Re: camping at Tuolumne Meadows on 4th of July

Hello everyone,

Just a quick question. All the sites are reserved for the 4th of July weekend in Toulumne Meadows, Im sure the other half are open for walk-ins. Anyone have any experience going there w/o an rsvp and getting one regular camping site for a tent on a 4th of July weekend? I was thinking of arriving Thursday morning to secure it for the weekend. Thanks in advance.

That's the busiest weekend of the summer. I wouldn't count on getting a site, but if you get there early enough, you might.

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sdcamper
I was thinking of arriving Thursday morning to secure it for the weekend.

Ok, if you get there early on Thursday morning, you should be able to get a site.

Here's one data point for you - on Thurs. July 5 2007 I arrived at T Meadows at around 10:30 a.m., and the campground was only about two-thirds full. I was very surprised to find so many open spots, and had thought chances were good as the 4th was a Wednesday, and some folks would take the 2nd-3rd-4th off. I believe TM is the 2nd largest campground in the Nat'l Park system - 320+ spots, or thereabouts.

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vdrummer
Here's one data point for you - on Thurs. July 5 2007 I arrived at T Meadows at around 10:30 a.m., and the campground was only about two-thirds full. I was very surprised to find so many open spots, and had thought chances were good as the 4th was a Wednesday, and some folks would take the 2nd-3rd-4th off. I believe TM is the 2nd largest campground in the Nat'l Park system - 320+ spots, or thereabouts.

I was thinking about this issue. I have for many years made an effort to go to Yellowstone on July 4th. It seems to me, as noted above, the July 4th may be unpredictible. In fact, I believe that families tend to be gone from National Parks on the 4th to accomodate those who want to view fireworks. Can't speak to the Yosemite sitch precisely, but I suspect that many families will leave around July 4th to get to areas where fireworks, sparklers, and other explosive entertainment is available.

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

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vdrummer
Here's one data point for you - on Thurs. July 5 2007 I arrived at T Meadows at around 10:30 a.m., and the campground was only about two-thirds full. I was very surprised to find so many open spots, and had thought chances were good as the 4th was a Wednesday, and some folks would take the 2nd-3rd-4th off. I believe TM is the 2nd largest campground in the Nat'l Park system - 320+ spots, or thereabouts.

NPS claims 304 sites at TM plus 4 horse sites and 7 group sites.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tmcamp.htm

Now Gros Venture Campground at Grand Teton is huge with 360 sites and 5 group sites. Colter Bay at Grand Teton has 350 sites plus 11 group sites.

http://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm#CP_JUMP_31287

Check out Yellowstone. They've got two campgrounds (Bridge Bay and Grant) with more sites than TM - over 400 sites each. Fishing Bridge is an RV park, so it doesn't count. They've got over 325 sites.

http://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/camping-in-yellowstone.htm

And Mather Campground at the Grand Canyon has 327 sites.

http://www.recreation.gov/camping/Mather_Campground_Az/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70971&topTabIndex=CampingSpot

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y_p_w
Fishing Bridge is an RV park, so it doesn't count. They've got over 325 sites.

Sounds like a parking lot.

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eeek

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y_p_w
Fishing Bridge is an RV park, so it doesn't count. They've got over 325 sites.

Sounds like a parking lot.

$35/night with full hookups. The pictures I've seen look more like wide driveways between trees. Not quite a parking lot, but it doesn't look like they designed it with any clearings for tents.

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eeek

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y_p_w
Fishing Bridge is an RV park, so it doesn't count. They've got over 325 sites.

Sounds like a parking lot.

Madison in Yellowstone tends to be that way. My favorite is Norris for a centrally located campground with some amenities. Otherwise the Pebble Creek or Slough Creek (if you like the skeeters) are just fine.

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The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

I went on the 4th in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and the valley seemed empty the day before, the day of, and the day after. IMO, its a good time to go. I was in the park two weeks ago, and it was way more crowded than over the 4th.

Thank you everyone. I think we're going to go, and hopefully get a spot.

Get there no later than 7am. We always been able to get a spot for the last 20 years.No reservations ever. You can always
switch to a better site when one opens up.

Daave

Awesome, I hope I get a good spot or change it. I'm coming from the LA area, do you happen to know what time they open the south side enterance? Hopefully I can make there real early. I couldn't find that info on the nps/yosemite webpage. Thanks!

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sdcamper
do you happen to know what time they open the south side enterance?

They don't close it.