Yosemite Blue Butterfly Inn

Angela Kinsella

2023-05

We had a wonderful 2 night stay here in September as part of our 4 week trip to America. We had a wonderful time and Ron and Liz were the perfect hosts. They were so friendly and welcoming and breakfast was amazing each morning, they went to so much effort to make us feel welcome. They have a lovely house which is well situated for the entrance to the national park and we had a huge bedroom which was beautifully furnished with antique fittings. We were so lucky to spot a black bear in the creek on our first night and they have lots of hummingbirds and ravens as well. Thank you so much for having us, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Rhiannon Hein

2023-05

We loved our stay at this cozy and lovely bed and breakfast. When we decided to come to Yosemite, we wanted something close to the Valley that was cute and romantic.These spacious rooms, complete with antique furniture, incredible natural light, and wonderful balconies (where you can see hummingbirds, ravens, and might even catch glimpses of bears!) were more than we could've asked for. The photos do not do the inn justice--it's even more beautiful and cozy in person. We were also just a three to five minute drive from the Park entrance!Liz and Ron are wonderful people, and the breakfasts they made for us were delicious. If you are looking for a place to stay during your romantic getaway, I don't think anyone could want more. I highly recommend this place and know that we'll be coming back in the future!

chip cramer

2023-08

Ron and Liz are perfect hosts with decades of park and area knowledge. I wouldn’t stay anywhere else if Yosemite Valley was the goal. The Merced River is steps away and lulls you to sleep, while Liz’s breakfast is just what you need to get you going.If you’re climbing, talk to Ron first and you’ll have all the info you need for a great experience.

Kevin Eikov Ministries

2023-05

This is an outstanding Bed & Breakfast to stay at when visiting Yosemite Park. It is right near the entrance to the park and sits overlooking the river. It is decorated with many English pieces of furniture. You can see the mountains of Yosemite from your windows. The views of wildlife are wonderful and can be enjoyed on the deck. The couple who owns this B&B are absolutely wonderful to talk with and can tell you many stories about the park and living here. An outstanding place to stay when visiting Yosemite Park. I highly recommend it.

Rahul K

2023-05

This is a B&B hosted by a lovely couple in a spacious house, fronting the Merced River. It is unique, because it is the only family owned B&B, surrounded by motel rooms. This place will not accept online bookings, so you'll need to call and handle the payment over phone. Unlike a motel, you receive a hearty breakfast. The room has central air, settee, and WIFI which was able to stream NF. No TV. Balcony overlooking river. The nearest grocery is 10min drive at El Portal post office. We walked 30mins along the river to reach it. I would give the room 5 stars if there was a fridge and access to a microwave. There is nothing to do in the evenings at the Blue Butterfly except exchange stories, chill on the balcony or chat with the hosts. So take time to bring a book and board games. And plan your next hike!Next door to the B&B is a pizza joint (open evenings only) and the motel's restaurant (open for bfast and dinner). There are many eateries up in Yosemite Valley.If you are with kids, choose the Yosemite View Lodge motel. It does not incl breakfast, but it does have an indoor pool, game room, patio overlooking river and grounds for kids.We used the YARTS stop outside to get into and back from Yosemite Visitors Centre ($15 roundtrip, less for seniors). This needs planning as the YARTS schedule in and out of Yosemite is limited. It was fine for us: up on the 920am and back down on the four departures between 4pm-7pm. Within Yosemite Valley, we availed of the free hop on/off Shuttle that run every 20mins.If you are driving, you can leave the car at the guesthouse and "YARTS in". With a car, you will also be able to drive to Mariposa Grove to visit the Giant Sequoias, at the south entrance to Yosemite (not possible without car, or somehow starting your journey in Mariposa).We got in by using the San Joaqins railway (Amtrak) from Emeryville to Merced.Invest in comfy hike shoes and hiking stick.

Alan Jevons

2019-05

A lovely bed and breakfast in a gorgeous setting. If I have opportunity to visit Yosmite again I'll definitely stay here once more. Rooms are really nice and so are the hosts. The hotel is about 15 minutes outside the park and you can easily catch the bus into it as there is a bus stop right outside. Views from the hotel balcony are fantastic. Sitting on the patio watching the hummingbirds surrounded by gorgeous scenery is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon or early evening. You will not be disappointed, book now.

Shannon Meadows

2020-05

We had the most wonderful experience at the Blue Butterfly Inn when we visited in late June. Ron and Liz were the perfect B & B hosts! They were friendly, made us feel at-home, and were very knowledgeable about the area and Yosemite Park itself.The property is less than a minute from the entrance of the park, yet there is no touristy vibe at this little inn - it is comfortable, quiet, and has a stunning view of the Merced River which runs through Yosemite Valley and right behind the inn. On the large deck overlooking the river, Liz and Ron serve a generous, delicious breakfast with juice, coffee and the best pot of hot tea around (thank you, Liz!). We got to enjoy watching hummingbirds at breakfast and in the evening when having a glass of wine, all while listening to the sounds of the river. During the day, we were able to visit Yosemite for several hours to hike and take in the amazing scenery, then eat at a restaurant and a pizzeria tucked in near the Blue Butterfly the nights we were there. (The pizza was excellent, by the way.) Our room, the California Poppy, was sweetly decorated, had comfortable bedding, a private bathroom, and plenty of in-room seating. Our room did not have a balcony, but it was lovely, just the same. We could see and hear the river to the west out of our room window, and it was on the first floor, close to a large common living area and the large deck overlooking the river. We loved it!We highly recommend the Blue Butterfly Inn and hope to see Ron and Liz again in the future!!

Kate Darne

2020-05

My husband and I stayed here for 2 nights and it was perfect. The location is fantastic and the deck overlooking the stream is picture perfect. After a long day hiking in the park, we picked up munchies & wine at the store in the park and enjoyed our evenings on the deck. Breakfast is lovely as well. We have already recommended this place too many friends!

Penny Sanchez

2021-05

Lovely bed and breakfast tucked away behind a massive hotel, in a gorgeous river setting. We stayed in the Sunflower room on the top level. Great views of the river and yummy breakfast. Liz and Ron are full of cute stories. Not the best WiFi connection but doable.

Shawn Shafai

2020-05

Fantastic bed & breakfast. The hosts are fabulous and exactly the kind of B&B hosts you want; they are long time locals, have in-depth expert advice about Yosemite National Park and the surrounding area and its history. They run this business purely because of passion and they love meeting new people from around the world and especially sharing their information and amazing stories. They are also avid B&B travelers themselves and can likely tell you a thing or two about your own region or country that you didn't know!The location of the Inn is just outside of Yosemite and is perfectly situated on the Merced River. You simply go out on the back balcony and you are instantly surrounded by nature, a beautiful river, and the steep hills and wildlife. If you like hummingbirds, you will be delighted with a constant flurry of them that come to the Inn.The Inn itself is constructed beautifully with quality materials and a great design. You will be relaxed, have privacy, and be able to mingle with others in the shared areas very comfortably. Ron and Liz, the owners, also have a wonderful selection of books and artifacts from around the world to delight your senses and pique your natural curiosity about the area as well as art and crafts from other countries.If you can get a reservation, this is by far your best bet for a B&B for Yosemite and the personalized service and attention that will be far unmatched by anything else outside or inside the National Park. Enjoy your trip as you will certainly remember it forever!

Craig Jackson

2020-05

First, the good: This B&B is in a fantastic location. It is probably the best/closest option to the Yosemite valley if you want to visit the most popular park areas, stay outside the park, AND have a B&B experience. It is situated on the bank of the Merced river. So, there is a spectacular view from the back of the home overlooking the beautiful river. The home itself is very nice. The guest rooms are nicely-furnished and have their own balcony-style decks. We stayed in their top-floor room, which was huge. It was wonderful to leave the windows open and listen to the Merced flowing all night. The hosts, Ron & Liz, are very friendly and also very knowledgeable about the park, as they have lived in the area for many years. The breakfasts were standard B&B fare (quiches, etc.) - all fine and tasty.Next, the not-so-good: 1) Cats - the hosts keep an indoor cat (or cats). I was not aware of this before I arrived, and I am allergic to cats. They do try to keep the cat confined to their own private living spaces. But the cat escaped and was in the guest areas several times (brushing against my leg at breakfast, leaving "presents" on the stairs, etc.). The hosts apologized for this, and took care of the issues. But I have never stayed at a B&B with indoor cats before. 2) Parking - the B&B is located on a lot surrounded by a hotel and a restaurant. I'm amazed they were able to fit the home in this location, and parking for the B&B is tight. They can fit 6 standard-size (or smaller) vehicles. But it is difficult to maneuver into the parking spots. I would not recommend driving a large Pickup truck or large SUV. Possibly you can park larger vehicles at the hotel next door? 3) 9pm curfew - the hosts live on-site and want to lock the B&B doors around 9pm each night. If you want to stay out later, you can, but you need to arrange this in advance and get a special key. This limited our freedom to be spontaneous and make the most of our time in Yosemite - always worrying about being back by 9pm. I've never stayed in a B&B that had a curfew before. 4) Dining options are limited. This is not really a problem with the B&B - just a tip to let you know that there are very few options for dining in the area. There are a couple restaurants in the same parking lot as the B&B. But, with so few options, they were very busy and the wait times to get seated were extremely long during dinner times (60 minutes or more)Overall, this B&B is a nice establishment and we enjoyed our stay. Just be aware of the items mentioned above, and you will too.

Geraldine Hopkins

2017-05

Stayed three nights last week and loved every minute of our trip. The warmest welcome from Ron and Liz, with so many interesting tales to tell. Their advice on how to spend each day was indispensible, and spot-on due to their many years of living in Yosemite. We left knowing that the guide books we purchased would never have sensibly packed in the best sights and trails in which to explore. Home cooked and delicious breakfasts each morning was a perfect start to the day, and Liz's home made cookies mid afternoon, a great end to the day. The accommodation is so cosy, comfortable and welcoming. Worth every penny, especially to be so close to the Yosemite NP entrance - a fact not to be dismissed if you don't want hours of additional travel each day.

Mike Sheffar

2020-05

This place was amazing! The facilities were excellent. Clean and everything was as advertised. The location was excellent as well....it was a great base camp for our trips into Yosemite. Also, I don't think I can say enough nice things about the owners. They were such good hosts. They run a tight ship...clean and well appointed. I would also say that the conversation with them was a highlight too. Can't wait to return.

Timothy Poon

2019-05

Blue butterfly inn is a bed and breakfast just outside Yosemite in El Portal. It's a clean and lovely place hosted by a wonderful couple, Liz and Ron. Breakfasts were served on Riverside deck and prepared in the morning by Liz by 8:30. They were kind and considerate hosts, making sure we had a good itinerary for the day in Yosemite, as well as insuring we made the right considerations when planning to drive back to airport. Blue butterfly was an excellent experience to stay.

Daniel Elsegood

2017-05

FANTASTIC. The rooms are HUGE, beautiful and luxurious. Location could not be better for Yosemite. The breakfasts are superb. Liz and Ron are lovely, very knowledgeable and generous. I highly recommend Butterfly Inn. Keep up the great work.

Luke James

2021-05

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Dilara Sevilir

2024-01

Do yourself a favor and stay here! Ron and Liz are the most welcoming, wonderful hosts, the location is amazing and the rooms are so clean and have so much character. My husband and I stayed for 2 nights in the "Sunflower" penthouse suite and oh my goodness- it is just gorgeous! The room is very spacious, beautiful hardwood flooring throughout, so many windows and so much sunlight! Liz is an artist and you can really see that peeking through in the decor of the room. Every little detail has been thought out, down to the bedding (I fell in love with the embroidered sheets!). Your view is the Merced River just below and a beautiful hill/cliff/mountain directly across from you. The room has a wrap around terrace with a table on each end where you can enjoy your breakfast and dinner while breathing in the mountain air and watching wildlife visit the river below (if you have a camera keep it at the ready!) My husband and I love hiking and Ron and Liz both had great recommendations. If there are any climbers visiting the park, Ron is a seasoned climber and I'm sure he'd have the best recommendations! Staying here truly enhanced our experience and we recommend Ron and Liz's B&B to anyone and everyone we encounter. To Ron and Liz, thank you so much for a truly wonderful stay, we hope to be back soon!!

Efrain Curet, Jr.

2023-05

This is a fantastic and beautiful bed and breakfast. The owners Liz and Ron are great hosts. I definitely want to make my way back here one day.

Michael

2022-05

What a find. The place is great and the location is right outside the entrance to the park. The owners are lovely and were very helpful with our excursions in the park. Their deck over looking the river was a lovely place to enjoy breakfast (pictured)

N T

2020-05

I don't know if this place is nice, we weren't able to make it there. Because of the fires and the electricity blackouts, we decided to cancel our trip to Yosemite and Napa. The road this place is on is even closed at the moment. We don't want to spend thousands of dollars to fly across the country to vacation in the apocalypse. We had no problems refunding our money with the rest of the trip, with the exception of this place. (The hotel in Napa even advised AGAINST coming because of the blackouts and refunded our money). This place was unapologetic about taking our money. They were also very short and mean about it. Take your money elsewhere, stay in an established hotel, not a small business that is desperate for money. Stay somewhere with an actual refund policy that works for travelers, because you never know what is going to happen. If they don't refund your money for actual natural disasters, then they never will. Avoid these people. I would give negative stars if I could.PS - We DID have travel insurance (as it states on their site) through AMEX...guess who doesn't accept AMEX?

Nick Janous

2022-05

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Tatyana Stasevich

2018-05

This business, Blue Butterfly B&B, Yosemite clamed to follow the CA “recommendation” on an air conditioning use. Please be aware that they try to save their pennies by fooling the customers. . Liz and Ron manipulating the disconnect switches outside to turn the air off in your room. It took 3 minutes for a licensed electrical engineer to figure out the problem with their air conditioner/heater. This is consider as a federal crime (scam). Please report them if you experienced the service you paid for but it haven’t been provided to you. Blue Butterfly B&B business is now under the investigation as a negligent service provider. The Company operates in the hospitality industry must guard against negligence in several key areas. This B&B is exposed to legal liability because of their close contact with the public. The Appeals Board ruled that IIPPs failed to address the hazard of indoor heat. National Distribution Center, Cal/OSHA App. 12-R6D2-0391, 12-R6D2-0378, Decision After Reconsideration (Oct. 5, 2015). In addition to penalties imposed in regulatory enforcement actions, hospitality business (B&B including) who expose their guests to dangerous indoor heat conditions may face individual and class action lawsuits.

William Biesele

2023-08

The best place to stay for your visit to Yosemite. Owners are very friendly and helpful. They know the park and the area.Rooms: Clean and comfortable

Virginia Wertz

2023-12

One of our best places to stay. The owners are wonderful and the rooms are the best.Rooms: Sunflower Room was beyond beliefNoteworthy details: Breakfast was great and the restaurant next door was very good. It is a short drive into Yosemite. Each room has a deck that looks down on the Merced River.

Christopher Bowen

2019-05

Liz and Ron Skelton. On this day I send you my well wishes. Thank you for helping so many people from the Fire raging though Yosemite National park. You are true Hero and Angel alike.One day I hope to meet you and stay at your Inn I hope you survive and one day thrive again.Best wishes from England.

Steve Worthington

2018-05

Wow! Closest bed and breakfast to the park. Excellent rooms. Great hosts. Fabulous breakfast. And loved the humming bird s on the deck over the river. I highly recommend this place.

susan sims

2017-05

This was a wonderful place to stay. Liz and Ron were great hosts. The food was wonderful. My only regret is I missed breakfast one day. No complaints at all.

Mary Cominos

2018-05

A special place. So glad to know that they are there ! Every bit of the details are there for it to rate a 5 star bed and breakfast. Tucked in between the hotel on each side, this couple kept their little haven. Treat yourself a special stay.

Justine Monroe

2021-05

Requiring proof of vaccinations! Unfortunate, because looks like a lovely place to stayHaha no thanks. I'll camp. 👌 interesting to see they didn't require this all year but yet they have "5 star" reviews from all of this current year.

Dave Witter

2023-05

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