quiet??Tuolumne Meadows closest campground or elsewhere?

[jukes]

we have 4 nights (can add a day or two if needed) first few days in August. Thought to stay at Tuolumne Meadows NP campground but of course it's not available. Is there another campground NP/or private, near there? towing a 30ft TT

I'd also like to explore other parts of Yosemite but thinking to do that when less busy, we live about 4hrs away in Santa Cruz...

So, if Tuolumne Meadows doesn't look realistic this time, I'd love other ideas. I don't love HOT weather, with the exception of being able to enjoy cold lakes/rivers at those times!

So, maybe somewhere at higher elevation still that's within 5 hour drive and worth the trip.

Also, we have 3 boys age 7, 13, 16 but don't love really noisy campgrounds, but do love being by water for swimming/fishing (maybe). We've struggled enjoying scenic campgrounds because we are surrounded by music blasting campers. WE loved Klamath River for example, but it's a bit far this time, and even there at the campground a few were watching their TV's for all to hear...

We have a scenic, quiet property at home, so we are now finding that we are better off staying home sometimes, but we also do want to explore.

Can we have it all with our 30ft TT, amazing scenery, on or near water, temp in the 70's/80's in the summer, 5 hours from santa cruz!? Thank you.

[vjstangelo]

We really loved White Wolf down the road a piece, but not too far.

[jukes]

thanks for the replies, there are SO many amazing places to stay in and around this whole area. Saddebag looked reallly nice but our 30'TT is too big, as it is for a few others. Many of the state parks/forestry campgrounds are only available for the 2 weeknights, not the weekend we need, although we could chance it. first come first serve worries me because we'd be getting there late afternoon after a long drive.
the search then took me to Bridgeport with a lake and small, apparently quiet campground right on the water, good fishing and near Bodie, Mono etc. can drive through Yosemite with all the views to get there. so thinking for now to go there...but still exploring... so much to see!!! we decided to get to know CA better before venturing farther afield. we went to OR last year but liked the N.CA Coast ALOT.

[D_E_Bishop]

We have not camped in YVNP since our girls were young(1970's). We had a home down in Mammoth Lakes for a loooong time. Bodie is fantastic but not as it was before the Cal. Park Service decided to rewrite history. A good friend knew the owners granddaughter and spend summers there. A young girl wrote in her journal, "Good-by God, I'm going to Bodie", the park dis-service wrote "GOD" out of the T shirts they sell at the store in Bodie.

Mono Lake Visitors Center is worth a few hours and on the East side of the Lake is Adobe Valley and the wild horse herd is now over 250 mustangs. Our first GPS was stolen and all our way points were in there so you're kind of on your own on exactly where to look for the horses.

Green Lakes are a bit of a hike but are worth the hike, catching brookies on worms is easy if the kids like to fish. It is an uphill hike.

Enjoy!

[profdant139]

Duke, the grade is really not that bad -- we have done it several times, both ways, towing a trailer. There are lots of pullouts available if the traffic starts to back up behind you.

[John_Wayne]

Not to mention the grade coming down and going back up Tioga pass.

[agesilaus]

120 thru the park can be very slow depending on how many people there are in the park at the time. I don't recall the speed limit but it's probably 35 mph. The big snow problem will be Tioga Pass. Toulumne meadows roads should be cleared before the pass is open.

[jukes]

agesilaus wrote:
Where the heck is Aptos?

Santa Cruz, CA....

[agesilaus]

Where the heck is Aptos?

[jukes]

Hi thanks for the reply! so looking at a map I see that staying in Lee Vining could be a good option, plus Bodie and Mono Lake look interesting too!
when I do a map search for directions it's showing as 6 and half hours from here in Aptos, BUT is this shorter once the snow has gone and we can go on the roads not currently open?
Would we drive over 120 to get there?
trying to figure out there actual driving time in August.
Thanks!!

[agesilaus]

Here check out the Inyo Forest Service CG. Look down the page and what you want are the Lee Vining CGs. Check to see if a 30 footer can get in.

Look at Campground Reviews Lee Vining which will show commercial sites as well

[Ed_Gee]

Frankly, I'd think staying anywhere in Yosemite would be impossible without long ago made reservations. If Tuolumne Meadows is your prime target, I would look at the eastern side of the 120 pass. There appears to be a number of campgrounds on that side that are outside the park, but relatively close to Tuolumne Meadows.

[agesilaus]

There are Forest Service CG outside the Tioga Pass gate, you'd have to check if they are available. Most likely they may have a vault toilet and nothing else. But they are the closest on that side of the park. I would be very surprised if you could get a 30 footer into Toloumne Meadows CG. Maybe a site on the outside edge? But the roads in there make the roads in the valley CG look like freeways. We barely got a 16 ft popup in there many years ago,

[Lwiddis]

Lower Lee Vining USFS usually has a spot or two if you arrive early. Then drive into the park.

[profdant139]

There are other campgrounds along 120 -- have you checked to see if your 30 footer will fit?

Staying in the high country is a good idea -- much cooler. If you need hookups, there is Mono Vista in Lee Vining.

There are some great national forest campgrounds near Saddlebag Lake -- high altitude!

Another thought -- within 5 hr of Santa Cruz: Dorst Creek in Sequoia. High, cool, a nice cold stream near the campground, hiking, Sequoia trees. I think your rig will fit -- not sure.