Last month we took a trip to Yosemite National Park as a family. After our plans for a campsite failed, we decided to try our first time glamping as a family. This wasn’t our first time going to Yosemite, and it was actually my second time staying at Half Dome Village. However, it was an interesting experience to stay there as an adult with a large family. After our trip as I shared different snippets and highlights over on Instagram I got a lot of questions. So today I’m sharing all about our stay at Half Dome Village here on the blog!
In this blog post Half Dome Village and Camp Curry are used interchangeably. This is because in 2016 Camp Curry was temporarily changed to Half Dome Village. A trademark dispute between the National Park Service and a private concessions company has since been resolved. The name has now returned to Camp Curry along with others in Yosemite. During our visit in 2018 the name was Half Dome Village.
our experience at half dome village (camp curry)
sleeping
As far as tent cabins go the ones at Half Dome Village are very bare bones. They consist of simple camp style cot beds, a wooden chair, and a small metal shelving unit. Since we stayed in a cabin with no heater we also had no outlets. However, Half Dome Village also offers other accommodations. Tent cabins that have heaters (and electrical outlets), motel style rooms, and cabins both with and without a bathroom. Simple bedding and pillows are included, as well as towels for the community showers. The showers are free for guests of Camp Curry to use.
Be aware that the tent cabins are incredibly close together, but they offer ear plugs at check in if you need them. We were fine during our stay, although we did have some early wake up calls from people getting a start on hiking before the sun comes up. I definitely recommend bringing sandals or shower shoes because the bathrooms get pretty grungy. Also, the showers seem to be more crowded in the morning than the evening so keep that in mind when you’re planning your day.
Keep in mind: We knew we would need two tent cabins due to the size of our family. Because of this we got my parents to come with us and it was a lot of fun having three generations together at Yosemite. If you need multiple cabins be sure to book together. Spaces fill up fast and you don’t want to be all the way across the Village from the rest of your group.
eating
There are no fires allowed in Half Dome Village. There are bear boxes outside of each cabin (check the website for the sizes so you can be sure that your items fit) that anything with a smell needs to go in, not only food but toiletries as well. We mostly planned to eat cold foods like cereal and sandwiches. We also decided we would eat at one of the eateries at Half Dome Village for dinner one of the nights.
Half Dome Village has a large building called the Dining Pavilion that has several eating locations with different food options, as well as a cafeteria-style buffet. Our family loved eating our dinners there. One night using their hot water to make cup of noodle soup for the kids. Another night we treated ourselves to some pizza and ice cream. We loved all the food that we tried while we were there and the prices reminded me of theme park pricing–more than you would typically pay but all the food was delicious!
What I wish I’d known: I knew there were lots of places to eat. However, if I’d known that we would have easy access to hot water at the dining pavilion I would have planned hot breakfasts, like oatmeal, rather than just cold cereal. I would have also brought hot chocolate for my kiddos to enjoy in the cool mornings.
exploring
Camp Curry is a great jumping off point for several Yosemite Valley hikes because it’s within walking distance to the trail head for the Mist Trail. You can check out some of my favorite things to do in the Valley in this blog post! There are also four shuttle stops located at Half Dome Village. Be aware that during the peak season and in the first half of the day you could find yourself waiting over an hour just to get on a shuttle!
Within Half Dome Village itself there is a swimming pool that feels wonderful after a long day of hiking. It even offers incredible views of Half Dome. There are also presentations and talks at the outdoor theater located near the Dining Pavilion. And don’t forget to check out the large room that is perfect for gathering in the evening with your group or playing games.
Insider tip: Our favorite way to enjoy Yosemite Valley is definitely by bicycle. It’s so nice to be able to bike wherever you want and not have to wait for the shuttles. If you can’t bring your own bikes don’t worry! You can rent single bikes, tandem bikes, bike trailers, and bikes with child carriers at Half Dome Village.
