Glamping Glory Days in Yosemite Mariposa County
Glamping – “glamorous camping” – is outdoor recreation’s new lodging genre. A hybrid experience, equal parts luxury hotel and camping, glamping is a creative way to stay in a comfortable cocoon of cozy amenities surrounded by nature.
Here are Yosemite Mariposa County’s leading practitioners of the alternative art of glamping, from A(hhh) to Z(zzz)!
AutoCamp Yosemite
AutoCamp Yosemite is located in foresty Midpines, just 25 miles from Yosemite National Park’s Arch Rock Gate on all-season Highway 140. Renowned for its armada of iconic Airstream travel trailers that have been custom-built as hotel suites, AutoCamp Yosemite also features a pure glamping option: 15 luxury tents, outfitted with high-thread-count luxury linens, bedding, and bathrobes — everything needed for home on the Sierra range.
Covering 35 acres of foresty terrain, the mantra of AutoCamp is to encourage a communal, outdoor experience that honors the spirit and
tradition of camping. There are hiking trails nearby and an onsite shuttle stop for easy access to Yosemite National Park, operated by YARTS. AutoCamp Yosemite also provides glampy amenities including individual outdoor firepits, pool, hot tub, and scenic roof deck (perfect for stargazing).
High Sierra Camps
The wild backcountry of Yosemite National Park might not be the first place that comes to mind when discussing glamping, but stay with us. The High Sierra Camps, located within the spectacular alpine wilderness of Northern Yosemite, offer fully outfitted, shared tent cabins at five locations spaced roughly six to 10 miles apart.
High Sierra Camps offer the rewards of backpacking without the need to carry a heavy backpack, as each location offers hot dinner and breakfast served family-style. Clothing, personal items, and toiletries are all you need to carry. Each cabin has a wood-burning stove to ward off the chill at elevations ranging from 7,000 to over 10,000 feet, and showers are available at three of the camps. All camps have restrooms and potable drinking water.
Lake McSwain Camping & Recreation Area
Lake McSwain is a small “after-bay” of larger Lake McClure. It is also a perfect place to practice the art of glamping at Lake McSwain’s six lakefront cabins. Called the “Park Cabins,” the units come in at just under 400 square feet with all the amenities, including bathrooms, showers, kitchens with refrigerators, stove and microwaves, barbecues, fire pits, and covered picnic tables.
Regularly stocked, Lake McSwain is known as a great California fishing destination for trout with salmon and bass also on the angler’s menu. Water players flip for Splash-N-Dash, Lake McSwain’s popular water park/obstacle course with giant inflatables.
Mariposa Fairgrounds RV
Park & Campground
Just south of old town Mariposa off Highway 49, the Mariposa Fairgrounds offer year-round camping and RV areas tucked inside a verdant garden of lawns, shade trees, and flowerbeds within its gates.
Tent cabins are available year-round with just a few exceptions when fairs are underway. Electricity, water, restrooms, and shower facilities are complemented by a centrally located picnic area and proximity to the restaurants, shops, museums and historic buildings of Mariposa, the county seat.
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort
For many a modern Muir, the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort has irresistible appeal. The Bug, as it’s known to devotees, offered glamping before glamping was even a thing with its bohemian, supertramp vibe.
About 30 miles from Yosemite Valley in Midpines, the Bug offers a wide range of lodging options with legit glamping DNA, including an
international-style hostel. They have electricity for mood lighting and device charging, fans, screen doors, nice-thread-count linens, and view decks. Heated insulated tent cabins have additional interior walls, heaters, and decks. The Bug’s new tiled restroom complex features a full self-service do-it-yourself guest kitchen and dining area, sink bank, laundromat, private showers, and toilets.
Coming soon: Wildhaven Yosemite will be adding 40 glamping tents and limited recreational services in 2022, right near the town of Mariposa. This new glamping outfit successfully opened its first location in Sonoma on the Russian River in 2020.
Stay Tuned!