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The Sierra Nevada foothills surrounding Mather, California provide gateway access to Yosemite National Park with a range of camping experiences from developed campgrounds to primitive sites. Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes in nearby Groveland offers year-round RV, tent, and cabin accommodations with full hookups. Within Yosemite itself, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, and North Pines campgrounds in Yosemite Valley provide centralized access to iconic park features, while Hodgdon Meadow and Wawona campgrounds offer slightly less crowded alternatives. Dispersed camping options exist along Hardin Flat Road for those seeking more solitude and a primitive experience.
Reservations for Yosemite Valley campgrounds are notoriously competitive, with sites often booking months in advance, especially during summer. As one camper noted, "Reservations are hard to come by; we got very lucky and reserved our spot only a couple of weeks before our trip (traveling in the Fall helped some)." Bear activity is prevalent throughout the region, requiring proper food storage in provided bear boxes. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, typically April through October, with higher elevation sites having shorter seasons. Fire restrictions are common during dry months, with one visitor reporting, "When we road tripped through California in October there were fire bans at every campground so bring your stoves!"
Campers consistently mention the trade-off between convenience and crowds in Yosemite Valley campgrounds. One reviewer observed, "Even though you are practically on top of each other at this campground, it's totally worth it in my opinion just to sleep in Yosemite Valley." For those seeking quieter alternatives, campgrounds outside the valley like Hodgdon Meadow provide better access to Hetch Hetchy, Tuolumne Grove, and Tioga Road attractions. Wildlife encounters are common, with bears and coyotes frequently spotted near campsites. Amenities vary widely, with most Yosemite Valley campgrounds offering flush toilets and drinking water but no showers. Campgrounds outside the park boundaries often provide more amenities including shower facilities and hookups for RVs.
"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."
"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"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 Availability"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."
"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. "
from $60 / night
Check Availability"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"
from $38 - $76 / night
Check Availability"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 Availability"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."
from $24 / night
Check Availability"Firstly, the spots aren’t actually on Evergreen; they’re on an easily missed dirt road near Aspen Valley Rd."
"Beautiful area and so close to Yosemite. A lot of different site options, however the cool ones do fill up fast."
"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."
from $48 / night
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GuideMost of the sites offer some level of privacy and separation from others via groves of Aspen. The sound of adjacent Mill Creek is hypnotizing. Great hikes begin at the end of Lundy Lake just up the road. Some spectacular waterfalls and wildflowers surrounded by steep canyon walls. Makes you feel small… Would definitely return.
TravelerWe tried to camp here but after getting set up the bees descended upon us. They didn't seem aggressive but were bothersome enough that we decided to go to another spot off highway 120 a few miles west. Spots were flat, spacious, and well spaced. Nice view of the lake through the pines. There are two roads from 120 to this site. The eastern road is 4WD only, soft sand and gravel surface. The western road is drivable by pretty much anything.
TravelerSeveral spots available along the forest service road, even arriving after 7pm. Some spots are spacious, others only fit something small like a camper van (what we got). Came here after our first attempted location farther east on highway 120 ended up having A LOT of bees and flies. Location is up on a little ridge that offers views of the lake to the north and mountains to the south. Great for a one night pit stop. Probably gets really windy on some evenings, and there is nothing around for wind protection.
GuideVery warm weekend (as to be expected in July) bathrooms and showers were satisfactory. It’s a public campsite with lots of families and most are there for the lake. Sites were large enough but No hookups for RV. We just stayed at night and spent the days with family in the area. Met our needs.
TravelerA few cons about this spot. There is NO drinking water. There are spigots but they all say non-potable. Most of the toilets were locked and the open ones were disgusting. There is no natural water to cool off in. The map looks like there is but there was none. There are so many mosquitoes that you have to hide in the tent during sunrise and sunset. Also, it’s right on the highway and the cars are loud! Finally, the road from Carson City going up Ebbets pass is a corkscrew of the death defying nail biting vomit inducing variety. With all of that in mind, it is the most beautiful spot I have ever visited.
ScoutAlthough this campground is located in the midst of so much dramatic beauty, few campgrounds capture that beauty like this one. While sitting in your campsite, you can see majestic mountains and a very quiet. It is located across from horse stables if you like that and near a little store. Fishing appears to be the popular activity here although we are not fisher persons. It is a great base camp to all of the June Lake and Mammoth region
ScoutI have stayed at Bear River Group Campground twice and plann to make it an annual trip. It is near a reservoir, but necessary to drive to get to the water. There is no road noise at all. It is fairly remote and very well set up for groups. Highly recommend it.
GuideTop tier campsite. Very clean, well maintained, sites spaced out well (compared to campsites in the valley) and in a very pretty area of the park. You can reserve a site 14 days in advance on recreation.gov - I highly recommend doing that. It’s a 45 min drive to the valley, which is the only downside if you’re looking to be close to the popular valley destinations like El Cap. There’s a lovely stream that goes through the campground and plenty of fire wood.
GuideNice trees, very quiet.
Dispersed camping options near Mather, California extend beyond the well-known Yosemite Valley campgrounds. The area sits at elevations ranging from 4,000 to 7,000 feet, creating diverse microclimates that affect camping seasons and conditions. Winter temperatures regularly drop below freezing in higher elevations, while summer days can reach 90°F with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August.
Swimming opportunities: Rainbow Pool, located near Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes, offers natural swimming areas popular with locals. "Plus a short drive to Rainbow Pool and Cherry Lake if you want to avoid park crowds," notes one camper about Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes.
Hetch Hetchy exploration: This less-visited section of Yosemite provides spectacular waterfalls without valley crowds. A camper from Dimond O Campground shares: "We also appreciated being only three miles away from Hetch Hetchy, too. It is a part of Yosemite that does not receive many visitors and to take in what used to be there (It was John Muir's favorite valley), is a trip in itself."
Night sky viewing: The Mather area offers excellent stargazing due to minimal light pollution. "At night you can't sleep because of the brightness. The stars are really pretty," reports a visitor to Camp 4, highlighting the exceptional night sky visibility throughout the region.
Riverside sites: Many campgrounds in the area offer sites directly adjacent to water. At Wawona Campground, "Love the site we had, close to water and surrounded by trees. Close to amenities and a local store for supplies. Prepare for a 45-60 min drive to the Yosemite Park and the valley."
Wider spacing than valley sites: Campgrounds outside Yosemite Valley typically offer more space between sites. "The sites are large, well-spaced, and idyllic. Many of them are situated along the South Fork of the Merced River. It's quiet there - and peaceful," explains a camper about Wawona Campground.
Wildlife encounters: The area provides regular opportunities for wildlife observation. At Hardin Flat Road, one visitor observed "Lots of ticks! be prepared. other than that, our camp was wonderful. there were many other groups camping in this area which provided a sense of comfort." Another camper at Dimond O mentioned: "I even woke one morning to cows in our campsite!"
Fire permit requirements: Dispersed camping areas require California campfire permits, even for stoves. A Hardin Flat Road visitor notes: "I believe fires are allowed as long as you have a permit."
Limited cellular connectivity: Most camping areas have minimal or no cell service. At Yosemite Creek Campground, visitors warn there's no connectivity, while a camper at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes reports: "There is no cell service and the 'pay WIFI' did not work for us...but there is complimentary WiFi at the laundry to check in on things that works just fine."
Tree hazards: Dead or drought-damaged trees pose risks during wind events. "I'd think twice about staying here if it's going to be windy—several trees came down the second night we were here, which was pretty scary. Many of the trees (just outside the campsites) are fire and drought damaged, and hence weak," warns a camper about Dimond O Campground.
Supply planning: Limited shopping options exist in the immediate area. A visitor to Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes advises: "No nearby grocery so have what you need. The Yosemite village store has quite a selection but it is an hour away."
Ranger programs: Several campgrounds offer educational programs. "Rangers come during the weekend mornings to bring coffee and info which was nice," reports a visitor to Hodgdon Meadow Campground.
Swimming holes: Look for safe, natural water features for kids. "There is a good amount of tree coverage and a beautiful river running through the campground," notes a camper at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes.
Spacing considerations: Some areas offer better isolation for families. "There are spots here that are fairly shaded. It's first come first serve!" explains a camper at Camp 4, while another visitor to Hardin Flat Road adds: "This was a really nice stay close to Yosemite with really spread out spots. Couldn't even see your neighbor."
Morning wildlife viewing: Dawn offers prime wildlife observation opportunities. A visitor to Hodgdon Meadow shares: "Our site backed up to the meadow and we would stroll there in the morning light and it was beautiful! I slept in the hammock one night and just as the light broke through a small group of deer meandered by. It was a small, quiet, magical moment."
Road access limitations: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger vehicles. A North Pines Campground visitor warns: "Sites are tight would not recommend a rig over 30. Good access to shuttle system."
Generator restrictions: Be aware of when generator use is permitted. A North Pines camper notes: "The only downside to the spot was everyone else had a RV and had there generators on at 6am. We are not RV people so we don't know why they need to run them."
RV site selection: Research specific site dimensions before booking. "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," advises a visitor to Upper Pines Campground.
Hookup availability: Limited full-hookup sites exist in the area. At Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes, "There are only a handful of 50amp spots and people move to them quickly after someone leaves lots of 30amp though so you might want to bring an adapter."
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I make reservations for Mather Campground?
Make reservations for Mather Campground as far in advance as possible - up to 6 months before your planned stay, especially for summer visits (May-September). Like Lower Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park, sites at Mather fill extremely quickly during peak season. Reservations open on the 15th of each month for dates 6 months in advance and can be made online at Recreation.gov. Holiday weekends and summer months often book within minutes of becoming available. For spring and fall visits, booking 3-4 months ahead is recommended. Winter camping (November-March) typically has better availability with some first-come, first-served options during the slower season.
What amenities are available at Mather Campground?
Mather Campground offers basic but sufficient amenities including potable water spigots throughout the campground, flush toilets, coin-operated shower facilities at the nearby Camper Services building, and a general store within walking distance. Similar to North Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park, each site comes equipped with a fire ring, picnic table, and parking for up to two vehicles. There are no electrical hookups or sewer connections, making it primarily tent-focused but suitable for small RVs and trailers. The campground provides access to a dump station nearby, trash and recycling facilities, and is conveniently located near the free Grand Canyon shuttle bus route that connects to key destinations throughout the South Rim.
Where is Mather Campground located in Grand Canyon National Park?
Mather Campground is located in the South Rim area of Grand Canyon National Park, about a quarter-mile from the Grand Canyon Village and approximately one mile from the canyon rim. The campground is situated in a ponderosa pine forest at an elevation of around 7,000 feet. Similar to Crane Flat Campground — Yosemite National Park, Mather Campground serves as a central base for exploring the park with convenient access to visitor centers, restaurants, and trailheads. The South Entrance to Grand Canyon National Park is the closest entrance to reach Mather Campground, located about 7 miles north of the town of Tusayan.
How much does it cost to stay at Mather Campground?
Mather Campground typically charges $18-25 per night for standard sites, with an additional vehicle fee of $9 if you bring more than one car. Similar to Tioga Lake Campground, rates may vary slightly by season. There's also a park entrance fee ($35 per vehicle for a 7-day pass) unless you have an America the Beautiful annual pass. Group sites cost approximately $50-90 per night depending on capacity. The campground requires full payment at the time of reservation, with a $10 non-refundable reservation fee. Cancellations made at least 48 hours in advance may qualify for a partial refund minus the reservation fee.
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