352 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Dispersed camping near Bass Lake, California encompasses a range of options from established campgrounds to free backcountry sites. The area includes Goat Meadow Dispersed Camp Site in Sierra National Forest, which permits both tent and RV camping with no hookups or facilities. Yosemite National Park's Wawona Campground lies approximately 7 miles north, while developed options include Bass Lake at Yosemite RV Resort and High Sierra RV Park in nearby Oakhurst, both offering cabins and full hookups. Several campgrounds directly on Bass Lake provide varying levels of amenities, with some sites featuring lakefront access and others tucked into forested areas.
Camping season typically runs May through September at most Bass Lake campgrounds, though some facilities remain open year-round. Flush toilets and drinking water are available at developed sites like Spring Cove and Forks Campground, while dispersed areas require self-sufficiency. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during the day, dropping to 50-60°F at night. Reservations are strongly recommended for weekend stays between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as lakeside sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds near the water feature multiple loops with varying site sizes and privacy levels. Several visitors have noted challenges with campground navigation. One camper described: "The campground is big with multiple loops but no maps or explanation. We chose a site on a deserted loop, set up camp, and waited around."
Campers report high satisfaction with waterfront access and proximity to recreational activities. The lake serves as the central attraction, with boat rentals available nearby and swimming access from several campgrounds. Bathroom cleanliness varies, with flush toilets in most developed areas but limited facilities in dispersed zones. Sierra National Forest campgrounds tend to have more shade, while some lakeside areas have lost tree cover over time. A review from a long-time visitor noted: "My family has been camping here for 78 years. There is great beachfront access on the lake and being at the beginning of the lake, making a trip to Oakhurst doesn't feel so daunting. Like most of the lake, the majority of the pine trees have been removed, so the shade situation isn't as great as it used to be." Cell service can be spotty throughout the region, with Verizon coverage described as inconsistent in many campground reviews.
"After accidentally driving to this location following the directions of another reviewer for the “Yosemite Boondocks” campground across 41 (which we never found) we were very happy with this location."
"Great spot about 5 minutes away from Yosemite entrance. Only a few other campers nearby but plenty of space to where they were only seen from a distance."
"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."
from $36 - $75 / night
Check Availability"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
Check Availability"Bass Lake is within walking distance of the entrance. Definitely a come back and stay again!"
"The bathrooms are a little rough, but the location next to bass lake makes this worth it."
from $52 - $54 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful at bass lake"
"Cool summer nights near Bass Lake Recreational area so fishing and boating are a main attraction. Park is tight for big rigs, but can fit if careful. Pads are gravel and almost level."
"It’s close to both Yosemite entrances ! Close to town . Love it ."
"He kept in touch with us all throughout our drive there and helped us get set up upon arrival."
"Stopped by to get out of the California valley heat. Haven’t been to Bass Lake for years. Missed out on this little piece of heaven. Will be back."
"The park is about 30 mins from the entrance to Yosemite and if you don't want to do that... There's always Bass Lake...which is 2 miles down the hill!"
from $42 - $288 / night
Check Availability"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.""You’re 25 miles from the park entrance, on a straight path. The sites were a great space and the pool and playground was a lot of fun of the kids. The staff was incredibly friendly and helpful."
"This is a great tent or boon docking spot that is close to a number of good beaches at bass lake. The campsite hosts are very friendly and the restrooms were always clean."
"Lovely view of the lake. Close by for easy access. Clean bathrooms!"
from $52 - $106 / night
Check Availability"We asked if there was dispersed camping nearby and they directed us to a street less than a mile south of the southern entrance to Yosemite. The street was Mount Raymond."
"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."
TravelerThe host that checked me in was very kind and helpful. The showers take tokens for the hot water to come on, but they are nice showers! Bathroom is kept clean. Nice size laundry area. $3 per wash and dryer is $1.25-2.50.
GuideSecond time staying at this campground. This time I stayed in the lower section that is closer to the Marina. More crowded compared to my first visit in November last year (which is expected as it’s the beginning of Summer and most people camp in the Summer. Nice campground, has all the amenities such as flushed toilets, hot shower ( $0.25/2 minutes), most sites have outlets and water spigot, and laundromat.
There’s museum on site and events so you can visit with the kids. You can also go down to the picnic area for swimming and fishing and clean at the near fish cleaning station.
It’s a bit overpriced since it has electricity but you can pick a large site and have a group to split the cost so it won’t be too bad
TravelerWe had a great time here! It’s definitely not super quiet or secluded here. There were a few families with young children visiting at the same time as us. If you tolerate kids you’ll be fine, they go to bed early enough, it was nice to hear them having fun:) There’s also not a lot of privacy between sites depending on what site you get which makes using the bathroom difficult if you’re using a tent. 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. Most of it was pretty dull but I’d wear shoes and watch out for your pets and kids feet.
TravelerAbout 30 minutes from the park entrance, there were tons of spots. We got there mid day on a Monday and easily found a great spot for the tent, hammock and fire ring. 10/10 would go again
GuideWe had a wonderful week-long stay and wanted to give a special thank you to camp hosts Patty and Mike.
We originally reserved Site 86, but after arriving we found it was extremely uneven for our 25-foot Airstream. One side of the trailer was nearly 10 inches lower than the other. In our opinion, Site 86 is much better suited for tent camping or very small trailers.
Patty and Mike went above and beyond to help us find a more suitable site and get settled in. Their friendly attitude, local knowledge, and willingness to help turned what could have been a frustrating start into a great camping experience.
The campground is beautiful, well-maintained, and surrounded by tall pines. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and are very grateful for the outstanding support from Patty and Mike.
Thank you for making our visit such a memorable one!
ScoutVery friendly staff. The sites are rather narrow but even. Restrooms are far away. Propane is available.
TravelerOverall great experience. Lots of tree coverage, with a beautiful lake just a walk away. If you want a more secluded area, I’d recommend getting a site closer to the 100’s area. Not a fan of how close our campsite at 79 was to another site. I felt guilty being outside past 10, with them going to sleep. There was no firewood for sale at the time we went ( early June ) and our campsite host was “off” for the duration of our stay which made getting a trailer out of our parking a bit difficult initially. We also found out they don’t allow amplifying speakers ( any speaker ) as we had a complaint made against us for having the music on. Which in our defense, in the morning when we played it, we didn’t believe it to be too loud. Other than a few hitches, it was an overall good experience, and I’d highly recommend it if you want a wooded camping experience!
ScoutWebsite says Luxurious sites, spacious sites. Our site was extremely narrow, sat on a hillside, unlevel, difficult to hook/unhook a 5th wheel because of the downhill. We booked a site for a 30 foot 5th wheel. After my negative review, they posted that LARGE trailers and 5th wheels might have issues??? 30 foot is not large. Our lawn chairs were literally 6 feet from our neighbors sewer hook up and our picnic table sat at about a 30 degree slope. They also said the staff tried to resolve my issues, which never happened. They have a lot of amenities, laundry, pool, etc. But the sites we saw were pretty much like ours. Make your own decisions, form your own opinions, but we'll never go back, nor will we recommend it to anyone.
TravelerThis was a great spot for a quick stay. Restrooms, camping and good spaces between others. Would definitely stay here again!
Dispersed camping near Bass Lake, California offers options within Sierra National Forest at elevations ranging from 3,500-5,200 feet. The area sits approximately 14 miles from Yosemite's south entrance with temperatures averaging 50-85°F during peak season. Most dispersed sites lack facilities but provide fire rings and level spots for vehicles ranging from small cars to larger RVs depending on access roads.
Hiking to waterfalls: Bass Lake's surrounding terrain features multiple creeks with swimming holes and natural features. High Sierra RV Park campers can access nearby water features as one visitor noted, "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."
Wildlife viewing: The wooded areas around dispersed sites provide opportunities to spot local wildlife. At Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site, campers should be prepared for animal encounters: "Coyotes and bears are active in the area- coyotes raided a bag I had hanging from a tree and stole my food!" A deer sighting was reported by another camper who wrote, "A sweet deer came by as we were setting up. She wasn't afraid of us at all, just minding her business eating away."
Stargazing: The higher elevation and distance from major cities creates excellent night sky viewing. At Shooting Star Sanctuary, visitors can "enjoy a beautiful fire together and check out the crazy starlit sky." The sanctuary's location away from light pollution makes it ideal for astronomy enthusiasts.
Proximity to Yosemite: Many campers appreciate the convenient location relative to Yosemite National Park. At Yosemite "Boondock National" Dispersed Camping, one visitor reported it's "really close to the park entrance and to the less populated but still great areas of the park." Another camper found it "only about a mile or so off the main road" making it "a perfect base camp for my day trips to hike in Yosemite."
Riverside camping: Several campgrounds feature access to the Merced River and its tributaries. At Wawona Campground, a camper recommended: "Jump in the creek for a swim or walk across the road and check out the covered bridge and barn around the pioneer history center. Swimming holes all up and down those creeks."
Shade coverage: The forested setting provides natural cooling during hot summer days. Sierra National Forest's Forks Campground received positive feedback for its tree canopy: "The campsite hosts are very friendly and the restrooms were always clean. We were in spot 29 which had great shade but backed up to a road that resulted in some noise occasionally."
Road conditions: Access to some dispersed sites requires navigating unpaved roads. A visitor to Shooting Star Sanctuary and Retreat noted: "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)."
Reservation processes: Some campgrounds have unusual check-in procedures. At Spring Cove Campground, campers must "check in at a different location about ~4mi from the campground, at the other end of the lake. They were very pleasant there, but we were surprised that we had to go so far to get our tag for the site."
Seasonal considerations: Holiday weekends dramatically impact site availability. One camper at Goat Meadow described: "Stayed about a week which also crossed over Memorial Day weekend. Arrived the Tuesday before. This place gets CROWDED. At 5:30 it's like everyone got off work and headed home, it's nuts."
Animal interactions: Some campgrounds offer unique opportunities for children to interact with farm animals. At Shooting Star Sanctuary and Retreat, "Jason, the owner has 100 acres he opens up to campers. Very nice, large spots. There are animals on site which the kids liked interacting with and feeding them our leftovers."
Swimming options: Bass Lake offers designated swimming areas suitable for different age groups. A visitor to Outdoorsy Yosemite mentioned: "Stopped by to get out of the California valley heat. Haven't been to Bass Lake for years. Missed out on this little piece of heaven."
Playground access: Some campgrounds provide built-in entertainment for children. At Yosemite RV Resort, a camper reported: "This park is absolutely wonderful! They have cabins, places to rent camp, laundry on site, a pool, 30/50 hookups."
Site leveling challenges: Many campsites require significant leveling for RVs. A visitor to High Sierra RV Park reported: "Our spot was also very hard to try and level our trailer. We never did quite get it leveled the way we would've liked."
Navigating tight spaces: Several RV parks have limited turning radius for larger vehicles. One High Sierra RV Park camper explained: "We have 29 foot travel trailer and we reserved a premium pull through spot. Although we could pull through the spaces were very tight and we just happen to get lucky that nobody was across from us as there is only one way in and one way out."
Utility variations: Hook-up quality varies significantly between campgrounds. At Bass Lake at Yosemite RV Resort, a visitor noted: "The sewer connection was almost level with our dump pipe, so it made dumping a challenge." Another reviewer mentioned: "Pads are gravel and almost level. FHU's with good water pressure."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds at Bass Lake?
Bass Lake offers several excellent campgrounds for visitors. Spring Cove Campground is highly recommended for its clean facilities, spacious sites, and helpful staff. The campground is well-maintained with fire rings at each site and firewood available for purchase. Another popular option is Cedar Bluff, which offers double and quadruple-sized sites within walking distance to the water's edge. For those seeking a more secluded experience, the Bass Lake area has numerous campgrounds scattered around the shoreline, each offering unique amenities and access points to the lake. Remember that reservations are essential, especially during peak season, as these campgrounds fill up quickly.
Can I go tent camping at Bass Lake?
Tent camping is excellent at Bass Lake with multiple options for different experiences. Texas Flats offers a genuine wilderness feel with ample space for large groups, featuring an impressive communal fire pit and plenty of parking. It's perfect for tent campers seeking a more rustic experience. Whisky Falls Campground is another fantastic tent camping destination near Bass Lake, providing isolated sites, access to off-road trails, and plenty of natural shade. Many tent campers appreciate the abundant firewood available in the area. Most Bass Lake campgrounds accommodate tents with designated sites, though availability varies seasonally. Be sure to secure reservations in advance, especially during summer months when the area is most popular.
Are there RV camping facilities at Bass Lake?
Bass Lake offers excellent RV camping options with modern facilities. Yosemite RV Resort provides multiple RV space styles including secluded spots and sites with views. The resort features full hookups, a clean swimming pool with a shallow lounging section, freshly renovated bathrooms/showers, on-site laundry, and a playground. Another option is Bass Lake at Yosemite RV Resort, which offers beautiful lakeside camping opportunities. Many RV sites around Bass Lake include amenities like 30/50 amp hookups, water, sewer connections, and pull-through spaces. The RV parks in the area typically operate seasonally with peak availability during summer months, so advance reservations are highly recommended.
How close is Bass Lake to Yosemite National Park?
Bass Lake is conveniently located approximately 14-20 miles from Yosemite National Park's southern entrance, making it an excellent base for park exploration. The drive typically takes about 30-40 minutes along scenic county roads. Bass Lake Recreation Area Rudy is situated about 20 miles from Yosemite's southern entrance and offers its own recreational opportunities. Outdoorsy Yosemite is another accommodation option located about 30 minutes from Yosemite's entrance. Many visitors appreciate Bass Lake's proximity to Yosemite while enjoying the lake's amenities, including boating, fishing, and swimming. This strategic location allows travelers to experience both the majesty of Yosemite and the recreational activities at Bass Lake during the same trip.
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