What to expect when camping in Hodgdon Meadow Campground in Yosemite National Park, California. Campsite photos, rules and regulations, Campground map and more

campsite in Hogdon Meadows Campground Yosemite National Park

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

Hodgdon Meadow Campground

Hodgdon Meadow Campground is located really close to the Big Oak Flat Entrance of Yosemite National Park. This campground is about 45 minutes northwest of Yosemite Valley.

If you are looking to stay outside of the valley and surrounded by big trees this is a great campground for you!

This campground offers individual and group sites close to highway 120. When we visited the campground it was relatively quiet and very peaceful. This would be a great campground if you are looking to be in the park but not in the hustle and bustle of Yosemite Valley.

You will be close to the road to Tuolumne Meadows, horseback riding areas, and other popular activities within the park without having to be in the traffic of Yosemite Valley.

Check out all of the Yosemite Camping options! There are 13 campgrounds within Yosemite National Park!

Four of the campgrounds are in Yosemite Valley, five of them are along the Tioga Pass and Tuolumne Meadows which are open seasonally, the rest are found along Highways 120 and 140.

Hodgdon Meadow Campground Map

Campground Reservations

Are campground Reservations Available? Yes

Online? Yes, reservations can be made online at recreation.gov

How Far Ahead can you make a reservation? Individual sites at this campground are block released on the 15th. of each month

Campground Information

Season: Year Round

Number of Sites: 105

Location in the park: 45 miles northwest of Yosemite Valley near the Big Oak Flat Entrance.

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

Campground Address: Big Oak Flat Road, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude:
37.7988889
37° 47' 56.0000" N

Longitude:
-119.8658333
119° 51' 56.9999" W

Elevation: 4,875 feet

Accessible Sites: N/A

Campground Amenities

Flush toilets and drinking water are available in the campground. Each site has a fire ring and a food storage box. There are is also a picnic table, fire ring and parking space for each site.

Some sites are a bit of a walk down a small incline or into an open area from the parking area.

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?

A gas station and small general store are eight miles away at Crane Flat.

Fire pit in the site? Yes

Picnic Table in the site? Yes

Bear Box in site/area? Yes, (45x18x33)

Absolutely NO food stored in vehicles

You are required to store food properly in order to protect Yosemite's bears.

Potable Water? Yes

RV Camping at Hodgdon Meadow Campground

RV Length: RVs up to 35, Trailers up to 27 feet

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: In Yosemite Valley

Generators: Yes during the following time periods - 7 am to 9 am, 12 pm to 2 pm, and 5 pm to 7 pm.

Hookups: No, There are no electric, water, or sewer hook-ups at this facility

Hodgdon Meadow Group Campground

Number of Sites: 4, tent only

Min Num of People: 13

Max Num of People: 30

Reservations: Yes

Max Num of Vehicles: 5

Pets are not permitted in group campsites

Hodgdon Meadow 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!

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.

Photo of a 2024 America The Beautiful National Park Pass that featured a winning photograph taken by photographer Paulette Donnellon at Wuptaki National Monument of a Eastern Collard Lizard.

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.