Yosemite National Park Travel Forum

We have use of a friend's RV (33') for 9 days from June 23 - July 2, and want to go to Yosemite. Alas, the sites all appear to be full (in Yosemite and nearly everywhere else nearby), but we got reservations at Bass Lake/Lupine campgrounds for 4 nights. We're pretty flexible, and my kids are dying to go to Yosemite (alright, I admit it, so am I). My thought was to try and take a day trip up to Yosemite and get into a campsite that's first come, first served in Yosemite, one which also allows RVs.

I'm happy to eat a night or two at Lupine if I can use it as a staging ground to get into Yosemite, and then stay there the rest of the time, but I just don't know how hard it is to get one of those campgrounds. I believe that only Bridelvail and Tuolomne Meadows have first come, first served for RVs of 33', and I'm not sure when Bridalvale will even be open (I thought the site was avaialble for a horse reservation for that time, but it's impossible to see if the whole campground is open). The NPS website said that it's tentatively set to open July 5, but does that mean it could be earlier OR later? Is it worth trying to go there?

Is Tuolomne too far to try to get to and risk failing? I figure since Bass Lake is only about an hour or so from the park, it's not too hard to take the drive to Bridalvale Creek and not get a place, but Tuolomne is a lot further away, and that would be a major drag.

A couple more questions:
1) Are there cancellations at the reservation-only sites that you can get in to at the last minute?
2) If we don't have a separate car we're hitching along, will we lose our campsite if we take the RV out to dump it and fill up on water at some point? 3) Is there some way to keep your campsite when you leave it for a little while (I understand it's different when you leave your tent there all set up, but here our "tent" would be riding along with us).

I'm curous about the thoughts of some more experienced people.

Thanks.

Hi!

Try posting your questions in the Yosemite Forums (http://yosemitenews.info/forum/list.php?f=1). Some very knowlegeable people on there!

Also, have you checked the National Park Service website? http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campground.htm

Have fun, camping in Yosemite is great!

btw, in answer to your question about cancellations: we noticed (this was at Upper Pines Campground but I think the same applies to all campgrounds) that people with reservations could check in until 3 o'clock (official check in time is 12). After 3 o'clock reservations of those who failed to show up were given to people who showed up without reservations. There was an impressive line though, so I'm not sure about your chances risking this!

Most campgrounds have a post with a clip where you clip your receipt. I am not sure if Yosemite uses this system, but most National Parks do. This tells people what dates the site is occupied. People also tend to leave a few items out (not food, that draws in critters). Items, such as lawn chairs, however, will alert people that the site is in use.

The Pines campgrounds in Yosemite don't use the clip-on system Kimberley describes. I guess it would be best to leave some items out (but not food or toiletries!) like Kimberley suggests.

Since they don't have the little date pole for your receipt, I have seen people who use little orange cones or other obstructions to place in the entrance to their sight. I have also seen paper bags with notes such as "In Use" placed over objects that can be set out in the entrance to your site.