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Oakhurst, California

Location:  15 miles (24 km) from Yosemite entrance; 45 miles (72 km) from Yosemite Valley; via Highway 41 (map)

population 13,300; elevation 2,300 feet (700 meters)

Oakhurst is the largest of the towns in the mountains surrounding Yosemite. It's home to a handful of midrange motels and the Château du Sureau, a luxury hotel with an attached five-star restaurant, the Elderberry House.

Pro:  Good access to southern Yosemite and a tolerable drive to Yosemite Valley. Oakhurst has two large supermarkets, a rarity in the mountain area, and you'll probably want to stock up on groceries here if you're staying in a cabin elsewhere. Oakhurst itself lies in a pretty valley where the foothills and mountains meet. Besides its proximity to Yosemite, Oakhurst is 6 miles (10 km) from Bass Lake and 11 miles (18 km) from the Chukchansi Indian casino/hotel.

Con:  Oakhurst is an unincorporated city with little urban planning or aesthetic oversight, and the result - let's just say that your fast food and gas station needs will not go unmet here. In a curious bit of symmetry, the gas stations are all on the going-to-Yosemite side of the road, while the fast-food franchises are all on the returning-from-Yosemite side.

Dining:  The local highlights are the South Gate brew pub, which has had to expand to accommodate demand, and the Elderberry House, widely known among foodies. El Cid, purveyor of Mexican food, is popular with locals, possibly due to the large portions. A variety of national fast food chain outlets can be found along Highway 41.

Shopping:   If you're approaching Yosemite from the south, Oakhurst is your last chance to get supplies until the smaller and more expensive stores in Yosemite itself. There are two full-sized grocery stores here (Vons and Raley's) and two full-sized drug stores (CVS and Rite-Aid). The Vons shopping center includes a small sporting goods store where you can get Yosemite-useful gear like walking sticks and carabiners. The town is also dotted with art galleries eager to help you accessorize your tent, primarily along Gallery Row on Highway 41 near the north end of town. Oakhurst's business district is located almost entirely on highways 41 and 49, so a few minutes' wandering will suffice to find anyplace mentioned here.

Coffee Emergencies:  There's a Starbucks inside Vons and another, this one with a drive-through, along Highway 41 near the middle of town. You can get Peet's coffee inside Raley's. If you prefer a local shop, try the Cool Bean Cafe, tucked away behind McDonald's off Highway 41.

ATM Machines:  There's a Wells Fargo machine outside Vons and a branch office inside. There's also an ATM at the United Security Bank in the same shopping center. In the Raley's shopping center are branches of Chase Bank, Bank of America, and Yosemite Bank, each with ATM's. There are also ATM machines in several of the gas stations along Highway 41.

Tire Chains:  Available at Sullivan's Tire Pros (purchase only), Oakhurst Chevron (purchase only), Kragen-O'Reilly Auto Parts (purchase only), Stevens Napa Auto Supply (purchase only, but can be returned unused within one week for a 50% refund), and AutoZone (purchase only, but can be returned unused for a refund within 30 days).

YARTS Stops:  At the Yosemite Gateway Inn Best Western and the Fairfield Inn (see the official schedules)

Attractions & Entertainment:  The largest nearby attraction is the Chukchansi Casino & Hotel, 11 miles (17 km) south near Coarsegold. Besides the usual slots, poker, etc., it frequently books big-name acts of the "Hey, it's good to know they're still alive" variety.

If you're in Oakhurst on a Friday evening in the summer, head to the Pines Resort in Bass Lake (6 miles/9 km away) for Jazz on the Lake, a series of outdoor lakeside jazz concerts that usually runs from late May until the end of August.

The Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad is an antique logging train that runs daily for most of the year. It's 13 miles (20 km) north of Oakhurst and two miles (3 km) south of Fish Camp on Highway 41. It's usually daytime only, but there are occasional moonlight runs; see their schedule for particulars.

The most interesting option in Oakhurst itself is probably the Golden Chain Theatre, which does surprisingly high quality productions for a small town theater troupe. There's also a multiplex cinema here, in the Raley's shopping center, that went out of business in 2012 and was resurrected by local owners who introduced memberships and all-you-can-watch pricing plans. If you're marooned in Oakhurst in the daytime and not interested in a matinee, you might be able to divert yourself at Fresno Flats, a collection of historical buildings.

Oakhurst Hotels & Lodging

Additional Oakhurst Lodging