Wawona Campground - Yosemite National Park

The Wawona Campground is located near the Big Trees Lodge in the southern portion of Yosemite National Park. 

There are a couple of loops of sites that run along the South Fork Merced River and are absolutely gorgeous. This campground is not in Yosemite Valley but close enough you can get there fairly quickly.

We saw deer and turkey wandering in the campground as we explored. 

This campground is closest to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias along with easy access to the road up to Glacier Point. 

Wawona Campground -  Yosemite National Park

Season: April 01, 2019 - October 26, 2019

Number of Sites: 93 

Group sites: 1 (no trailers allowed)
Horse sites: 2 with space for trailers up to 25 feet

Location in the park: 27 miles south of Yosemite Valley

Approximately a 45-minute drive from  Yosemite Valley

Campsite Cost: $26/night

Payments accepted: Online reservations can be paid with a credit card. 

Reservations:

Loops A, B, and C: Required and available online up to five months in advance from approximately April through September.

October through March, campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the A loop (about 20 sites). $26/night ($18/night from approximately October through April)

Campground Address: 

Latitude/Longitude: 

• Latitude:
• 37.5730556
• 37° 34' 23.0002" N

• Longitude:
• -119.665
• 119° 39' 54.0000" W

Elevation: 4,000 feet

Accessible Sites: Loop C sites 69 and 70

Pets Allowed:  Pets are allowed but they must be on a leash less than 6 feet long. 

Pets are not allowed inside park buildings or on specific trails.

Check out all of the Yosemite Camping options! There are 13 campgrounds within Yosemite National Park! 

Campground Reservations

Are campground Reservations Available? Yes

Phone Number? 1-877-444-6777

Online? Recreation.Gov

How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. (PT) or 10:00 a.m (ET).

First Come, First Served? No!

First-night rent plus a one-time transaction fee of $4.50 will be charged at the time of reservation and is non-refundable.

Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: Yes

Payphone: No

Is wifi Available? No

Is cellular Phone Service Available?

Is camp host available on site? Yes

Is firewood available for purchase? Yes at the store near the Yosemite Pioneer Area

 

Amenities at each campsite:

Fire pit in the site? Yes, there is a fire ring in each site. 

From May through September, campfires in Yosemite Valley are only allowed between 5 pm and 10 pm.

Do not burn trash or aluminum cans in the fire ring.

Make sure you buy your wood where you plan to burn it and do not transport wood from another area. 

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Food Storage -Bear Box in site/area? 

Yes - Campsites 1-4, 51-56, 58-65, 67-98 have lockers measuring 35"(D)x43"(W)x28"(H).

All other campsites have food locker measuring 33"(D)x45"(W)x18"(H).

All food must be stored properly 24 hours a day.

No food can be left in vehicles.

All food, ice chests, grocery bags, and anything with a scent (including toothpaste, deodorant, soap, sunscreen, hairspray, perfume, etc.) must be kept in metal food storage lockers. 

The only time these items can be out is when you are preparing or eating meals or getting ready for the day.

Hard-sided RVs may store food inside as long as it is not visible or cannot be smelled from outside. All doors and windows must be closed when unattended. 

You are required to store food properly in order to protect Yosemite's bears.

Potable Water? Yes

RV Camping at Wawona Campground

RV Length: 

RVs and trailers up to 35 feet

Be sure to read the site details when making a reservation on recreation.gov to ensure your equipment will fit into the site you're reserving.

Dump Station: Yes, summer only (on Forest Drive east of the Pioneer Gift & Grocery, formerly Wawona Store)

Potable water at dump station is only available during summer months.

Generators: Yes during the following time periods - 7 am to 9 am, 12 pm to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 7 pm.

Hookups: No, There are no electric, water, or sewer hook-ups at this facility

Wawona Group Camp

Group tent site accommodates 13-30 people

NO RVs or trailers allowed.

Reservations: Required and available online all year.

Cost: $50/night

 

Wawona Horse Sites

You must have a horse with you to camp in horse sites, no exceptions!

Reservations: Reservations are required

Cost: $30.00

Available only by calling 877/444-6777 from approximately April through September.

 

How to get to Wawona Campground

Take Highway 41 north from Fresno, Highway 140 east from Merced, or Highway 120 east from Manteca into Yosemite National Park. Follow signs to Wawona. The campground is located 8 miles inside of the park on Highway 41, and 27 miles south of Yosemite Valley.

Wawona Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite: A maximum of six people (including children) are allowed per campsite. There is no limit on the number of tents (as long as they all fit into the campsite).

The number of cars per campsite: Two motorized vehicles per campsite. A valid campground car pass must be displayed.

Checkout time: 12 noon

Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am

Maximum Stay: 7-day maximum stay limit from May 1 to Sept 15th. 

There is a 30-day maximum per the calendar year limit within Yosemite National Park. 

You must have a horse with you to camp in horse sites, no exceptions!

Group tent site accommodates 13-30 people; available year-round by reservation only. NO RVs or trailers allowed.

Camping is only allowed in designated campsites.

You are not able to switch sites during your stay.

 

Important Dates for the Wawona Campground

Loop A: All year
Loops B and C: Approximately April through September
Group site: All year
Horse sites: Approximately April through September

Wawona Campground Notes

The sites in A loop are closer to each other than the other loops

The dump stations are just down the road from the campground. 

You will need to check in at the contact station when you enter the campground. Make sure you have your ID available.

Wawona Campground Map

 

Photos of Wawona Campground

Wawona Campground Loop A (Sites 8 - 30 and the Group Camp)

A loop is closer to the main road so you may have more road noise than you would in B and C Loop. 

 

 

 

Wawona Campground Loop B (Sites 31 - 44) + the Amphitheater

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This site is gorgeous! Located right next to the river this is a premium site if you can grab it! 

 

 

Wawona Campground Loop C (Sites 45 - 99)

C Loop is where we would choose to camp. Many of the sites are located right next to the river. There is an easily accessible bathroom close by. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This site is right next to the river which would be amazing to hear at night! 

Also right next to the river. 

Right next to the river! Fantastic site! 

 

 

 

This site has a large pull through and a ton of open area. 

Site 89 is an ADA site. We are working on getting a photo of this site. 

 

Check out all of the Yosemite Camping options! There are 13 campgrounds within Yosemite National Park! 

Four of the campgrounds are in Yosemite Valley, five of them are along the Tioga Pass and Tuolumne Meadows which are open seasonally, the rest are found along Highways 120 and 140.