Yosemite National Park offers exceptional RV camping across 13 campgrounds within nearly 1,200 square miles, featuring iconic granite cliffs like Half Dome and El Capitan, spectacular waterfalls including Yosemite Falls, and ancient giant sequoias. While no campgrounds offer hookups, strategic locations like Fresno RV rentals and nearby private RV resorts provide prime access to this world-renowned destination that welcomed 3.9 million visitors in 2023, making advance reservations essential for securing coveted campsites.
Towering above California's Sierra Nevada mountains, Yosemite National Park stands as America's most iconic wilderness destination and a testament to the power of glacial carving. Famous for being the first protected wilderness area in the United States (1864), this nearly 1,200-square-mile park showcases some of the world's most spectacular granite formations, cascading waterfalls, and pristine alpine meadows that define the American outdoor experience.
You'll discover a world of limitless adventure during your RV trip to Yosemite, from hiking to Half Dome and rock climbing El Capitan to witnessing the thundering 2,425-foot Yosemite Falls. The park offers year-round attractions, including the ancient Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, scenic drives along Tioga Pass, and world-class rock climbing that draws adventurers from across the globe. You'll want to bring your binoculars because wildlife viewing opportunities abound, from black bears and mule deer to over 250 bird species.
Spring brings the park's famous waterfalls to peak flow while wildflowers carpet the valley floor, making it the most photogenic season for RV travelers. Summer offers the fullest range of activities with all roads open and comfortable camping weather, though crowds peak during this period. Fall provides stunning autumn colors and crisp mountain air, while winter transforms Yosemite into a snow-covered wonderland perfect for cross-country skiing and winter photography.
The park's 2023 visitation of 3.9 million visitors represents a steady recovery from pandemic lows, with new reservation systems helping manage crowds while improving the visitor experience. This makes advance planning essential for securing campground reservations, especially during peak summer months when demand far exceeds availability.
There are a number of ways to get to the park. A road trip is straightforward, albeit long, from many major cities. Expect a four to five-hour drive from Reno, Sacramento, or San Francisco and six to eight hours from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, or San Diego. Bear in mind that the traffic is quite congested during peak months, and some roads may be closed during off-peak months, so plan accordingly for extra travel time.
Keep in mind that the roads getting into Yosemite National Park are through mountainous terrain, making them winding and steep in many areas. Driving a big rig in these areas may be a challenge for inexperienced drivers. A number of areas along the drive may not feature a guardrail, so use extreme caution while driving. With that being said, most roads are wide enough and suitable for RVs and trailers. There are driving restrictions on some routes, such as Glacier Point Road, Mariposa Grove Road, and Hetch Hetchy Road.
Park officials warn against depending on GPS coordinates when planning your route. When there is a discrepancy, road signs always trump a GPS unit at Yosemite. And depending on your season of travel, be sure to educate yourself on restrictions and requirements inside the park, like road closures and tire chains.
California Central Valley Access: Fresno RV rentals position you perfectly for Yosemite's south entrance via Highway 41, just 60 miles from the park boundary. This major city offers numerous rental options, full services, and serves as an excellent base for exploring both Yosemite and nearby Sequoia National Park.
Northern Gateway Access: Merced provides alternative access to Yosemite via Highway 140, offering a scenic approach through the Merced River canyon. This route features moderate grades suitable for most RVs and connects to the popular Arch Rock entrance, providing direct access to Yosemite Valley.
Open from April to October, Hodgdon Meadow offers 105 sites for RVs up to 35 feet and trailers up to 27 feet. Located near the Big Oak Flat entrance, this campground provides convenient access for RVers entering from the north. The meadow setting offers beautiful mountain views with standard campground amenities, including flush toilets and drinking water.
Tuolomne Meadows Campground is typically open from July to September. This campground is quite large; of its 304 sites, only half are reservation-only. This campground is also one of the few with its own dump station. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring, and food locker. Several bathrooms and drinking water spigots are located throughout the campgrounds. Showers and a grocery store are very close by. Dogs and cats are welcome as long as they are restrained and supervised at all times. RVs and trailers up to 35 feet are permitted.
Crane Flat operates from June to September with 166 sites accommodating RVs up to 35 feet and trailers up to 27 feet. Situated at 6,200 feet elevation near Tuolumne Grove, this campground offers cooler temperatures and serves as a gateway to high country adventures. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, and a nearby gas station.
Wawona Campground operates year-round with 93 sites accommodating RVs up to 35 feet and trailers up to 27 feet. Located near the South entrance and Mariposa Grove, this historic area offers a more tranquil experience than the valley campgrounds. The adjacent Wawona Hotel and Pioneer Yosemite History Center provide additional attractions. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, and horse facilities.
Upper Pines operates from March to November with 238 sites accommodating tents and RVs up to 35 feet (trailers up to 24 feet). Located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, this campground offers stunning views of Half Dome and easy access to major attractions. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, and bear boxes. The free shuttle stops directly at the campground.
Open from March to October, Lower Pines features 60 sites for RVs up to 40 feet (six sites) and 35 feet (remaining sites), with trailers limited to 35 feet at larger sites. This premier valley campground provides unparalleled access to Yosemite's most famous landmarks. The campground includes flush toilets, drinking water, and food storage lockers, with Curry Village amenities nearby.
North Pines operates from April to September with 81 sites, including six sites accommodating RVs up to 40 feet. The remaining sites handle RVs up to 35 feet and trailers up to 24 feet. Located along the Merced River, this campground offers scenic river access and serves as the trailhead for several popular hikes. Amenities match other valley campgrounds with full facilities.
This waterfall is the first waterfall you will see in the park. It is geologically unique because of the rock formations that surround it and the water’s angle of trajectory. In fact, on windy days, the water is sometimes blown sideways. You have to see it to believe it as it plunges 620 feet to the bottom. Other features here include a very nice half-mile trail and ample roadside parking. The trail to Bridalveil Falls is an easy half-mile route.
Since the park first opened in 1933, visitors have awed at the view from this point. For many, this part of State Highway 41 is their first taste of Yosemite, and what a taste it is. As you enter from the south, El Cap is on the left, Half Dome is in the middle, and Bridalveil Falls is on the right. There's also a very large turn-out, so even in the busy summer season, RVers might get lucky and find some parking here. The turn-out was part of a three-million-dollar facelift in 2008. Other improvements included even wider sidewalks, more safety rails, and improved viewing vantages. From this area, hikers may walk up to aptly named Inspiration Point for an even better view of Yosemite Valley.
Open from June to September, Tuolumne Meadows offers 304 sites with half available for reservations and half first-come, first-served. RVs up to 35 feet are accommodated at this high-elevation (8,600 feet) campground. This stunning alpine setting provides access to wilderness areas and high-country hiking with full amenities, including flush toilets and drinking water.
The most visible waterfall in the park runs pretty much year-round. However, by late summer, the volume is much lower. It's not nearly as high as some other waterfalls in the park, but it does have that Niagara Falls look which many people associate with waterfalls. There are a number of ways to get beautiful views of Vernal Falls, including the Mist Trail and the John Muir Trail. One of the best views is just before the mile point on the popular Vernal Fall Footbridge. When water levels go down, some foolhardy people try to walk across the rocks. That is extremely dangerous, as the rocks are slippery and there are some very strong undercurrents. There are plenty of warning signs posted throughout the area.
The Half Dome Village Day Use Park and a parking area west of Yosemite Valley Lodge provide space for Class A and B vehicles. Smaller RVs can also park in the day-use parking area at Yosemite Village. Though there is designated RV parking in several places, do not expect to find any parking anywhere during the busy season unless you’re a very early riser. Moreover, if you park your RV overnight, it must be in a designated campsite. Your best bet is to camp with your rig at the park and get around another way.
Largely because of the traffic congestion, Yosemite has a better public transportation system than many American cities. YARTS (Yosemite Area Rapid Transit System) provides park access from Merced (Highway 140), Fresno (Highway 41), Mammoth Lakes (Highway 395), and Sonora (Highway 108). Inside the park, there are two free shuttle services. The Yosemite Valley shuttle runs year-round from 7 AM to 10 PM. The El Capitan Shuttle runs in the busy season from 9 AM to 5 PM. There are a couple of other intermittent shuttle services as well. One of the most popular is the Tuolumne Meadows Shuttle, which runs between Olmsted Point and Tioga Pass during the summer. The Glacier Park tour is very popular during the summer as well.
White Wolf operates from June to September with 74 sites accommodating RVs up to 27 feet. Located along Tioga Road at 8,000 feet, this high-country campground offers access to alpine lakes and hiking trails. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, and a small store with limited supplies.
Bridalveil Creek operates from June to September with 110 sites for RVs up to 35 feet and trailers up to 24 feet. Located near Glacier Point at 7,200 feet elevation, this campground offers cool mountain air and proximity to iconic viewpoints. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, and excellent stargazing opportunities.
When you're ready to forgo a few creature comforts and really experience Yosemite, head out backpacking. Wilderness permits for backcountry hiking and camping are free, but quantities are limited, and demand is high. Sixty percent of the available permits can be reserved by lottery up to six months in advance, but reservations fill quickly. The park maintains a full trailhead report, where you can check to see if permits are available for your preferred route.
Numerous private RV resorts near Yosemite offer full hookups and modern amenities unavailable in park campgrounds. Yosemite Pines RV Resort (22 miles from the west entrance), High Sierra RV Park (south of the park), and other facilities provide comfortable base camps with swimming pools, WiFi, and convenience stores while maintaining reasonable access to park attractions.
El Capitan is one of the most famous sites in Yosemite. Unlike the smooth Half Dome, this granite peak is incredibly rocky and craggy. It's also in the northern part of Yosemite Valley, so it is basically a summer-only attraction. Tunnel View is one of the most popular places to get the best view of this legendary rockface.
A hiking trail moves through Yosemite Valley past Yosemite Falls to El Capitan’s summit. Rock climbers aplenty dot the face of the mountain. The approaches have names like Sea of Dreams and Iron Hawk, so they are strenuous to say the least. For most climbers, the route to the top is about a four-day excursion. But some speed-climbing teams have ascended El Cap much faster than that. In 2017, free-climber Alex Honnold ascended the mountain in just under four hours.
There are many places in Yosemite National Park where you can do some whitewater rafting, but the most popular spot is the Merced River. If you are an experienced rafter, you can go on your own, but most people elect to hire a guide or outfitter to show them the ropes and help them navigate the rapids. Early summer is the best time to do some rafting and at peak snowmelt, it can be a Class IV run but as the snowmelt wanes away and the river drops, the rapids can go to a Class I or II.
Make sure you pack those bikes in the camper before heading to Yosemite National Park because there are more than 12 miles of bike trails here. You can also bike on paved roads. The Lower Yosemite Fall Trail by Yosemite Village is an awesome path to take during autumn so you can enjoy the changing colors of the leaves. There are also paths that take you around Yosemite Lodge by the swinging bridge and through the park to the Royal Arches and Mirror Lake. If you forgot your bike, no need to worry. You can rent one in Yosemite Valley.
It is hard to believe that this glacier-melt lake once filled almost the entire Yosemite Valley. Today, only this portion remains. It may not be around much longer, due to the accumulation of sediment. Of course, in geological terms, “not much longer” could mean several hundred years or more. It is about a 30-minute hike through the woods to get to the lake. The fishing is good here, and there is also a picturesque grist mill on the shore. There is a reason they call this spot Mirror Lake. It really does reflect the surrounding mountains just like a glass table.
This large cluster of giant Sequoia trees reopened in the summer of 2018 after a major, three-year restoration project. Mariposa Grove is at Yosemite’s southern entrance, so like Tunnel View in the north, this forest is the first thing that many people see. Some noteworthy trees include the 2,000-year-old Grizzly Giant, the 36,000-cubic foot Washington Tree, and the seemingly fireproof Telescope Tree. The Mariposa Grove Museum, which helps visitors enjoy these majestic and serene trees, is a listed National Historic Place. From March to November, you can take a free shuttle to the grove from Mariposa Grove Welcome Plaza.
This trail is short and rather strenuous. That combination makes it one of the most popular hikes in the park. Mist Trail follows the Merced River through Yosemite Valley, beginning around Happy Isles and ending around Nevada Falls. This part of the Merced River is basically whitewater rapids. Large boulders, many of which are the size of houses, jut out into the water, making the rapids move even faster. The John Muir Trail branches off from the Mist Trail. There are also a number of backcountry camping opportunities in this area.
The Nevada Falls have a bent shape, so the bottom is more like a whitewater area. It is also one of the few areas of the park with no swimming restrictions. However, you should be advised that by this time of year, the water is really cold though. The water rushes down a 594-foot drop into the Merced River at the west end of the Little Yosemite Valley, where you can enjoy a nice day of splashing in the water and watching the wonders of wildlife here. You can also hike to the top, which is three miles, along the Mist Trail.
The Majestic Yosemite Hotel has a very rich history. Royalty and Presidents have stayed here in the past. The hotel also has a lot to offer today’s visitors. Later in fall, when many park areas begin to close but the weather is not bone-chilling cold, many guests appreciate the frequent guided tours that leave from the hotel. There is no danger of getting lost or stranded and all the wonders of the park are there to enjoy with much smaller crowds. Consider splurging a bit on one of the hotel suites. You will be very glad you did. Hotel amenities included a heated swimming pool and a very nice full-service dining room.
The highest mountain pass in California is basically a late spring or early summer must-see. Like many other Sierra Nevada mountain passes, Tioga Pass ascends very gradually from the east and drops very steeply to the west. Snowfall is always heavy, but it varies greatly from year to year. Sometimes, rangers close the pass as soon as mid-October and keep it closed until early July. But May through October is a pretty safe bet. Many people take day trips to Mammoth Falls and Bishop.
Although nowhere near the highest point in the park, Glacier Point’s position offers stunning views of most of the park’s landmarks. The area around the summit is quite rocky, but the slopes are mostly made up of glacial material. Park rangers will be more than happy to point out these materials and explain their significance. To approach Glacier Point, most people either take the tour bus or hike up Four Mile Trail. Some winter activities, like snowshoeing, are available in late fall and late spring. But from December through May, Glacier Point is usually closed.
Spring offers peak waterfall flows when snowmelt creates spectacular displays. Yosemite Falls reaches maximum volume, while Bridalveil Fall, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall showcase their full power. The famous "Firefall" phenomenon at Horsetail Fall occurs in late February when conditions align perfectly, creating natural light shows that attract photographers worldwide.
One of the most distinctive Yosemite Valley peaks is made from solid granite. Three sides are round and smooth, and one part is a sheer cliff. That makeup gives Half Dome its shape and also its name. The mountain which was once dubbed “perfectly inaccessible,” is now climbable by professionals and dedicated amateurs alike. Cook’s Meadow is one of the most popular outlooks to take in this majestic peak.
A hiking trail leads to the top, if you can negotiate several hundred granite stair steps and cling tightly to some post-mounted steel cables. On a summer weekend as many as 1,000 people may take this trail. Many hikers break this long trail up into two days by camping overnight somewhere in Little Yosemite Valley. There are also about a dozen rock-climbing routes to the top. That top is wide and flat, so climbers and hikers can sit back and enjoy the view.
Although it encompasses less than two percent of the park’s land area, most of the park’s four million-plus visitors spend most of their time here. Late spring is a good time to go. The weather is just warming up and the area is not nearly as crowded. Spring is also a good time to see Yosemite Falls, which is the highest North American waterfall, because water levels are at their highest. Snow Creek Falls and Sentinel Falls are almost as high.
Most visitors come in from the west, through Tunnel View. That is one of the best places to see wildlife like squirrels, mule deer, and bears. Lots of birds fill the sky, including the rare Steller's jay. The Valley floor is famous for its thick carpet of pine trees; the surrounding peaks offer excellent rock-climbing opportunities. There are also a number of hiking trails in the area such as the Yosemite Falls Trail, Mist Trail, and Four Mile Trail. The Yosemite Valley was the first protected area of the park, and it is easy to see why.
This activity is getting more popular by the minute and the ‘cache fever’ has hit Yosemite National Park as well. What is geocaching? It is an outdoor treasure hunting game where you find caches with the GPS on your smartphone. The cache is typically a waterproof container like a coffee can or Tupperware bowl that has a notebook, pencil, and usually some kind of small trinket or token inside. You get the GPS coordinates from geocaching websites and when you find the cache, sign your name and date in the book and then take a token or trinket, but only if you leave one of your own. Then put it back in the exact spot so others can find it.
Valley floors burst with colorful wildflower displays from April through June, creating perfect foregrounds for iconic granite formations. Lupine, paintbrush, and poppies carpet meadows while dogwood trees provide white blossoms against dramatic backdrops. Early morning and evening light offer optimal photography conditions.
The easternmost portion of Yosemite Valley includes these two Merced River islands. Many people camp here even in winter but be sure and bundle up. Many other people enjoy the serenity of this area. There is something very calming about the sound of rushing water. That water flows pretty freely even when temperatures dip below freezing for long periods of time.
Preservationist Ansel Franklin Hall began this museum in 1925 and was designed by architect Herbert Maier. The first-of-its-kind National Park museum was a model for all future facilities throughout the National Park system. The rustic architecture blends in nicely with the surroundings. The facility offers a variety of rotating exhibits about the park’s people and places from the Yosemite Renaissance 32 Art Exhibit to the Landscape Paintings of the 19th and 20th Centuries.
As long as Tioga Pass is, well, passable, Olmsted Point is accessible. It offers a very nice view of this part of Yosemite Valley, especially when snow is on the ground. You'll get breathtaking views of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and Tenaya Lake. Brave souls may hike directly out to the Point for even better views of the surroundings. We recommend sunrise or sunset viewing, as the pink sky accents the pink granite very nicely at this altitude.
Omitting this site from a list of Yosemite winter activities amounts to criminal negligence. This ski area has 10 runs and five lifts. Winter sports were not very popular here until Yosemite bid for the 1932 Winter Olympics; the Summer Games were in Los Angeles that year. In addition to downhill skiing, visitors enjoy snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, and cross-country skiing. You can also book a backcountry ski tour or take skiing lessons. If you want to go ice skating, head to the Curry Village Ice Skating Rink.
This 210-mile trail is one of the most famous ones in the National Park System. Most of it winds through protected wilderness area and about the last third of the trail is more than 10,000 feet high. Some 1,500 people a year try to hike the whole thing. Fortunately, there are plenty of designated starting and ending points. We recommend the Ansel Adams Wilderness/Devils Postpile portion, especially when there is snow on the ground.
If you want to stay nice and toasty warm, then it's a good idea to take a tour of some of the museums at Yosemite National Park. The Yosemite Visitor Center is open year-round and features an orientation film and amazing exhibits detailing the history of this stunning landscape. Plus, you won't want to miss the Indian Cultural Exhibit and other art galleries at the Yosemite Museum
