Mariposa, California
Location: 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Yosemite entrance; 43 miles (69 km) from Yosemite Valley; via Highway 140 (map)
Population 1,769; elevation 1,953 feet (595 meters)
Mariposa is a historic town in a pretty mountain location, with a short but charming gold-rush-era main district. It hosts a handful of midrange motels, a scattering of art galleries and antique shops, and California's oldest county courthouse in continuous use (it dates from 1854).
Pro: It's a reasonable drive from Mariposa to Yosemite, especially in the winter, when Highway 140's lower elevation makes it the most chain-free route into the park. Mariposa itself is a pleasant little town with historical attractions of its own.
Con: You don't expect to find traffic backed up behind stoplights 20 miles from the nearest city, but such is the case on Highway 140, the route from Mariposa into Yosemite, where a 2006 landslide prompted the building of one-lane bridges to detour traffic to the opposite side of the canyon and back again in the slide area. There may be waits of 5 or 10 minutes for the light, and traffic can take a while to get untracked on the other side, especially if there's a truck or two ahead of you. You do get to see the landslide, though, an undeniably impressive sight. Because of the sharp turns onto the detour bridges, vehicles over 45 feet (13 meters) long aren't allowed on this route, and it's solid entertainment watching someone in a rented RV attempt to negotiate these corners.
Shopping: If you need basics, you'll find a nearly full-sized grocery store, the Pioneer Market, a block off the main street behind the rest area and the Mariposa Museum. There's a Rite Aid on Highway 49 at the north end of town, just past the 140/49 intersection.
If you're more of a recreational shopper, you should still be able to pass a few happy hours here: Mariposa has what must be one of the world's highest per-capita rates of art galleries and antique shops, and also hosts secondhand clothing stores, a gem shop, and - a sure indicator of civilization - a used-book store.
Coffee Emergencies: There's a Peet's Coffee inside the Pioneer Market. If your timing is good, you might also find the Java Joe's coffee truck in the rest area.
ATM Machines: Yosemite Bank has two branches with ATMs, one at the north end of town in the Miner's Inn center and one at the southern end in Pioneer Village. There are two more machines near the rest area, at Westamerica Bank and the Merco Credit Union. The Stage Stop Mini Mart & gas station, along Mariposa's main street, also has a machine. Finally, if you're a member of the Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union, you're in luck! You've got at ATM next to the Pioneer Market.
Medical Help: There's an emergency room near the north end of town at the John C. Fremont Hospital.
YARTS Stop: In front of the visitor center, which is at the north end of town at the junction of highways 49 and 140.
Tire Chains: Available at the Stage Stop Mini Mart (purchase & rental) and Grizzly Gas (purchase only)
Stuff to do in Mariposa
The Mariposa Museum: If you've got an hour or two to spare, check out this small gem tucked off Mariposa's main street next to the rest area. It's been acclaimed by the Smithsonian as the best museum of its size west of the Mississippi - the staff assure me of this, at any rate, and who am I to gainsay them? It certainly appears worthy. Highlights include lively, well-crafted displays on Mariposa's gold-rush history; frontier life, from schools to saloons; and the area's most notable pioneer, John C. Fremont. There's a working gold ore mill and a variety of other mining equipment on the grounds. The gift shop sells items ranging from books to tiny vials of gold dust. It's open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Adults are charged $3 for admission; kids get in free. For more information, visit the museum's website, which, in an inspired bit of meta-museuming, is itself an artifact from another century.
Walking Tours: Mariposa is an eminently walkable town, and you can see just about the whole city in a couple hours. Most of the scenery is along Mariposa's historic main street; stop by the Mariposa County Visitors Bureau at the northern intersection of Highways 49 and 140 for a free walking-tour guide that includes the locations and provenances of Mariposa's historical buildings, some of which date to the 1850's. For a quieter outing, head a block downhill from the main street to the Mariposa Creek Parkway, a path that runs parallel to Highway 140 along Mariposa Creek. It's also worth walking a few blocks uphill to see the historic Mariposa County Courthouse, built in 1854 and dispensing justice ever since.
Mariposa Hotels & Lodging
3276 Indian Peak Road · (209) 966-5259 · Map · Reviews · Website · $305
Secluded two-bedroom hilltop guest cabin with near 360-degree views; pool and hot tub, full kitchen; 122-acre property; rates from $305/night (see rates page); $160 cleaning fee
5029 Highway 140 · (888) 244-9905 · Map · Street View · Reviews · Website · $149 - $169
6 guest rooms; historic building dating from 1877; rates from $149 - $169 during peak season (see rooms/rates page); free breakfast; in-room coffee & tea; AARP discounts
Mariposa Lodge / America's Best Value Inn
5052 Highway 140 · (800) 966-8819 · Map · Street View · Reviews · Website · $90 - $200*
45 guest rooms; outdoor pool and spa; HBO; wireless Internet; some pets allowed (extra fee); summer rates $180 - $200
5181 Highway 49 North · (888) 646-2244 · Map · Street View · Reviews · Website · $100 - $240*
78 guest rooms; cable TV with HBO; outdoor pool and spa; suites with kitchenettes, hot tubs, and/or fireplaces available; summer rates $150 - $240*
5051 Highway 140 · (800) 398-9770 · Map · Street View · Reviews · Website · $49 - $298
14 guest rooms; outdoor pool; rates from $89 - $298 during peak season (see rates page); refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker in all rooms; free internet access available in front office; cable TV with HBO
4994 Bullion St. · (209) 966-4344 · Map · Street View · Reviews · Website · $77 - $314*
59 guest rooms; outdoor pool and hot tub; free wireless Internet; free continental breakfast; pets allowed (extra fee); summer rates $146 - $314
Yosemite Way Station Best Western
4999 Highway 140 · (888) 742-4371 · Map · Street View · Reviews · Website · $162 - $289*
78 guest rooms; free continental breakfast; cable TV and HBO; outdoor pool and spa; summer rates $225 - $289*
Additional Mariposa Lodging
Fifth Street Inn
4994 5th Street · (209) 966-6048 · Street View · Reviews · Website · $155 - $205*
7 guest rooms, all with private baths, max occupancy 2 - 6; summer rates $155 - $205*
Highland House Inn Bed & Breakfast
3125 Wild Dove Lane · (209) 966-3737 · Reviews · Website · $140 - $170
3 guest rooms, all with private baths; $140 - $170 (see rates page)
Joanie's Bed & Breakfast
3967 Van Ness Road · (209) 966-5929 · Website · $147*
Single guest room with private bath, 2 guests max; no indoor smoking, no children; wi-fi, laundry, outdoor spa
Little Valley Inn Bed & Breakfast
3483 Brooks Road · (800) 889-5444 · (209) 742-6204 · Street View · Reviews · Website · $159 - $189
6 guest rooms, all with private baths and refrigerators; max occupancy 2 - 5; free wireless Internet; no pets, no smoking indoors; $159 - $189 (see rates page)
Mariposa Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast
7333 Highway 49 · (209) 377-8021 · Street View · Reviews · Website · $105 - $115*
1894 house restored as two-guest-room bed & breakfast in 2013; both rooms have private baths; free wireless Internet; $105 - $115 for double occupancy
Meadow Creek Ranch Bed & Breakfast
2669 Triangle Road · (800) 853-2037 · (209) 966-3843 · Street View · Reviews · Website · $140 - $200
2 guest rooms with private baths, sleeping up to 3, on 7-acre property; wireless Internet available in main building and in one of the guest rooms; $140 - $200 (see rates page)
Monarch Inn
5059 Highway 140 · (209) 966-4288 · Street View · Reviews · Website · $100 - $200*
King and double-queen rooms; free wireless Internet; outdoor pool; complimentary breakfast; pets allowed in some rooms; summer rates $165 - $200
Poppy Hill Bed & Breakfast
5218 Crystal Aire Drive · (800) 587-6779 · Reviews · Website · $150 - $160
4 guest rooms, all with queen beds and private baths; all rooms non-smoking; $150 - $160 (see rates page)
Restful Nest Bed & Breakfast
4274 Buckeye Creek Road · (800) 664-7127 · (209) 742-7127 · Reviews · Website · $150 - $175
2 guest rooms and a guest house, all with private baths; pool, spa, picnic area, and fishing pond; $150 - $175 (see rates page)
River Rock Inn & Deli Garden Cafe
4993 7th Street · (209) 966-5793 · Street View · Reviews · Website · $109 - $189*
6 guest rooms, all with queen beds and private baths; summer rates $159 - $189*
Sierra Trails Inn Bed & Breakfast
2754 East Westfall Road · (209) 742-6323 · Website · $150 - $285
4 guest rooms with private baths, 6-guest cottage; children over 8 allowed; no smoking, no pets; free wi-fi, 30-acre property; guest rooms $150 - $180, cottage $205 - $285
Yosemite Bed & Breakfast
4501 Bridgeport Drive · (888) 528-9950 · (209) 742-4018 · Reviews · $149 - $389
2 guest rooms, both with private baths; 2-bedroom cottage with full kitchen, sleeping 4 (additional charge for breakfast for cottage guests); wireless Internet in all guest rooms; summer rates $159 - $389
Yosemite Nights Bed & Breakfast
4327 Buckeye Creek Road · (209) 966-3580 · Reviews · Website · $149 - $169
Bed & breakfast with 4 guest rooms, all with private bathrooms, refrigerator, free wireless Internet; $149 - $169/night
Yosemite Plaisance Bed & Breakfast
4953 Trabucco Street · (209) 742-5205 · Street View · Reviews · Website · $185
Bed & breakfast with three guest rooms, each with king & queen beds; wireless Internet; dogs allowed with advance notice ($10/dog/night + $200 deposit); $185/night for double occupancy
Mariposa Vacation Home Rentals
Knarly Oaks Midpines Manor
(855) 562-7596 · Reviews · Website · 16 guests max · $180 - $525
3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2,600 square feet, 2.5-acre property; full kitchen, spa, laundry, Internet; $135 cleaning fee
Knarly Oaks Pool House
(855) 562-7596 · Reviews · Website · 6 guests max · $109 - $249
2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1,500 square feet, 5-acre property; full kitchen, outdoor pool & spa, laundry, Internet; $75 cleaning fee, summer rates $249/night
Knarly Oaks River House
(855) 562-7596 · Reviews · Website · 14 guests max · $179 - $299
3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2,300 square feet, 1.7-acre property; full kitchen, outdoor spa, laundry, Internet; dogs allowed for additional fee; $110 cleaning fee, high season rates $299 for 6 guests, $5 - $25 (depending on age and season) for each additional guest
Sierrascape House (Sierrascape Vacation Rentals)
(209) 966-4945 · Reviews · Website · 6 guests max · $215 - $265
3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1,200 square feet; full kitchen; outdoor spa; wireless Internet; washer & dryer; summer rate $265 for double occupancy (see rates page); additional cleaning fees of $75 - $110; additional $25 - $35 per extra guest
Sunny Pines Cottage
(209) 742-6323 · Website · 10 guests max · $160 - $285
B & B and 3-bedroom, 3-bath, 2,000-square-foot cottage containing 3 queen beds with additional queen sleeper sofa, full kitchen, wi-fi, 30-acre property; no smoking on grounds; pets allowed with prior arrangement, B & B rooms $160 - $180/night for double occupancy, cottage $205 - $285 for six guests with $100 cleaning fee, $25/extra guest