What you need to know to plan an epic camping trip at Crane Flat Campground in Yosemite National Park, California. 2019 site photos and more

Here are my top finds for Yosemite National Park:
🏨Hotels: Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley Lodge (In the park), The Pines Resort
📍Tours: Yosemite Sugar Pine Railroad, Yosemite Highlights Small Group Tour
🐻 Save time! Buy your National Park Pass before your trip

Crane Flat Campground

Crane Flat Campground is on Big Oak Flat Road in Yosemite National Park, California.

The campground offers a lot of shade even during the summer. There are tons of trees in the campground providing a bit of privacy between campsites.

The campground is 30 minutes from Yosemite Valley and offers easy access to the valley and Tioga Road.

Reservations are needed for most of the time the campground is open. During the early season, the campground may open on weekends for first come first serve.

You will want to make a reservation as soon as you know when you are planning to visit the park.

Camping in Yosemite is incredibly popular and sites fill up quickly. The reservations open five months in advance!!!!

Crane Flat Campground Map

Crane Flat Campground Reservations

Are campground Reservations Available? Yes

Phone Number? 1-877-444-6777

Online? Campsite reservations are available online at recreation.gov

How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Individual sites at Crane Flat Campground operate on a 14-day rolling basis.

Campground Information

Number of Sites: 166 sites - this will be lowered to 151 but with no reduction in overall capacity due to the addition of the double sites

Location in the park: On the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) just west of Crane Flat, about 30 minutes northwest of Yosemite Valley

Campsite cost: Make sure to check with the park for the most up-to-date camping fees

Campground Address: Tioga Pass, Tuolumne County, CA

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude:
37.7638889
37° 45' 50.0000" N

Longitude:
-119.8444444
119° 50' 39.9998" W

Elevation: 6,200 ft (1,900 m)

Accessible Sites: Sites 423 and 427

Campground Amenities

Flush Toilets: Yes

Payphone: No

Is wifi available? No

Is cellular Phone Service Available? No

Is camp host available on site? Yes

Is firewood available for purchase? Firewood can be purchased at the Crane Flat gas station or Yosemite Valley Grocery Store.

Amenities at each campsite:

Fire Ring in the site? Yes, Wood and charcoal fires are permitted

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Bear Box/ Food Storage in site/area? Yes,

You are required to store food properly in order to protect Yosemite's bears. Bear storage lockers are provided in all campsites 35"(D)x43"(W)x28"(H)

Potable Water? Yes

Closest Showers: Yosemite Valley (Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp)

RV Camping at Crane Flat Campground

RV Length: RVs up to 35 feet and trailers up to 27 feet

Not every site can accommodate equipment of these lengths. Be sure to read the site details when making a reservation on recreation.gov to ensure your equipment will fit into the site you're reserving.

Dump Station: Available all year in Yosemite Valley (in Upper Pines Campground) or, summer only, near Tuolumne Meadows Campground

Generators: 7 am - 9 pm, 12 pm - 2 pm, and 5 pm to 7 pm

Hookups: There are no electricity, water or sewer site hookups

How to get to Crane Flat Campground

Take Highway 41 north from Fresno, Highway 140 east from Merced, or Highway 120 east from Manteca into Yosemite National Park. Crane Flat Campground is located 8 miles from the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station (Hwy 120 from the west) and is 17 miles (30 minutes) northwest of Yosemite Valley.

Crane Flat Campground Regulations

The maximum number of people in a campsite: A maximum of six people (including children) are allowed per campsite. There is no limit on the number of tents (as long as they all fit into the campsite).

The number of cars per campsite: Two motorized vehicles per campsite. A valid campground car pass must be displayed.

Checkout time: 12 noon

Quiet Hours: Quiet hours are from 10 pm to 6 am

Maximum Stay: 7-day maximum stay limit.

Pets Allowed: Pets are allowed but they must be on a leash less than 6 feet long.

Pets are not allowed inside park buildings or on specific trails.

Best Yosemite National Park Tours & Activities

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
⭐️ Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 1-3.5 Hours | 🚂 Check Rates and Availability

Step back in time on this historic narrow-gauge railroad where powerful locomotives once hauled massive log trains through the Sierra National Forest, just 10 minutes from Yosemite's south entrance. The conductor-narrated rides (1 to 3.5 hours) take you through majestic woods while sharing the area's logging history, with options ranging from the classic steam train to special themed trips like the Moonlight Special and Yosemite Jazz Train. Perfect for families and multi-generational groups, the experience includes gold panning, a logging museum, and the Kids' Depot Toy Store, all wheelchair accessible with leashed dogs welcome on board.

Yosemite Highlights Small Group Tour
⭐️ Rating: 4.9 out of 5 Stars (803+ reviews) | ⏳ Tour Length: 9 hours | 🚐
Check Rates and Availability

This is the tour for first-time visitors who want to see everything without the stress of figuring it out on their own. Operated by Discover Yosemite, a TripAdvisor Travelers Choice award winner for two years running, this small-group tour covers the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias, Glacier Point, Yosemite Valley, and all the major viewpoints in one very full day. Lunch is included along with snacks and water.

Semi-Private Yosemite Tour with Ahwahnee Lunch and Hotel Pickup/Dropoff
⭐️ Rating: 4.8 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ Tour Length: 8 hours | 🚌Check Rates and Availability

This is an 8-hour tour that begins with a pick-up at your hotel or the meeting point.

The tour includes stops at Glacier Point(April-November), depending upon the weather, and several stops in the Yosemite Valley. The valley stops include Tunnel View, Bridalveil Falls, Sentinel Bridge, Chapel, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and more!

Check out more great tours of Yosemite. Tours include hiking, snowshoeing, roundtrip tours from San Francisco, and more!

Things to do When Camping at Crane Flat Campground

🌲 Walk through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, a short hike from the campground down a 2.5-mile round-trip trail to a beautiful stand of ancient big trees including the famous Dead Giant tunnel tree
🌳 Drive to the Merced Grove, the smallest and most secluded sequoia grove in Yosemite, for a quiet walk among ancient trees with far fewer visitors than the more famous Mariposa Grove
🚗 Drive east on Tioga Road to Tuolumne Meadows, Tenaya Lake, and Olmsted Point for the park's finest high-country scenery
🏔️ Access Yosemite Valley, about 16 miles south on Big Oak Flat Road, for El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, and the valley's full range of trails and attractions
🥾 Hike the Crane Flat Lookout Trail for views over the surrounding forest and ridge country from the historic fire lookout above the campground
🦌 Watch for black bears, mule deer, coyotes, and Steller's jays in the surrounding forest and adjacent meadows at dawn and dusk
📸 Photograph the giant sequoias in the Tuolumne Grove in the soft morning light filtering through the forest canopy
🌿 Walk through the Crane Flat Meadow near the campground junction for open views and wildflower viewing in early summer

Lodges In Yosemite National Park

⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Ahwahnee Hotel - Click here for Rates and Availability.

The Ahwahnee stands as Yosemite's most iconic lodge, a National Historic Landmark that has hosted royalty and presidents while offering unmatched views of Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. This architectural masterpiece blends historic elegance with modern comfort, featuring fine dining, a heated outdoor pool, and artisan shops right at your doorstep. After a day exploring the valley's waterfalls and granite cliffs, you'll appreciate the world-class hospitality and luxurious amenities that make this more than just a place to stay.

⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Yosemite Valley Lodge - Click here for Rates and Availability.

Yosemite Valley Lodge sits right at the base of Yosemite Falls, offering 245 rooms including family rooms and bunk rooms perfect for groups exploring the park together. The lodge's glass-and-wood architecture frames incredible views while keeping you close to trailheads, with shuttle access, multiple dining options, and seasonal bike rentals right onsite. After hiking to Vernal Fall or exploring the valley floor, cool off in the seasonal outdoor pool or grab a meal before heading to the outdoor amphitheater for evening ranger programs.

⭐️ 4.3 of 5 Stars - Curry Village Tent Cabins - Click here for Rates and Availability.

Nestled beneath Glacier Point since 1899, Curry Village tents offers an authentic lodging experience. This historic base camp puts you right in the heart of Yosemite Valley with multiple dining options, an outdoor pool, and easy shuttle access to trailheads and waterfalls.

Lodges near Yosemite National Park

There are several great lodging options near Yosemite National Park. We are huge fans of staying in Oakhurst, California and entering the park from the southern entrance. Check out my Oakhurst Lodging Guide.

⭐️ 4.4 of 5 Stars - The Pines Resort at Bass Lake - Click here for Rates and Availability.

The only lakeside resort in the Yosemite area, sitting right on the shores of Bass Lake just 17 miles from Yosemite National Park's South Gate with a private beach, full marina, and some of the best sunsets in the Sierra Nevada!

Choose from lakeside suites with log-burning fireplaces, wet bars, and lake-view decks, two-story chalets with full kitchens, or a romantic Honeymoon Suite with an oversized jetted tub. Ducey's on the Lake serves farm-to-table cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with stunning water views, and the poolside beach bar is perfect for after-hike refreshments. Amenities include a seasonal outdoor pool with pool hoist, hot tub, full-service spa, 24-hour fitness center, yoga classes, boat and kayak rentals, two tennis courts, billiards room, convenience market, live entertainment, coin-operated laundry, free WiFi, and free parking. Pet friendly and open year-round!

⭐️ 4.8 of 5 Stars - Chateau du Sureau - Click here for Rates and Availability.

A Forbes Five Star, AAA Four Diamond Provence-inspired castle tucked in the Sierra Nevada foothills just 20 miles from Yosemite's South Gate, widely regarded as the finest luxury hotel in the entire Yosemite region!

The 11 individually designed rooms and suites feature working fireplaces, pillowtop mattresses, down comforters, hypoallergenic bedding, separate soaking tubs and showers, Moulton Brown toiletries, slippers, robes, and private balconies overlooking nine acres of terraced French gardens. A bottle of local rosé awaits you on arrival, and a full gourmet breakfast is included each morning with fresh-squeezed orange juice. The legendary Erna's Elderberry House restaurant is one of California's most celebrated dining destinations, drawing food lovers from across the state for its tasting menus and wine pairings. Additional amenities include a full-service spa, seasonal outdoor pool, bocce court, concierge, valet parking, room service, free WiFi, and free parking. No children under 10. Pet friendly with a fee, open year-round!

Click on this link or the map below to see additional lodging options near Yosemite NP.

https://www.stay22.com/embed/61f07d51cbb4390015c70b0f

Yosemite National Park Entrance Fee

New in 2026: Each Non-US Resident aged 16 and older visiting Yosemite National Park must pay a $100 nonresident fee (in addition to the standard entrance fee), unless admitted with an annual or America the Beautiful Pass. This includes nonresidents entering as part of a commercial tour group, commercial use authorization (CUA) group, or concessioner tour group.

Park entrance fees are separate from camping and lodging fees.

Park Entrance Pass - $35.00 Per private vehicle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Park Entrance Pass - Motorcycle - $30.00 Per motorcycle (valid for 1-7 days from the date of purchase)

Per-Person Entrance Pass - $20.00 Visitors 16 years or older who enter on foot, bicycle, or as part of an organized group not involved in a commercial tour.

Annual Park Entrance Pass - $70.00, Admits pass holder and all passengers in a non-commercial vehicle. Valid for one year from the month of purchase.

$0.00 for Education/Academic Group

$300.00 for Non-Commercial Group (16+ persons)

$40.00-$20.00 for Commercial Sedan with 1-6 seats and non-commercial groups (16+ persons)

$20.00 for Commercial Van with 7-15 seats

$200.00 for Commercial Mini-Bus with 16-25 seats

$300.00 for Commercial Motor Coach with 26+ seats

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.

2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass

Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.

National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the free entrance days the National Park Service offers for US citizens and residents.