Where to make a "home base" in Oberammergau area

G-P is the best. It's a transit hub of buses and trains.

I'd agree about G-P.

Definitely G-P. Lots of housing and restaurant choices, as well as more things to do, and easier transport to different places if you are depending on the train.

Take a real close look at accommodations and rail schedules from Oberammergau after the plays let out in the PM. I looked at them a few months ago, and it didn't look like the trains to Garmisch-P ran late enough to get there at night after the play. You might have to leave before the end of the performance in order to catch the last train to a hotel in Ga-P.

To go anywhere by train from Oberammergau, you have to go to Murnau and change. There is a bus from Oberammergau to Ga-P, but the last one leaves O'gau at 8:25 pm. That is unless Oberammergau, or Ga-P, provides some kind of special transportation after the play ends.

It looks like after Aug 15, the play gets out an hour earlier, so it might not be a problem then.

Also, the play takes a break in the late afternoon for dinner, and I imagine all of the restaurants fill up quickly. I'd recommend you have dinner arrangement set before you commit to the play. Gasthöfe in town might include dinner reservations with their room and ticket packages. If you're staying in Ga-P you might have to arrange in advance for dinner or picnic it.

According to Trainline, there is a train about every hour: 2138 and 2227, going through Murnau. Trains take about 1 1/2 hours. So, we will get in late after the play (midnight). I'd much prefer to stay in O'gau. But, room prices are high and it's a tad challenging to get to other places from there. Taking other's advice, I've rented a place in Ga-P for less then half what I would have paid in O'gau. It will still take 1 1/2 hours to get to Fussen, but we will be well situated for the mountains. I think our travel partners have dietary considerations that make picnicking a good idea. Not sure what a gluten free vegan would eat in a Bavarian restaurant. Potato pancakes with applesauce? Kasespaetzle without the kase?

Not sure where you are from, but a good German/Bavarian restaurant with a good Chef/Cook can probably meet your dietary needs and then some. Just ask, better ahead. And I don't mean to single out German restaurants as there are many food options available.

Not sure what a gluten free vegan would eat in a Bavarian restaurant.
Potato pancakes with applesauce? Kasespaetzle without the kase?

I don't think wheat flour is "gluten free". I think both potato pancakes and, particularly, Käsespäzle are made with wheat flour (I always do), unless the restaurant makes them specifically Gluten frei.

You might find Rösti.

Until mid August, the play doesn't get out until 10:30. The 22:27 (10:27 train would be too early unless you left the playhouse early). After mid August, the play gets out at 9:30, so that would work. The next train is at 23:16 (11:16). That connection gets you to GaP at about 1:00 AM. Earlier, I was looking at the stations the train stop at between O'gau and Murnau. It looks like all the accommodations at those stops are booked through Oberammergau.

Thanks, Lee. We will see the play on Sept 25, which gets out at 9:30, so the 22:27 train will work for us, getting us to GaP around midnight.

Now I'm trying to decide how many nights to stay in the area (total)- (one day for castles (Fussen area), one to explore O'gau and see the play, one for a hike (ride up and walk down?). Maybe I'll just build another day into this greater area and we can fill in the blank later.

Also, am I making things harder than they need to be by insisting on staying in one place the whole time instead of staying a night or two in someplace like Fussen?

Hadn't thought of Rosti, that would work well!