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Major city · United States

El Portal

Sleep here for Yosemite Valley: 20 min drive to the valley floor, cheaper beds than inside the park. One night is enough; two if you want a full valley day.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

El Portal is a small Merced River canyon community just outside Yosemite National Park's west boundary, built around lodging for park visitors. It sits on Highway 140, about 30 mi east of Mariposa, and the drive to Yosemite Valley takes roughly 20 minutes on a mostly flat road. There is almost no town centre: two large lodges with restaurants, a market, a post office and a stretch of river. Treat it as a bed base, not a destination.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Apr–Jun (waterfalls, wildflowers), Sep–Oct (clear, fewer crowds)
avoid Jul–Aug (heat, valley crowds, parking), Dec–Mar (some lodge restaurants close)
Airports
FAT · SFO · OAK
Nights
1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for El Portal911 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about El Portal, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or breakfast sandwich at a lodge$6–14
  • Sit-down mealSteak or fish dinner in a lodge dining room$28–45
  • BeerDraught beer at a lodge bar$8–12
  • Budget bedCampground or RV site nearby, a night, per roomUS$40
  • Mid-range bedLodge double room, a night, per roomUS$260
  • High-end bedLodge double room, a night, per roomUS$420

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$140 · High US$260

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Yosemite Valley access outside the park boundaryMerced River canyonHite Cove wildflower trailHistoric Yosemite Valley Railroad equipment
Airports
FAT Fresno Yosemite International (About 2.5 h by car via Highway 41 and 140; check seasonal flights) · SFO San Francisco International (About 4 h by car; the usual gateway for a Yosemite loop) · OAK Oakland (About 3.5–4 h by car; check rental-car one-way fees)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    14°C (57°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    17°C (63°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    21°C (70°F)

  5. May

    Best

    26°C (79°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    35°C (95°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    31°C (88°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  11. Nov

    not flagged

    17°C (63°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (35°C (95°F)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F) low), wettest Jan (8 rain days), driest Jun (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

El Portal: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

12°C (54°F)

1°C (34°F)

8 rd

Feb

14°C (57°F)

2°C (36°F)

8 rd

Mar

17°C (63°F)

4°C (39°F)

8 rd

Apr

21°C (70°F)

6°C (43°F)

5 rd

May

26°C (79°F)

10°C (50°F)

3 rd

Jun

31°C (88°F)

14°C (57°F)

1 rd

Jul

35°C (95°F)

17°C (63°F)

1 rd

Aug

34°C (93°F)

16°C (61°F)

1 rd

Sep

31°C (88°F)

13°C (55°F)

2 rd

Oct

25°C (77°F)

9°C (48°F)

4 rd

Nov

17°C (63°F)

4°C (39°F)

6 rd

Dec

12°C (54°F)

1°C (34°F)

8 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. Highway 140 is the only through road; there is no local bus. YARTS runs Highway 140 between Merced and Yosemite Valley with stops at the El Portal lodges, the post office and Barium Mine Road, mid-May to late September, and the fare includes park entry — useful for skipping valley parking in summer. The nearest Amtrak station is Merced, where you connect to YARTS.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Yosemite Valleygo

Door to door: 20–30 min by car

Drive Highway 140 east, or take YARTS from the lodge stops

Go at opening; valley parking is full by mid-morning in summer.

Hite Cove Trail

go

Door to door: About 15 min

Drive Highway 140 to Savage's Trading Post, then walk in

Best Apr–May for wildflowers; the trail is exposed and closed in fire season.

Mariposago

Door to door: About 40 min

Drive Highway 140 west

Gold Rush museum, full grocery store and cheaper gas.

Fish Camp and the Mariposa Grove

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Highway 140 west, then Highway 41 south

Long for a return day; better as a move to the south entrance.

Coulterville

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Highway 140 west, then Highway 49 south

Small historic gold town; pair it with Mariposa, not on its own.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Highway 140 at Yosemite View Lodge

Closest beds to the park boundary, on the Merced River; two restaurants, bar, convenience store, laundry.

Highway 140 at Cedar Lodge

About 2 mi west of Yosemite View; family rooms, indoor and outdoor pool, restaurant and lounge.

In-park alternatives

Yosemite Valley lodges and campgrounds are closer to the sights but book out months ahead and cost more.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$70–110 excl. bed
Mid
$120–200 excl. bed
High
$220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Lodge double room1 × 1 night × US$260US$260
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140US$280
Yosemite park entry, 7-day vehicle pass1 × US$35 · Fee and peak-period reservation rule change: check the NPS site.US$35
YARTS Highway 140 fare, one way2 × US$20 · Fare includes park entry; confirm the current price with YARTS.US$40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$66
Trip total≈ US$361 per person per day, bed includedUS$721

2026 estimate in US dollars; park entry and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or breakfast sandwich at a lodge$6–14
Pizza or pasta main at Yosemite View Lodge$18–28
Steak or fish dinner in a lodge dining room$28–45
Draught beer at a lodge bar$8–12
Groceries for a picnic, per person$12–20
Gas, per gallon (canyon stations run high)$5–7

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low crime, high exposure: the real risks are heat, river currents, altitude and wildlife. Carry water, don't swim the Merced, store food in a car boot, and check road and fire status before driving.
  • Yosemite entry now needs a reservation in peak periods: check the NPS site before you drive.
  • Highway 140 closes during rockfalls and floods; check Caltrans QuickMap the morning you travel.
  • Cell signal is patchy in the canyon; download offline maps.
  • Gas and groceries are limited and priced for a park gateway: fill up in Mariposa.
  • Summer valley parking fills by mid-morning; go early or take YARTS.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Mariposa County Sheriff (non-emergency)
209-966-3615
Yosemite National Park information
209-372-0200

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

El PortalEl Portal

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

11136 Highway 140, El Portal, CA 95318To the Yosemite View Lodge, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Mariposa County Sheriff (non-emergency)209-966-3615
  • Yosemite National Park information209-372-0200

Embassy

No consulates here; your embassy is in Washington, DC, with consulates in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • YARTS Merced → Yosemite Valley via El Portal: about $20 one way, includes park entry
  • Yosemite entry, 7-day vehicle pass: about $35
  • El Portal → Yosemite Valley by car: about 20 min, 14 mi on Highway 140

Cell signal is weak in the canyon: screenshot your booking and directions.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for El Portal. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Jun (waterfalls, wildflowers), Sep–Oct (clear, fewer crowds) · avoid Jul–Aug (heat, valley crowds, parking), Dec–Mar (some lodge restaurants close) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for FAT, SFO and OAK: last-drive times, rental desks, dark-arrival fallback.
  2. Walking cluster around the two lodges with river access and food cutoffs.
  3. Place pages with verified Yosemite entry rules and Highway 140 closure checks.
  4. YARTS season and fare fixtures so gate status can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources