National Park Service
Near Lee Vining, California: $36/night, rigs to 35 ft. Open Typically July through September (Tioga Road dependent). Book 5 months ahead on the 15th 7am PT via Recreation.gov.
National Park Service
Managing authority
Near Lee Vining, California
How much does camping at Tuolumne Meadows Campground (Yosemite NP) cost, and when is it open?
Tuolumne Meadows Campground (Yosemite NP) near Lee Vining, California (National Park Service) — camping fee $36/night, season Typically July through September (Tioga Road dependent), RV size limit Up to 35 ft. Reservations: 5 months ahead on the 15th 7am PT via Recreation.gov — book direct through the official channel.
The numbers
Fee range
$36/night
Season open
Typically July through September (Tioga Road dependent)
RV size limit
Up to 35 ft
Reservation window
5 months ahead on the 15th 7am PT via Recreation.gov
The insider read
Highest campground in Yosemite at 8,600 ft. Tioga Road opening date varies year-to-year (June-July depending on snowpack) — don't book July dates until the NPS opening announcement. Cathedral Lakes trailhead is a 10-min drive.
Original analysis from PickRV — synthesised from public sources you can verify, pulling the operational details competitor guides typically skip.
Verify at nps.govOn site
Book it right
PickRV doesn't handle campground bookings — reserve direct through the official channel so policies and cancellations flow through one record.
Opens recreation.gov
Every fact above is sourced from the managing agency's canonical page. Cross-check fee, season, and size limit before you depend on them.
Match the campground's size limit and hookup level to a vehicle category, then plan the rest of the trip.
Keep exploring
Near Big Sur
StateInsider tip · Big Sur River sites (loop B 30-45) are the prized spots — book exactly 6 months out 8am PT. The campground access road has a hard 32-ft limit; anything longer goes to private campgrounds further south.
Near Mineral
NPSInsider tip · Lassen is the least-visited NPS unit in California — even in August you can walk away from the lake at 8am and have it to yourself. Camper cabins (separate booking) come fully furnished except linens.
Near Los Osos
StateInsider tip · No hookups, no showers — but you wake to seals barking and surf 200 ft from the tent. Sites 1-19 are walk-in (50-200 ft from parking); sites 20-47 are drive-in but smaller. The 'Bluff Trail' starts at the day-use lot a quarter-mile north.
Near Borrego Springs
StateInsider tip · Largest state park in California — 600,000 acres. Super-bloom March of wet years draws crowds; check 'desert-usa.com' wildflower report before booking. The full-hookup loop is the only one in the entire park; book that first.
Nearby & related
Sourced costs, campground directories, and the places worth a detour — the next layer of California trip planning.
Before you go
California rules
Verified 2026-05-10