Stay right in Yosemite National Park for the most intimate experience of being there. The National Park Service has 13 campgrounds within the park and seven of them can be reserved in advance. The six remaining are first-come, first-served which makes it risky to show up without a prior reservation in peak season. The campgrounds vary in amenities but none have hook-ups. Several have flush toilets, one has showers and most sites can handle RVs. Three of the park campgrounds are for riders or hikers with pack animals. Bridalveil Creek and Tuolumne Meadows allow six horses and six people per site for $25 per night, as of December, 2010. Wawona has two horse sites that require reservations. Check with the park for horse trailer restrictions.
Outside the park itself there are numerous commercial and national forest campgrounds, and reservations are strongly advised -- for those sites that accept them -- in summer. For those who are into the scenery but not much for roughing it, Yosemite-Mariposa KOA campground provides what passes for pampering. Stay in one of the dozen cabins that share the bathhouse with campers. Let the kids loose to play video games in an old train caboose. Shop at the convenience store, work out in the pedal boats, swim in the pool or do a little catch-and-release fishing. For a break from your camping vacation, catch the shuttle or drive the 23 miles to Yosemite National Park and keep your lunch locked away from the bears. Cabins are priced from $68 as of December 2010.
Saddlebag Lake is located at a lofty 10,000-foot elevation with fabulous views over Yosemite at every campsite. It does not take reservations. There are only 20 RV and tent sites, no hook-ups, vault toilets and a water pump. The campground is popular with hikers because it's a great starting off point for forays into the surrounding mountains and trails around the lake. Fishing and boating are additional options -- you can rent a small boat, buy fishing gear and even pick up some pies at the onsite store. The pies may come in handy if you have no luck fishing. The site is in the Inyo National Forest at the edge of the Hoover Wilderness and charges $19 per day for a site where you can camp for a maximum of 14 days.
