The former gold mining town of Mariposa (Spanish for Butterfly) makes the perfect stopping off point for a visit to Yosemite National Park. We spent a day here, which including exploring the town, hiking a nearby trail and stocking up with supplies before continuing to Yosemite the following morning.
How to get to Mariposa
Mariposa is 42 miles from the South Entrance to Yosemite National Park. We drove to Mariposa from San Francisco, which is 168 miles to the west. If you are travelling from the west coast and want to make the most of your day in the Park, it makes sense to spend a night in Mariposa, then drive to Yosemite for a full day of exploring the following morning.
Getting around Mariposa
The quaint small town, consisting of a grid off the Central Yosemite Highway, is best explored on foot. If you want to hike to Stockton Creek Preserve, there is an entrance to the trailhead just to the east of the town. Alternatively, you can drive to the trailhead entrance on the CA-140 around 2 miles north of town (there is ample free car parking by the entrance).
Where to stay in Mariposa
There are several accommodation options in Mariposa. We stayed at the Miner’s Inn Motel, which was very pleasant with nice rooms, a shady pool and excellent breakfast. Adjacent is the Miner’s Roadhouse 140 Restaurant, which offers good food in a unique environment.
Mariposa in 1 Day Itinerary
| Day 1 | Drive to Mariposa Lunch at Miner’s Roadhouse 140 Mariposa Museum & History Center Chamber of Commerce Stockton Creek Preserve Shopping at Pioneer Market Dinner at the Happy Burger Diner Accommodation – Miner’s Inn |
Day 1
Drive to Mariposa
Today is mostly about driving, as we head to Mariposa on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park. It’s a very American drive; we get on the interstate outside the motel and the next direction is to exit in 120 miles. That gives us sufficient time for the entire Wicked soundtrack.
Lunch at Miner’s Roadhouse 140
We arrive in Mariposa at 1.30 pm and order lunch in the Miner’s Roadhouse 140. As already mentioned, Mariposa’s history lies in gold mining (it sits atop the Mother Lode – a seam rich in gold discovered in the 1850s) and this restaurant has taken the gold mining theme and run with it – and I’m not talking a sprint! There is a model of the Yosemite Valley Railroad running all round the ceiling and the toilets are designed to look like mine shafts.
Mariposa Museum & History Center
After lunch, we walk down the road to Mariposa Museum & History Center; a quaint little place detailing the history (mainly mining) of the town. Inside, you will find plenty of artifacts and stories which tell the town’s story, while outside you can see old mining machinery.
The museum is open daily from 9 am until 4 pm. Entry costs $10 for adults, $5 for children and seniors.
Chamber of Commerce
Next, we visit the Chamber of Commerce, which is home to the Visitor Center and has plenty information about the area plus a wide range of local crafts, produce and souvenirs.
They also offer a Mariposa Gold Mine Escape Room, where you can don your hard hat and take on a series of puzzles.
Stockton Creek Preserve
We drive a couple of miles out of town to Stockton Creek Preserve, where you can walk along a trail through the Sierra Nevada Foothills, past a reservoir to a waterfall. There are 5 miles of trails through the creek, with the Lower Trail running from a trailhead a few minute walk east of Mariposa and an Upper Trail and Flume Trail accessed from trailheads on the CA-140.
The kids set off on a long walk. I take a slightly shorter option, turning at the lake. I wait at the car, which is parked on the main road in/out of town, mainly frequented by trucks driving crazy fast. It’s obviously a great place for roadkill and I sit and watch vultures soaring overhead waiting for lunch to be served.
Shopping at Pioneer Market
Before heading for Yosemite, it is advisable to stock up on provisions. We visited Pioneer Market supermarket to purchase plenty of snacks and drinks for our time exploring the Park.
Dinner at the Happy Burger Diner
The Happy Burger Diner offers burgers, as the name implies, plus sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes and an extensive Mexican menu. I had a burrito with a side order of cheese and jalapeño poppers, which were very tasty.
Accommodation – Miner’s Inn
After our walk, we check in our motel, the Miner’s Inn, which has large, clean and extremely comfortable rooms. Outside is a small swimming pool, ideal for cooling off after a busy day’s travelling/sightseeing.
The room price includes parking, wifi and breakfast. We opted to prepare for our day in the wilds of Yosemite with some bear paw waffles.
I hope you found the above information useful. For guides to more destinations in the 50+ countries we have visited, check out my full list of Independent Travel Itineraries here.
- Trip taken: April 2022
- Updated: December 2024
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