National park · Yosemite National Park · California
Wawona Campground is a National Park Service campground in the southern reach of Yosemite National Park, California, near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and the historic Wawona Hotel, at about 4,000 feet along the South Fork of the Merced River. Our Yosemite RV guide covers it fairly briefly, describing a relaxed, forested campground that is a strong base for the south end of the park and a smart fallback when Yosemite Valley is booked out. It suits campers focused on the sequoias and quieter nights rather than Valley-floor trailheads.
| Hookups | None |
|---|---|
| Sites | ~90+ (reservable in season) |
| Max RV length | 35-ft RV / 35-ft trailer |
| Cost | $36 |
| Fees | Reservation rules differ in winter; exact site controls. |
| Reservations | Recreation.gov in season |
| Best for | South-park focus (Mariposa Grove), quieter nights |
Source-backed: NPS 2026 campground table (checked 2026-07-18). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.
Wawona Campground is a National Park Service campground in the southern reach of Yosemite National Park, California, near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and the historic Wawona Hotel, at about 4,000 feet along the South Fork of the Merced River. Our Yosemite RV guide covers it fairly briefly, describing a relaxed, forested campground that is a strong base for the south end of the park and a smart fallback when Yosemite Valley is booked out. It suits campers focused on the sequoias and quieter nights rather than Valley-floor trailheads.
The practical picture is standard Yosemite: no hookups of any kind, so plan on dry camping, with seasonal dump access available nearby in summer. The NPS table lists a 35-foot maximum for both RVs and trailers, but individual sites can be shorter, so check the site record. Sites run about $36 a night, with roughly 90-plus sites reservable in season on Recreation.gov's five-month rolling window; reservation rules differ in winter. The trade-off is distance: the Valley is a real drive from Wawona, and tall rigs should avoid the Wawona Tunnel route into the Valley.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Regional guide
RV Camping in Yosemite National Park: The In-Park Campground GuideWawona sits in the park's southern reach near the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias and the Wawona Hotel, at about 4,000 feet along the South Fork of the Merced. It is a relaxed, forested campground and a strong base for the south end of the park. Seasonal dump access is available nearby in summer.
Read the guide →Our verdict
Book Wawona if the Mariposa Grove and quiet forested nights matter more than Valley-floor access, or if the Valley pines are sold out. Skip it if you need hookups or want to walk to Yosemite Falls and the Mist Trail.
No. There are no electric, water or sewer hookups at Wawona or anywhere in Yosemite. Seasonal dump access is available nearby in summer.
About $36 per night according to the NPS campground table, plus the park entrance fee.
The published maximum is 35 feet for RVs and 35 feet for trailers, but the exact site controls and some are shorter. Check the equipment length on Recreation.gov before booking.
In season, yes, through Recreation.gov on the five-month rolling window that opens on the 15th of each month at 7:00 AM Pacific. Reservation rules differ in winter, so check the current NPS page for off-season dates.
Wawona sits in the park's southern reach near the Mariposa Grove, a real drive from the Valley floor. Our guide does not give an exact drive time, so plan with a current route estimate and remember the Wawona Tunnel on Highway 41 is a poor route for tall RVs.
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