California - Hilton or Marriott properties nearest to Yosemite

I'm planning a trip to Yosemite sometime next year. I'm a consultant and I target either Hilton or Marriott based on where I want to vacation next. Can anyone recommend either property within a reasonable distance from Yosemite?

To start the discussion, and going from memory (and it can be shaky, since I don't live in the area any more): ;)

The closest properties are probably in Fresno (for the South Entrance at Fish Camp, California Route 41) or Merced (for the West Entrance at El Portal). AFAIK there are no full service MC or HH locations in either city.

Marriott: North Fresno (closest to northbound Highway 41) has a Courtyard, a Residence Inn, Spring Hill Suites and a Towne Place. . There is also a CY adjacent to the Fresno-Yosemite Intl, Airport (FAT).
Merced has a CY.

Hilton: In North Fresno, there's a Homewood right next door to the above mentioned Spring Hill Suites (both are fairly recently built). Also a nearby Hampton Inn/Suites. A little further east in Clovis is an HGI.
As above, Merced offers a Hampton.

Most people coming to the park from the Bay Area enter the park via Highway 140/El Portal, while entering from the south (Highway 41) can make more sense if coming from LA/The Southland.

Since you are interested in specific hotel chains, and since the drill for FT is to ask those questions in the appropriate hotel forums, I am going to close this and suggest that you look at or post in

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hilton-hhonors/125846-there-hilton-hotel-yosemite-eom.html?highlight=yosemite

which is the only thread in the Hilton HHonors forum with the word "Yosemite" in the title,

or post your question regarding Marriots here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marriott-rewards-427/

cblaisd
Senior Moderator