Wawona Campground

45 minutes away from Yosemite valley. This is a good option if you can't get a campsite or accommodations in the valley. Pros + clean restrooms, stocked with toilet paper and hand soap! + beautiful area, some sites have water while others have lots of trees + prices are reasonable for the sites Cons - no showers. Zero. None. - no spigot - unable to wash dishes or clothes in bathroom sinks - bear country meaning all food and including all items with a scent must be locked away in the bear lockers or you may be cited - no trash cans, all trash goes to the designated dumpsters!

It's close to entrance of Yosemite national park and little far from main area but very quiet and not so many ppl around here. If you want to feel Yosemite, I'll recommend this campground.

Campgrounds and bathrooms are clean. The river is so much fun and beautiful. Can't wait to go back next year!!

PLEASE make sure you reserve your visitation/camping/dining anywhere inside the Park at least, THREE DAYS' ADVANCE NOTICE; otherwise, the Ranger/Rangerette will vehemently DENY you entrance to the Park like what happened to me last February 2021! Aside, please pack two sets of snow chains-one set for installing on your front or rear tires and one set for laying on the road giving your back/front tires more traction plus, bring a bag of salt/sand/or two small bath mats laying underneath tires and bring a folding military shovel: Snow was well over TEN FEET HIGH in February 2021! More Importantly: You MUST pack minus 10°F sleeping bags plus, SLEEPING BAG FLEECE LINERS for your entire party, large heavy-duty solar blankets for entire party, four-season tent with stove jack plus, bring wood stove/pipe fittings, TWO 20 x 24 waterproof tarps-one for the bottom of the tent and one for the top of your tent, a large throw mat/rug as insulation for keeping the cold away from the tent floor, fifteen stainless steel Home Depot Nail Pegs with Heads plus, rope lashings tying down tent, 22-lbs. construction hammer, wood saw, machete, bear spray, H2O for SEVEN DAYS, combination locks for bear boxes, TEN to TWENTY 4-5 HOURS Duraflame logs, back-up heating system-propane heater, long BIC lighter, food for SEVEN DAYS for entire party accompanying you, a large 12-inch Dutch oven pot/lid/cooking utensils/stainless steel plates, a filled twenty-gallons propane tank as back-up heating survival equipment, a bucket with a handle for washing yourself/clothes, and make sure you pack winter/early spring clothing/winter socks/hiking boots/heavy-duty clothes pins for SEVEN DAYS just in case, you get snowed in and can't leave! Bring a compass!!!! Last, gas is almost $6.00 per gallon! Bring your gas can, fill it up at Oakhurst VONS (use Safeway Card for obtaining the least expensive gas, purchasing price) BEFORE entering via Wawona Gate Entrance, i.e., this route is THE safest way entering park and also, check all your survival gear getting last minute supplies you forgot while packing at home! Finally, be safe rather than meet your demise due to foolish unpreparedness; return ALIVE: All Federal State Parks are rugged wilderness, survival regions with wildlife abounding which may put you in Harm's Way; never ever slough off Nature as, "Meh~Shirley is just being PARANOID!" Nah~I have had USAF Extreme Survival Training so, I KNOW being prepared is THE KEY TO SURVIVAL! Take care; I want to see your Ansel Adams-esque, landscape portraits posted via YELP! Shirley

I love this campground, we really enjoyed our 3 night stay in Yosemite here. I was a little hesitant to stay here because it was a little far from the main hustle and bustle of Yosemite National Park but I think that is part of what made the stay enjoyable. Everyone respected the quiet hours and campgrounds were clean and well kept. The bathrooms were clean and have flush toilets (although we did pass by Loop A and see that 1 restroom was out of order and they had port a potties instead). We had site 77 in loop c and it was right next to the river. The campsites aren't too close together which was nice and I'd say 78 was very private. I want to go back when it is warmer out so we can swim in the Merced river. Don't forget bug spray because I did and ended up with lots of bug bites. There are a lot of trees for hammocks and a store nearby if you forget anything or need to buy firewood. Tip: the store has It's It ice cream sandwiches and they are the bomb!! Overall, glad we chose this campground. Highly recommend for your stay in Yosemite.

*Visited business before COVID-19; appreciation post* Wawona Campground was a last-minute campground booking. They had some first-come, first-serve spots so for our friend's birthday we drove up. Getting there: The campground is about 45 minutes from the Valley floor. 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 inside of the park on Highway 41, and 27 miles south of Yosemite Valley. Experience: We got there early on a Thursday morning in April. It was nice weather but a little cold. This was our first tent-camping Yosemite experience and once again, we didn't do our research and plan things out. The first night after we had pitched the tent, we got rained out in the middle of the night. Definitely did not prepare for the weather. The campsite had bear lockers, toilets, no showers though; we went into the valley to shower. Overall, I am a fan of this site.

The campground was clean and well taken care of. The rangers were informative and left us alone for our stay. We camped at site 34 in loop B and the river was close by, the bathrooms were a short distance away and they were flush toilets. We visited in late August and during the night time is was VERY cold. The weather was gorgeous during the day though! There is a general store with basic items about 15 min away. There are no showers at this location. Yosemite valley is an hour away. This is an ideal location for someone who doesn't want to camp so close by to avoid crowds. Only downside was our site was on a slant so it made it a little difficult for sleep but we figured it out. Side note: please respect other campers and "quiet time hours"

Great and save! Easy to get too, there is enough room to park your car next to your camp spot. Bathrooms clean and near by

Nobody go here. It's horrible and ugly and you'll probably get intestinal cockroaches or something. There certainly aren't any nice trees, or a beautiful river, or nice places to go for a walk, or night skies full of stars. May as well be camping in the Walmart parking lot in Pahrump, NV. Stay away.

My Family and I have been coming to this campsite since I was a baby. It is one of the best yearly reunions with the family. And now friends have joined in on our tradition. The campsites are spacious and clean and are each equipped with a large food storage unit. You are literally engulfed within a Forrest and the river is just a few steps away. Rangers are polite and come around every evening to invite you to their nightly wilderness event. This year we heard they underwent new management and one of my favorite things to do they no longer offer; which was their morning "coffee with the rangers" they should really bring this back. It was nice to wake up early, have your cup of joe, and walk down to loop B's amphitheater and listen to Yosemite's history told by the rangers. Mariposa Grove is only a 15min drive Yosemite Valley is about a 45min drive Glacier point is about a 35-45min drive Gas Station and Market are about a 10min drive There are many other campgrounds, but for some reason we always come back to Wawona

Out of the 13 campgrounds in Yosemite, Wawona's Loop A is one of the four campgrounds that's open all year. The campsite's on the south end of the park. I was here the second week of November. I arrived at 11am on a Friday and there were 4 spots still available. From October - April this campground's on a first come first serve basis and it's $18 per site. Each site allows six people. There's a bear box, picnic table and fire pit in each site. There's flushing toilets but no showers and the bathroom has no soap, probably because of bears. Pets are allowed but must be on a leash at all times. While I was there, signs were posted to be cautious of coyotes approaching pets tied up to picnic tables. From Apr 8-Oct 1 reservations are available and the fee is $26 per site. Near the campground there's a gas station and market where you can buy firewood, food, and many other essentials. Mariposa Grove is also near the campground. Mariposa Grove has the largest grove of giant sequoias in the park. Among its 500+ trees you'll find Grizzly Giant which is 1,800 years old and is one of the largest sequoias in the world. From Wowona, Yosemite Valley is 25 miles and it takes about 45 minutes to reach the valley.

I spent a few nights here during my first time at Yosemite. As a newbie, I will admit there seemed to be a lot of things to plan in advance for during your trip camping at this National Park. I was driving up from LA and didn't have anything reserved for a place to park our RV. I spent weeks trying to reserve something but when I called a day or two before, they had an opening, and someone cancelled. Score!! They have bathrooms and sinks with a mirrors. One comment I had was that they were very dirty and there was no toilet paper during my entire stay. Yuck! I'd rather go in the woods.. thanks! Overall had a fun time here with some new memories to last a lifetime.

This was my third trip to Yosemite and first to the Wawona area. I was excited to get the Yosemite feel without the crowds traffic and commercialism. I chise Wawona mostly because the site was "waterfront" and I thought there was fishing I have mixed feelings about this campground. Because of the fire nearby we had the campground almost to ourselves. Very peaceful and tranquil, some beautiful scenery Campground was clean, water was nearby and loved the sounds of the nearby stream. We were in B loop site 37 which they call waterfront. Its more slope/rockbed/creek side The disappointment for me was the fact we really could not go directly to the creek from our site because of the rocks. Actual usable space was pretty small and everything sloped at least a little. If it rains I would think a lot of creekside sites may wash away as everything channels into these sites. I was also disappointed to learn there really isnt any fishing in the area. Also a LOT of bees zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzing everywhere! All in all I suppose it depends on what you like. If you want peace quiet and tranquility this may be a great spot. Loop A is pretty barren and only has porta potties

This is a large campground (by reservation ONLY) located in Wawona right next to the South Fork of the Merced River. I was so lucky to get this campground instead one of the ones in Yosemite Valley which had been originally my first choice. You need to book online 6 months ahead right at the second when they release the sites (yes, it is very competitive, welcome to California camping!). Our site # 89 was spacious and next to the bathroom, but far enough 50 ft or more (where it was not annoying being next to the bathroom. Tons of space to pitch your tents. Shade. Next to the potable water spigot. A large bear box. WIldflowers. Overall, most sites were good. A few not so spacious, but still more so than if you camped in Yosemite Valley. The bathrooms have no electricity, but they do have running water. There is NO hand soap in the bathrooms, so bring your own. The sites that are next to the river are AMAZING. Loop B and C are the best ones because bathrooms have running water, Loop A only has port-a-potties. If your campsite is away from the river, there are still many areas where you can access the river. Bring a LARGE inner tube, you can but it at Amazon or Walmart. River conditions are usually good in July and August. I made the mistake that the one we brought was MINIATURE and fit for a small child, so make sure you buy an ADULT size DURABLE Inner tube for floating on a river. Check with rangers to make sure water levels are safe to get in the water. The river is very cold but is very refreshing in the 90-degree heat. We hiked to the Wawona swinging bridge (Drive to the end of Forest drive, then walk for 10-15 min), fly fished (caught 4 small trout and released them), hiked in the Mariposa grove and floated in the river. The campground is a short drive away from the Wawona grocery store (expensive, but well-stocked in case you forget something), the gas station (only one in the park - no gas station in Yosemite Valley), so fill up before you start sightseeing or you may run out of gas, the Wawona county library (Only place that has free wifi in Wawona, opens 1-6 PM, you can join the free wifi from right outside the door of the library- helpful if it is after hours) and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. We camped here in Mid July, and although Yosemite Valley was a complete nightmare with horrible traffic and TONS of people, Wawona was very quiet, with few people and no traffic at all. The Campground area by the river had a few people, and it was relaxing and gorgeous. Highly recommended.

Well, I got a last-minute reservation. This allowed day access to the park. However, the actual site was was next to the bathrooms and the highway on loop A. The smell from the men's bathroom was horrible. I slept in my car rather than pitch a tent to breath that air. There are no showers. The water tasted of chemicals, so either I did not find the potable water, or there isn't any. The sites are large. One of the worst federal campsite experiences of my life. I think they should just not maintain that spot as a site. Yosemite, of course, is spectacular.

What a great place! We spent Memorial Day Weekend at the group site here... A beautiful place with incredibly helpful and friendly rangers. Nice and relaxing. It's inside Yosemite, but outside the chaos of the valley... but, if you want to spend the day in the valley, it's only 45 minutes each way if you time it right. Also only 45 minutes from Glacier Point. Awesome place!

I've been visiting Wawona my whole life, absolutely love it here. The campsites are very nearby a river which really helps cool off in the hot summers. Beware however, if you visit too early, the melted snow river will be FREEZING!

If you like the outdoors and a quiet location near (within 35 minutes of Yosemite Valley) this is your place. If you like crowds and noise stay in the Yosemite Valley campgrounds. I feel for me the drive is worth it. Leave early to avoid the crowd and get your Valley stuff done like hiking to waterfalls, etc. Pros: Sites right on or very close to the Merced River Fishing Beautiful clean camp sites Fire rings Swimming Large sites Fresh water near sites Quiet, except if you have a family of young kids near you Very near awesome the giant Mariposa Grove Sequoia, a must see! Cons: restrooms, needs a light, but clean Toilet paper rolls, silly conservation oblong style which force you to only unravel one piece at a friggin time. Yuk! Most sites you cannot drive a small trailer down to, blocked by boulders. Would love to give 5 stars, but until the restroom gets a light just cannot. Oh yeah the dude cleaning the restroom was not exactly courteous. When asked if we could use the restroom soon while he was working on it he kinda gave us the stink eye. Hello Bates Motel....... Will definitely return soon. Great visit on site 38 Secret for anyone reading this far)))))) Site 31 is the best. You are welcome!!!

Wawona Campground was like the Ritz Carlton of campgrounds with Camp 4 being equivalent to a Motel 6. Some helpful things to know: -Reservations for peak summer months are booked six months in advance. We booked our reservations in January for a June stay. They release weekly blocks 6 months in advance and I'm told that the week of June 8th sold out in a day. -Plenty of shade in tree lined areas like Loops B and C. But this also means a lot of mosquitoes. A LOT. I counted no less than 22 gargantuan bites and I was pretty good about spraying some deet-free repellent on me. Actually, now that I think about it, I would've opted for some deet instead of these hives I've got on my arms, legs, thighs and backs of my knees. Those suckers bit through my leggings. -Leggings you say? In the middle of summer? YES. It gets down to the 40s at night. You're at 4,000 feet so it does get cold. Dress in layers, because it also gets to the mid-80s during daylight hours. -It is about a 30-45 minute drive with lots of hairpin turns to Yosemite Valley. Leave in the morning to avoid the traffic. Well worth it though and stop along the way, esp. after you emerge from the tunnel for some awesome views of Half Dome and a few miles down the way, Bridal Veil. -Six people to a campsite. Don't try to sneak people in, those park rangers, they come around and count heads. They won't tell you they're doing it, they just do. -Park rangers were friendly and accommodating so don't piss them off by sneaking extra campers in or not using the bear box. -Bathrooms were pristine. It smelled piney fresh and they came around and cleaned once every 24 hours. I know because I saw them. Everyday. Fortunately, the campers were respectful and everyone did their part to maintain its cleanliness. -Don't skip the Mariposa Grove. You can do the 4-mile hike or the tram like we did. Very informative and again, run by very friendly people. -There are no showers nearby but if you're feeling bold (like we did, after 3 days of not showering, I would've gladly paid a fine if caught) you can sneak one in at nearby Wawona Hotel. There's a public restroom and private showers with toiletries. (SHHHH! Super secret pro tip.)

Definitely worth checkin' out! Found the camp site to be fairly empty as it was late in the season. During the summer season it's packed. This is a great place to do photography in the night as well. It is pitch black at night and you can do some killer time lapse photography. The one painful part is getting the wilderness permits. You need to show up one day in advance to pick it up. This in my opinion sucks. This means if you want to camp Saturday night you need to make sure you show up Friday before 4:30 to pick up the permit. This is what we were told. Very inconvenient... Besides this painful rule...Yosemite is an amazing place! Thanks, -NP

++ great riverside location ++ easy to get to from south entrance ++ large size camp sites ++ close to wawona trails -- ground was wet, can make tent very cold at night -- 45mins from main valley (ok if you plan ahead) -- no showers -- nearest food is 30mins away

By far, the best thing about this camp site is the river! As an avid user of my white noise machine with ocean sounds, there's no better way to fall asleep than to the sound of a REAL river. The camp sites were nice and big, we had 2 large tents and an extra cover over the food area (thanks, late season rain) and still had plenty of room for the campfire group! We were there on a quiet weekend (again, thanks rain), so had no problems with loud people. There also seems to be nice space between camp sites. The bathrooms are not lit, so bring a flashlight, and there are no showers. A bear locker is provided, and MUST be used. You cannot even leave food locked in your car. I was hoping for bear encounter, which didn't happen. (Yeah people think I'm nuts, but I went camping in Africa and had elephants walking outside my tent, a clan of hyenas come through the camp, and even a jaguar growling about 10 feet away from the tent...so I was hoping to add a bear to the list! But no!) They do allow dogs, which is good, but they will give you a hard time if you have more than 2 cars in your group, so if you have people meeting you, they may have to park elsewhere. Also, the ranger comes out in the mornings and makes cowboy coffee in the "ampitheater," so it's a fun way to meet fellow campers and ask questions.

This campground isn't spectacular, but it isn't bad either. Unfortunately, there are hardly any private campsites, so most likely you will be seeing your neighbor without a tree blocking the way. However, there are just a few more private sites right by the river, so I would suggest if you have the opportunity to snag those particular sites. Also, this campground seemed much more noisy than any of the other campgrounds in the park, and I have been to almost all of them. Wawona campground seems to be a family style campground, which is, loud music, people drinking, kids being loud...you get the point. It all depends what kind of camping you are into. Bathrooms were close by, and well maintained

September 27-29 2016 was my very first camping experience EVER!!! I loved it. My husband picked this camp sight because of the reviews. We enjoyed the quiet and sounds of nature. We could hear the river at night that ran just outside loop C (I think.) We camped at site #86. I liked the way people really respected the "quiet time" hours: 10 pm-6am. When we arrived at the site, we were told there had been a bear sighting just a week prior to our arrival--the use of food lockers strongly advised. I felt safe here. The facilities were not as bad as I'd feared, but it's the outdoor life not Club Med (80's reference). We will be back later this year when it snows.

Lovely and quiet. You feel very much out in nature, and though I have no basis for comparison, I imagine it's much quieter than Yosemite Valley. Facilities are well-maintained, and the bear-proof food storage is a much-appreciated must. Unfortunately, our trip was cut short due to poor air quality for the fire, but the staff were very polite and professional in helping us deal with the situation. It is quite far from the valley and a lot of the main sights in Yosemite, but if you're looking for something a little more secluded, I highly recommend Wawona.

I remember the year that we hike up to Wawona falls to camp. That hike was a true butt kicker with 40+ lbs on our backs and elevation going up quick. On the top, it was nice with a small little lake and a waterfall. The night was quiet but towards the early morning, we did already have morning visiting hikers.

Had a great time with the family and friends old and new =0). I am great full for the previous reviews they really help me prepare since I had not been back to the campground in 19 yrs! A few things had change but it was like a home coming to me. The Rangers where kind, polite and helpful. The river was amazingly flowing and the Falls where spectacular this Yr Looking forward to coming back in the Fall when they reopen the Grove of Giant Sequoias

We loved this campground. It's away from the craziness of the valley and only about a 30-45 min drive from all the major attractions. It's quiet at night and the bathrooms are kept clean. They don't have soap though so be sure to pack wash cloths and hand soap to make it easier.

Yosemite National Forest has GOT to be nature at its peak. I mean it is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous enough to distract from pesky mosquitoes. Speaking of mosquitoes... I read in an Uncle Johns that it is actually only the females who drink your blood for mating reasons rather than feeding or nourishment. Also, you blondes and redheads are favored by them. Anywho, Wawona campsite is a good 30 minute drive outside of the main Yosemite Valley. Be prepared to make time for driving if you plan on an early hike. Our campspot was absolutely primo. We booked site 37 right on the river serveral months in advance. The individual site is HUGE and plenty shaded. The downside though to being near a river in the summer? Frikin' mosquitoes everywhere and they won't leave you alone!! Just be sure to bring industrial strength repellant and a picnic table net. I know I will the next time. Don't forget to bring your innertube and float on the Merced River. If you forget, there are natural pools surrounded by sequoias and redwoods to swim in.

Fantastic! We stayed at camp #77. The sites are all well spaced out and there is wonderful scenery surrounding the Merced River. Free hot chocolate in the mornings too. TOILETS: are in great condition and all within 200m walk away from any site. SHOWERS: are not here. Nearest showers are located in the housekeeping camp ($5) at Curry Village 50min drive away. Though you can clean yourself in the river (no soap allowed understandably). FOOD: bring your own or go hungry. I would recommend eating at Yosemite Valley, but the restaurants at Fish Camp are all dire - avoid! Stock up before you arrive. BEARS: we didn't see any over three days.. anywhere. The rangers are really informative and educate all visitors. Nothing to fear here. In the evenings there is an amphitheatre around a campfire where the rangers tell stories and teach you about the park and its history. Really enjoyable. Only loses one star due to lack of a basic store for the size of the site.

Reserving ANY campsite in Yosemite during the summer is like winning the lottery. If you're in Wawona, it's not too bad. - Try to snag a campsite in the C-loop. Definitely more privacy and space between sites. - Bathrooms in the C-loop are flush toilets. BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER. I cannot stress this enough- even for all of Yosemite. I'm not picky about 1-ply vs. 2-ply, but their rolls don't roll. Meaning you're sitting there threading the needle, trying to slowly dismantle enough.... it's like diffusing a bomb before the paper shreds. Just BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER. - They do not provide sinks to wash your dishes. Instead, you're supposed to dump your soapy water in the toilets. It's helpful if you can pack a large container to wash your dishes in. - The Valley is definitely a drive. Wasn't too bad if you leave early enough to guarantee a parking space. Also, was a good way to charge the cell phones. - Showers are not available in Wawona, but if you're in the Valley, they have hot ones for $5. They even provide you with clean towels. I've definitely been in much better campsites. But it served it's purpose, and it was better than camping even father away outside of the park.

I love Yosemite, but I don't like staying in the huts. I like roughing it, or as close to roughing it as possible. This place is away from the crowds. Its a little more secluded than the main valley & you're not that far away from everything. The rangers here were awesome, checking on you daily and giving great advice for activities within the park. They also are quick to hook you up with a spot if people don't show up for their reservations, even if you don't have one! The only drawback is that many of the spots are quite close to each other, so you'll feel like you're camping with a bunch of other people if you're not in one of the more isolated plots. We did get a nice quiet, isolated spot, which is why we LOVED it here.

Pros: 1) Close to the south gate of Yosemite 2) Close to Mariposa Grove 3) Next to a river 4) Well kept campsite 5) Close to Wawona Hotel and general store Cons: 1) No showers 2) No easy access to the river 3) Weekend and holiday campers don't pay attention to the 10pm quiet time 4) Campsite is very dusty 5) General store in Wawona has VERY limited items

Great place. Beautiful wooded setting just inside the southwestern entrance to Yosemite. I'd have given 4.5 stars if possible. No showers, and the camp sites are a little close together, but I really liked it anyway. WATER - The Merced River is right there flowing by the camp. Flowing is an overstatement at this time of year, but there's plenty to swim in - up to about 10 feet of depth. And the river is flowing, so the water doesn't feel stagnant. In the main part of Yosemite, Vernal Falls has enough water to be awesome, but Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil are trickles. FIRE - 50+ miles away. Not an issue, though it does obscure the view just a little if you go to Glacier Point. WEATHER - It's hot. Weather.com said 75 degrees all 4 days. Off by only 20 degrees. It was hot. But don't let that stop you. The hikes we did (Mariposa Grove, Bridalveil, Vernal Falls, Yosemite Falls) were fine with lots of shade. It's hot at night, too. It's only cool / cold 3am-7am. MOSQUITOES - Overrated. I read other reviews and was prepared for the worst. We even brought an extra huge tent in case we had to eat inside. Barely noticed them. BEARS - No bears. Wawona was full but it's not really crowded. Highly recommended.

The listing is incorrect. This is not called Camp Wawona (for Camp Wawona go to http://www.yelp.com/biz/camp-wawona-wawona). This is called Wawona Campground. It is a campground owned my Yosemite National Park. Visit this website for more information (http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wawonacamp.htm). The correct phone number is: 877-444-6777 or (209) 375-9535 The address is: PO BOX 577 Yosemite National Park (Wawona), CA 95389 GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude): 37.57306, -119.665

I love love love this camp ground!! I've stayed at site #78 and I'm coming back this year for another family trip!! Pretty much every site at this camp ground you can't go wrong with!! Nice and quite at night and beautiful during the day!! Our families all time favorite camp ground!

If you want peace and quiet, R&R, away from the grind, no distractions, pure family fun time, this is the place to be.lovely rivers, crystal clear. We had neighbors going here every year for 40yrs. We stayed in site 91 loop C. A little slope but we found a flat surface to pitch our tent. They have water supply&everyone did their part to keep the bathroom clean. Take note they dont have shower rooms but there's water supply so bring ur own pop up portable showers. $52/2 nights of stay. It's 45mins away from the village. Day 1 we stayed and enjoyed camping all day-swimming in the rivers, grilled food, biking. Day 2, we spent a full day in yosemite village so we got the best of both worlds in a such short time. Don't expect cell signal from tmobile lol which was perfectly fine for us. Disconnect to connect. We had an amazing time and it was our first time camping with our little kids! We'll definitely come back here again &make it a family tradition.

Wawona is by far the BEST camp ground in Yosemite. There are far less people than in the Valley and the group site was right next to the river. We brought rafts and were able to float down the lazy river to cool off. We had no bear interaction, there were hardly any mosquitos and the site had flushing toilets! The only negative to the site is that it is located near the main road so traffic was louder than the sound of the river. Also, the group campsite is allowed to have up to 30 people. Our group had 26 people and 7 vehicles - the problem was the group site is only allowed a maximum of 5 vehicles. The rangers slapped my hand about it but there was plenty of room for all the vehicles. Pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wowshy/albums/72157685072614283

$20 night for max of 7 nights and a limit of 6 people. We got camp site #50. It was pretty near the men/woman bathroom. No showers. There is the Merced River near our camp site so we would hear the "swishing" sound of the water all day long. Refreshing. I like Merlynda d. reviews. Pro/Con list. Pro: Near Wawona General Store Near Wawona Hotel

Amazing campground, overall when your site is by the river :) Nights packed of stars, not a noise. Facilities fairly good. The worst thing was the bear closet: they are a bit rusty and dirty.

close to glacier point, quiet, spacious campsites in loop C with the sound of the river lulling you to sleep. it was worth the headspinning ride from the valley! plus plus plus... bathrooms are clean.

My partner and I stayed here for one night and absolutely loves the serenity. The Rangers try to keep the park as natural as possibly which is beautiful. I don't think there were showers here... But I could be wrong.. I would recommend anyone to stay here looking for a beautiful, natural experience.

Wawona is an A+ compared to the paved spaces in the parking lots that the valley calls "campgrounds." recreation.gov informs re location, amenities etc. The nearby store is well-stocked and reasonable for the location. The Wawona hotel has piano music and A/C that you can enjoy for the cost of a drink or appetizer if you need a break. Verizon got only text/talk in the campground; my T-mobile didn't work. Rangers were nice and informative; ampitheatre programs were interesting. SO DON'T GO--YOU'LL HATE IT!! ;) Campground itself is very large. Each of the 3 loops is really a separate campground. You can jog miles if you go through the whole camp. But even when it's full, you aren't cheek-by-jowl, at least not at the end of the c-loop (sites are closer in other areas). People often come late/leave early, so it can be very quiet with people only at a distance during the day. Pay attention to the notes on the site listing at recreation.gov; if it says bad for tents, or sloped, no room for vehicle sleeping, full sun, etc. BELIEVE it. Riverside sites are good, but few access the river easily. You will need bug spray no matter where you are. There are a lot of persistent flies and, in the eves, biting gnats and mosquitoes. My partner doesn't like camping completely under trees; he says it makes him slightly claustrophobic and prefers the outside of the loops where he can see further, even if it means full sun (I prefer shade). As you are in a valley, there are no distance views no matter the site. We stayed in Space 87: excellent, very large, mostly level with space for several tents, canopies, etc. It is in the middle of the grove, so well-treed w/both sun and shade. It's easy to tie shades or hang a camp shower (though you can't use soap). About a minute walk to the river edge. Really one of the best spots on the interior loops, I think. About 25 feet from the car and there's a drainage "dip" in the terrain, so access is not level, though the site is. Squirrels and birds were minimal and not a problem. No evidence of anything larger than crows. Next to the ADA site, which means that you are likely to be next to an RV so if generator noise or smells are an issue, be aware. (Our neighbor's holding tank was full. Bad when the wind blew the wrong way and a reason we came home early.) There are two bathrooms on either side, about 30 yards away. No hand dryers or soap. Being next to the river, sometimes it had wet floors and was kinda disgusting with bits of wet tp (see below). Definitely no bare feet. It didn't stink and was well cleaned each day, My biggest complaint is the toilet paper. It's AWFUL. It doesn't roll due to the holder, and you CAN'T get more than 2 inches (which is how all those bits of tp end up on the floor) Tissue paper is more durable. BRING YOUR OWN. Dumpsters are convenient but not in your view. Potable water within convenient distance at either bathroom. Issues: 1) evening noise. We were next to a family reunion who had taken over 4-6 sites. About 30 people. Very nice people, BUT they were VERY noisy until almost an hour past "quiet time" at 10 p.m. and the rangers didn't shut them down. We heard the ranger tell someone about 8 p.m. that their music shouldn't be heard by their neighbors, but then they just left for the night. The campers were obviously having fun, laughing, etc. and we didn't mind their music choice; since we are night owls, we just waited. If you needed to be up early or camped for nature, it was a nightmare. 2) river access. The river is "normal" now, which means an actual river instead of the stream that has been in the last seven years of drought. The rangers say it is still dangerous due to snow melt and debris washed down. It is cold, but it is very clear, mostly seems about waist deep with deeper areas, and people are going in. If the river is a draw for you, know that there are few easy wading spots, and people will "camp out" at the very limited access spaces. Both days we were there, the "family reunion" completely blocked access to the one easy wading entry (about 8 feet wide) at our end of the campground with their chairs, music, water toys, wagons and 20 bodies. We could only get in safely once, and even then, it wasn't until about 7:30 p.m. It was not very fun since it was high 90's, and it would have been nice to safely wade, but I didn't feel like shoving my way through them, which is what you had to do to get to the water. We mentioned to the rangers that access was being blocked, but I didn't see that they did anything about it. Overall, Wawona is one of the best camps on the south side of the park. My advice to you: DON'T GO--YOU'LL HATE IT!! ;)

Wawona campground is a nice place! It was a great basecamp for us ... we explored the rest of the park, and this campground was our place to get away from the Yosemite crowds. The drive is enjoyable, but a little long from the main part of the park. However, the sites are private and clean/well maintained. The sites that back onto the river/creek were the nicest.

Pros: By the river. Not crowded. Cons: bad restroom, by the road, far from valley

I have stayed twice at this campground and I like it a lot. It's about 15 minutes in from the south gate and about 30 minutes from The Valley. The Merced River runs right through the campground just make sure you stay in either loop b or loop c because loop a has hardly any shade. Also, it gets very hot in the summer so be ready for the heat and mosquitos. My biggest complaint about this campsite is that the closest shower is in The Valley. The positive is that Wawona is no where near as crowded as The Valley so you get a much quieter and real camping experience.

Second time camping here. Mosquitos were insane this year. We can handle an hour of mosquito time, but it was about three hours per night. Otherwise, the two nights here were peaceful after three nights at Upper PInes. Campers were a little more relaxed and the campfire smoke was not suffocating. No lights in the bathrooms.