Wawona Campground

Yosemite National Park

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.

When on reservation, Wawona campsites are available to reserve up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. PST. For example, on January 15, arrival dates for the period May 15 to June 14 become available to reserve, and therefore, the full arrival date window would be from the campground open date to June 14.

Reservation Tips! Campsites in Yosemite are extremely popular and typically sell out in minutes. Login to your account or create a new account before the 7:00 a.m. (PST) release time. You may only add reservations to your cart and proceed with your reservation if you are logged into your account. The recreation.gov call center does NOT have access to additional sites or additional information beyond what is published on recreation.gov.

Yosemite National Park Campground Reservation Dates

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.

Need to Know

You are responsible for reading the following information and booking a site that will accommodate your equipment
ATTENTION: Day use reservations will be required to enter Yosemite on weekends and holidays April 13 through June 30, daily July 1 through August 16 and weekends and holidays August 17 through October 27. Your camping reservation exempts you from this requirement. However, you must still pay the park entrance fee once you arrive. You MUST have proof of your camping reservation to show at the entrance station in order to enter Yosemite. Print or download your confirmation info PRIOR to arrival as there is no cell service at the entrance stations.

If members of your camping group are in separate vehicles, each vehicle must have a copy of the reservation AND a copy of the reservation holder's photo ID to present at the entrance station. Six people MAXIMUM per site. Each vehicle entering must pay the entrance fee or use an annual or lifetime pass.
If arriving one or more days late, call (209) 375-9535; your reservation will be forfeited if we do not hear from you within 24 hours of your arrival date
Bear Habitat! Food and toiletries must be stored in provided food lockers (35"Dx43"Wx28"H) 24 hours a day. Absolutely NO food or scented items stored in vehicles. Dispose of garbage immediately in bear-proof dumpsters.
Potable water at the dump station (located one mile south of the campground) is only available during summer months.
Resale or auction of advance reservations is prohibited
For additional park information, call (209)372-0200 or visit www.nps.gov/yose
Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
Help Yosemite be a Zero Landfill park! Leave excess packaging at home. Use refillable water bottles, food containers and travel mugs. Place all of your recyclable waste in designated recycling containers. For more information go to: https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/zlf.htm

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.

Nearby Attractions

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.

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.

Changes & 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.

Contact Information

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PO BOX 577 Yosemite National Park CA 95389

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 209-375-9535

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

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.

Available Campsites

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