Tuolumne Meadows Campground
The Quick Take
Tuolumne Meadows is Yosemite's great escape valve — a massive high-country campground sitting at 8,000 feet that feels like a different planet from the Valley floor. While most visitors are gridlocked around Yosemite Falls, you're up here in the biggest subalpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada, with granite domes on the horizon and the Tuolumne River within earshot of your tent. The trade-offs are real: no showers, no flush toilets, and a season so short you could blink and miss it. Cell service exists but don't count on streaming anything. What you get in return is direct trailhead access to some of the park's finest backcountry — Cathedral Lakes, Lembert Dome, the Pacific Crest Trail — all without fighting for a parking spot. This is the campground for hikers who treat Yosemite Valley as a place to drive through, not stay in.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 315 sites are reservable.
Book at Yosemite LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 35 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
5 ADA-accessible campsites. The following campsites are suitable for wheelchairs 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: A5, A41, B37, B38, B39, C1, C74, C75, D10, H16, H17, H18, H19 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, except for the group sites, which requires 13 to 30 people.
Pro Tips
Reservations open five months in advance on recreation.gov and sell out within minutes for July and August dates. Set a calendar reminder for 7 AM Pacific on your booking day and have your dates pre-loaded — hesitation costs you the summer.
Sites along the B and C loops sit closest to the Tuolumne River and catch a breeze that keeps mosquitoes slightly more tolerable. Avoid the loops nearest the road if you're a light sleeper — early-morning Tioga Pass traffic starts before dawn.
The small Tuolumne Meadows Grill serves surprisingly decent burgers and soft serve, but it closes early and keeps seasonal hours that shift year to year. Bring enough food for your full stay and treat the grill as a bonus, not a plan. Bear canisters or the provided food lockers are mandatory — Tuolumne bears are well-educated thieves.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS Photo
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
The Tuolumne Meadows Campground is located along the Tioga Road. From Hwy. 120 east/Tioga Pass, the Tuolumne Meadows Campground is located approximately 17 miles west on the left. From Yosemite Valley take the Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road to reach Tuolumne Meadows; 54 miles total (approximately 90 minutes). You’ll find the campground on your right.
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