expansive campground in Yosemite National Park showcases impressive improvements and hiking-accessible sites
Tuolumne Meadows Campground in Yosemite National Park Reopens After Three-Year Renovation
After a three-year closure, Tuolumne Meadows Campground in Yosemite National Park has officially reopened on August 1, 2025. The campground, located at an elevation of 8,600 feet along Tioga Road, is now fully operational with 336 campsites serving up to 2,200 visitors per night.
The $26 million renovation project was funded by the Great American Outdoors Act and aimed to update the aging infrastructure originally constructed in the 1930s and expanded in the 1960s. Key renovation highlights include modernized infrastructure for accessibility compliance, replacement of aging water distribution and sewer systems, upgraded restrooms, the addition of 29 hike-in campsites, restoration efforts to protect the nearby river habitat, and improvements to the Dana Campfire Circle amphitheater.
Tuolumne Meadows Campground is Yosemite's largest campground and serves as a popular basecamp for exploring the park’s high-country backcountry. Its reopening marks the first time in six years that all 13 Yosemite campgrounds are open simultaneously for the season, which runs typically from July to late September due to snowfall.
The campground covers almost 140 acres of land and offers a quieter, less crowded experience in the Sierra Nevada's alpine expanse. Reservations for the campground are nearly fully booked, reflecting strong visitor demand for this revitalized high-elevation alpine camping experience in a quieter part of Yosemite away from the valley’s crowds.
The Loop A road was moved to create a 150-foot buffer from the Tuolumne River, and the campground now offers 304 standard and hike-in sites, 21 backpacker sites, seven group sites, and four horse sites. Fees for the campground are $36 per night for standard sites, $75 for group sites, and $50 for horse/stock sites.
The project included renovations to restrooms, the addition of 29 new hike-in campsites, and updates to campsite fixtures. The Dana Campfire Circle now offers accessible routes and companion seating. The campground's bear country status requires strict food storage in provided lockers.
Twenty-one campsites within a 100-foot zone were relocated due to the environmental focus of the project, and the rehabilitation prioritized environmental stewardship, with a focus on protecting the unique and sensitive riparian habitat of specific federally designated areas.
The grand reopening of the Tuolumne Meadows Campground signals brighter futures for national park infrastructure nationwide. The campground typically brings in about 141,000 overnight guests each year and is located along Tioga Road, about an hour and a half's drive from the Yosemite Valley floor. Reservations for the campground are available through Recreation.gov, with half released in monthly blocks two months in advance and the other half released on a rolling two-week window.
- Visitors at Tuolumne Meadows Campground can now enjoy a revitalized outdoor-living experience, as the campground, known for its home-and-garden-like setting, offers updated facilities and amenities following a three-year renovation.
- As part of the project, sports enthusiasts will appreciate the addition of 29 hike-in campsites, making it easier to explore Yosemite's high-country backcountry and engage in diverse sports activities.
