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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United States

Oakhurst

Use Oakhurst as a Yosemite South Gate base: 1–2 nights, 25 min to the park entrance, cheaper beds than inside the park.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
May–Jun, Sep–Oct
avoid Jul–Aug (heat and park crowds), winter storm days on Highway 41
Airports
FAT · OAK
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Oakhurst is a small Highway 41 town in the Sierra foothills, about 14 mi (23 km) south of Yosemite's south entrance and roughly 25 minutes' drive from it. It exists for travellers: motels, a supermarket, a cinema, a handful of restaurants. Sleep here when park lodging is full or too expensive, and drive in early.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

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

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

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

  • Coffee$3–6
  • Sit-down mealCasual dinner main$15–28
  • Street or quick mealDiner breakfast$12–20
  • BeerDraft beer$7–10
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25
  • Budget bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$90
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$150
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomUS$260

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$160 · High US$280

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

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 South Gate baseHighway 41 servicesFresno Flats Historic ParkGold Country foothills
Airports
FAT Fresno Yosemite International (About 1 h 15 min south on Highway 41; the closest full-service airport.) · OAK Oakland (About 3.5–4 h by car; use only if the fare gap is large.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Oakhurst: 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

1°C

8 rd

Feb

14°C

2°C

8 rd

Mar

17°C

4°C

8 rd

Apr

20°C

6°C

5 rd

May

25°C

10°C

3 rd

Jun

30°C

14°C

1 rd

Jul

34°C

17°C

1 rd

Aug

34°C

17°C

1 rd

Sep

31°C

14°C

2 rd

Oct

25°C

9°C

4 rd

Nov

17°C

4°C

6 rd

Dec

12°C

1°C

8 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

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

Getting around

A car is effectively required: the town is a strip along Highway 41 and Yosemite is 14 mi (23 km) north. YARTS runs year-round on Highway 41 between Fresno and Yosemite Valley, stopping in Oakhurst; tickets include park entry and can be bought from the driver (check the current timetable).

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Yosemite National Park (South Gate)

go

Door to door: About 25 min to the gate, then 30–45 min to Yosemite Valley

Drive Highway 41 north 14 mi (23 km) to the entrance

Leave before 8am in summer; expect an entrance queue.

Bass Lake

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Highway 41 north, then Bass Lake Road east, 9 mi (14 km)

Lake swimming and rentals in summer; quiet in winter.

Mariposa

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Highway 49 north

Gold Rush courthouse town; pairs with a Highway 49 drive.

Fresno

caution

Door to door: About 1 h

Highway 41 south

Only for the airport or a big-city errand.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Highway 41 strip

Most motels, restaurants and the supermarket; walkable in parts, but you still need a car.

Victoria Lane area

Quieter, upscale: Chateau du Sureau and Erna's Elderberry House sit here.

Bass Lake

20 min north; lake beds for summer, further from the park gate.

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
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–230 excl. bed
High
$250+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 2 nights × US$150US$300
Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × US$160US$640
Yosemite park entry, 7-day vehicle pass1 × US$35 · checkUS$35
YARTS Highway 41 ticket to Yosemite Valley2 × US$20 · check; includes park entryUS$40
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$15US$30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$105
Trip total≈ US$288 per person per day, bed includedUS$1,150

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

Prices of common things

Coffee$3–6
Diner breakfast$12–20
Casual dinner main$15–28
Draft beer$7–10
Gallon of petrol$4–5.50 (check)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$10–25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Low-crime small town; the real risks are mountain driving, winter ice on Highway 41 and summer heat. Dial 911 for anything urgent.
  • Yosemite entrance queues can run 30 minutes or more in summer: enter before 8am.
  • Highway 41 can close or need chains in winter storms: check road conditions before driving.
  • Cell signal is patchy on the mountain roads north of town.
  • Book summer beds weeks ahead; the town fills when the park is full.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Madera County Sheriff's substation, Oakhurst
+1 559 658-2555
CHP Oakhurst area office
+1 559 683-6565

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.

OakhurstOakhurst

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Madera County Sheriff's substation+1 559 658-2555
  • CHP Oakhurst area office+1 559 683-6565

Embassy

No consulates in town; nearest consulates-general are in San Francisco and Los Angeles, embassies in Washington, DC.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Oakhurst → Yosemite South Gate: 14 mi (23 km), about 25 min by car (check)
  • Oakhurst → Yosemite Valley: about 1 h 15 min by car; longer with an entrance queue (check)
  • YARTS Highway 41 to Yosemite Valley: about $20, includes park entry (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the gas station? — Where is the petrol station?
  • A table for two, please — A table for two, please
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is the park entrance open? — Is the park entrance open?
  • Do I need chains today? — Do I need chains today?
  • Thank you — Thank you

Tipping is expected: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink.

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 Oakhurst. 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: May–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and park crowds), winter storm days on Highway 41 · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for FAT: last-drive times, rental desks, storm fallback.
  2. Four walking clusters with anchors: Highway 41 strip, Victoria Lane, Fresno Flats, Bass Lake Road.
  3. Place pages with verified hours (Fresno Flats, Yosemite Cinema, Golden Chain Theatre) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter and fire-season fixtures so gate status can go green or red.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources