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Wawona Campground

South Yosemite gateway — Mariposa Grove and big trees

Location: Yosemite National Park, CA (South), CA

Price: From $36 per night

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (2104 reviews)

Season: Year-round (some sites)

The southernmost campground in Yosemite, closest to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and the South Entrance. 93 sites along the South Fork Merced River in a shaded ponderosa pine forest. Far less competitive than Valley or Tuolumne reservations, with easier availability windows. The historic Wawona Hotel is 0.3 miles away. Good fishing in the river. Summer temperatures are milder than the Valley floor.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.

Amenities: Flush Toilets, Potable Water, Fire Rings, Bear Boxes, Dump Station, Fishing Access, Pet Friendly (leash), Picnic Tables, Camp Store Nearby

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/wawona-campground-yosemite to be notified when sites open up.

The southernmost campground in Yosemite — closest to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias (2 miles from camp) and the most tranquil option in the park. 93 sites along the South Fork Merced River under ponderosa pines. Significantly easier to book than the Valley.

Chilnualna Falls trail — 5.4 miles to a series of cascades in a granite gorge. Almost no day visitors use this trail because it starts from Wawona, not the Valley. The upper falls rival Yosemite Falls in beauty.

What is new at Wawona Campground: Mariposa Grove tram service returned to full operation 2023.

Wildlife alert: Black bears active. Food in bear boxes mandatory. Raccoons extremely bold at Wawona — never leave food unattended even for minutes.

Fire rules: Campfires in provided fire grates only. Yosemite restrictions apply July–September. Check nps.gov/yose.

Things to do near Wawona Campground: Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (2 mi) — over 500 mature giant sequoias including the 2,700-year-old Grizzly Giant. Chilnualna Falls trail (5.4 mi RT) — best waterfall hike in the south part of the park with almost no crowds. Wawona Hotel (0.3 mi) — oldest operating hotel in the NPS system.

Insider tips for Wawona Campground: Sites 1–20 are along the river and have the best swimming hole access California fishing license required for the South Fork — get one at the Wawona store Often has same-week availability when Valley campgrounds are completely full

Skip Wawona Campground if: You want to be close to Yosemite Valley — Wawona is 27 miles (45 min drive) from the Valley.

Best time to visit Wawona Campground: Jun–Aug — River swimming, Mariposa Grove free of snow, Chilnualna Falls at full flow.. Sep–Oct — Crowds drop, fall colors in the grove..

Common issues at Wawona Campground: Mariposa Grove tram required in peak season — you cannot drive to the grove July–Labor Day. Take the free shuttle from Wawona.

What campers say about Wawona Campground: "Walked to the Mariposa Grove before anyone else arrived. Sequoias at dawn with nobody around. That’s the real Yosemite." — Recreation.gov reviewer "Caught trout in the South Fork right from camp. Much quieter than the Valley campgrounds." — Recreation.gov reviewer

Nearby campgrounds: Wawona Horse Campsites (Yosemite National Park, CA), Summerdale Campground (FISH CAMP, CA), Bridalveil Creek Horse Campsites (Yosemite, CA), Kelty Meadow (Oakhurst, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Wawona Campground

Cell signal at Wawona Campground (Yosemite National Park, CA (South)): weak overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: Verizon.

  • Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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Wawona Campground

South Yosemite gateway — Mariposa Grove and big trees

Yosemite National Park, CA (South)4.5 (2104)4,000 ft
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Why campers choose Wawona Campground

The southernmost campground in Yosemite — closest to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias (2 miles from camp) and the most tranquil option in the park. 93 sites along the South Fork Merced River under ponderosa pines. Significantly easier to book than the Valley.
Sites 1–20 are along the river and have the best swimming hole access
California fishing license required for the South Fork — get one at the Wawona store
No hookups. Some sites close in winter. Slightly far from Valley attractions. Car break-ins reported — use bear boxes for valuables too.

Check-in

12:00 PM

Check-out

11:00 AM

Season

Year-round (some sites)

Stay limit

14 days

Max RV

35 ft

Hookups

None — dry camping

Cell signal:

The southernmost campground in Yosemite, closest to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and the South Entrance. 93 sites along the South Fork Merced River in a shaded ponderosa pine forest. Far less competitive than Valley or Tuolumne reservations, with easier availability windows. The historic Wawona Hotel is 0.3 miles away. Good fishing in the river. Summer temperatures are milder than the Valley floor.

Things to do nearby

Mariposa GroveWawona HotelChilnualna FallsMariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Best For

FamiliesGiant sequoia visitorsFishingSouth entrance accessOff-peak shoulder season

Site Types

TentRV (no hookups, max 35ft)

Amenities

Flush Toilets
Potable Water
Fire Rings
Bear Boxes
Dump Station
Fishing Access
Pet Friendly (leash)
Picnic Tables
Camp Store Nearby
Check-in

12:00 PM

Check-out

11:00 AM

Season

Year-round (some sites)

Max/site

6 people

Known Issues

No hookups. Some sites close in winter. Slightly far from Valley attractions. Car break-ins reported — use bear boxes for valuables too.

Cancellation Policy

Recreation.gov standard policy.

Why campers love Wawona Campground

The southernmost campground in Yosemite — closest to the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias (2 miles from camp) and the most tranquil option in the park. 93 sites along the South Fork Merced River under ponderosa pines. Significantly easier to book than the Valley.

What's new in 2026

Mariposa Grove tram service returned to full operation 2023.

What campers say about Wawona Campground

"Walked to the Mariposa Grove before anyone else arrived. Sequoias at dawn with nobody around. That’s the real Yosemite."

— Recreation.gov reviewer

"Caught trout in the South Fork right from camp. Much quieter than the Valley campgrounds."

— Recreation.gov reviewer

Not the right fit if…

  • ✕You want to be close to Yosemite Valley — Wawona is 27 miles (45 min drive) from the Valley

Frequently asked questions

How much does Wawona Campground cost per night?+
Wawona Campground costs $36 per night depending on site type and season. Hookup options: None — dry camping.
What season is Wawona Campground open?+
Wawona Campground is open Year-round (some sites). Check-in is 12:00 PM, check-out is 11:00 AM.
Does Wawona Campground have hookups?+
None — dry camping.
What is the maximum RV length at Wawona Campground?+
Wawona Campground can accommodate RVs up to 35 feet long.
How do I make reservations at Wawona Campground?+
Wawona Campground is a federal campground — reservations open 6 months in advance at Recreation.gov. Sites sell out quickly. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/alerts to be notified the moment a site opens.
Are pets allowed at Wawona Campground?+
Wawona Campground is pet friendly. Pets must be kept on leash.
What is the cell service like at Wawona Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Wawona Campground is rated weak. Best carrier: Verizon. Coverage available: Verizon 4G. Note: FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote, mountainous, or heavily forested areas may be weaker. Check camper reports on the page for real-world experience.
How far is Wawona Campground from the nearest town?+
Nearest services: Wawona Hotel Store — 0.3 miles
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Nearby Campgrounds

Wawona Horse Campsites Yosemite National Park

Wawona Horse Campsites

Yosemite National Park, CA

From $50/night

Summerdale Campground Sierra National Forest

Summerdale Campground

FISH CAMP, CA

From $47/night

Bridalveil Creek Horse Campsites Yosemite National Park

Bridalveil Creek Horse Campsites

Yosemite, CA

From $50/night

Kelty Meadow Sierra National Forest

Kelty Meadow

Oakhurst, CA

From $41/night

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$36/night
4.5(2104)
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