For those camping at Tuolumne Meadows Campground there are many wondrous sites to enjoy only a short drive away. A free shuttle connects key locations around Tuolumne Meadows. Once visitors reach Yosemite Valley they can take advantage of the free shuttle to deliver them to almost all the favorite attractions in the valley.
Glacier Point offers spectacular views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley.
Visit Happy Isles with a Nature Center and trails to Vernal and Nevada falls,
Take the short hike to Mirror Lake with close-up views of Half Dome,
Tour the Valley Visitor and Wilderness centers.
Enjoy easy scenic trails all around the valley and along the Merced River, connecting to viewpoints and picnic areas.
Experience Nature and History Programs - nature and photography walks, history tours, art classes, children's programs, and more. Most free, some with modest fees.
Join in Outdoor Adventures - nature and photography walks, history tours, art classes, children's programs, and more. Fees.
Key Tuolumne Meadows Campground Regulations
Bears: Store all food and similar items in bear-proof lockers, not in vehicles.
Generators may only be operated from 7 AM to 9 AM, Noon to 2 PM, and 5 PM to 7 PM.
Tuolumne Meadows Campground is situated in the heart of Yosemite National Park's high country. From campsites at Tuolumne Meadows visitors can tour nearby domes and meadows, hike to lakes and waterfalls, and enjoy the starry sky.
Half of the campsites at Tuolumne Meadows Campground are available for reservations, the other half are saved for first come, first served. Reservations are nonspecific which means that you will be assigned a specific site upon arrival. The campground fills virtually every night.
Tuolumne Meadows Campground has standard tent and RV campsites along with group camps, horse camps, and a Backpackers' Camp. Not all sites will accommodate the maximum lengths for RVs and trailers shown below. Choose the proper RV or trailer length from the reservation website.
Reservations can be made from 2 days up to 5 months in advance of arrival date. New dates are released in 1-month blocks on the 15th of each month at 7:00 AM Pacific time.
Camping Limit:
14 nights from May 1 to September 15
Max. RV/Trailer Length:
35 feet and 35 feet
Accessible Sites:
Loop B - #37, 38, 39; Loop C - 89, 90
Favorite Campsites:
A Loop campsites close to the river are very popular
Also popular: B3, B10, B35, D16, E11, F5, G1, G8
Visitor Center, store and grill, post office, gas station, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, Mountaineering School, Wilderness Center
Nearby attractions:
Lembert Dome, Glen Aulin, Tenaya Lake, Lyell Canyon
Reservations Tips
Reservations open in blocks of one month at a time, 5 months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 AM Pacific Time.
Prime reservations fill within minutes. To improve your chances of obtaining a reservation, be poised online, already on the reservation website (linked above) at precisely 7:00 AM. Begin filling in the form before 7:00 AM. If you have 6 or fewer in your party, leave the Occupants space blank. You may only make 2 reservations per call or online visit. For more reservations, call or link again.
Yosemite makes these suggestions: "Another approach is to try to get different campsites each night (rather than one campsite for your entire stay). To do this, change the arrival date to your first desired night, the departure date to the next day, and specify that you're flexible for the next two weeks. With this method, you can search campgrounds in and near Yosemite all at once. Once you've chosen a specific campground, click on the date range availability choice to see if some of your nights are available. If you don't find availability using these methods, it's worth checking back as often as possible: cancellations will appear on the website immediately."
Phone reservations: (877) 444-6777, or (877) 833-6777 for TDD, or (518) 885-3639 from outside the US & Canada.
Recorded campground availability message: (209) 372-0266
Regarding First Come, First Served Campsite in Summer
Previous campers suggest arriving by 8 AM or earlier in order to get a good campsite at Tuolumne Meadows.
Tuolumne Meadows Group Camps
Tuolumne Meadows has 7 tent-only, group sites, located in Loop B and open from early July through Labor Day. The sites are available for from 13 to 30 people. Reservations are required: Tuolumne Meadows Group Camps. A maximum of 5 vehicles are permitted to park at each site. There is no sleeping in vehicles. No RVs, trailers or pets are allowed in the group sites.
Fee: $50 per night
Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp
The Tuolumne Meadows Horse Camp has 4 sites open from early July to September. Campers in these sights must have horses with them. Reservations are required: Horse sites are available by phone reservation only at (877)444-6777. (Call to confirm this because reservations appear to be available online now.) Each of the 4 campsites can accommodate 2 vehicles, 2 stock trailers up to 27 feet, 6 people, and 6 head of stock. Campers should bring plenty of large sacks for disposal of horse manure.
Fee: $30 per night
Many good riding trails are available throughout the Tuolumne Meadows area.
Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers' Camp
Tuolumne Meadows Backpackers' Camp is located on Loop A. The sites are usually open from July through late-September. The sites are especially popular with hikers on the John Muir Trail.
Backpackers' campgrounds are available for wilderness permit holders to spend one night before and one night after a wilderness trip. Camping is limited to one night at a time. Reservations are not needed, but a valid wilderness permit is required to stay at the campground.
Fee: $6 per person
General Camping Information for Yosemite
Opening and closing dates of campgrounds are only estimates, usually dependent on snow conditions.
Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. Check carefully on the website when you make your reservation to be sure your vehicle will fit your campsite.
Accessible Sites
Designated Accessible sites are reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate, For visitors who are temporarily disabled or do not have their permanent accessible parking placard with them, pick up a temporary placard at the entrance station or a visitor center.
