Three of the largest campgrounds in Yosemite National Park are being closed for extensive renovations. The campgrounds are Tuolumne Meadows, Bridalveil Creek, and Crane Flat. There will be no camping available during the closures.
Tuolumne Meadows will be closed at least through 2024, and perhaps as long as 2025. It is Yosemite’s largest campground at 140 acres and 304 sites. It alone serves 140,000 campers a year.
The major facelift at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground is already underway, according to park officials, who detailed some of the changes to include new picnic tables, food lockers, fire rings, adding two new restrooms while rehabilitating others, new concrete parking pads, and an updated water and sewer system. The last time the campground saw an upgrade was in the 1960s.
Two other campgrounds — Bridalveil Creek and Crane Flat — will be closed until 2023.
In normal times, Yosemite has 10 campgrounds that can accommodate RVs and trailers (including fifth wheels) of varying lengths. If you plan to spend the night in your RV, you must be in a designated campsite — you can’t park in a parking lot or along the side of the road.
In Yosemite Valley, the maximum RV length is 40 feet and maximum trailer length is 35 feet; however, only a total of 8 sites of this size are available (six sites in Lower Pines and two in North Pines, which are open spring through fall).
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When we visited Yosemite in 2018 we stayed at the Mariposa fairgrounds. It was inexpensive and conveniently located between the western and southern entrances to the park. We had power and water and there’s a dump station. Cell service was non-existent, but the wifi was great!
Good idea if you don’t have pets. Their rates are showing as $45 a night with water and electric. Dump stations noted.
How do you come up with the “first national park”? It was clearly Yellowstone.
Sorry, Nick. That reference has been removed. 🙂 –Diane
Not the first national park.
Thanks, John. It’s been removed. 🙂 –Diane
Maybe they should pay back tax payers for those two years it’s ridiculous to take three years to replace a bunch of bear boxes.
You apparently didn’t read the article. They are doing a lot more than replacing “a bunch of bear boxes”
Yellowstone was the first National Park.
Thanks, Dennis. The reference was removed. 🙂 –Diane
Actually Yellowstone National Park is our nation’s first National Park, Yellowstone was established as a National Park in 1872 and Yosemite was established a National Park in 1890 which became our nation’s second National Park.
Thank you, Josiah. The incorrect reference was removed. 🙂 –Diane
Glad to hear about the renovations, long over due. I’ve been visiting YNP since 1970 and I hope part of this renovation will eventually include the campgrounds in the Valley and specifically the very dated restrooms!
Tim C.
Wow, thanks for the heads-up. That sure will increase the congestion at the remaining campgrounds. Bummer, TM will be closed for so long!