14 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Goat Meadow Dispersed Camp Site accommodates tent and RV camping with pets across multiple locations near Yosemite National Park. Most pet-friendly sites require dogs to remain on-leash, including Wawona Campground within the national park boundaries where pets must be leashed at all times and cannot travel on trails. Shooting Star Sanctuary and Retreat offers a unique experience for camping with pets, featuring farm animals that children enjoy interacting with alongside their dogs. High Sierra RV Park provides full hookup sites with river access where pets are welcome, though sites are positioned quite close together. Bass Lake at Yosemite RV Resort and Yosemite RV Resort both accept pets in their cabins, tent sites, and RV spaces. Dispersed camping options like Yosemite "Boondock National" allow dogs without designated facilities or pet waste stations. Sites are very crowded at some locations with minimal privacy between campers.
Surrounding trails offer varied pet access policies that campers should verify before arrival. Shooting Star Sanctuary includes 100 acres where dogs can roam more freely, with outdoor kitchen facilities available to campers. The sanctuary runs on donations and offers a peaceful setting where families report positive experiences having their pets around the farm animals. High Sierra campers can access the Fresno River with their pets for cooling off during summer months. Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite National Park allows pets only in developed areas and campgrounds, not on trails or in wilderness areas. Camping families with pets appreciate the availability of nearby veterinary services in Oakhurst. When choosing sites, dog owners should consider the late summer heat and select shaded areas to keep pets comfortable during daytime temperatures.
"There was also an impressive amount of glass spread out around our site. I have no idea who had a rage room here but I was picking up glass all weekend, it became a hobby."
"This site is just about four minutes away from Yosemite entrance. We stayed here two nights. The sites are really spread out, which is super nice!"
"The river and swimming holes are close by and accessible to all, sites have ample space between each other, there are clean restrooms, and all sites have their own bear box."
"I didn’t go swimming but the family next to my site seemed like they were enjoying the river, especially the little ones."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $36 - $75 / night
"Jason has also fitted a full kitchen outside on his porch which happens to have a gorgeous view for watching the sunrise/sunset."
"Stayed here with wife, two friends, and dog. Great selection of sites, overlooking pond, lots of farm animals, and very friendly and courteous host. Not too long a drive to Yosemite Valley also!"
"The campsite was 39 and it was right next to the bathroom. To leave with a 26’ travel trailer I had to pull out and back down another road just to exit the park."
"Good access to Yosemite. We prefer less neighbors but overall it was nice."
from $13 - $50 / night
"Quiet; dog park; pool; playground; fire pit ; only thing is sites and small."
"RV spaces have many different location styles, secluded, views, groups etc.
Large clean pool with a shallow lounging section. Playground. Bathrooms/showers were freshly renovated and clean."
"Nestled amongst trees right on the edge of Yosemite. Was quite busy when I was there but managed to find a quiet spot tucked away & private."
"People kept parking at the entrance of the dirt path."
"We booked this last minute over the phone, we were very impressed with the spot, next to the pool, clubhouse, fire pit."
"While we were there, they played movies at sunset next to the pool. Close to Yosemite, the Sugarpine railroad and a decent-sized town. Temps were in the 80's."
"Some of them are secluded and separated from others by distance and foliage (including a few with lake views!)"
"Clean drinking water very close walking distance from any site. Water is very close so you can just walk your paddle board or kayak. Clean bathrooms! With real toilets that actually flush."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $52 - $54 / night
"Lovely view of the lake. Close by for easy access. Clean bathrooms!"
"I love that it's walking distance to the resort and the burgers there are soooo good! Lake is beautiful and campground is very nice, bathrooms have sinks and flush toilets too."
Available next weekend
from $52 - $106 / night
"Campground is close to curry village where showers, pool, market and pizza are available. Campground is near happy isles, where the trailheads for vernal falls, Nevada falls and half dome begin."
"Close to Happy Isles and Mirror Lake/Meadow, this campground is convenient for day hikers. it's one of the better spots in Yosemite Valley, somewhat off the beaten path, so to speak."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $36 / night
TravelerBeautiful spot on the side of Bass Lake. Goat Mtn trail can be accessed right from the campground. Friendly camp host. There are definitely bears, raccoons and lots of ticks - we saw all of them. We expect that when camping in the woods but some might not. Food can’t be left out at all.
GuideThe campground is very accessible and therefore can feel busy at times (visited in October). It has flushable toilets and the general store is less than 10 min away by car. The campsites are rather close to each other, so don’t expect a lot of privacy. Our site (88C) was right in front of the restrooms, which have floodlights on all night and would not recommend. Overall, it’s a pretty good campground!
Scout$50 a night for full hookups, and WiFi
TravelerThe campground is going to be starting to do their cleanup of the over growth to make campsites better. But it is a gorgeous place to camp. Veterans free, seniors get discounts and regular camping is very reasonable. Fishing in the river. Day use side and campground side. Camp host is awesome. I've been several times and we love it. Great telephone reception, potable water spigots and restrooms (either portable outhouse or regular flush bathroom). 👍
GuideLoads of space! Not many people here in October. Park lot had two trailers and the trail to the right is wide open with numerous pullouts. Lots of great trails around for the dogs.
GuideWe loved our visit here so much we extended an extra week. The community welcomed us with open arms to participate in all their daily activities. Chris was especially helpful when we needed to arrive e early due to an issue at the park we were at. The site she gave us was very nice with papers for a patio and beautiful landscaping. We were able to watch the birds(many varieties) landing on our gutters for water from our couch. The only two things that were a little less than perfect was the road noise from 41 behind us and the water had some brown in it that filled our filter so have a spare on hand. There is a business nearby that allows you to ship items to for pickup. Trip into Yosemite via Oakhurst was about an hour (due to winding roads).
GuideThis is actually a really nice free dispersed camping site. Once you get to the Goat Meadows sign if you go left you will find a large parking lot with bathrooms. There were probably ten rigs or so jst camping up on the parking lot. If you go right down the hill you will find multiple dispersed camping sites. They are a little obscure, but some have nice fire rings that let you know it’s a site. They are very well spaced so even when you have neighbors you will hardly see or hear them. At the top of the hill where you go left or right was a camp host looking site but not sure if it is actually, but there was a camper there with a bumper pull trailer who uses a very loud shop type cheap generator that you can literally hear all over the area. Luckily, he turned it off about 10pm but started it up around 8am. If it weren’t for him probably would have given this site five stars. Also, T-Mobile and ATT both had zero cell service our phones were both on SOS but that really wasn’t a problem for us.
RangerNot even sure i found the exact place. Go through a little neighborhood an come to a gravel road. Found a little turn around an spent the night. Didnt see anyone. Cell coverage enough to get texts.
TravelerBeautiful. Would definitely come back.
Dispersed camping options near Ahwahnee provide accessible alternatives to Yosemite National Park's often crowded campgrounds. Located at 5,200 feet elevation, Goat Meadow Dispersed Camp Site offers forest camping with established fire pits in the Sierra National Forest. Winter camping is possible here, though snow accumulation varies considerably across the site, with some areas receiving 6-8 inches while others remain relatively clear.
Explore river access points: High Sierra RV Park campers can cool off in the Fresno River during summer months. "The creek, waterfalls & rope swing over the swimming hole was unbelievable!! The kids enjoyed the rope swing while the mom enjoyed the walk back to the falls & thru the shallow waters," writes Emily L. about High Sierra RV Park.
Visit farm animals: Children particularly enjoy interacting with the variety of animals at Shooting Star Sanctuary and Retreat. "We had the pleasure of staying with Jason and his family at the Shooting Star Sanctuary. Jason was kind and super helpful since the moment we contacted him," reports Diego. The sanctuary includes mini pigs, goats, ducks, chickens, and kittens that campers can feed and interact with.
Hike less-traveled trails: Several campgrounds offer access to hiking trails outside the main Yosemite corridors. "The area is beautiful and wildflowers were out in full glory. The lake is also really pretty, and you can easily walk along the road to any of the day use areas or picnic spots," notes Shannon F. about Spring Cove Campground.
Privacy levels vary widely: While some dispersed sites offer seclusion, established campgrounds have different privacy configurations. "Upper Pines is not a place you go to for relaxation and solitude - but then neither is Yosemite Valley," explains Molly & Armand K. about Upper Pines Campground. "If you manage to get a spot a bit further back in the loops, these seemed quieter."
Accessible water features: Several dog-friendly campgrounds near Ahwahnee provide water access for cooling off. At Bass Lake, "The Forks Campground is nice because it's walkable to the lake and the store/restaurant. Sites that are up on the hill have gorgeous lake views as well!" shares Amy E. about Sierra National Forest Forks Campground.
Stargazing opportunities: The clear mountain air allows for excellent night sky viewing at many campgrounds. "At night we were able to enjoy a beautiful fire together and check out the crazy starlit sky," writes Marco V. about his experience at Shooting Star Sanctuary.
Peak season crowds: Holiday weekends and summer months bring significant crowds to both dispersed and established sites. "Stayed about a week which also crossed over Memorial Day weekend. Arrived the Tuesday before. This place gets CROWDED," warns Katelin M. about Goat Meadow Dispersed Camp Site. "At 5:30 it's like everyone got off work and headed home, it's nuts."
Wildlife awareness: Multiple campers report bear and coyote activity in the area. "Coyotes and bears are active in the area- coyotes raided a bag I had hanging from a tree and stole my food!" cautions Alexander Mark C. about Goat Meadow. Food storage protocols should be strictly followed at all campsites.
Access road conditions: Several campgrounds have challenging entry roads. About Shooting Star Sanctuary, Caroline S. notes, "While the dirt road/driveway is a bit bumpy, we had no problem with our 23' Airstream -- just go slowly and you'll be fine (there was a 40' Class A there, too, if that says anything)."
Choose sites with amenities: For families with children, campgrounds with facilities make extended stays more comfortable. Yosemite RV Resort offers "a great pool and playground for the kids. We stayed here 3 nights not could've stayed here a week easy," reports Chris H.
Consider distance to attractions: When planning activities with children, factor in travel time to destinations. "It's about a 30 minute drive to the South Yosemite National Park entrance," notes Miranda G. about the Forks Campground, making it "a great alternative to actually camping in the park!"
Pack for temperature variation: The area experiences significant day-to-night temperature swings. "The elevation at the site is appx 5200, meaning it will get snow in the winter(ish) months," explains Alexander Mark C. about Goat Meadow, emphasizing the need for appropriate clothing and bedding for children.
Site selection for larger rigs: Carefully review site dimensions before booking. "We have 29 foot travel trailer and we reserved a premium pull through spot. Although we could pull through the spaces were very tight," explains Whiffaroni M. about Bass Lake at Yosemite RV Resort. "Our spot was also very hard to try and level our trailer."
Campsite density considerations: Many RV parks in the area feature closely spaced sites. "Despite this, we still would highly recommend this campground! Especially if you are visiting Yosemite! It is clean, bathrooms in great condition, WiFi was good," notes Bonnie C. about High Sierra RV Park despite mentioning that "spaces were VERY close!"
Seasonal road conditions: Road access can change significantly with weather. Goat Meadow Dispersed Camp Site requires careful navigation in winter conditions, while summer heat affects trailer cooling in lower elevation campgrounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Ahwahnee, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Ahwahnee, CA is Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site with a 4.5-star rating from 58 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Ahwahnee, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 221 dog-friendly camping locations near Ahwahnee, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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