California / Tuolumne County / Yosemite National Park

Tuolumne Meadows Campground

Closed — Closed for the season. The campground typically operates from approximately July through late September, with exact dates varying based on snow conditions and road access via Tioga Road.

About

Tuolumne Meadows Campground sits at 8,600 feet elevation in Yosemite National Park's stunning high country, embodying the essence of the Sierra Nevada with its broad sub-alpine meadows and granite domes. The campground recently underwent a comprehensive $26 million rehabilitation project, reopening in August 2025 with enhanced facilities while maintaining its natural character. Located along scenic Tioga Road, just five miles from the Tioga Pass Entrance Station and 55 miles from Yosemite Valley, the campground provides 304 individual sites accommodating tents and RVs, plus group and equestrian sites. The gentle Tuolumne River, Lyell Fork, and Dana Fork flow through vast meadows bursting with seasonal wildflowers, surrounded by stands of Western White pine, Mountain hemlock, and Lodgepole pine. The campground serves as a basecamp for exceptional high country recreation, with the 4.8-mile Elizabeth Lake trail beginning directly from the campground and climbing to a glacier-carved lake beneath Unicorn Peak. Other nearby trails access Cathedral Lakes, Lyell Canyon via the John Muir Trail, Mono Pass, Glen Aulin, and Soda Springs. Facilities include flush toilets, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, food storage lockers at every site, a dump station, and an amphitheater for ranger programs. The Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, general store, and grill are within walking distance. Popular activities include hiking, rock climbing, backpacking, fishing, and photography. Nearby Tenaya Lake offers swimming, canoeing, and picnicking opportunities. This high-elevation campground operates seasonally, typically from July through late September, with sites available by reservation through Recreation.gov.

Directions

Take Highway 41 north from Fresno, Highway 140 east from Merced, Highway 120 east from Manteca or west from Lee Vining (State Route 395) into Yosemite National Park. Tuolumne Meadows Campground is located along Tioga Road, 5 miles west of the Tioga Pass Entrance Station and 55 miles (approximately 90 minutes) from Yosemite Valley.

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