Wawona Campground
The Quick Take
Wawona is the Yosemite campground for people who actually want to sleep. Tucked along the South Fork Merced River at a modest four thousand feet, it sits a solid 45-minute drive from the Valley circus -- which is exactly the point. You trade proximity to Half Dome views for campsites that feel like they belong in a national park rather than a parking lot. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is practically next door, and the historic Wawona area has a small hotel, market, and visitor center if you need civilization in small doses. The trade-off is real: no showers, no flush toilets, and no camp store means you need to arrive prepared. But with fewer than a hundred sites and a riverside setting that actually delivers on the promise of camping in Yosemite, Wawona is the right call for anyone who wants the park without the theme-park energy.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 99 sites are reservable.
Book at Yosemite LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 35 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
67 ADA-accessible campsites. The following campsites are suitable for a 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. Loop C: sites 67, 69, 70, and 89 Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Fires:<b>Fires:</b> Wood and charcoal fires are permitted all year.
- 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 site, which requires 13 to 30 people.
Pro Tips
Wawona reservations open on Recreation.gov five months in advance on a rolling basis. Set your alarm for 7 AM Pacific on the exact date your window opens -- weekend slots in July and August vanish in minutes. If you strike out, check back Tuesday mornings when cancelled reservations tend to reappear.
The free shuttle to Mariposa Grove leaves from the Wawona area and saves you the headache of fighting for trailhead parking. Hit the grove early morning before the Valley day-trippers arrive. The Grizzly Giant loop is the essential walk, but the full grove trail rewards you with near-solitude at the upper end.
There are no showers at Wawona and no camp store, so pack accordingly. The small market in Wawona village covers basics but charges park prices. Stock up on firewood and ice before you enter through the South Entrance -- the last reliable stop is in Oakhurst, about 15 miles south on Highway 41.
Photos
NPS Photo
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
The Wawona Campground is located along the Wawona Road. From the South Entrance drive 6 miles north on the Wawona Road (continuation of Highway 41); approximately 1 mile north of Wawona, the campground is located on the left. From Yosemite Valley, drive south 27 miles (approximately 45 minutes) and just before you reach Wawona itself, the campground will be on the right.
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