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    Summerdale Campground

    4.2 (75 reviews)

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    Site 20
    Shey D.

    The campground is well kept. The toilets, even if it's just a whole in the ground, were kept clean. Larry is such an amazing camp host. We were on site 20. It was nice and spacious. The best part is having the trail to the creek right across from it. This place would be perfect if it had real toilets and a shower.

    SD10

    My husband and I booked a stay here months ago in anticipation of a 3 day stay to see Yosemite. We were a little worried about the distance from there to the park as it was about an hour away. And of course, anything inside Yosemite was completely booked out. We weren't sure what to expect when we arrived but we were pleasantly surprised! The camp hosts Jim and Holly are absolute gems. They take incredible care of this campsite and really care about their guests. Bathroom had the cleanest vault toilet I've ever seen, and Jim always had firewood available if you needed for $10. There are no hookups but there are water spigots around the camp. There are also no showers, but if you're feeling wild there's a creek that runs by the grounds. It's about an hour drive to Yosemite, but it is the closest campground to the park on the south side. It's quiet after 10 pm and we never had any issue with loud guests. We didn't have any trouble with traffic into the park, but we also left around 5 am to try and get there before it got busy. We will definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to visit!

    David K.

    Beautiful Campground and a great place to stay when visiting Yosemite. Campground hosts, Kathi and Larry are very friendly, very helpful and they keep the place looking great! Bathrooms were spotless. Every spot has a fire ring and firewood is available for $8 per bundle. Very quiet, very scenic and very relaxing. Get up early to visit Yosemite, traffic is nuts by 8am. If you leave the campground at 6am, you can enjoy the park in the AM. We went to the Ahwahnee Hotel around 10:45am we got to the front of the line for the restaurant because it opens at 11am. We got the best table in the room, had a nice lunch and left the park to go back and relax at Summerdale in the afternoon, little nappy and eventually get a fire going and start dinner. Great stay!

    Jeffrey S.

    Had the most amazing time at summer dale in Yosemite. The campground staff (Linda and Ed) were amazing! They were so nice and thoughtful, what ever we needed they helped us with. They clean the bathrooms spotless every morning and make sure things are clean. When staying at a campground it's the little things like this that make you really appreciate and enjoy how special everything is. Thank you for being amazing people and making my time here so enjoyable. Will most definitely be going back.

    Enough room for two 9-person tents (but we only had one).
    Patrick R.

    Fantastic campground for the small bunch of greenhorns and fat dog that I traveled with last year (July 2009). The large private campsites, picnic tables, fire pits, and running water assuaged our transition from city boys to wilderness men. The trout in the stream were so plentiful and easy to catch, i only stopped fishing because i ran out of hooks when they swallowed the powerbait nugget. The waterfall was great way to cool off and relax after a long day of hiking in yosemite (which is only minutes away). Stay in Summerdale if you want to avoid the crowds and long waitlist of camping in Yosemite. I'll be going back to Summerdale at least a couple times this year.

    campsite cookin'
    Tasha D.

    So apparently any Forest Service campground that has potable water available is beyond 5-star luxurious, so can't hate on this place too much. It's a half hour drive to the park (Wawona, not the Valley) from here, and the grounds were very pretty, with a little creek and a meadow to walk around. Also, dogs are allowed, which is a rarity. Notes of concern: - check in lady was bordering beyond evil. In spite of the fact my friend had made a reservation and read all the small print, the woman managing the campground seemed to take it upon herself to make up charges and requirements. She may have been pocketing the money. In spite of it not being highlighted on the website, we were informed: -- only 2 dogs physically allowed on any campsite at one time. -- only 2 cars allowed at any campsite at any time. Each extra car costs $5/night. This $5/night is NOT the same as the $5/night my friend had already been charged on the website (I call BS). Sooo, we ended up just paying for an entire other campsite that "just happened" to be unexpectedly empty. Will the national forest really ever see that proud green $20 bill? I doubt it. Beautiful campsite, really enjoyed my stay once the obnoxious checkin was over. Note: only pit toilets, no soap anywhere. Only water is out of a faucet peering out of the ground every couple of campsites.

    The campground in july
    Aurora C.

    Decent camping. Very lush grounds. A small creek runs to the side, and at night you can hear the rushing waters even from the far side of the campgrounds. I was here in a particularly hot July and the river was not even close to running dry. The campsites are large, even the smaller ones can still easily fit two 8-person tents. If you plan on bringing more than one vehicle be sure to specify so on your reservations, as the parking spots are cordoned off from the rest of your site by way of large logs and boulders and you will only have room for one car in standard sites. All in all, i enjoyed my stay and felt secure and relaxed. I am shorting this campground a star for two reasons: it is extremely dusty, as though campfire ashes are spread underfoot everywhere; and also because it is unusually buggy. I tend to camp in areas near water so i am used to the bugs, but for some reason i was eaten alive during my stay and was under constant attack from yellow jackets, mosquitoes, silverfish, spiders of all kinds, and other insects.

    First night campfires are always the best!
    Maria Y.

    This is now our favorite campground to stay at if planning to visit Yosemite. Camp host Gina gave us great advice and we followed it. Our visit took place when the President was in town too so Gina told us to visit Nelder Grove. What a hidden Gem that was and no crowds!! Our site was clean, pit toilets are provided as well as potable water. Stream nearby is stocked with ready to catch fish. My son caught us dinner! Wildlife is plentiful. Deer visits were common and the birds and butterflies are gorgeous to see and hear. Days were hot and nights got cool so remember to layer and bug repellent highly recommended. We definitely will be back!!

    Seasonal creek that runs through the campground. May 2017
    Terra R.

    We stayed here mid May 2017, it was our first time at the campground. We booked through a booking site, the pictures of the campsites can be deceiving. Gina the host was awesome! She was very accommodating and fun to talk to. We love that she upheld the normal campground rules; it keeps the campground quiet and safe. The park entrance is 2 miles up the road, Yosemite Valley drive took about 45- 60 min depending on the traffic and roadwork. This year there is a crazy amount of people and traffic. Gina suggested we leave at 6 or 7 am to do our site seeing, boy was she right! By the time it's noon, it's so packed! If you do your research you can find some cool trails and beautiful areas in the park with less people. Overall the campground was beautiful and clean. My only complaint is that you do hear the traffic from the highway, try to get a site next to the creek to drown out the noise. Thank you Gina, you're the best!

    about to leave the beautiful campsite

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    6 years ago

    Summerdale was our favorite spot growing up in the Central Valley and it was not so far

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    16 years ago

    Make sure you put your food away and not in the tent, we were visited by BEARS, cant beat the crayfish and fishing

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    Ask the Community - Summerdale Campground

    Is there overflow parking?

    Yes, the CG Host has a few spots for overflow parking.

    This campground doesn't have Bear Lockers. Did anyone run into issues storing their food?

    I put my food in the car and it was fine. The info on the camp's notice board didn't even mention bears, so maybe they're not common in the area.

    I reserved spot 11 for a few days over the summer and I was curious as to how big the spot actually is. Is there room for two tents?

    Site 8 had plenty of room for 2 or even 3 tents. The sites are very spacious.

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    Review Highlights - Summerdale Campground

    The hour's drive into the Valley wasn't bad either, as it's just a three minute drive to the entrance of Yosemite.

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    Spring Cove Campground - Moon

    Spring Cove Campground

    4.2(70 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    Great Location & Warm Water, But Pack Light and Bring Bug Spray…read more Well, it's time for my family's annual camping trip! This year we wanted to check out Bass Lake, CA. There are several spots around the lake, but since we were booking through Recreation.gov, we landed on Spring Cove. I always try to book campsites close to the water, and on paper, this campground looked perfect. The Good Prime Lake Access: The location is super close to the water. You just have to cross the main road, walk down a little hill, and there you are! We selected sites nearest the road to ensure easy access to the lake, which is our main source of entertainment. The kids absolutely loved it. The water was warm enough to swim for hours, but cool enough to be refreshing in the summer heat. Bonus Perks: We loved that our parking permit came with a 15% discount for boat rentals at Miller's Landing Resort (just about a mile down the road). We used it to book a half-day boat rental, and it was easily one of the highlights of the trip! Awesome Camp Host: Shout out to Patrick for being incredibly cool and helpful. The Not-So-Good The Bathroom Situation: The flushing toilets were shut down, meaning we had to use porta-potties. Yuck! I am not a fan and found it pretty stressful. Thankfully, Miller's Landing was close enough to "take care of business" when needed. Yes, I'm weird, but I just can't with the porta-potties. Tiny Sites: The sites themselves are small. We are used to the larger, less crowded campgrounds up north at higher elevations, so we had to seriously adjust our layout for our party's three campsites and varying tent sizes. When the website says "small tent," they really mean small tent. Don't try bringing a mansion tent here unless you want to be moving picnic benches around just to make it fit. Mosquitoes: There were a lot of them. Be sure to pack plenty of bug repellent options. Despite the tight squeeze and the bathroom bummer, it was a great trip. I think we might have just found our new annual spot!

    Been coming here for years! Bass has 3 marinas (The Pines being the largest). The beauty is…read moreamazing. A little of Yosemite ... Rock formations, green tree and wildlife. Some gorgeous homes am an be rented if you wish, or there are plenty of campgrounds. The lake is not huge... But, you. An find some quiet coves here and there. Just like most places, it can get crowded on the weekends. Lots of beaches, just make sure you are parking legally. Don't miss the FORKS BURGERS! Or, their club sandwich. Delish! Love love this place. Come on over!

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    Spring Cove Campground
    Spring Cove Campground
    Spring Cove Campground - Sunset

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    Sunset

    Bridalveil Creek Campground

    Bridalveil Creek Campground

    4.3(16 reviews)
    11.8 mi

    Bridalveil Creek is such a wonderful campground with amazing staff…read more Check-in was so smooth, and if you arrive after their work hours, you will see your name on the window, with your campground location/ number. They have maps available, so it is easy to get around. When making a reservation, you will have the option to choose between a more private spot or one closer to other campers, so be sure to do your research before reserving. Either way, you will have a great time. The campground is very clean, well-equipped, and safe. Bathrooms are available as well. There are huge rocks in the middle of the campground, so you can camp around them as well. A creek is nearby, and there's plenty of greenery. The campground is also centrally located, making it easy to access nearby attractions, from waterfalls to various trails, Sentinel Dome, Glacier point and many more ( if you are interested in these, look for my other reviews, as I will add notes and photos of some of the waterfalls and other trails in the area)! There is also great bike trail that is part of this campground. There are a few trails right off the campground that you can hike, starting directly from the campground. However, if you bring your dogs, please note that most of the trails only allow service animals. Campground does allow dogs, just don't forget to be respectful and clean after your pets. Additionally, please please please make sure your fire is fully out before leaving. You can put everyone and all the wildlife in danger. Also, use the storage space for your food, that has a lock, to secure it from bears. Be respectful to this beautiful place and make great memories. Thank you Bridalveil Campground staff, and I will see you soon again.

    Had a great time staying at this campground in Yosemite National Park and wish we could've stayed…read morefor longer. The staff were friendly and communicative and allowed us to check in early at 11am, and our site (24A) was conveniently located near a bathroom with real toilets and running water. There's a utility sink outside of, but attached to, the bathroom facilities to get and dump water (but NOT to wash dishes; that you have to do at your own site, so plan to bring a basin if you weren't already). Bear safety policies were printed and handed out to us to read and initial in acknowledgement of the rules, which were comprehensive and easy to follow. The food locker provided at our site was clean enough and big enough to store all of our food, toiletries, and scented products (because it's not just food that attracts bears). Maybe bring disinfecting wipes if you'd like to do an extra wipe-down of the locker though. Despite all the talk of bears, we had no incidents or sightings, so if you're afraid of them for whatever reason, be vigilant, but I wouldn't be too worried. Each campsite had a picnic table and fire ring, and you can buy wood at a general store in the park, like Wawona or the big store in Yosemite Valley. Both of those stores also have plenty of food items and basics in case you've forgotten anything, but despite stocking a wide variety of t-shirts and sweatshirts, they don't have any bottoms (pants, shorts), so do not skimp on packing those! (May seem like a random note, but I had a mishap with the one pair of shorts I'd brought and couldn't replace them.) You're also allowed to gather sticks and fallen wood around the camp area to use for kindling, though no pine cones. Despite it being summer, it got quite cold at night, so I'd suggest bringing layers even if you don't think you'll need them. Rubbish and recycling bins were just down the road from us, so we had no issue dumping our trash and securing it from animals. There were a lot of big ants in this area and other bugs, so watch your food and do not forget to apply insect repellent, and you'll be fine.

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    Bridalveil Creek Campground
    Bridalveil Creek Campground
    Bridalveil Creek Campground

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    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - 2025 May 12: Mariposa Grove Perimeter Trail and Biledo Meadow Trail

    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

    4.4(128 reviews)
    2.3 mi

    Better Off Red The…read morelargest sequoia grove in Yosemite features over 500 trees, some of which are over 3,000 years old. Fun fact: The grove was first protected by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864, in the middle of the Civil War. The Good: * Free shuttle to get to the grove from the visitor center, leaving every 15 minutes. * Horses are allowed on the Perimeter Trail. * Restrooms are available throughout (check the website or map for locations). * Bikes are allowed on certain trails (check the website). * A variety of different loops ranging from 0.5 miles (Big Trees Loop) to a more strenuous 7 miles (Mariposa Grove Trail). * Obviously, the big draw here is the trees. And, boy howdy, do they have some spectacular trees! The Meh: * The shuttle schedule changes by season, so check the website when making travel plans. * No dogs allowed. * No food services at or around the park, so pack your snacks. The Ugly: * Mariposa Grove Road is closed to cars from December to approximately mid-April (weather dependent), but the park is still open for hiking and snowshoeing. Conclusion: Come for the trees, but stay for the nature. :)

    A top sight and part of the original plan for Yosemite. It's quite a drive from the valley at…read moreleast an hour and near the south entrance. You have to park in the lot and take a free shuttle to the grove. The shuttles come every 10-15 minutes. There are bathrooms near the entrance. The hike around the grove is less than 3 miles and pretty easy for most people

    Photos
    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias - 2025 May 12: Mariposa Grove Perimeter Trail and Biledo Meadow Trail

    2025 May 12: Mariposa Grove Perimeter Trail and Biledo Meadow Trail

    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
    Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

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    Crane Flat Campground - Rude

    Crane Flat Campground

    4.0(60 reviews)
    19.8 mi

    Clean, well laid out campground. Appears to have recently undergone a renovation, and all sites are…read moreequipped with a bear box, fire ring and picnic table. Bathrooms were clean with a dish sink room to dispose of dirty dish water. This is bear country, so ensure all scented and food items are in the bear locker. We did not have any bear encounters during our stay. Sites are situated close to each other, so you are subject to whomever occupies the sites next to yours. Water only available at the dish sink at the bathroom in your campground, there are no additional spigots near the sites. Beautiful campground about a half hour drive from Yosemite valley. There is ample downed wood you can find and collect for firewood, but bring a camping axe.

    Thank goodness for the National Park ranger who helped us book this campground…read more I accidentally mixed our dates to Yosemite and unfortunately showed up to our Glacier Point campground with the correct booking. We used the sheet provided to us by the ranger to try to book a campground and got lucky with a one night stay at Crane Flat! They have running water, clean toilets, and a place to fill your water containers that's great for rinsing your cooking items/etc. Our location had a table, a bear lock storage container, and a fire pit with a grill! We also had parking for up to two cars. It is about a 20-25 minute drive down to Yosemite Valley (traffic dependent) and a short walk from a convenience store and gas station. Perfect spot if you're focusing your trip on the Tioga Pass section of Yosemite.

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    Crane Flat Campground
    Crane Flat Campground - Small incline, easy for little kids to enjoy

    Small incline, easy for little kids to enjoy

    Crane Flat Campground - Nothing left out had a scent inside.

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    Nothing left out had a scent inside.

    Summerdale Campground - campgrounds - Updated September 2026

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