Yosemite is one of the United States’ most famous national parks. Heck, they even named an iconic cartoon character after it (Yosemite Sam). This stunning national park is on the travel bucket list for Americans and international travelers alike. I recently visited Yosemite National Park, and in this guide, I’ll walk you through what you need to know for a successful first-time visit there.

Where is Yosemite National Park?
Yosemite National Park is located in Central California, toward the eastern side of the state. If you’re heading there from Los Angeles, it’s about a 4-hour drive (without traffic). You may encounter some traffic delays departing from LA, but it shouldn’t be as bad the further north you get. It will also depend on the day and time you leave. We left for Yosemite on a weekday around 9:30-10 am, so we missed the morning rush hour traffic, and we returned to LA on Saturday in the late morning/early afternoon.

Where to Stay in Yosemite
One thing to keep in mind is that Yosemite is HUGE, and where you’re traveling from will determine the Yosemite entrance you’re closest to, as well as where you should stay.

For those coming to Yosemite from Southern California, your nearest Yosemite entrance is the south one. The closest town to that entrance is Fish Camp, but I recommend staying in Oakhurst, which is just a bit farther but still just a 30-minute drive to the park entrance. Oakhurst offers more hotels, restaurants, and local shops. It’s also right off the highway, so it’s convenient for heading back home.

As far as hotels near Yosemite National Park, we stayed at the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite. This motel-style lodging offers free breakfast, and since the hotel property is off Road 41, it’s a straight shot on Road 41 to the park, making things super easy to navigate. The Oakhurst Inn is also pet-friendly, has free guest parking, and has a pool. 

Learn more about the Oakhurst Inn in my full-length Oakhurst Inn Review.

For those on the more adventurous side, you also have the option to camp inside Yosemite Park. You can learn more about Yosemite campground reservations here.

Yosemite Weather
Yosemite may be in California, but it’s also up in the mountains, which means you can encounter snow in winter. I do not recommend going in winter since more areas are closed during this time. 

Instead, I recommend going from late spring to early fall when the temperatures warm up and the park is fully open. We visited in late May, and the weather was perfect. It was sunny and around 70 degrees, so not too hot or too cold. 

Yosemite National Park Tickets
If you plan to drive through with your own car, tickets are $35 per vehicle. On the park’s website, it says the $35 ticket is good for three consecutive days, but the park ranger said we could use ours for a week. This may have been because we were there before Memorial Day Weekend and the start of the summer season, but I’m not sure. 

Annual park passes are $70. You can visit their official website for a full breakdown of Yosemite’s ticket prices. 

Yosemite Reservations
For those who plan to visit Yosemite Memorial Day Weekend or during summer, you will need a reservation. Please do not forget to do this since this is Yosemite’s busiest season. They can book up quickly, so the sooner you reserve, the better. Yosemite reservations are $2.

What to See in Yosemite
Like I said earlier, Yosemite is huge, so there’s only so much you can see in a limited amount of time. If you’re staying for 1-2 days, here are my recommendations based on what we saw:

• Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - Parking is right by the south entrance. A free shuttle will take you to the trailhead where the sequoias are, and the shuttles run about every 10 minutes until about 7:30-8 pm. If you’re interested in wildlife, I did see some squirrels and deer here.
• Glacier Point - A scenic view where you can park your car to get photos and look out.
• Tunnel View - Like Glacier Point, it’s a scenic stop that’s very pretty. 
• Lower Yosemite Falls Trail - This pet-friendly trail is located in the Yosemite Valley. You can find the trailhead from the Yosemite Valley Lodge.
• Cooks Meadow - Also in the Yosemite Valley and near the Lower Yosemite Falls Trail.

Additional Yosemite National Park Travel Tips

• Go in Late May/Early September - For those with flexible schedules, I highly recommend going just before Memorial Day or just after Labor Day. This way, you won’t need a reservation, will still get good weather, the park is still fully open for the season, and you’ll beat the very busy summer crowds. 
• Plan to Drive (ALOT) - Coming from our hotel in Oakhurst, it was a 30-minute drive to the park entrance. While the shuttle to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is right by the south entrance, I was taken aback at just how much driving we did on our second day to see Glacier Point and Yosemite Valley. It’s at least another hour's drive into the park, but the upside is that the views along the way are great!
• Be wary of speed-demon drivers - Yosemite has speed limit signs and the mountain roads are windy, but that still doesn’t stop some folks from driving like maniacs there. During our stay, we saw one car get pulled over by a park ranger, and then we got stuck in a traffic jam because they had to tow a car that had driven off the cliff a few days earlier. Seriously, be safe and don’t let other drivers intimidate you into driving recklessly. 
• The roads are windy - Like I said, the roads are windy. Even Road 41 to the park entrance is windy. If you’re not a good night driver, make sure you’re heading back to your hotel by dusk at the latest, and don’t speed!
• More bathrooms than expected - While I can’t speak to the off-the-beaten-path trails, there were plenty of bathrooms available where we visited. Some were working bathrooms while others were glorified outhouses, but I will say the outhouse I used was well-maintained, and the scented devices they put in there were very appreciated!
• Bring lots of water - I immediately noticed how much drier the air is there, so pack and drink lots of water to avoid getting dehydrated. I’d also suggest a strong moisturizer, since it can dry out your skin too.
• Plan accordingly if you’re bringing your dog - While Yosemite is a great place to bring your pet, you are limited to what you can see or do there. Pets are generally only allowed on paved road areas, such as scenic views and paved trails. My husband stayed with our dog when I went to see the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, but everything else on my recommended list above was pet-friendly.

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

The Hotel Encino is in downtown Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where the newer part of downtown ends and the old town—or the romantic zone—begins. This means it’s in an ideal location for those who love being in the middle of the action, with plenty to walk to. Whether it’s Puerto Vallarta’s Malecon or endless restaurants, shops, bars, and nightclubs, there is no shortage of ways to keep busy during your stay at the Hotel Encino Puerto Vallarta.

Unlike larger resorts in Puerto Vallarta, the Hotel Encino is not all-inclusive. However, they do have a restaurant and pool on their top floor. Because it’s not all-inclusive, it’s also great for budget travelers who’d rather eat at local restaurants during their stay.

The hotel is not a luxury, brand-new building, but it is kept immaculately clean and retains its authentic Mexican charm. During my stay, I also loved that they served free coffee in the mornings, and there was a local cat who hung out in the lobby. 


Pros: What I Like About the Hotel Encino Puerto Vallarta

• Location - The Hotel Encino is located in downtown Puerto Vallarta at the start of the city’s romantic zone. 
• It was clean - The hotel is not a high-end or newer place, but it was always well-kept when I stayed there.
• Walkable to everything - The Hotel Encino is in the heart of Puerto Vallarta, which means you can walk to plenty of nearby restaurants, the Malecon boardwalk, bars, buses, shops, etc. 
• Restaurant and pool available to guests - While I didn’t use the pool here, there is a restaurant on the hotel’s top floor that I went to. I do recommend taking advantage of the nearby restaurants in the romantic zone, but it’s also nice to have a restaurant at the hotel for a quick bite.
• Budget-friendly - As a regular hotel, this place is going to be much cheaper than the fancier all-inclusive resorts. Granted, you will have to go out for meals, but you have opportunities to save money, such as shopping at local grocery stores if you don’t want to always eat out.

Cons: What I Didn’t Like About the Hotel Encino Puerto Vallarta

• Older rooms - While the hotel keeps their rooms tidy, it is an older building, so the rooms are a bit dated.
• Hard beds  - As a stomach sleeper, a firm bed isn’t so bad, but I imagine folks who sleep on their side might not like how firm their beds are here.
• It can get noisy at night - While the hotel itself is quiet, keep in mind you’re staying downtown, so the action outside on the street can sometimes be noisy at night. Thankfully, this hotel isn’t right along the Malecon, so it won’t get too nuts, but it’s just something to keep in mind.

Want more options? Visit my full list of my top hotels and resorts in Puerto Vallarta.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.) What is the nicest area to stay in Puerto Vallarta?
Honestly, it really depends on what you're looking for. If you want to be in the center of the action, with easy access to nightlife, local restaurants, and shopping, then I'd recommend staying in the hotel zone, downtown, or the romantic zone. Plus, staying more central gives you easy access to public transportation, and the north and south ends of the Banderas Bay. If you want larger resorts and more peace and quiet, I think Nuevo Vallarta is great. While many folks opt to stay in Sayulita, and Punta de Mita is become increasingly popular, keep in mind that these areas are a much farther drive from the airport, and even more farther from downtown Puerto Vallarta. 

2.) Is North or South Hotel Zone better in Puerto Vallarta?
The north hotel zone is going to be closer to the marina and airport, whereas the south hotel zone is closer to downtown Puerto Vallarta. Personally, I think any part of the hotel zone is great because you can easily hop on a bus since the resorts are right off the main road. It's also worth noting that the hotel zone isn't so long that it makes a huge difference as to what end you stay at. 

3.) What is the most walkable area of Puerto Vallarta?
The most walkable area of Puerto Vallarta is downtown and the romantic zone, which is also known as old town. 

4.) Is Puerto Vallarta a luxury destination?
The great thing about Puerto Vallarta is that it can be luxury if that's what you want, with plenty of high-end resorts (especially in Punta de Mita), but it can also be more laid back with plenty of budget-friendly hotel and Airbnb choices to pick from. 

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.