Yosemite National Park's Massive Campground Boasts Awesome Upgrades & Hike-In Sites

In the heart of Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne Meadows Campground stands as the park's largest camping destination and one of the most expansive campgrounds in the entire National Park System, covering almost 140 acres of land. After a three-year closure, this popular campground re-opened on August 1, 2025, welcoming visitors back to its breathtaking high-country setting. Located along Tioga Road, about an hour and a half's drive from the Yosemite Valley floor, Tuolumne Meadows sits closer to the town of Lee Vining than the bustling Yosemite Valley. Its location offers a quieter, less crowded experience in the Sierra Nevada's alpine expanse — potentially worthy of sleeper national park status. This unique corner of Yosemite is often overlooked by those flocking to the valley's famous landmarks, but it captivates those who venture here with its vast subalpine meadows, granite domes, and peaks, where various rivers weave through seasonal wildflowers and deciduous trees. 

Each year, Tuolumne Meadows campground typically brings in about 141,000 overnight guests and roughly 500,000 visitors to its surrounding area, serving as a hub for hikers, backpackers, and those eager to explore Yosemite's backcountry. The campground has been closed since 2022 for a transformative $26 million rehabilitation project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Its reopening marks the first time in three years that its 336 sites are available, coinciding with the historic opening of all 13 Yosemite campgrounds for the first time in six years. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this high-elevation campground, sitting at 8,600 feet, is a seasonal haven. It's usually open from July to late September when the heavy snows begin to cover the area and Tioga Road closes down. With reservations nearly entirely booked out, visitors are eager to experience the revitalized area. 

The $26 million Tuolumne Meadows Campground repairs addressed over $11 million in deferred maintenance while updating infrastructure and providing more ecological conservation and protection. The project brought about significant changes and upgrades, including ten new and renovated restrooms that are compliant with the Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards, in addition to a new winter camping vault toilet. Visitors to the area will also find 29 new hike-in campsites, ideal for backpackers seeking a more immersive experience in the Sierras, alongside revitalized campsite fixtures like picnic tables, fire rings, and food lockers designed to keep the wildlife at a safe distance. The Dana Campfire Circle, a well-known spot for ranger-led programs, now offers accessible routes to its location in addition to companion seating, offering inclusivity and accessibility for all visitors. 

More than just visitor repairs, the rehabilitation also prioritized environmental stewardship. The 2014 Tuolumne River Plan aimed to protect the unique and sensitive riparian habitat of specific federally designated areas. Due to this, the campground's Loop A road was moved to create a 150-foot buffer from the Tuolumne River, and 21 campsites within a 100-foot zone were relocated. Upgrades to the water distribution and sewer systems further updated the aging infrastructure that was originally constructed in the 1930s and expanded in the 1960s. These changes not only enhance the visitor experience but safeguard the delicate ecosystem, ensuring the area remains a pristine gateway to Yosemite's wilderness for generations to come.

The upgraded Tuolumne Meadows Campground now offers 336 sites, including 304 standard and hike-in sites, 21 backpacker sites, seven group sites, and four horse sites, accommodating up to 2,200 visitors nightly. (Here's how to know the difference between campsites before you book.) Reservations are available through Recreation.gov, highly competitive, and Yosemite reservations are notoriously confusing. Half of the sites are released in monthly blocks two months in advance on the 15th at 7 a.m. Pacific Time, and the other half are released on a rolling two-week window at 7 a.m. daily. Pro tip: set an early alarm, as sites typically sell out within minutes if not seconds.

Fees are $36 per night for standard sites, $75 for group sites (13-30 people), and $50 for horse/stock sites, with a maximum of six people per standard site and two vehicles (trailers excluded). Nearby amenities include a small grocery store, a grill/restaurant, and a post office in Tuolumne Meadows. Showers are available in Yosemite Valley at Curry Village, and a dump station operates in the summer in Tuolumne Meadows.

The GAOA-funded project not only revitalizes Tuolumne Meadows Campground but also supports the half-million annual visitors exploring this gateway to Yosemite's high-country wilderness, full of alpine lakes and granite domes. The campground's high elevation brings cool nights, often ten degrees cooler than Yosemite Valley, and its bear country status requires strict food storage in provided lockers. With limited cell service, no internet, and no ice for sale, visitors should plan ahead. This grand reopening coupled with enhanced accessibility and ecological protections, makes Tuolumne Meadows a bucket-list worthy national park, ensuring it remains a cherished destination for families, hikers, climbers, and equestrians, with the hopes that GAOA's investments signals brighter futures for national park infrastructure nationwide.