Spending a night under the stars has never looked so, well, glamorous. The glamping property Under Canvas has expanded its portfolio and recently opened another location just outside Yosemite National Park.
One of TPG’s most anticipated hotel openings of 2026, I got a first look at what this new location had to offer. As someone who prefers experiential travel, Under Canvas positions itself as a high-end camping option (aka glamping).
So, if you prefer hotel amenities but want to get out in nature at a community-driven property, Under Canvas Yosemite should be on your bucket list.
Here’s what it was like staying at this California-based hotel.
First impressions
Escape the San Francisco Bay area and head east toward Yosemite National Park. About three hours from The Golden City, 10 minutes before you reach the Big Oak Flat park entrance, you’ll turn off the main road onto gravel and just a few minutes later see the sign for the Under Canvas campground.
When you drive up to the lobby tent parking area, the staff will have you fill out forms and explain the rules and amenities, including daily activities, parking and more, at this Under Canvas location.
Most importantly, as the staff reminded me upon check-in, though this may have the amenities and certain features of a hotel, you’re still camping. Therefore, be prepared to put your phone down as this property does not offer Wi-Fi, and cell service is nonexistent. Plus, since there are bears and other wildlife in the area, no food is allowed inside the tents, only water. So, your snacks must be left in your car or in a communal bear-safe shed by the car park.
Now, the car park is about a 10-minute walk down a steep hill; if you want to do a bit of extra hiking, you can park and walk, or the staff will escort you to your tent and follow you to the parking area in a golf cart. During my stay, I chose the latter.
The tents at Under Canvas Yosemite
A departure from a traditional camping tent, the accommodations at Under Canvas properties combine outdoor-like quarters with a hotel feel.
Under Canvas Yosemite offers a variety of tent sizes, which sleep between two and six people. My Suite tent featured a king-size cozy bed, a spacious seating area with a coffee table, a leather couch that folds out into a sofa bed, two chairs, a storage trunk, a plush rug, two bedside nightstands and a small heater. The king bed also featured two twin-sized heating pads that could be adjusted to each guest’s temperature preference. Though it wasn’t cold enough to turn on the heat, it’s nice that it was an option.
The tent also had a private ensuite bathroom complete with a running water sink, a low-flush toilet and a shower with bath products. With a focus on sustainability, Under Canvas tents feature pull-string showers. Though it took me a second to get used to the shower itself, the shower area was spacious, the pressure was decent and the water was hot. Overall, the bathroom setup was better than some hotels I’ve stayed in.
Additional amenities included two portable lanterns, two USB chargers and a small bedside fan. Outside of the tent, there was a private deck with two chairs, a perfect spot for early morning coffee or late-night stargazing.
Additionally, there is no air conditioning, which wasn’t an issue during my stay because temperatures only reached the mid-70s during the day and cooled to the low 50s by night. But, if you’re planning a trip during the summer months, when temperatures can reach upward of 90 degrees, it’s important to keep this in mind as your tent may get a bit hot and stuffy during the day.
Related: The best US glamping resorts for an outdoorsy summer getaway
Dining at Under Canvas Yosemite
Under Canvas Yosemite offers à la carte breakfast and dinner at the on-site restaurant, Embers, located in the lobby tent. The expansive menu, featuring local ingredients, pleasantly surprised me. For breakfast, you can enjoy made-to-order craft lattes ($7.25) and options like a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich ($17) or avocado toast ($16). If you want a more decadent and sweet-filled breakfast, try the brown butter pancakes ($17). Guests can also enjoy juices and alcoholic beverages, such as mimosas ($11). Hotel guests can also enjoy endless coffee and tea (included in your stay). Unfortunately, if you have Hyatt Globalist status, breakfast is not included in your stay at this Mr & Mrs Smith property.
Dinner was a standout during my stay, thanks to the following menu highlights: marinated skirt steak ($34), crispy brussels sprouts ($16), pork fried rice with seared shrimp and potstickers (a special of the night), and a warm brown butter cake for dessert ($11). Embers also has a full wine, beer and spirit menu, including mocktails. For the nonalcoholic beverage, try the Drago soda, a mixture of dragonfruit, strawberry, soda and half and half ($8). If you want a tasty cocktail, the Meadow Buzz (herbal tea tincture, white wine, honey and lemon) was light and refreshing ($13).
While Embers does not serve lunch, Under Canvas has a grab-and-go station that features chips, drinks, premade sandwiches and other snacks. Since it’s open 24/7, it’s a great option to grab food to pack for the big hike.
Amenities and services
Part of Under Canvas’ charm is that you disconnect from your phone to reconnect with people around you. Unlike traditional campsites, the property offers a few extra, more hotel-like perks and benefits.
Activities: The lobby tent has a ton of board games (flashback to some classics, like Candy Land), a guitar, a telescope, a yoga deck, cornhole and daily crafts for both kids and adults.
EV charging: There were two EV charging stations in the car park.
Service: Under Canvas is staffed 24/7. So, even if you’re waking up and leaving the property at 4 a.m., which I did, there will be a staff member who can help you purchase to-go items and drive you to your car. Each staff member at this property was super friendly and even willing to share favorite hiking spots and dining recommendations, and to offer assistance with bags and golf cart rides to and from the car and to our tent. However, flagging down a staff member at the bottom of the car park or by your tent may be difficult if no one is already driving by.
Programming: Each day, a chalkboard lists activities, from yoga to s’mores by the campfire and more.
Communal spaces: The lobby tent features tables and chairs and couches with blankets, a great option to curl up with a book. Outside, guests will see Edison lightbulbs with tables, chairs and fire pits. At the end of each day, guests congregated in these areas to not only make s’mores but also to converse. This truly was a highlight of my stay.
Pets: Under Canvas Yosemite is dog-friendly, but guests will have to pay a $35 per pet, per night fee, according to the website.
Experience coordinator: Whether you want to book a private hike with a local guide or a white water rafting excursion, there is an on-site experience coordinator to help you plan the ultimate Yosemite vacation.
Under Canvas Yosemite location and logistics
Under Canvas Yosemite is about a three to four-hour drive from San Francisco, depending on the traffic. This property is situated just 10 minutes from the Big Oak Flat park entrance, which is a great option if you plan to explore Yosemite Valley. Though I drove from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), others may choose to fly into Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), which is about 1.5 to 2 hours from the property.
While Under Canvas Yosemite is 10 minutes from the park entrance, you’ll still have about an hour or more drive through the park to get to specific hiking trails. Therefore, if you don’t want to drive in and out of the park each day, staying inside the park at Curry Village, which offers a no-frills mix of tents and cabins, may be a better option for some.
Related: A glamping getaway you can book with Hilton Honors points
How to book a stay at Under Canvas Yosemite
In 2024, Under Canvas joined World of Hyatt’s portfolio through its partnership with Mr & Mrs Smith. Therefore, Hyatt members can earn and redeem points at all Under Canvas properties. Since hotels in the Mr & Mrs Smith portfolio do not follow an award chart, hotels are priced dynamically, meaning the points prices will fluctuate based on popularity and season.
Deluxe tents start at around $384 or 31,000 World of Hyatt points per night on select dates.
Redeem points for Under Canvas Yosemite
To book this property with points, you can book directly through World of Hyatt. If you don’t have enough Hyatt points, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 rate or a 4:3 rate, depending on which Chase card is in your wallet. Before transferring points, double-check rates on the Chase Travel℠ portal; though, point prices were higher during my searches.
Additionally, to book this Mr & Mrs Smith property, you can also transfer Bilt Points to Hyatt at a 1:1 rate.
Best cards to book Under Canvas Yosemite
| Card name | Welcome offer | Transfer ratio | Earning rate on this Hyatt stay (if booking with cash) |
|---|---|---|---|
| <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/221211836?pid=221211836&name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Reserve%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Chase Sapphire Reserve®</a> (see <a href=”/tc/221211836?pid=221211836&name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Reserve%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | 1:1 transfer rate | 4 Chase points per dollar spent |
| <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/22125056?pid=22125056&name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Preferred%C2%AE%20Card%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card</a> (see <a href=”/tc/22125056?pid=22125056&name=Chase%20Sapphire%20Preferred%C2%AE%20Card%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | 4:3 transfer rate* | 2 Chase points per dollar spent |
| <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/11038?pid=11038&name=Bilt%20Palladium%20Card&issuer=Bilt” target=”_blank”>Bilt Palladium Card</a> (see <a href=”/tc/11038?pid=11038&name=Bilt%20Palladium%20Card&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | Earn 50,000 Bilt Points plus Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days, plus $300 of Bilt Cash**. | 1:1 transfer rate | 2 Bilt points per dollar spent |
| <a href=”https://thepointsguy.com/oc/6230?pid=6230&name=World%20of%20Hyatt%20Credit%20Card%20PID&issuer=Chase” target=”_blank”>World of Hyatt Credit Card</a> (see <a href=”/tc/6230?pid=6230&name=World%20of%20Hyatt%20Credit%20Card%20PID&data-testid=ratesFees” target=”_blank”>rates and fees</a>) | Earn up to 75,000 bonus points (45,000 points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening; plus, up to 30,000 more points by earning 2 points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 point, on up to $15,000 spent.) | N/A | Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts |
*Cardholders who applied prior to June 15, 2026, can transfer points to Hyatt at a 1:1 rate through Sept. 30, 2026.
**Up to $100 of Bilt Cash earned rolls over to the next year.
Related: Best travel credit cards 2026
Accessibility
There are four accessible tents at the Under Canvas Yosemite location, each with a ramp since the tents are situated a few feet off the ground. Additionally, there are designated parking spots outside of the four accessible tents, so guests do not have to utilize the car park down the hill.
Additionally, to reach the communal lobby area from the tents, you walk on an uneven dirt path. Therefore, some guests may find this uneven terrain a bit difficult to navigate, which is noted on Hyatt’s website.
For information about specific accessible features inside the tents, contact Under Canvas Yosemite directly, as each property can differ.
Bottom line
Whether you book with points or cash, Under Canvas Yosemite is a great place to stay if you want to experience “camping” with a luxury twist. With its access to Yosemite National Park, on-site restaurant and communal spaces that encourage reconnection, this is certainly a location that I’m already planning to revisit.
However, if you prefer amenities such as Wi-Fi, air conditioning and the ability to eat in your room, this may not be the property for you.
For more Under Canvas property reviews, check out our guides below:
- Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge brings points travel to one of the Pacific Northwest’s natural wonders
- A non-camper tried ‘glamping’ with Under Canvas — here’s what it’s really like
- Glamping at Zion: Elevate your national park adventure at these points-friendly resorts
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.