Campgrounds and RV parks near Oakhurst, CA

The main draw is Yosemite National Park. From Oakhurst, Highway 41 climbs to the South Entrance and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, where a paved loop reaches the towering Grizzly Giant. Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, and Wawona are all reachable as day trips. Bass Lake, about 15 minutes east of town, offers swimming, fishing, boating, and lakeside dining. Sierra National Forest surrounds the area with hiking trails, swim holes, waterfalls, and forest roads suitable for day exploration. In winter, Goat Meadow Snow Play Area provides sledding and tubing on mild slopes, plus access to snowshoe and cross-country ski routes through the surrounding forest. Badger Pass Ski Area, inside Yosemite, adds downhill, tubing, and Nordic options when the road is open.

Summer is peak season. Yosemite Valley and the South Entrance see heavy traffic from June through August, and Sierra National Forest campgrounds along Sky Ranch Road typically open from late May through early September. Daytime temperatures in the foothills are hot and dry, while elevations above 5,000 feet stay noticeably cooler at night. Smoke from regional wildfires can affect air quality from mid-summer into fall. Spring brings waterfall flow at its strongest in Yosemite, but higher-elevation forest roads and campgrounds may still be closed by snow or mud into May. Fall offers thinner crowds, cool nights, and generally stable weather through October. Winter closes most Sierra National Forest campgrounds and many Yosemite campgrounds from November through mid-April. Highway 41 stays plowed to Yosemite's South Entrance, but tire chains are often required, and forest spur roads to dispersed sites are typically snow-covered and inaccessible. Goat Meadow Snow Play Area opens informally whenever snowpack allows.

Highway 41 is the main RV corridor and is paved and well-maintained, but it climbs steadily from Oakhurst to Fish Camp and the park entrance, with grades that demand attention in larger rigs. Many Sierra National Forest campgrounds cap trailer length around 20 feet, so check size limits before booking. Cell service is spotty once north of town and unreliable inside Yosemite. Bears are active across the region. Food, coolers, and scented items must be stored in hard-sided RVs or bear-proof lockers, and Yosemite enforces this strictly. Wildlife sightings around private campgrounds commonly include deer, wild turkeys, and black bears. Inside Yosemite, day-use or peak-hours reservations may apply during busy periods, so check current park rules before driving up from Oakhurst.