• For winter months: warm jacket, warm socks, sturdy boots, hat, gloves
  

  Rush Creek Spa

• For the pool: flotation devices for little ones (we love the Puddle Jumper) and goggles
• For family spa time at Rush Creek Spa: only adult robes and sandals are provided; kids robes are optional to bring but a pair of sandals with some grip for the wet floors would be good.
• Water bottles to fill-up
• For babies/toddlers: diapers, wipes, formula/bottles, snacks, bibs, baby carrier, hiking backpack (we love Deuter), portable crib and stroller.

Anything else to keep in mind?

• Yosemite National Park is one of the more expensive parks so getting the “America the Beautiful” pass can be lucrative, especially if you plan to go multiple days or visit other National Parks within the next 12 months.
  • Have a 4th grader? You qualify for a free pass!
• Fuel up the car when you have a chance – another great thing to do in Oakdale on your way in! While there are gas stations in and near the park, they are limited and you could find yourself on some remote roads without fuel (and pretty spotty cell service)
• Speaking of which, DO NOT count on your phone working. I kept going into Roaming mode and my phone was pretty much useless. Both hotels do have reliable wi-fi.
• Check roads and conditions – between summer wildfires and winter snow storms, roads can be closed at a moment’s notice.
• In the winter months, you may be required to have chains in your car if snow is predicted. The ranger may check and turn you away if you do not have them. We borrowed some from a friend to have in the car but never needed to use them.

Have more questions? Drop them in the comments!