December 22, 2023
Friday Family Vacation to Yosemite National Park
Pam
Yosemite National Park beckons families with an irresistible blend of awe-inspiring natural wonders and a wealth of outdoor adventures, making it a perfect destination for an unforgettable family vacation. With an enchanting realm of towering waterfalls, towering cliffs, and ancient forests, Yosemite offers a unique opportunity for families to connect with nature on a grand scale. Friday Family Vacation to Yosemite National Park is on tap today!
Getting to Yosemite National Park on Points and Miles
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is the closest airport to Yosemite National Park. The following major airlines fly into it:
- Alaska Airlines
- American
- Delta
- Frontier
- Southwest Airlines
- United
This gives us many ways to use points and miles for our vacation to visit Yosemite. Our family is traveling from Denver, Colorado so we are going to check out Southwest and United flights. We can use credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards for either and transfer them to these airlines.
Southwest has a few nonstop flights to FAT airport so we will pick those:
If our family has the Southwest Companion Pass, they will only pay for three tickets so a total of about 60K Ultimate Rewards or the signup bonus from the Chase Sapphire Preferred will get them to Yosemite.
Looking at United Airlines, there are many nonstop flights each day. The total roundtrip price would be about 30K per person, so it looks like the Southwest option is cheapest, even without the Companion Pass.
Lodging in Yosemite National Park on Points and Miles
Lodging right in Yosemite is sparse with points and miles. There is a Hyatt and a Marriott in Oakhurst about 40 miles away, which are possibilities (and fewer points). The closest hotel is the The Westin Monache Resort, Mammoth. It runs from 63K-85K Marriott Bonvoy Rewards a night. If you book with points and stay five nights, the fifth night is free.
Credit cards that can get you a stay in Yosemite for nearly free include:
Bottom Line
With a few credit card signup bonuses, it is possible to make our Family Friday Vacation to Yosemite national Park a reality for your family. Enjoy the majesty that is Yosemite National Park for pennies on the dollar – Enjoy!
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You might need to do more research. The Westin Mammoth is not in Yosemite as it is still 33 miles away from the park. It is ideal for those going to Mammoth Mountain.
Yep, we know that it is not in Yosemite but 33 miles away is still a good option if you want to use points and miles. When you search Yosemite on Marriott, it is the first one that shows up making it a viable option.
The road from Fresno to Mammoth goes through the Yosemite NP. This road is closed during winter months ( Oct 31 – May 25)…. Alternative road is 6 hour drive. It is better to stay at Oakhurst, if you fly into Fresno during this time.
Thanks for that info, Kate – appreciate it!
Can you comment on how you’d book your rental car as well?
Thanks!
We use Autoslash for most of our rentals. Costco or Turo are good options as well.