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Yosemite is one of the premiere national parks in the United States. With its stunning High Sierra scenery, glorious waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and 100s of miles of hiking trails to explore it all, Yosemite is a must-visit for any outdoor lover. But finding a place to camp in the park during the busy summer travel season can be an exercise in advanced planning, patience—and a little luck. Fortunately, there are a few options available to campers who can’t score a prized campsite reservation in the Valley in the form of a few smaller, first-come, first-served campgrounds in remote areas of the park. While these sites are pretty spartan, they offer a quieter Yosemite experience while still providing access to the park’s popular destinations, trails and viewpoints.
Located on the west side of the park, just a short distance off Tioga Road (Hwy 120), the Tamarack Flat Campground offers 52 first-come, first-served campsites for tent campers. The campground can be accessed through the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, and is approximately 7 miles northwest of the Tioga Road–Big Oak Flat junction. Campsites are located in shady pine forest, and are equipped with picnic tables, fire pits and food lockers, and the campground has vault toilets. All food and scented items should be secured at all times. Potable water is not available, but water can be acquired from nearby Tamarack Creek; water should be treated (boiled or filtered) before drinking. Trash service is not available, so campers should pack out all trash and waste items. Dogs are permitted, but must remain leashed. This location is only open seasonally, typically late June through September; sites are $12/night.
From the Tamarack Flat Campground, the picturesque Tenaya Lake is 45 miles farther east on Tioga Road. There are picnic areas here for enjoying the view, and the lake is nice for fishing and paddling around on kayaks and SUPs. Another 15 miles east is the expansive and spectacular Tuolumne Meadows. Several short and long hiking trails originate from here and lead into Yosemite’s amazing backcountry. Near the often overflowing Tuolumne Meadows Campground is a small cafe, grocery store, post office, and outdoor gear shop. Going the other way, Yosemite Valley is 20 miles southwest. Here you can take in views of the famous El Capitan and Half Dome, walk to the base of Bridalveil and Yosemite Falls, and visit the park’s visitor center, galleries, shops and restaurants.
Absolutely loved this area of Yosemite. Only 52 camp sites total, off the beaten path just enough. Very quiet and camp ground overseer is cool. Just off Tioga Rd towards Tuolumne meadows and a 45 minute drive from the valley floor. No potable water but a creek runs through the entire campground with easy access so filtering water is no problem. Vault toilets and no showers. Trailers and RV’s are not recommended so the odds of hearing your neighbors generator is next to zero. I didn’t see any trailers or RV’s. I didn’t hear any generators the 4 days I was there from 10/3 - 10/6. Campsites are generously spaced and the ground is even throughout. If you’re cool without potable water or showers this place is awesome!! You can always drive down to the valley for showers.
It completely slipped my mind to reserve camping at Yosemite during my road trip and this was the only campground with openings. There’s a 3 mile mostly downhill, very narrow, but paved road on the way to the campground. Website says RVs are not recommend. I was able to safely maneuver this road with my vintage Class B camper van (pic for reference). It was $27 for the night, and I reserved my spot online just before pulling in. I stayed at spot #7, which was next to spots 5&6 where the camp host stays and In front of bathrooms. I recommend looking at the campsite photos when booking on the site. It was a 20ish minute ride to the park from here.
My wife and I had an unforgettable time car camping at this Yosemite campground. The natural beauty of the park is beyond words, and the convenience of car camping made it even more enjoyable. The guide who accompanied us was amazing, sharing valuable insights about the park's history and pointing out hidden gems. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. We'll cherish these memories forever, and we highly recommend this campground to anyone looking for a Yosemite adventure!
Beautiful calm campground with a remote feeling but a smooth newly-paved single lane road leading to it through the woods. Small stream and many boulders for kids to climb on and explore. Minimal facilities, no potable water, bring your own. Depends on your preference, but compared to the busy Upper Pines Campground I thought this was a real gem. Stayed at site 003.
