National Park Reservations - am I missing something?

Question

Hi,

My wife and I are heading to California in October, and we’re planning to spend a couple of nights in Yosemite. Unfortunately, it looks like we’ve left it too late to find hotel accommodation within the park, so we’re now considering a vacation home.

I’ve been looking at the National Park Reservations site, and while there seems to be a large selection of homes, I’m finding it tricky to choose because the listings only show a small thumbnail picture and some fairly generic descriptions. I can’t seem to find any way to access more detailed information or additional photos of the properties.

Am I missing something, or is that just how the site works — you have to choose based on limited information?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Answer

The National Park Reservations site is primarily designed to give an overview of available accommodations within or near national parks, including Yosemite. It does list vacation homes, cabins, and lodges, but it often provides only limited information such as a small thumbnail image and a brief description. This can make it challenging to fully evaluate properties before booking.

Here are some considerations and tips to help you get more information:

Click on the listing: Many listings will provide additional details such as the number of bedrooms, amenities, and sometimes a slightly larger image gallery once you select the property.
Check the property website: Some properties listed on National Park Reservations are managed by third-party companies or local rental agencies. Often, you can find the property on the manager’s website, which may have more photos, floor plans, and detailed descriptions.
Read reviews: The reservation site sometimes links to guest reviews or includes review scores. Reading these can give you a better sense of the property beyond the thumbnails and brief descriptions.

Additional advice:

If the site’s information feels too limited, consider searching on vacation rental platforms like VRBO or Airbnb for the same area near Yosemite. Many owners manage listings on multiple platforms, and you might find more detailed images and reviews there.
Check the location carefully using maps. Some “Yosemite” vacation homes are near the park but not inside it, so understanding the distance and driving times is crucial.
Book as early as possible for October, since availability can be limited and properties close to the park fill quickly.

In summary, the National Park Reservations site does provide basic information, but it often requires additional research on external property websites or vacation rental platforms to get full photos, floor plans, and detailed descriptions. It’s common for travelers to combine the reservation site with other resources to make an informed choice.