Yosemite National Park campgrounds

We stayed at Mariposa County Fairgrounds in Mariposa. plenty of sites if no events are going on at the fairgrounds.

Yes we realize the drive but only place we can get. Crazy how busy campgrounds are. We would love to get closer but no openings. Any suggestions of other campgrounds that might be closer.

Thanks Tara

Looks like a two hour commute each way from Codorniz to Yosemite Valley, unless there is traffic.

Has anyone ever stayed at Cordoniz recreation area COE and visited Yosemite from there? I believe the campground is close to Raymond California. Thanks Tara

Mike W wrote:
Those of you who have spring reservations may want to bring rafts...for the campgrounds. When they get a ton of snow, spring camping is subject to flooding.

Kidding aside, this year's rafting season is going to be amazing. As the father of a rafting guide, book a few trips with your friends and experience a great summer. There are tons of great places to raft in the western Sierras.

Those of you who have spring reservations may want to bring rafts...for the campgrounds. When they get a ton of snow, spring camping is subject to flooding.

It has been almost 10 years since we stayed there but found Yosemite Pines to be a nice place to stay. You can read a short review of it and what we did during the week we were there on our blog posting for that stay.

Thanks for info everyone we appreciate it. Been looking on Google earth and nothing looks close but we don't mind driving an hour or so. Have had to that to visit Big Bend National Park. Again thank you all!

Campgrounds inside the park:

First half of August go on sale on March 15th.

Second half of August go on sale on April 15th.

North Pines is the only campground that uses the lottery system.

Details: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/camping.htm

There are not a lot of campgrounds/RV parks close to Yosemite Valley. Any of them would probably be an hour or more away.

Here are the options inside the park: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

I did luck out and got a three night reservation in May in Upper Pines! Campsites will sell out in minutes.

But the campground that I'm using the night before we go into Yosemite is two hour drive away.

It has been a few years but we stayed in Mariposa. A few CGs there. Even at 34' pickins are kinda slim even if something was available.

We took our bikes with us & had a poke around the CGs to look at site sizes. Very very few able to accommodate anything over 30' IIRC. Yes, size really does matter.