Wawona Campground
Wawona Campground is located in breathtaking Yosemite National Park in Central California's rugged Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. The site is situated at the southern end of the park, 27 miles and approximately 45 minutes from Yosemite Valley, at an elevation of 4000 feet. Wawona was home to the park's headquarters in 1904 and historic structures still stand today. The majestic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is just a short drive away. Within Yosemite, visitors gaze upon waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area and much more.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California · group sites in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 63 |
| Tent-only | 20 |
| Walk-in | 10 |
| RV, no hookups | 2 |
| Group tent areas | 1 |
| Host/management | 3 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
96 sites in 3 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Waterfront | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 008 | A | Standard | 15 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 009 | A | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | |
| 010 | A | RV | 35 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 011 | A | Standard | 35 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 012 | A | RV | 24 | Gravel | None | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||
| 014 | A | Tent only | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | |||||
| 015 | A | Standard | 27 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 016 | A | Standard | 27 | Gravel | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||||
| 017 | A | Standard | 35 | Gravel | Partial | Riverfront | 6 / 2 | Yes | ||
| 018 | A | Standard | Back-in | 27 | Gravel | Partial | 6 / 2 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 067, 069, 070, 089 are listed accessible |
Wawona Campground offers family, group, and horse campsites; reservations required. Paved roads and parking spurs, flush toilets and drinking water are provided. Each campsite contains a picnic table, fire ring, and food storage locker. A general store and gas station are located about a mile south of the campground.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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 north of the South Entrance station on Highway 41, and 27 miles south of Yosemite Valley.
| Nearest town | Yosemite National Park, California |
| Coordinates | 37.5731° N, 119.6650° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
- Cancellation of individual or equestrian site reservations will be charged a $10 service fee. If the cancellation is within 48 hours of the arrival date, the first night's fee will also be charged. Cancellations for a single night’s use within 48 hours will not receive a refund, but will not be assessed an additional service fee.
- Cancellation of a group site reservation will incur a $10.00 service fee plus the first night’s use fee when the reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date.
- No-shows for any type of reservation will be charged a $20 service fee and the first night's fee.
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
3 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 2.5 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗ | 12.5 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Wawona Campground Review: Peaceful Camping in Yosemite National Park
Worth a stop
Just 45 minutes away is Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known. Hiking trails and bike paths are abundant in the valley. Rafting the Merced River is a fun way to cool down on a summer day when water levels are sufficient. Yosemite Valley also offers numerous guided bus tours, educational programs, museums, ranger-led activities, and an art center with workshops. A scenic 45-minute drive leads to Glacier Point, with its sweeping views of Yosemite Valley, Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and Clouds Rest, among other notable landmarks. The Tioga Road, in the central region of the park, offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada, with its broad sub-alpine meadows and granite domes and peaks. Beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is home to spectacular scenery and numerous wilderness trailheads.
- 2.5 miWawona Visitor Center At Hill's Studio ↗Visitor center
- 6.1 miGoat Meadow Trailhead & Snow Play ↗Trailhead
- 8.9 miWestfall Picnic Site ↗Day use
- 9.5 miLewis Creek Trail Nrt Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 12.8 miYosemite Valley Welcome Center ↗Visitor center
Trails nearby
- 2 miSouth Fork Merced ↗14.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.6 miRush Creek3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 2.9 miSquirrel Creek0.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.4 miSummit1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 2 more
- 3.5 miBlackbird1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, ATV and 1 more
- 3.7 miSummit Spur0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD and 1 more
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Yosemite Wilderness begins about 1.9 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.9 miYosemite Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 704,624 acres
- 6.7 miSierra National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,418,790 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
On the National Register nearby
- Acting Superintendent's HeadquartersBuilding · Wawona · 2.4 mi
- Hodgdon Homestead CabinBuilding · Wawona · 2.4 mi
- Chris Jorgenson StudioBuilding · Yosemite National Park · 2.4 mi
Natural features
The area is forested with a diverse mix of ponderosa pine, incense-cedar, white fir, and whiteleaf manzanita, which offers a pleasant combination of sun and shade. The gentle South Fork of the Merced River flows alongside the campground.
Recreation
Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads, and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, auto touring, and photography are all very popular activities within the park. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center is like stepping back in time. A visit to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, just four miles away, is a must-do. A network of hiking trails within the grove leads to stately trees with names like Grizzly Giant, Faithful Couple, and California Tunnel Tree. Wawona offers several additional hiking trails, including the Wawona Meadow Loop, Swinging Bridge Loop, Alder Creek and Chilnualna Falls.
Guidebooks for Yosemite National Park
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Wawona Campground?
Sites at Wawona Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Wawona Campground?
Check-in 12:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Wawona Campground?
Cancellation of individual or equestrian site reservations will be charged a $10 service fee. If the cancellation is within 48 hours of the arrival date, the first night's fee will also be charged.
Source: Charges and cancellations
How many sites does Wawona Campground have?
99 sites, including 63 standard sites without power, 20 tent-only sites, 10 walk-in sites, and 2 RV sites without hookups.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Wawona Campground?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are there showers or a dump station at Wawona Campground?
Paved roads and parking spurs, flush toilets and drinking water are provided.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Wawona Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Wawona Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Wawona Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there accessible sites at Wawona Campground?
Sites 067, 069, 070, and 089 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What is there to do at Wawona Campground?
Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads, and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Wawona Campground?
Yosemite National Park, California. Just 45 minutes away is Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known.
Source: Getting there
What if Wawona Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Wawona Horse Campsites (2.4 mi), Summerdale Campground (6 mi), and Bridalveil Creek Campground (6.6 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby