Best Tent Camping near Merced, CA

I really recommend this campground. I can come here and play online games with my family. The campground offers both reservable and first-come, first-served campsites. The sites are relatively spacious and provide a mix of shade and sun. Each campsite typically includes a fire ring, picnic table, and food storage locker. It provides basic amenities such as restrooms with flushing toilets and drinking water. However, it does not offer showers or hookups for RVs. There are no electrical or water connections at individual campsites. The campground's location provides access to various outdoor activities. Nearby attractions include the Mariposa Grove, where you can explore giant sequoias, and the Wawona Golf Course. Additionally, there are hiking trails, scenic drives, and opportunities for wildlife viewing in the area.

Great location which isn't as heavily used as you'd think. Being so close to the Bull Buck trail. No water, so you'll need to make sure and bring in what you'll need. No Reservation, first come first serve but not a problem usually. Also, does have vault toilets, so at least no digging needed.... Right by the entrance to Yosemite and we had the 7 sites all to ourselves. Not sure why more people don't stop when you have great access to some amazing trails with some of the oldest and tallest trees in the world!

Nice flat sites with great coverage and picnic tables and fire rings.

The location and weekend was amazing and beautiful. The 105 daytime temps were quelled by dunking ourselves in the lake and taking excursions to some of the other local wonders. We had a great view of the lake and the stars overnight were amazing. It was extremely easy to socially distance from others at all times.

We spent the weekend camped out here but when we arrived, our location was filled with trash. The previous occupants had left garbage strewn everywhere and a garbage bag that was torn into by the wildlife. We cleaned for about half an hour and filled a large black yard waste bag with garbage before we could start to settle in.

The other big issue is that the site says “all facilities are open” but in reality all the restrooms are closed and locked with a solution of putting portable toilets in front of the restroom areas. This is in no way better for dealing with bathroom needs.

Also, the camp host location was marked but no host appeared or was available. The rangers drove by maybe 6 times total.

Be aware when coming here that many sites do not have shade or places to set up hammocks.

Don’t let my negative points turn you away, many of these things were going to be situational and we would love to go back (just not in the midst of a heatwave like that).

The sites were well maintained. We went early in the season (April) so the dust was not bad. I think later in the spring/summer you might find yourself faced with dust and foxtails. Lots of weeds in surrounding areas. 

Water was high, but looks like it would be great fishing. 

There are many site styles available- private riverside drive up, community river cul-de-sac walk-ins, and three drive in sites tucked up the hill away from everything. 

Porta-pottys and vault toilets available- no water. 

Lots a options here.

Great beach by the river- tag the shade early in the day to beat the heat.

We stayed here for the night prior to a Hetch Hetchy backpacking trip. We arrived in the dark. We had reserved a site with a small two person tent already set up for us. It was a bit hard to find in the dark, but the camping area is fenced in under an oak grove so eventually we found the stump with our name on it next to the tent. In the future, I think I’ll just bring my own tent and deal with the small hassle of setting it up—the tent provided was fine, but definitely would not have been a good choice if there had been rain. And you could tell it is essentially set up 24/7—some tiny insects living inside etc. The campsites themselves were sufficiently spacious and the host has nice fire pits with fire wood provided for each site, plus picnic tables. Basic portapotties plus some running water for bathrooms. Fellow campers were an interesting mix of folks from all over, though I wish the owner had quiet hours posted and communicated—our immediate tent neighbors sat out chatting and laughing until nearly 1am which was annoying. The coyotes and owls at night were lovely.

Loved this campground.  At first, when booking, I was upset I wasn't able to get a site in the Valley area.  After arriving to Yosemite I couldn't be more thrilled to have stayed at Wawona.

Yes, it is a bit of a drive to get to the valley but the drive is beautiful when it is not jammed packed with cars.

I booked site 34 located in loop B.  It's a small site and it is slopped but there is a nice level spot for a smaller tent.

Had decent trees to break up the space between campsites.  With 34 you only have one campsite next to you.  The river is in clear view and a very short walk to get to it.

If you have seen any of my other reviews you will see, I'm all about the fishing so most of my sites, if possible, will be along rivers/streams/creeks.

Each site had a bear box, picnic table and fire ring.  Flush toilets and running water to fill up your containers.  

Even though the campground was filled, you wouldn't have known it.  Very quiet and peaceful.  Some sites are closer to the road and I'm sure have road noise.  34 the only noise was the babbling river.

I camped here after arriving in Yosemite without a reservation. Which meant there were no campsites available in the valley, so up up up I went to Crane Flat and then on to the campground reservation building. All campsites in the park are handled through a few campground reservation offices. I was assigned site 433, which had a semi level spot to pitch my tent, but was next to the bathroom, which consisted of a circle of porta potties that were in need of servicing. This is a large spread out campground in the trees with five loops. It seemed that my loop was tent only, but it could have been luck of the draw as well. The big thing about the whole campground is that rangers said a team of bears had been hanging around and that it was imperative to put everything with any kind of scent in the bear boxes. In fact, when I came back after visiting the valley there was a “bear jam” near the entrance to the campground where a bear was grazing, and later when visiting with camping neighborhoods they said they saw a bear on the outskirts of the campground that morning. So, use the bee boxes!! If you want a shower you will have to head to the valley or outside the park. It was nice to be away from the crowds in the valley.