
Yosemite View Lodge
Best for families and travelers who want river access, lots of on-site pools and hot tubs, and rooms with kitchenettes near the Arch Rock/El Portal entrance.
Prices in other currencies are estimates. You’re charged in USD.
Yosemite View Lodge is a family-friendly riverfront property in El Portal with multiple pools, on-site dining, and kitchenettes in most rooms; read this if you want easy access to Yosemite’s Arch Rock entrance and riverfront conveniences. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakhurst – Yosemite Park Area is a modern, branded hotel in Oakhurst with free breakfast and standard chain amenities; read this if you prefer predictable, updated rooms a short drive from Yosemite’s south entrance.
Updated

Best for families and travelers who want river access, lots of on-site pools and hot tubs, and rooms with kitchenettes near the Arch Rock/El Portal entrance.

Best for travelers who want a dependable branded hotel in Oakhurst with modern rooms, complimentary breakfast, and straightforward on-site services.
When Yosemite View Lodge wins: choose Yosemite View Lodge if you want riverfront access, on-site YARTS bus service into Yosemite Valley, multiple pools (including an indoor year-round pool), kitchenette-equipped rooms, and family-friendly onsite activities.
When Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakhurst wins: choose Holiday Inn Express & Suites if you value a predictable IHG-brand experience, free buffet breakfast, a modern fitness area and business center, and a convenient Oakhurst location for accessing Yosemite’s south approach and nearby town services.
Bottom line: pick Yosemite View Lodge for the location on the Merced River and resort-style family amenities; pick Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakhurst for a modern, chain-hotel stay with complimentary breakfast and simple, reliable services.
| Category | Yosemite View Lodge | Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakhurst Yosemite Park Area |
|---|---|---|
| Overall vibe | Casual, family-oriented riverfront lodge with multiple pools and game-room amenities. | Contemporary, branded midscale hotel with standard Holiday Inn Express services. |
| Location (to Yosemite) | On the Merced River in El Portal about two miles from Yosemite's Arch Rock (west) entrance. | In Oakhurst, positioned as a base for Yosemite’s south entrance and Sierra National Forest access. |
| Size (guest rooms) | Not published | 114 guestrooms |
| Room types (sample) | Includes Deluxe River View Room; Deluxe River View Spa Room; Standard Room; multiple family/2-room units and suites (10 named types). | Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds; Standard Room, 1 King Bed; Suite, 2 Queen Beds (plus accessible variants). |
| Guest rating | Not published | 9.2 (user rating on supplier listing) |
| Pools & hot tubs | Four pools (3 outdoor, 1 indoor year-round) and seven hot tubs/spas; indoor pool available year-round. | Seasonal outdoor pool; outdoor seasonal pool listed on supplier listing. |
| Restaurants & bars | The River Restaurant & Lounge (breakfast & dinner) and Parkside Pizza (seasonal); snack/convenience options on site. | Complimentary buffet breakfast and a snack bar/deli; no named full-service on-site restaurant noted. |
| Wellness & fitness | State-of-the-art fitness center; hot tubs and in-room jetted spa tubs in select rooms (no full-service treatment spa published). | Fitness facilities available; no full-service spa published in supplier listing. |
| Parking & transport | Free self-parking including RV/bus parking; on-site YARTS bus stop to Yosemite Valley. | Free self-parking; area/bus station shuttle available for a surcharge. |
| Pet policy | Pets allowed for a fee (published $25 per pet, per night) with limits and Spa Tub room exclusions. | Pet fee USD 50 per accommodation, per night (service animals exempt). |
Yosemite View Lodge sits on the Merced River in El Portal, close to the Arch Rock/West entrance to Yosemite.
Choose Yosemite View Lodge if you want the shortest drive to the Arch Rock/West entrance and riverfront setting.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakhurst is in town, a practical base for the park’s south approach and local services.
Choose Holiday Inn Express & Suites if you plan to use Oakhurst as your staging point for south-entrance access and town amenities.
Rooms at Yosemite View Lodge include kitchenettes in nearly every unit and a mix of suites and family-sized units.
Yosemite View Lodge is better if you want kitchenettes and larger family-style rooms close to the river.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites offers standard, accessible, and suite-style rooms typical of the brand.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites is a straightforward choice for travelers who want predictable, accessible rooms with hotel-brand standards.
Yosemite View Lodge has two on-site dining venues with river views and casual pizza options.
Pick Yosemite View Lodge if you want on-site dinner options by the river and casual pizza nights.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites focuses on a complimentary buffet breakfast plus snack/deli options.
Holiday Inn Express is convenient for guests who prioritize a free morning buffet and quick on-site snacks.
Yosemite View Lodge emphasizes water amenities with four pools and seven hot tubs.
If pools and hot tubs matter, Yosemite View Lodge offers far more options and a year-round indoor pool.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites lists an outdoor seasonal pool as its main water amenity.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites covers basic pool needs but does not match Yosemite View Lodge for on-site aquatic amenities.
Yosemite View Lodge offers a fitness center plus low-key nighttime options like a lounge and game room.
Expect basic fitness and family entertainment rather than a full-service spa or nightlife scene.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites provides fitness facilities and business-center conveniences.
Choose Holiday Inn Express if you want straightforward fitness and business amenities without a resort nightlife focus.

Yosemite View Lodge — riverfront site in El Portal with an on-site YARTS stop to Yosemite Valley.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakhurst — free buffet breakfast and standardized brand services.

Yosemite View Lodge — four pools (including indoor year-round) and seven hot tubs for families.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites — many accessible room types and consistent chain-hotel amenities.
Yosemite View Lodge sits roughly two miles from Yosemite’s Arch Rock/West entrance and provides YARTS service into Yosemite Valley; Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakhurst is positioned for the park’s south approach, so Yosemite View Lodge gives shorter access to the west entrance.
Yosemite View Lodge is explicitly family-friendly with multiple pools, a game room, a playground, and family-sized rooms; Holiday Inn Express & Suites is family-appropriate but oriented toward standard midscale lodging and complimentary breakfast.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites includes a complimentary buffet breakfast. At Yosemite View Lodge, breakfast is available for a surcharge (published as a paid buffet).
No full-service treatment spa with a published menu was found for either property; Yosemite View Lodge has hot tubs and in-room jetted tubs in some rooms, while Holiday Inn Express lists fitness facilities but no treatment spa.
Explore how Yosemite View Lodge stacks up against other hotels nearby:
vs. sites like Expedia, Hotels.com and other OTAs ·