K R.
Traveler
TravelerThousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
First time RV Park
Easy access parking site, great family lodge to spend cold days playing or watching videos. Great hiking trails to explore the area.
Camping near Eastman Lake
Dispersed camping options in the Eastman Lake area primarily cluster around the western edge of Yosemite National Park. Hardin Flat Road offers multiple primitive campsites within 10 minutes of the Big Oak entrance to Yosemite, providing a convenient alternative when park campgrounds are full. Both tent and RV accommodations are available at these informal sites, with additional dispersed camping found along Evergreen Road. The region includes developed campground facilities within Yosemite itself, including Upper Pines, Hodgdon Meadow, and Wawona Campgrounds, which offer varying levels of amenities.
Many dispersed sites lack basic facilities, with campers noting the absence of drinking water, toilets, and trash services. Reaching camping areas often requires navigating unmarked or unpaved roads, and early arrival is essential during peak periods. Fire regulations vary by location and season, with several campgrounds requiring fire permits. Spring access can be complicated by melting snow and mud, while summer brings warmer temperatures and increased competition for sites. A camper at Hardin Flat Road observed that "spots were already occupied when we arrived at night, so we took the road further down and slept near the intersection."
Public lands surrounding Yosemite's western entrance point provide relatively secluded camping without the need for national park reservations. Visitors consistently mention proximity to park entrances as a major advantage of these dispersed sites, with several reviews highlighting the convenience for early morning access to popular areas. Sites along Hardin Flat Road feature tree cover that provides shade and some privacy. "Spacious pull-out with a small rock fire pit," noted one camper about their experience. Noise levels vary by proximity to main roads, with some campers mentioning traffic sounds while others describe "very quiet" settings. Cell service is spotty throughout the region, with limited T-Mobile coverage reported at some locations sufficient only for basic messaging and light web browsing.
Best Camping Sites Near Eastman Lake (348)
1. Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
45 ReviewsEastman Lake, CA5 milesWebsite+1 (888) 707-1477"Whip out your wallet and empty on it on the check-in desk of this thousand trails (or whatever) park."
"Our tent site was #311 and it was perfectly tucked in the trees with a stream alongside."
2. Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park
66 ReviewsYosemite Valley, CA17 milesWebsite+1 (209) 372-8502$36 / night
"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."
"FYI, they are not joking about wildlife here, bear lockers are there for a reason and the animals are so comfortable and used to people they get close to camp."
3. Hodgdon Meadow Campground — Yosemite National Park
22 ReviewsMather, CA1 mileWebsite+1 (209) 379-2123$36 - $75 / night
"From the East entrance of the park off the 120 the campsite is less than a mile from the entrance gate."
"Campsite was nice, close to the entrance. Gives you access to the valley and the northern part of the park. Facilities were decent."
4. Hardin Flat Road
18 ReviewsEastman Lake, CA2 miles"Being so close to the entrance to Yosemite and yet deep in the peace of the forest is a golden treat. This road has both the Hardin Flat and the hardin Dispersed sites."
"Just a 10 minute drive from the entrance to Yosemite! The spots along the creek were very buggy. We found one away from the water and not at all buggy."
5. Camp 4 — Yosemite National Park
39 ReviewsYosemite Valley, CA15 milesWebsite+1 (209) 372-8502$60 / night
"These are walk-in sites for tents only and are on a per person basis ( It fills up really fast ) parking is available adjacent to the campground, you will need a parking permit."
"This iconic campground, situated in the middle of Yosemite Valley, was once home to many of America's early rock climbing pioneers. "
6. Dimond O Campground
12 ReviewsMather, CA1 mileWebsite+1 (209) 379-2258$38 - $76 / night
"Clean and nice camp with river, firewood and awesome starts; Close to Yosemite park, however outside of the border, so visitors will require pass"
"This is a great campground right outside of the north entrance to Yosemite. Super clean and there is a nice creek to hang out at within walking distance"
7. Indian Flat RV Park
16 ReviewsEl Portal, CA10 milesWebsite+1 (209) 379-2339$30 - $289 / night
"At least when we visited the RV Park and the adjacent Cedar Lodge was functioning as one, meaning we could also use their pool, arcade, ping pong etc. Good places with tables, BBQ included."
"It’s also really easy to get too and only 30 minutes away from Yosemite ."
8. Wawona Campground — Yosemite National Park
40 ReviewsWawona, CA20 milesWebsite+1 (209) 375-9535$36 - $75 / night
"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."
9. North Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park
23 ReviewsYosemite Valley, CA17 milesWebsite+1 (209) 372-8502$48 / night
"There is a shuttle stop right outside the campground. You are also in easy walking distance to the path to Mirror Lake and the ever popular Mist Trail."
"Within walking distance is the edge of the Merced river, from there you have views of Yosemite Falls."
10. Yosemite Creek — Yosemite National Park
16 ReviewsYosemite Valley, CA14 milesWebsite+1 (209) 379-2123$24 / night
"Not a bad drive, of course everything in California is beautiful compared to the flat lands of Texas."
"The campground was easy to find, conveniently located within the park, spacious and very clean. I was a little nervous about bears, but there is a bear locker for every site."
Recent Camping Photos near Eastman Lake
607 Photos of 348 Eastman Lake Campgrounds
mason M.
Evergreen Rd Dispersed camping
miranda
Hardin Flat Road
Winnie H.
Hodgdon Meadow Campground — Yosemite National Park
Gabriella
Dimond O Campground
Kathleen L.
Crane Flat Campground — Yosemite National Park
Tina M.
Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
The Dyrt
Tamarack Flat Campground — Yosemite National Park
Tom M.
Colfax Spring - Canyon Ridge Yosemite
Rob R.
Lumsden Bridge Campground
Fidel
South Fork Campground
Jean L.
Indian Flat RV Park
Erin A.
Hetch Hetchy Backpacker's Campground — Yosemite National Park
Recent Reviews near Eastman Lake
1527 Reviews of 348 Eastman Lake Campgrounds
Dennis H.TravelerThousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
The Road (CA 120) from Oakdale to the campground is steep, narrow and has a lot of close quarter turns for a 40 foot motorhome pulling a 20 foot dual axle open car trailer with a Jeep on board. Occasionally the wheels of the trailer would cross into the center line on tight turns. Really didn't have any problems pulling the uphill grade with 400 hp. After you get to the top I do wish that they would mark the down hill grades when you come to them as there are a lot of ups and downs with curves once you are up on top. Definitely plan on using your engine brake. The weather was not hot when we made the trip but there are signs at the bottom of the mountain advising to turn off the air conditioning of your vehicle before making the ascent. Once there the RV park map that they gave us at check in showed us our site location but they did ot escort us. Some others did get an escort. The sewer pipe connection was recessed too far down in the concrete protective block/pad that I was not able screw my angled adapter into the provided threads. Ended up utilizing a large rock to retain the angled adapter into the poop chute. As others have said. Absolutely no cell signal from any carrier is available. Our neighboring camper advised that they were trying to use the park wi-fi but weren't getting very good reception. I let them use our starlink wi-fi as a common courtesy. Site 164 was level and a mix of sparse short grass and dirt. So guessing that when it rains, if it does we won't have to worry about the RV sinking into the grass as it is somewhat firm.
Vince N.
GuideUSBR Gloryhole Rec Area Big Oak Campground
Good spots, lousy neighbors
Staying here April 17-20 and it’s quite a good spot. Reservations are required but usually aren’t hard to get. $22 per night with a $8 reservation fee. Potable water available and bathrooms with a couple of them having showers. Weather is great with the lowest only getting to 48 degrees at night. Right by New Melones allowing for ease of water activities and taking a stroll around the park. Towns are 20-30 minute drive away so supplies and in-town activities also not hard to come by.
Only gripe is large groups nearby were noisy way past quiet hours. Besides that, great place to be.
- AAllen R.Traveler
Mariposa Fairgrounds
Very good stay
Simple self registration. Fairgrounds campground is clean, we'll kept and is convenient to Mariposa city and Yosemite National Park.
A G.
ScoutHidden View Campground — Hensley Lake
Relaxing, clean, beautiful landscape
Very calm, clean, welcoming campground on Hensley Lake. Free hot showers were clean.
Many of the sites have very weird, undesirable layouts for RVs, either the picnic table area up a hill from the RV pad or water spigot 65ft from thr RV pad. Do some research before booking. We stayed in 44, and again 38/39 (joint sites). 38/39 has power hookup at the pad and a water spigot about 65ft away in thr middle of the site.
All-in-all good stay and would come back if the right spots were open.
- BBailey B.Scout
Yosemite “Boondock National” Dispersed Camping
Easy to find and great location
GPS will take you straight to Goat meadow snow play area (look for signs too). Once you reach the area hang right to the dirt road and pick a spot! Plenty of space between camps and endless firewood options. Absolutely beautiful and peaceful. Before we parked we filled up with potable water at Wawona Campground.
Mike E.
LegendObsidian Campground
Only for Jeeps and smaller vehicles
Three miles up a good dirt road. Campground is not maintained highly. I think the Forest service rarely comes here. Trees are encroaching on the roadways and campsites. Don't come in here with a trailer longer than a little teardrop type. Take turns and narrow driveways in the campground. There are a few nice fairly level turnouts on the way up here along the road or possible dispersed camping. There is one nice large turnout area right across from the campground on the other side of the road.
LMTravelerModesto Reservoir
Great scenery, but easily ruined by inconsiderate campers
We recently camped at Vivian Cove and had a mixed experience.
The positives:
The natural setting is beautiful — right by the water with lots of ducks, and the campsite layout is quite nice. The stone seating areas are a great feature, and overall the location itself is very enjoyable. It feels more secluded compared to the main campground areas.Important notes about facilities:
Be aware that facilities here are very basic. While the site may be listed as having amenities, in reality:- There was no visible water access at the campsite
- No sinks or designated areas for washing dishes
- The restrooms are vault toilets (pit-style, no running water)
This may be expected for some campers, but it can be very different from what people assume if they see “restrooms” or “hookups” mentioned.
The main issue:
Our experience was heavily affected by a few groups who did not follow campground etiquette.- When we arrived shortly after check-in time (~4:15 PM), our reserved site was already occupied by another group
- Some visitors appeared to be using campsites without proper reservations
- A small number of groups were extremely disruptive at night — loud music, generators, and shouting well past quiet hours
While many campers were respectful and quiet, it only took one or two inconsiderate groups to significantly impact the experience.
Enforcement:
There does appear to be enforcement — staff/patrol came through in the morning and disruptive groups were eventually asked to leave. However, quiet hours were not effectively enforced overnight.Tips for future visitors:
- Bring earplugs
- Bring your own water and be prepared for no washing facilities
- Expect a more primitive camping setup
Overall:
The location is great, but the experience depends heavily on neighboring campers and expectations regarding facilit
Matthew B.TravelerMono Vista RV Park
Nice place to plug in
A month into our trip and a few cloudy days killed our batteries and we needed to recharge. The rv park is very clean. The bathrooms are very very nice. Laundry room has plenty of washers and dryers. Haven't tried the shower yet but you get two shower tokens(5 minutes each) with your reservation. I read somewhere here that the price for a night is 30 or 40 dollars. I think we paid $54. So, nice place. Clean. And a good view of the lake. No real space between the spots but it's an rv park not a campground.
Guide to Eastman Lake
Dispersed camping opportunities near Eastman Lake extend beyond the western edge of Yosemite National Park along Evergreen Road and into Stanislaus National Forest. Most sites sit at elevations between 4,000-6,000 feet, creating distinct seasonal camping conditions. Winter access often requires snow chains or 4WD vehicles, while summer temperatures typically range from 50°F overnight to 85°F during peak daylight hours.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: The trails near Dimond O Campground provide access to several smaller waterfalls and swimming holes. One camper noted, "Clean bathrooms, clean grounds. You will want to keep your eye out for wildlife. I even woke one morning to cows in our campsite!"
Visit Hetch Hetchy: This less-visited section of Yosemite offers spectacular views without the valley crowds. A camper at Dimond O observed, "It is a part of Yosemite that does not receive many visitor's and to take in what used to be there (It was John Muir's favorite valley), is a trip in itself."
Swimming in natural pools: The South Fork of the Merced River provides natural swimming options during warmer months. At Wawona Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Nice location along the Merced River. Campsites have tree cover but aren't super private. Swimming holes all up and down those creeks."
What campers like
Early morning wildlife viewing: Dawn offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. A camper at Hodgdon Meadow Campground shared, "Deer roaming around. Had an amazing time, good central location in Yosemite that isn't too crowded, free coffee with rangers some mornings."
River access: Many sites provide direct stream or river access for cooling off. As one reviewer at Indian Flat RV Park observed, "After a long day of hiking in Yosemite it was nice to relax at the pool next door."
Stargazing opportunities: Clear mountain air offers excellent night sky viewing. At Camp 4, a camper reported, "At night you can't sleep because of the brightness. The stars are really pretty."
What you should know
Fire permit requirements: Campfires require permits in dispersed areas. A camper at Hardin Flat Road noted, "I believe fires are allowed as long as you have a permit."
Wildlife precautions: Bear activity remains consistent throughout the region. According to a visitor at Wawona, "Use bear boxes, bears were active in the area while we visited."
Changing water conditions: Spring runoff affects swimming and crossing spots. At Wawona, a camper warned, "Spring access can be complicated by melting snow and mud, while summer brings warmer temperatures."
Limited cell service: Most areas have minimal connectivity. A Hardin Flat Road visitor reported, "Enough T-Mobile service for messaging and lite web browsing," but coverage varies widely by provider and exact location.
Tips for camping with families
Consider swimming options: Natural water features provide built-in entertainment. At Wawona Campground, one camper shared, "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."
Look for ranger programs: Educational activities engage children while teaching about the environment. At Hodgdon Meadow, a visitor mentioned, "Free coffee with rangers some mornings," which often includes junior ranger activities.
Choose sites away from roads: For safety and reduced noise. A family at Indian Flat noted, "The campground is right on the road but the traffic quieted down by night and we were in the park all day so it didn't bother us."
Tips from RVers
Site length restrictions: Many forest sites have limited space. A reviewer at North Pines cautioned, "Pay attention to the site map as most spots are for just 1 vehicle if you want to camp in a group, and short if you have an RV or trailer."
Generator hours: Restrictions apply at most established campgrounds. At North Pines Campground, campers noted, "Generator hours are limited so plan accordingly."
Sanitary facilities: Dump stations aren't available at all locations. A camper at Yosemite Lakes RV Resort observed, "It's about 45 minutes to drive to the valley or Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite but the drive is beautiful. Plus a short drive to Rainbow Pool and Cherry Lake if you want to avoid park crowds."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Eastman Lake?
What camping is available near Eastman Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, Eastman Lake offers a wide range of camping options, with 348 campgrounds and RV parks near Eastman Lake and 37 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Eastman Lake?
Which is the most popular campground near Eastman Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Eastman Lake is Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes with a 4.1-star rating from 45 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Eastman Lake?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Eastman Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 37 free dispersed camping spots near Eastman Lake.
What parks are near Eastman Lake?
What parks are near Eastman Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Eastman Lake that allow camping, notably Yosemite National Park and Stanislaus National Forest.
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