Staying at Wawona was a great way to see Yosemite. It's not too far from the Valley but a lot more peaceful. We got lucky and were able to snag a spot without a reservation but I would recommend getting a reservation if you can because it's very popular.
I love Wawona campground. It’s right on the Merced river if you feel like taking a dip. It’s also out of the hustle and bustle of Yosemite valley, only downfall is that during busy times it’s a bit of a pain to get into the valley.
Good food good hiking very busy
Stayed here for a night on our way to Yosemite. We found the campground to be beautiful. There sites are spacious although they were not as clean as national park camps always are. As usual the camp was packed and a bit noisy at night but because the sites were spread out on C-loop isn't was perfect.
I would definitely camp here instead of the valley any time in order to avoid the mayhem that is the valley. It is s shame that its so crazy down there. But the traffic, people, chaos just isn't worth it...Enjoy yosemite.
Cheers!
Camped for three nights and didn't want to leave
There are a decent number of spots that are close too the river and the sound is very relaxing. Ample shade from trees and sites have a decent size pit for great campfires.
I spent the day at Mammoth opening day and then drove in to Yosemite after sunset in hopes of finding a campsite. Didn't realize I wouldn't have a signal & fingers crossed I would find a site. Finally found this one accidently and hoped that with my headlamp only for light, I was setting up my tent in a decent spot. Awoke to beautiful moss and woods and very COLD morning air (20's) Campground had a lot of campers but I got a great spot with a site next to me on only one side and forest on the other.
I can finally understand why it is proof positive of how diffficult it can be to get a campsite at this park. The natural beauty is beyond the words of a recreational camper like myself.
Upon entering the campgrounds it is relatively easy to find the campsite. Loop C is where I camped and I believe that to be the absolute best area. Your just far enough from the river noise to sleep well, and it's open enough to watch the stars in all their glory. The ground is soft enough to simply push your ground stakes in with your shoe.
Every site here is just the right size, but I prefer the ones towards the middle of this loop.
The biggest downside is the toilet paper the park uses at the campgrounds. It won't turn on the holders, so you have to manually take it off little by little. Also, it isn't very durable. I would ask if you can bring your own in, but I'm sure they purchased this paper for its affordability. There is running water in the toilet house, and this will get taken advantage of by campers. We have found many people taking "showers" in the sink.
The drive to Yosemite Valley is about 45 minutes from Wawona. Glacier Point is about the same. The closest is the little village of Wawona inside the park which has some nice historical buildings and a small store for supplies and food.
Overall, I will be coming back to this campsite on a regular basis.
I fell for it twice - the awe-inspiring notion of camping directly in Yosemite Valley. 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. Wawona is where it's at.
Don't get me wrong - the Valley is stunning and beautiful and inspiring and all the other adjectives that have yet to be invented yet because writers and poets themselves are been rendered speechless by the sight of it. Anyone planning a camping trip to Yosemite most definitely should try to spend at least one night in that amazing place.
But. The. Crowds.
The campgrounds in the Valley are small and stacked one atop the other. If you're lucky enough to find (and secure) a site on the outside perimeter of the campgrounds, good for you. But most sites are not, and that means having neighbors (many friendly, others not so much) walk through your site constantly to use the restrooms, most of which have the lights on all night, glaring down on your tent. And if you leave the site for any period of time by vehicle, you'll enjoy some extended time viewing the scenery while sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on many days during the busiest seasons.
Wawona is different. 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. On both of my trips, Wawona was a beautiful reprieve from the sometimes hectic pace of the Valley. It's near the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias; there's a free shuttle during the day, and you can take a car there at night - walking among the sequoias alone at night is absolutely amazing. The nearby Wawona Hotel offers showers for campers, and there are no restrictions on the hours for campfires in the campground - unlike in the Valley, which restricts fires to the hours of 5pm to 10pm due to concerns about haze being trapped by the Valley walls. There's also a free shuttle that runs regularly between Wawona and the Valley for those who would rather someone else do the driving.
Plus - and this is big for budget-minded travelers - there is an inexpensive country store located nearby that sells fresh meats, fish, produce, and a limited selection of other camping food necessities and supplies. NOT the one run by the concessioner near the Wawona Hotel/Big Trees Lodge. This one is located up Chilnualna Falls Road, which heads north behind the Wawona Hotel/Big Trees Lodge. It's a ways down (don't try to walk it) but you'll find it - there is a ponderosa pine growing out of the front porch. The folks there are friendly and live in Wawona, and everything is priced as it should be.
(For those planning your first trip to Yosemite, if you're budget-conscious, the food is expensive in those concessioner-run places. It may sound silly but I didn't account for food prices the first time I went, and it was significantly more expensive that I had expected - a few hundred dollars for two people for a week.)
Sites were large. There was a large swimming hole, although there was a couple skinny dipping during the middle of the day.
Campsite had lots of trash left from previous campers, so was not expecting that.
Good location in regards to south entrance, Glacier point and the Valley.
Night time was very loud with people screaming and honking horns up until about midnight. No Rangers were around to control the loud drunk campers. Pretty much on your own here.
I probably won't stay at this camp again.
site: more spacious than those ‘in the valley.’ semi-private. looked like some sites were more ideal than others. river near sites. amenities: basic facilities, older, but clean enough. no showers. attractions: about a 45 minute drive to the main attractions of the park. I would go camping here to avoid the crowds (just drove through checking out the campground).
