Crane Flat Campground
The Quick Take
Crane Flat is Yosemite's best-kept basecamp secret — close enough to the Valley to make day trips painless, but high enough at 6,200 feet to sleep cool while everyone down in the Valley is sweating through their sleeping bags. The campground sits in a quiet mixed-conifer forest with well-spaced sites that actually feel private, a rarity in Yosemite. The trade-off is real: no showers, no flush toilets, no camp store, and zero cell service. You are genuinely off the grid here. But the payoff is proximity to two giant sequoia groves — Merced and Tuolumne — both within a short drive, plus you are perfectly positioned for Tioga Road adventures toward Tuolumne Meadows. This is the campground for people who want Yosemite without the circus — experienced campers and families who pack smart and do not need to be hand-held.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 151 sites are reservable.
Book at Yosemite LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 35 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
220 ADA-accessible campsites. The following campsites are suitable for wheelchair and include picnic tables with extended tops. The closest restrooms to these campsites are also wheelchair accessible. These campsites are limited to people with disabilities. Sites: 220, 222, 423, 425, 503, 505, 506 Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Fires:<b>Fires:</b> Wood and charcoal fires are permitted.
- Bear Safety:<b>You are required to store food properly in order to protect Yosemite's bears.</b> Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/bears.htm">bears</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm">proper food storage</a>, and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/lockers.htm">food lockers</a>.
- Occupancy:<b>People per site:</b> A maximum of six people (including children) are allowed per campsite.
Pro Tips
Reservations open five months in advance on Recreation.gov and Crane Flat's July through October window books fast — set your alarm for the exact release date. Weekday arrivals are significantly easier to snag than Friday check-ins, and mid-September offers the sweet spot of availability and perfect weather.
The Tuolumne Grove trailhead is practically next door — hit it first thing in the morning before the parking lot fills by 9 AM. It is a steep mile down to the sequoias, which means a steep mile back up, but you will have the grove mostly to yourself if you start before eight.
No camp store means no second chances on supplies. Stock up in Groveland or Mariposa before you enter the park — the Crane Flat gas station sells emergency snacks but not real groceries. Bear canisters or the provided food lockers are mandatory, not optional, and rangers do check.
Photos
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
The Crane Flat Campground is located along the Big Oak Flat Road, just west of Crane Flat, about 16 miles (30 minutes) northwest of Yosemite Valley, at 6,200 ft (1,900 m) elevation. From Hwy. 120 west/Big Oak Flat Entrance, continue on the Big Oak Flat Road for 9 miles (15 minutes) where you’ll find the campground on your right south of the Big Oak Flat Road.
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