Any suggestions for a nice park close to Yosemite Valley west entrance for summer months of June, July or August in 2015? It is for my wife and I in a 40 foot rig. We wish to do some day hiking, backpacking and/or overnights in the park and would like to use the RV as a base for an extended stay of up to a month. We would like to be as close to the park as possible but would consider up to 40 miles or so. Thanks for any help!Arizona Clark

Check out the Mariposa KOA. Nice place and not too far from the park. Make reservations now.

Yosemite Lakes a Thousand Trails park is 5 miles outside the north west gate on 120. You will be able to stay 14 nights if you buy a zone pass, right now I think $525 a year. We stayed there for 2 weeks when we bought the membership, as any where else we checked wanted $325-400 for 1 week. The zone will allow you to use any park in your zone up to 2 weeks at a time and then have to be out of system for 1 week. You can go park to park if you don't stay more than 4 nights in any one place.BTW no matter how close to the park you get it is a long drive into the valley. We put over 500 miles on the car just into the park over the 2 weeks and speed limits are low inside the park along with the time of year you mention there are a lot of cars in there.

tahiti16 wrote:BTW no matter how close to the park you get it is a long drive into the valley. We put over 500 miles on the car just into the park over the 2 weeks and speed limits are low inside the park along with the time of year you mention there are a lot of cars in there.Boy is that ever true. As great as the park is, that drive in and out got old fast!Sue

If you can get a spot inside the park you can use the shuttle to get around everywhere, and the rent is cheap.If you go outside to a CG you get hookups. But you can still park inside the NP and use the shuttle.

I'm staying at Indian Flat RV Park, in May. It is about half way between Clearing House and Incline on Hwy 140.I believe there is a 45' overall length for rigs coming from the west on 140, due to land slide a couple of years ago.This will be my first time in the area.Pat

Yosemite National Park | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

G7ARYM
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
Look up Midpines KOA. A shuttle stops at the entrance if you don't want to or can't drive to the park. Book early for the summer. We were there late September and they were still full.
bikendan
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
Arizonaclark wrote:
Thanks everyone for your recommendations and advice for a Yosemite visit. I assume there are no facilities in the park for a 40 footer, but does anyone know for sure? We have and don't mind boondocking in the right place. Thanks again!

Arizona Clark
Prescott, AZ.

only a handful. and no hookups of any kind, so dry camping is the standard.
"boondocking" is for undeveloped camping.
Gonzo42
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
Stayed in Yosemite last March and there are some longer spots in Upper Pines where we were. Had one of those giant class A's next to us.

For more info go here: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/rvcamping.htm
Arizonaclark
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
Thanks everyone for your recommendations and advice for a Yosemite visit. I assume there are no facilities in the park for a 40 footer, but does anyone know for sure? We have and don't mind boondocking in the right place. Thanks again!

Arizona Clark
Prescott, AZ.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Jan 07, 2015
X2 on the Mariposa Fairgrounds for a larger rig.
aerbus32
Explorer II
Jan 07, 2015
We've used the fairgrounds in Mariposa & the upper campground (believe it is called Horseshoe Bend) at Lake McClure to access Yosemite. The facility at the lake is very nice. As mentioned previously, it is a drive. And best visited when school is in session.
bukhrn
Explorer III
Jan 07, 2015
tahiti16 wrote:
Yosemite Lakes a Thousand Trails park is 5 miles outside the north west gate on 120. You will be able to stay 14 nights if you buy a zone pass, right now I think $525 a year. We stayed there for 2 weeks when we bought the membership, as any where else we checked wanted $325-400 for 1 week. The zone will allow you to use any park in your zone up to 2 weeks at a time and then have to be out of system for 1 week. You can go park to park if you don't stay more than 4 nights in any one place.

BTW no matter how close to the park you get it is a long drive into the valley. We put over 500 miles on the car just into the park over the 2 weeks and speed limits are low inside the park along with the time of year you mention there are a lot of cars in there.
Sounds a whole lot like Yellowstone.
vermilye
Explorer
Jan 07, 2015
Duplicate post
vermilye
Explorer
Jan 07, 2015
We stayed at Yosemite Pines for 3 days in 2011. Some photos & descriptions starting here.
accsys
Explorer
Jan 07, 2015
We stayed at Yosemite Pines RV Resort and Family Lodging, just East of Groveland, CA, a couple of years ago and found it to be very well positioned for going to Yosemite. It's about 45 miles from the valley itself but we couldn't find anything closer with the same amenities. It also provides easy access to the Tioga Pass Road which has some awesome views up atop the Sierras on the way to the Tuolumne Meadows portion of Yosemite. You can check our blog for that stay if you wish more detailed info.