Curry Village tent cabins are the perfect accommodation option for those who want to spend days hiking and exploring Yosemite National Park in California and return to stay in a no-frills campsite surrounded by majestic trees and towering granite walls.
Here park visitors have the opportunity to unwind and relax at spacious tent cabins scattered in the wilderness while also enjoying comfortable amenities like hot showers, a seasonal pool, and multiple dining choices.
Sounds like a dream come true? Here is all you need to know about staying in Curry Village tent cabins!
Some of the links used in this blog may be affiliate links. At no extra cost to you, I earn a small commission when you book through these links for which I am very thankful!
Know Before You Go
Before we dive into the details, here are a few important things to keep in mind about Curry Village tent cabins. We know you’re busy getting ready for your trip to Yosemite so let’s get down to the nitty-gritty:
- If you plan to book a tent cabin in Yosemite Village, you can opt to book a heated or non-heated tent. We booked a heated tent which was perfect in the fall season to keep us nice and warm through the night. Curry Village Tent Cabins cost around $100-$200 depending on the season and whether you’re getting a heated or a non-heated tent.
- Bring extra blankets or a sleeping bag for your stay. The blankets that they provide in the cabins are very thin and won’t keep you very warm. I also brought a pillow because the pillows in the cabins are quite hard. If you’re staying in a non-heated tent, you will be provided with additional wool blankets at check-in.
- For health and safety reasons, no food or drinks are allowed inside the tent cabins. You’re also not allowed to cook any food in Curry Village near the tents. Any food that you plan to bring on trails or picnic areas can be stored in a bear box outside the tent, just don’t bring anything that needs to be refrigerated.
- There is some cell reception in Curry Village but it’s very limited. Look up attractions, download offline maps, and Netflix shows or books before heading out to Yosemite.
- While Yosemite campgrounds allow pets, the Curry Village accommodations do not allow pets (except for service animals).
About Curry Village Tent Cabins
Curry Village offers a convenient and centrally located place to stay for those visiting Yosemite National Park. Their accommodation choices include 403 heated and unheated tent cabins along with standard wood cabins and motel-style rooms.
During your stay in Curry Village, you can feel connected to the outdoors while also having easy access to amazing amenities like comfortable beds, hot showers, restaurants, and a bar.
On our most recent trip to Yosemite in October, we stayed in a heated Curry Village canvas tent cabin. Each tent features basic sleeping necessities like a bed, sheets, a pillow, and a blanket.
The tent cabins also come with trashcans, towels for showering, drinking cups, and a chair. The cabins do not have running water but restrooms and showers are easily available within a short walk.
Near the beds, you will find wooden cubbies for storing electronics and hooks for hanging backpacks.
The heated tents also come with a wall plug-in to charge electronics. The tents typically provide a safe for storing valuables but they are currently non-operational.
If you plan to book a heated tent, in the colder months you will be able to turn on and run a heater to keep you warm and cozy through the night.
These electric wall heaters can be a bit temperamental and getting the temperature right was nearly impossible – but hey, it’s better than sleeping in the cold!
Our cabin came with two twin beds and a full bed sleeping a total of 4 people. The cabins have wooden doors with a lock and two keys to keep your valuables safe while you go off to explore Yosemite National Park.
All in all, this is a great place to stay for the whole family or traveling friends that want to split the cost!
A couple of cons:
- These tents are very close to each other and the noise travels easily through Curry Village. At night I could hear entire conversations from the neighbors next to us. While the quiet hours start at 10 pm, you might want to bring earplugs for a better night’s sleep.
- Some of the tents are pretty far from the parking lot so you’ll need to carry everything in across uneven surfaces. Don’t pack anything that is too heavy!
- There are no firepits at the Curry Village tent cabins. If you want to hang around a campfire, you might want to consider booking a campsite instead.
Curry Village Amenities
The beauty of staying in Curry Village is that you will have easy access to the many amenities that are set up for the guests. Curry Village offers a great middle-ground for those who don’t want to pay the hotel prices yet want a step up from camping.
By staying at these tent cabins, you eliminate the “roughing it” part like sleeping on the ground and setting up your tent. There isn’t much to worry about – just come ready for an adventure!
The best part about staying in Curry Village is their complimentary showers with hot water – perfect after a full day of adventuring.
Towels are supplied in the cabins along with shampoo and soap inside the showers. Camping doesn’t get more comfortable than this!
Other Curry Village amenities include:
- A seasonal swimming pool
- Mountaineering school
- Small grocery store & gift shop
- Numerous dining options including a pizza parlor and a food court
- Cozy guest lounges with fireplaces
- Bike rentals
- Curry Village Bar
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Yosemite Curry Village Reservations
You can book the Curry Village Tent Cabins through the official Travel Yosemite website but making reservations through third-party websites like Expedia or Booking.com is often much cheaper. I reserved the heated tent cabin in November through Booking.com for $119 while the same cabin was listed on Travel Yosemite for $132.
If you want to save even more money, you can book the unheated tent but it was well worth dishing out the extra money for a heater as temperatures during our trip dropped to near freezing at night. Without the heater, we would have been a bit more miserable! Plus, the heated tents come with electrical outlets that you can use for charging your cell phone and electronics overnight, while the unheated cabins don’t.
Guests can also book ADA canvas tent cabins that can accomodate wheelchairs, and have lever door handle, ramp and wide door entrance.
Book the canvas tent cabin accommodations here!
Tent Location & Check-In
The Curry Village cabin tents are situated in the far east part of Yosemite Valley. The front desk office is located near the Meadow Grill & Gift Shop.
At check-in, you will be given a map of the Curry Village, your tent’s location, a parking pass, and two keys to the tent. Be sure to keep these keys on you because you will need to present the keys to an attendant to use the bathroom & showers in Curry Village.
The check-in time in the off-season is at 5 pm and check-out at 10 am due to limited winter staff. In the busier summer months, check-in is at 4 pm, and check-out is at 11 am. The check-out time is very strict and the keys to the cabin have to be returned before that time.
Location: 9010 Curry Village Dr, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389
Food In Yosemite
If you plan to stay in Curry Village, keep in mind that food is not allowed inside the cabins and can only be cooked at designated picnic areas (the closest one is a mile away). Any scented items have to be stored in bear-proof food lockers as every year bears damage nearly 100 cars and thousands of dollars in property. Be sure to follow the posted food storage policies during your visit.
While we brought some food, we ended up eating in Curry Village for most of our meals.
Curry Village offers plenty of food options including:
- Meadow Grill. They sell delicious breakfast burritos and coffee at an outdoor window next to the Curry Village grocery store.
- Pete’s Coffee Corner. This is a coffee shop that is located inside the dining hall selling coffee, yogurt, and breakfast muffins to go. Within the pavilion, there is also a buffet serving a hot sit-down breakfast.
- Pizza Deck. This was our go-to spot for dinner. You can order pizza at the counter and enjoy it outside at the designated tables.
- Bar 1899. A fun spot to grab a few drinks after eating. They also serve basic bar food like wings, sliders, and tacos.
There are more food options in Yosemite outside of Curry Village including:
- Degnan’s Deli. A cozy spot for coffee and pastries.
- Village Grill. Cafeteria-style eatery with burgers and sandwiches.
- The Ahwahnee. Upscale hotel with a fine dining experience.
There are also a couple of stores in Yosemite Valley where you can buy backpacking-style meals if you want to save on cost and cook something yourself at one of the picnic sites.
How Many Days Should You Stay?
Two to three nights is the perfect amount to stay at the Curry Village tents. This will give you plenty of time to drive around Yosemite to see a few of the top sights and attractions.
If you’d like to stay longer, you’ll have time to explore different parts of Yosemite and do some of the more challenging day hikes.
What To Pack
The weather in Yosemite can be quite unpredictable so come prepared for anything. During our stay, it was rainy and cold one day, then sunny and hot the next.
Here are some specifics that we recommend packing for a stay in Curry Village:
- Our heated tent came with a wall plug-in to charge electronics. If you want to charge multiple electronics, bring an extension cord.
- Bring a blanket or a sleeping bag to keep you cozy at night
- Toiletries and sandals for taking a shower in the central shower area
- Earplugs to eliminate noise and get better sleep at night
- Plenty of cozy layers in case it gets chilly
- Headlamp for going to the restroom at night
- Portable phone charger when heading out to explore Yosemite
- Small day pack for walking around
- Reusable water bottle to stay hydrated
Things To Do In Yosemite
The Curry Village tent cabins are conveniently located within a walking distance of some of the main attractions and trails in Yosemite National Park. Here are a few of Yosemite’s highlights that we recommend visiting:
Lower Yosemite Falls
Lower Yosemite Falls is only 1.5 miles from Curry Village and is an absolute must-see. Lower Yosemite Falls Trail is a short, paved path that offers a close-up look at one of the tallest waterfalls in the US.
If you’re looking for a challenging day hike, you can head on a steep hike to Upper Yosemite Falls or even to Eagle Peak for unbelievable views of the waterfall and Yosemite Valley from up top.
Mirror Lake
Mirror Lake is a short family-friendly trail that goes to the base of Half Dome. In spring and after heavy rainfall this area gets flooded with water creating picture-perfect reflections in the lake of the surrounding scenery.
I’ve done the Mirror Lake Loop a few times now and it always leaves me in awe! This is also one of the few places in Yosemite that allow dogs and bikes (up to Lower Mirror Lake).
Read More: How To Hike Mirror Lake Trail In Yosemite National Park
Cook’s Meadow Loop
Cook’s Meadow Loop is a short and easy walk that travels through the meadows at the heart of Yosemite Valley while offering jaw-dropping views all around. This trail is easily accessible from Curry Village.
Swinging Bridge
Swinging Bridge is located around 2 miles west of Curry Village and is a wonderful place to enjoy a serene stroll through the woods. The main attraction here is a bridge that connects both sides of Yosemite Valley.
Sentinel Bridge
Sentinel Bridge offers one of the best views of Half Dome, especially at sunset when the Half Dome’s profile is perfectly reflected in the meandering Merced River. This is a popular place for photography so bring your camera, a tripod and enjoy the views!
Yosemite Valley Loop Trail
To see it all, you can head out on the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail to experience the best that Yosemite Valley has to offer. The full loop is 13 miles long and follows the Yosemite Valley floor through meadows, forests, and along the river. For a shorter version opt to do the 6 miles long half loop trail.
If you’re looking to explore different parts of Yosemite, here are a few of our favorite places that you can drive to from Curry Village:
Cathedral Beach Picnic Area
This day-use area offers amazing views of El Capitan and the Merced River. It’s easy to spend a few hours here enjoying a picnic and roaming around the sandy shores of the river.
Yosemite Valley View
This is one of my favorite views that is located on the way out of Yosemite. The parking spaces here are limited but the views of Yosemite Valley are like no other!
Tunnel View
You can stop by Tunnel View on your way into Yosemite or on your way out. From this viewpoint, you can see some of the best features of Yosemite Valley including Bridalveil Falls, Half Dome, and El Capitan.
North Dome Trail
North Dome Trail is one of my favorite hikes in Yosemite but it requires a bit of preparation. This is a 10-mile-long trail that leads to a natural rock formation and unobstructed views of Half Dome.
Glacier Point
Glacier Point is an iconic viewpoint that overlooks the entire Yosemite Valley from up top. To get there you will need to drive on a narrow mountain road for about an hour from Curry Village, but it’s well worth it!
Cathedral Lakes Trail
Cathedral Lakes Trail is another excellent but challenging day hike that starts along Tioga Road and leads to two separate alpine lakes.
Yosemite National Park is one of my favorite destinations to visit in California. On top of offering a variety of accommodations from campsites to cabins and hotels, this California gem has endless opportunities for outdoor adventures!
Looking for more Yosemite travel inspiration? Here are a few other popular posts that you may enjoy:
- 20 Amazing Places To Stay Near Yosemite National Park
- The 10 Best VRBO Rentals Near Yosemite National Park
- Guide To Visiting Yosemite National Park In The Winter
- 10 Best Day Hikes In Yosemite That Should Be On Your List
- Hiking Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Trail In Yosemite
Interested in going on an overnight backpacking trip in Yosemite? Be sure to check out these posts below that cover some of our favorite backcountry routes:
- Backpacking The Cathedral Lakes Trail In Yosemite
- Backpacking North Dome Trail In Yosemite
- How To Backpack The Eagle Peak Trail In Yosemite
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