The Merced House

🏔️ WELCOME TO YOUR YOSEMITE GATEWAY HOME.

• 8 guests
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 baths
• 3 night minimum

The space

All 3 bedrooms are spacious and offer privacy to guests. Primary bedroom has a king-sized bed and has an ensuite bathroom with shower and walking closet.

Upstairs is a comfort loft, featuring a queen-sized sofa bed and smart TV for guests viewing.

A large private backyard offers plenty of space to unwind outdoors. Everything is thoughtfully prepared to help guests feel safe, at ease, and truly at home, inviting them to return again. There is an undercover garage for one vehicle and driveway parking for 2 car. Street parking is available if required.

Features & amenities

• Bright and airy family home spread over 2 floors.
• Sleeps 8
• 3 Spacious Bedrooms (1 King Bed, 2 Queen Beds)
• Upstairs living room with TV and ( Sofa bed)
• Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom
• Cotton Linen

• Safe & Secure Village housing Neighborhood
• Living Room with couch, occasional chair, dining area
• Fireplace (Both upstairs and downstairs)
• High-Speed Wi-Fi Connection
• Smart TV with Streaming Services (Netflix, Hulu, Disney)
• Fully Equipped Kitchen with 90 cm stove with oven, dishwasher, coffee machine, basic kitchen utensils, breakfast bar
• Refrigerator
• Dedicated workspace for master bedroom
• Upstairs carpet flooring
• Self-Catering
• Air-conditioning
• Washer & Dryer

Outdoor amenities

• Private Backyard with shared with outdoor furniture
• Free Parking on Premises for 2-3 vehicles

What you get access to

Why merced?

Merced sits along the historic **Highway 140 corridor** — widely considered the most scenic route into Yosemite Valley. You're approximately **60 miles from Yosemite's Arch Rock Entrance** — far enough to enjoy affordable lodging and amazing Central Valley dining, close enough for a comfortable day trip or multi-day exploration.

• Skip the overpriced gateway town hotels — stay in a real home, save money, and enjoy the drive through the stunning Merced River Canyon on your way to the park!

The space

This is a **full house** — not a shared room, not a cramped apartment. You get the entire place to yourself!

• **Living Areas** — Open, spacious layout with calming interiors and cozy decor. Soft, warm lighting throughout for a true retreat feel.

• **Full Kitchen** — Cook your own meals and save hundreds vs. eating out near Yosemite! Fully stocked with cookware, dishes, utensils, coffee maker, and all the essentials.

• **Comfortable Sleeping** — Thoughtfully arranged sleeping for up to 6 guests with quality linens and pillows. You'll actually sleep well here.

• **Large Private Backyard** — This is our guests' favorite feature! Perfect for morning coffee ☕, evening barbecues 🔥, stargazing 🌟, or letting the kids run free after a long drive. Your own private outdoor oasis.

Who this home is perfect for

• **Yosemite Explorers** — Use Merced as your base camp! Pack a cooler from the full kitchen, drive the scenic Hwy 140, spend the day in the park, and come home to a real house with a hot shower and a comfy bed — not a cramped hotel room.

• **UC Merced Families** — Visiting your student? Attending orientation, graduation, or family weekend? This home gives everyone space to spread out and actually feel at home. Go Bobcats! 🐾

• **Business & Travel Professionals** — Fast WiFi, dedicated workspace area, and a quiet neighborhood. Ideal for professionals in Merced's agricultural sector, healthcare, or education.

• **Relocations & Extended Stays** — Moving to the Central Valley? We offer generous discounts for weekly and monthly stays. A real home beats a hotel when you're getting settled. Stays of 30+ nights save on occupancy taxes too! 💰

• **Travel Nurses & Medical Professionals** — Merced's hospitals are nearby. Enjoy a full home with kitchen and laundry for your assignment — far better than extended-stay hotels. You deserve to come home to comfort after a long shift. 💙

Amenities highlights

• Fast, reliable WiFi (speed tested regularly)
• Full kitchen — coffee maker, cookware, spices & essentials
• Washer & dryer (in-unit — no laundromat runs!)
• Free parking on premises
• Self check-in with smart lock — arrive on YOUR schedule
• Large private backyard with outdoor seating
• Central heating AND cooling (essential for Central Valley weather!)
• Smart TV with streaming services
• Pack-n-play & high chair available on request
• Hotel-quality toiletries
• Professionally cleaned before every stay
• Fire extinguisher & safety equipment
• First aid kit

House rules

• Self check-in — arrive on your schedule, no awkward key exchanges
• Quiet hours: 10 PM – 7 AM (peaceful residential neighborhood)
• No smoking inside (outdoor area available)
• No parties or events
• Ask about our pet policy!
• Please treat the home with care — we put a lot of love into it

Rental Agreement May Be required

Early/ Late checkouts available for a fee. Based on availabillity.

Booking with confidence

• We respond to messages quickly — usually within an hour! ⚡ Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions before you book. We want to make sure this is the perfect fit for your trip.

Weekly & monthly discounts available — just check the pricing calendar! 📅

We can't wait to welcome you to the Gateway to Yosemite! 🏔️✨

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While you are here

Guest access

### 🔐 guest access

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• 🏡 **You have access to the ENTIRE house** — it's all yours! Every room, every space, inside and out.

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• **What you get:**
• - 🛏️ All bedrooms & bathrooms
• - 🍳 Full kitchen (cook anything you want!)
• - 🛋️ Living room & all common areas
• - 👕 Washer & dryer
• - 🌳 Entire private backyard
• - 🚗 Dedicated parking space(s)
• - 🧊 Yosemite Adventure Station (cooler, maps, binoculars & more!)

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### 🔑 self check-in with smart lock

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• We use a **smart keypad lock** on the front door — no keys to pick up, no awkward meetups, no lockouts! 🙌

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• **Here's how it works:**

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• 2️⃣ When you arrive, simply enter your code on the keypad 🔢
• 3️⃣ The door unlocks — walk right in! 🚪✨
• 4️⃣ Your code is **unique to your stay** and automatically expires at checkout for security 🔒

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• ✅ No keys to lose
• ✅ No waiting around for someone to let you in
• ✅ Arrive at 3 PM or 11 PM — totally up to you
• ✅ Code works for your entire stay — come and go freely

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• **Late arrival?** No problem at all! The smart lock doesn't sleep 😄. Whether your flight is delayed or you're driving in late from the Bay Area — your code works 24/7.

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• **Need help?** We're always just a message away if you have any trouble with the lock. We typically respond within minutes! ⚡

The neighbourhood

The neighborhood

The neighborhood

The Serenity House is located in a **quiet, friendly residential neighborhood** in Merced, California — the heart of the Central Valley and the official Gateway to Yosemite. 🌲

This is a **safe, family-oriented area** with tree-lined streets, friendly neighbors, and that classic small-town California feel. You'll hear birds in the morning ☀️ and crickets at night 🌙 — not traffic and sirens.

• What's Nearby:**

• **Grocery & Shopping**
• Walmart Supercenter — 5 min drive
• Target — 8 min drive
• Save Mart & FoodMaxx — 5-10 min drive
• Downtown Merced shops & boutiques — 10 min drive

• **Dining**
• Dozens of restaurants within 5-10 minutes — Mexican, Chinese, Italian, American, BBQ, fast food & more> - Local favorites & hidden gems listed in our guest guidebook!
• Starbucks & Dutch Bros — 5 min drive ☕

• **Gas Stations** — Multiple within 3-5 minutes (fill up before heading to Yosemite — gas is pricier in the mountains! ⛰️)

• **Medical**
• Mercy Medical Center — 10 min drive
• Urgent care clinics — 5-10 min drive
• Pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens) — 5 min drive

• **UC Merced Campus** — ~15 min drive

• **Local Attractions**
• Castle Air Museum (60+ military aircraft, SR-71 Blackbird!) ✈️ — 10 min drive
• Applegate Park & Zoo 🦁 — 10 min drive
• Lake Yosemite (fishing, kayaking, picnicking) 🎣 — 15 min drive
• Merced County Courthouse Museum (1875 Italianate beauty) — 10 min drive
• Downtown Merced Art Hop (monthly art walks) 🎨

• **Yosemite National Park**
• Take Highway 140 east — the most scenic route into the park! 🚗
• ~60 miles / 1 hr 45 min to Arch Rock Entrance
• YARTS bus pickup available in Merced (park admission included in fare!) 🚌
• Pro tip: Leave by 7 AM to beat the crowds and catch the morning light on the valley walls 🌄

• **Transportation**
• Merced Amtrak Station — 10 min drive (San Joaquins line)
• Merced Regional Airport — 10 min drive
• YARTS bus to Yosemite — departs from Merced (year-round service!)
• Highway 99 — 5 min (connects to Fresno, Sacramento, Bay Area)

• **Pro Tips from Your Host:** - Stock up on groceries and snacks here before heading to Yosemite — options inside the park are limited and expensive 💸
• Fill your gas tank in Merced — you'll save $1-2/gallon vs. mountain stations ⛽
• Grab breakfast burritos from a local spot on your way out — trust us on this one 🌯😄

House rules

• House rule:
• No pets without advance notice to host. $100 Pets fee will apply after approval by host.
• No smoking, No Party,
• No outdoor music at all times. Quiet time: 10:00 pm to 8:00 am.
• We are in a very quiet neighborhood and therefore will be more strict to the quiet hour, noise compliance , NO OUTDOOR MUSIC AT ANY TIME. No visitors and no party allowed as stated on our house rule page. It will be strictly enforced.
• We are here to disclose that there are 24 hours video and noise surveyance on site.
• Cameras are outside the house only.
• On-site parking for two cars
• Stays of 30 or more days: guests are responsible for their own consumable supplies such as coffee, toilet paper, and paper towels

What is here

• Fast wifi, 250+ Mbps
• Hot tub
• Full kitchen
• Pets allowed
• Air conditioning
• Dryer
• Washer
• Free parking
• Garage
• Laptop friendly workspace
• Smart TV
• Dishwasher

Things worth knowing