S
Sibylle S.
Scout
ScoutHigh Sierra RV Park
Small campsites
Very friendly staff. The sites are rather narrow but even. Restrooms are far away. Propane is available.
Camping near Mariposa, CA
242 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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The Mariposa region provides a strategic gateway to Yosemite National Park with diverse camping options throughout the surrounding foothills and mountains. Campgrounds like McCabe Flat along the Merced River offer tent and RV sites in a riparian setting, while facilities such as Mariposa Fairgrounds provide more developed options with full hookups. The area features a spectrum of accommodations ranging from primitive riverside tent sites to glamping experiences at locations like Shooting Star Sanctuary, situated approximately 30 miles from Yosemite Valley. Several campgrounds incorporate mixed-use designs with both walk-in tent areas and drive-up RV spaces. Mariposa camping areas offer excellent alternatives to more crowded locations, with many riverside campgrounds providing scenic views and refreshing swimming opportunities during hot summer months.
Narrow bridges and winding dirt roads limit vehicle size at many riverside locations, particularly along the Merced River corridor. "I came with my 16' Airstream in tow, and it fit perfectly. I would not recommend anything larger. The narrow road winds along the steep canyon wall with occasional pull-outs to allow oncoming cars to pass," noted one visitor at Railroad Flat Campground. Fire restrictions vary seasonally, with complete bans possible during summer and fall drought conditions. Campground availability follows seasonal patterns, with Yosemite-adjacent sites filling quickly from late spring through early fall. Many locations lack potable water or hookups, requiring campers to arrive self-sufficient. Temperatures can exceed 100°F in summer months at lower elevations, while higher-elevation sites offer cooler conditions.
Public lands along the Merced River consistently receive high ratings for their scenery and proximity to water recreation. The three BLM campgrounds—McCabe Flat, Willow Placer, and Railroad Flat—provide first-come, first-served sites with varying degrees of privacy and river access. A recent review mentioned: "Beautiful campground. I've been camping here for a few years now while rafting the Merced river." Many campers appreciate that these less-developed areas serve as alternatives to crowded Yosemite campgrounds, though they require additional planning for water and supplies. During summer heat, riverside locations become particularly desirable for swimming access. Wildlife sightings, including river otters and various bird species, enhance the camping experience, though visitors should properly store food as bears and other wildlife are present throughout the region.
Best Campgrounds near Mariposa (242)
1. Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site
"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."
2. Wawona Campground — Yosemite National Park
"Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan - all right there, all within walking distance. But after two stints staying in Yosemite for a combined two-and-a-half weeks, I've learned my lesson."
"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."
from $36 - $75 / night
Check Availability3. Shooting Star Sanctuary and Retreat near Yosemite National Forest
"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."
4. McCabe Flat Campground
"There is trash cans for each of the 3 campsites that go with this one. there a great little swimming hole just up the path."
"No reservations in advance, an hour outside the park, and only $10 a night. There are two pit toilets that are well kept and something like 10-15 sites."
from $20 - $40 / night
Check Availability5. Indian Flat RV Park
"Fantastic WiFi, extremely clean bathrooms and shower rooms, excellent pool at cedar Lodge next door, short walkable distance to the YART bus stop into Yosemite, great price for a campground 8 miles from"
"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."
from $30 - $289 / night
Check Availability6. Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes
"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."
7. Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park
"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."
from $36 / night
Check Availability8. Mariposa Fairgrounds
"Fairgrounds campground is clean, we'll kept and is convenient to Mariposa city and Yosemite National Park."
"It is 2 miles from town, but there are plenty of restaurants and a market in Mariposa to make the trip worthwhile Make sure you go to the Mine and Mineral museum on the the grounds."
from $55 / night
9. Bagby Camping and Recreation
"No cell service for us, but that was a good thing in my opinion to get away from the devices."
"It has a thw beautiful river wrapping around it which you can easily walk down to and play in. There are tons of wild flowers and some geese as well."
10. Hodgdon Meadow Campground — Yosemite National Park
"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."
from $36 - $75 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 39 min from Merced, CA
- 1 hr 12 min from Fresno, CA
- 1 hr 12 min from Modesto, CA
- 1 hr 41 min from Stockton, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Mariposa, CA
434 Photos of 242 Mariposa Campgrounds
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Lily S.
McCabe Flat Campground
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Willow Placer Campground
Chris &.
Railroad Flat Campground
Jason
Shooting Star Sanctuary and Retreat near Yosemite National Forest
Jean L.
Indian Flat RV Park
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Sierra National Forest Summit Camp Campground
Kerrie R.
Wawona Campground — Yosemite National Park
Nathan G.
Summerdale Campground - Sierra National Forest
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Yosemite “Boondock National” Dispersed Camping
Recent Reviews near Mariposa, CA
1123 Reviews of 242 Mariposa Campgrounds
Art C.
TravelerSierra National Forest Rancheria Campground
Rancheria Sierra Camp
Overall 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!
Tom H.ScoutYosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging
Very misleading Website
Website 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.
Kelly I.TravelerCrane Flat Campground
Great location
This was a great spot for a quick stay. Restrooms, camping and good spaces between others. Would definitely stay here again!
M H.ScoutHigh Sierra RV Park
Fraudulent business practices
I made a campsite reservation, later changed the dates, and ultimately had to cancel. The cancellation was made both by phone and email more than 7 days before the scheduled arrival date.
I understand and accepted the $5 reservation change fee and the $10 cancellation fee outlined in their policy. However, instead of refunding the remaining balance, they kept the entire amount and issued no refund whatsoever.
As a result, I have initiated a credit card dispute. I would strongly recommend reviewing their cancellation policies and billing practices carefully before booking.
N P.ScoutBarrett Cove Merced Irrigation District
Great fun
We have spent summers here on the water for the last 3 years. The site has a convenience store and a restaurant that serves up a really great burger. Also a very short drive into town.
Angela Jerel G.ScoutPark of the Sierras - Escapee Park
SKP Park of the Sierras exceeded our expectations
We stayed at SKP Park of the Sierras for two months during April and May and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. To use the park, you'll need an Escapees membership(about$50), which we found well worth the cost given the quality of the facilities and amenities.
Originally, we were only able to reserve one month at a time, but when our circumstances changed, the office staff were incredibly understanding and worked with us to extend our stay. The staff throughout the park were welcoming, friendly, and helpful.
Our site was spacious, shaded by mature trees, and included full hookups and a concrete patio area that was perfect for setting up chairs and relaxing outdoors. The grounds were well maintained, and the park was surprisingly quiet during our stay. The amenities were excellent. The clubhouse hosted daily activities, and there was a library, games, fitness area, coffee station, and a donation-based thrift shop section. The laundry facilities were clean and well maintained, and quarters were available for purchase in the office during business hours.
Traveling with dogs, we especially appreciated the dog park. It featured separate fenced areas for large and small dogs, water spigots, covered areas for rainy weather, and even a heater for chilly mornings.
The shower facilities were clean and comfortable. They sold propane onsite. Fuel was conveniently located just down the road at the casino, often at reasonable prices. For our longer stay we would drive into Oakhurst or Fresno for groceries, so it's worth planning ahead for larger grocery runs.
One of the biggest advantages of this park is its location. It served as an excellent home base for exploring Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Monterey Bay, San Francisco, and Pinnacles National Park,(we don’t mind a long drive!).
We used Starlink throughout our stay and were pleased by how well it worked. Even with a tree-filled site, it was able to find enough open sky to maintain a reliable connection.
A few things future guests should know: some of the roads have tighter curves, but the staff are very knowledgeable about matching RVs to appropriate sites. Our 25-foot trailer had no issues. Mail and package delivery can also require some planning. As guests, we had mail sent to General Delivery at the Coarsegold Post Office. However, we later learned that FedEx would not deliver there, so packages shipped by different carriers may require different delivery addresses. It's worth confirming shipping methods before ordering anything important.
Overall, SKP Park of the Sierras exceeded our expectations. The spacious sites, excellent amenities, quiet atmosphere, friendly staff, and central location made it one of our favorite long-term stays. We would gladly return and highly recommend it to other RV travelers.
Breanna E.ScoutRiver Ranch Campground
Beautiful but STRICT
This campsite was well kept, in a beautiful area not toooo far from stores if you forget anything and a really beautiful creek and river around it. The camp hosts are nice and seem to really care about the property, which I love seeing. There is no electric hookups at least at some of the sites which is fine, just be aware to plan for that if you need any medical devices etc. The mosquitoes are rabid. So come prepared with the best repellent you can get. They keep the potties clean but like of spiders in them that have clearer been left there, one had a small wasps nest that I took care of since it was right by our head in the toilet. I also wouldn’t plan to swim, if it gets warm enough I guess, but the water is literally ice cold. I got in to my ankles and they were red and stinging after about 10 seconds.
While I understand most of their rules the one rule that is THE MOST insisted and on literally all points of booking and checking in is that they don’t allow any music of and level on any speakers. I understand quiet times and having a sound limit but absolutely no music seems extreme to me. Especially for families, my kids love music and it’s a daily part of our lives, and as a place they used to hold literal music festivals it seems a little saddening to me.
But overall it was a nice time.
- JJessica W.Scout
Fraser Flat Campground
Quiet
It's been some years since I've been here but just downloaded this app. I wouldn't take my children now because of the river, but if it's just adults I think it's a great spot! Small and quiet!
Guide to Mariposa
Camping options near Mariposa, California range from developed sites with full amenities to primitive riverside locations. Elevation varies from approximately 2,000 feet in the lower foothills to over 5,000 feet in higher forest areas, creating distinct temperature and vegetation zones. Most campsites receive minimal precipitation between May and September, with summer daytime temperatures often reaching 90-100°F at lower elevations while higher sites remain 10-15 degrees cooler.
What to do
Swimming at natural spots: McCabe Flat Campground provides direct river access with several swimming areas during summer months. "Beautiful campground. I've been camping here for a few years now while rafting the Merced river. On this particular trip the weather was over 100 degrees but we had the river right next to us to cool down," notes one camper at McCabe Flat.
Fishing opportunities: The Merced River corridor offers productive fishing spots for trout and bass. At Bagby Recreation Area, the waterfront campsites provide excellent fishing access. "There's a small dock and boat ramp at the main entrance if you plan on bringing kayaks or a boat. Fish cleaning station/bathrooms for fisherman," reports a visitor to Bagby Camping and Recreation.
Historical exploration: Mariposa County features numerous Gold Rush sites and museums. "Make sure you go to the Mine and Mineral museum on the grounds," recommends a camper at Mariposa Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds location provides convenient access to historical attractions while offering modern camping amenities.
What campers like
Privacy levels: Goat Meadow Dispersed Campsite offers seclusion not found at developed campgrounds. "Plenty of space for all vehicle sizes. Roads are very accessible. Nice and wooded," notes one camper at Goat Meadow. The free sites typically have substantial space between them, especially on weekdays.
Animal encounters: Some campgrounds feature farm animals that enhance the family camping experience. "The kids loved playing with the animals and it was a convenient location to access Yosemite," says a visitor at Shooting Star Sanctuary. Others mentioned interacting with mini pigs, goats, ducks, chickens and kittens.
River proximity: Many campsites along the Merced River corridor offer direct water access. "We pulled in and there were a couple of trailers with horses and a couple of other vehicles and we parked with loads of space between," notes one camper at Goat Meadow. Waterfront sites typically fill first during peak season months.
What you should know
Road access limitations: Narrow roads restrict vehicle size at several campgrounds. "I came with my 16' Airstream in tow, and it fit perfectly. I would not recommend anything larger," explains a camper about navigating to riverside locations. For Indian Flat RV Park, a visitor notes, "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."
Wi-Fi and cell service: Connectivity varies dramatically by location. At the Mariposa Fairgrounds, "The wifi was the best campground internet we have experienced," while at more remote sites like Goat Meadow, some visitors report good Verizon coverage. Most riverside locations have no service at all.
Reservation systems: Walk-up availability differs between locations. At Goat Meadow, "We camped about a week which also crossed over Memorial Day weekend. This place gets CROWDED. At 5:30 it's like everyone got off work and headed home, it's nuts." Established campgrounds with amenities typically require reservations 3-6 months in advance during summer.
Tips for camping with families
Animal interactions: Children typically enjoy campgrounds with wildlife or farm animals. "We had the pleasure of staying with Jason and his family at the Shooting Star Sanctuary. There are plenty of farm animals in the sanctuary which Jason lets you feed and play around with," reports a visitor. These interactions create memorable experiences beyond traditional camping.
Water accessibility: Camping near swimming spots provides crucial heat relief during summer. "When I was there recently, some of the 'campsites' had 0-3" of snow, whereas other spots were about 6-8" of snow," notes a winter visitor to Goat Meadow. River sites often feature shallow wading areas suitable for supervised children.
Facility considerations: Bathroom and shower facilities vary dramatically between sites. "The bathrooms and showers are clean. The sites are a little tight," reports a camper at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes, a location featuring full amenities including a swimming pool. Most BLM riverside locations offer only vault toilets.
Tips from RVers
Parking limitations: Vehicle size restrictions apply at many locations. "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)," notes an RVer at Shooting Star Sanctuary. Goat Meadow allows larger rigs but requires careful maneuvering on forest roads.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites exist but are limited. "Full hookups on level gravel pads. We stayed in lot 5 at the back of the fairgrounds, and it was quiet at night," reports a visitor at Mariposa Fairgrounds. Several campgrounds offer water and electric but not sewer connections.
Generator regulations: Policies vary widely between campgrounds. At developed sites, quiet hours typically restrict generator use between 10 pm and 6 am. Dispersed sites generally have no formal restrictions but camper etiquette suggests limited evening use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds near Mariposa, CA?
Where are the best campgrounds near Mariposa, CA?
Mariposa offers excellent camping options for Yosemite visitors. Mariposa Fairgrounds provides full hookups on level gravel pads with clean showers and exceptional WiFi, located just 2 miles from town with restaurants and markets nearby. For those seeking a traditional camping experience, Wawona Campground — Yosemite National Park offers a quieter alternative to the crowded Valley campgrounds with spacious sites and proximity to park attractions. Other solid options include High Sierra RV Park with pull-through sites, Yosemite Pines RV Resort with family lodging, and Upper Billy Creek Campground with creekside sites. Note that road conditions can affect access, particularly at McCabe Flat Campground where closures have been reported on Route 140.
What activities can I do while camping in Mariposa?
What activities can I do while camping in Mariposa?
Mariposa's location makes it perfect for exploring Yosemite National Park's iconic attractions including Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls. Hiking opportunities abound, from family-friendly trails to challenging backcountry routes like those near Gladys Lake Backcountry, Ansel Adams Wilderness, which offers epic scenery and serene solitude. For winter visitors, Summerdale Campground is near Goat Meadow Snow Play Area, perfect for sledding and snow activities. The Merced River provides opportunities for fishing, swimming, and rafting in warmer months. Downtown Mariposa offers historical sites, shopping, dining, and the Mariposa Museum. Wildlife viewing, stargazing, photography, and mountain biking are also popular activities in the region, with many campgrounds providing access to scenic trails.
What amenities are available at Mariposa camping sites?
What amenities are available at Mariposa camping sites?
High Sierra RV Park offers full hookup sites with bathroom facilities, though some sites may require specific maneuvering for larger trailers. The park provides shower facilities, though privacy can be limited. For RV enthusiasts, Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodging offers comprehensive amenities as a gateway to Yosemite. The Mariposa area also features campgrounds with varying amenity levels - from basic facilities at dispersed sites to developed campgrounds with potable water, flush toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings. Mariposa Fairgrounds provides exceptional WiFi service, clean shower facilities, and full hookups on level sites. Some campgrounds offer camp stores, laundry facilities, and dump stations, though availability varies seasonally.
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