jkr

Planning a tent camping trip with 4 to 5 days to spend in NP area last week of July. Driving from Lake Tahoe. At this late date all reservable campgrounds are full in Yosemite. Kings Canyon has many first come first serve by hwy 180 entrance. Not interested in primitive campgrounds and looking for some elevation as heard it can be warm at lower elevations.

How would Kings Canyon be as base camp to visit the area parks? How long of drive up to Yosemite? Have never been in area.

Suzie

It would be way too far to drive from a base camp in Sequoia Kings Canyon to see Yosemite.

It would be at least 80 miles one way. In addition you'd likely have to head back to the Fresno area and then in to Yosemite via the South entrance. There will be road work between Fish Camp & the valley that will add time to your drive.

You can try for something close but outside the park. ANything would be better than driving all the way from SKC. Here's a link to a map that lists other camping:

http://jrabold.net/yosemite/campn.shtml

http://www.yosemitepinesrv.com/

http://www.yosemitesprings.com/accom...s/campgrounds/

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/campi...park-5248.html

janisj

To follow on from suzie's post:

And those 80+ miles are not freeway miles. It would take forever.

jkr

I was afraid that would be the case - forever drive time. Private campground links - all say 25 miles from park...but not where in park...Guess closest park entrance. One is NW of park on 120 by Groveland, one W of park on 140 and one S of park on 141. Are all 3 roads drive time about the same to the park?

In planning - wonder if should stay 1 nite on East side of Yosemite since driving from Tahoe? See sights of Tioga road. Camp on West side for 2 days and then move to Kings Canyon for 1 day.
Intestest: Hiking, See tioga meadows, the valley, hiking off glacier point road, see mariposa grove trees.
For Kings Canyon & Sequoia - see the trees.

Placename

There is camping on the east side of Yosemite, outside the park. However, these are primitive campgrounds.

Placename

Tuolumne Meadows campground does have first-come, first-served availabilty if you can't get a reservation. If you are coming on a weekday, you have a reasonable chance if you are willing to be in line first thing in the am. The office opens at 8:30, so if you were in line at 7:30, you'd have a good chance.

"In order to have a reasonable chance of finding a campsite from spring through fall, you should arrive by noon on weekdays and midmorning on weekends. (Camp 4 usually fills by 9 am; Tuolumne Meadows Campground may fill by 8:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays.)

Daily campground availability information is available by calling 209/372-0266 (this is a recording)."

jkr

How long does it take to drive from Emerald Bay at Lake Tahoe to Tuolumne Meadows? We would drive on a Tuesday.

Any tips to find driving times vs mileage in Yosemite area?

Could we leave Tahoe at 7am, drive to Yosemite, see sights on Togia road, do a 2 hour hike and continue drive to West side of park to a campground 25 miles from an entrance and arrive before dark? Is it reasonable?

Placename

I'd say 3 hours from Emerald Bay to Tioga Pass. It's another 2 hour's (or more drive) from Tioga to the Valley floor. It's a drive you don't want to rush because it is so very beautiful, and there are many nice places to see in Tuolumne Meadowns.

It wouldn't be a problem to make it to west side of the park by dark, just depends on how long you want to spend in the Tuolomne Meadows/Tenaya Lake/Olmstead Point areas.

Suzie

The daylight is very long in July. You'd have plenty of daylight left to set up camp.

jkr

I just found out one private campground (23 miles from an entrance) is 2 hour drive south of Yosemite valley...that could be minimum 7 hours drive with no stops from Tahoe? Also that daytime temp can be 105...that is HOT in a tent. We need to get in higher elevation.
Is there anyone in the park or forest service to call that is familiar with the campgrounds that might help us find a site...or are we really just to late to plan a visit to the area at this late date?

Suzie

You could leave Tahoe and head south on 395 take in Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake. You could stay in a Lee Vining area campgound.

Have you also checked private campgrounds like Indian Flat campground? It's between The west Gate (Arch Rock) and Mariposa.

http://www.indianflatrvpark.com/accomodations.htm

Mariposa also has a KOA. You can take YARTS into the park so you wouldn't have to drive.


http://www.koa.com/where/ca/05195/

TentCamper

We camp in Sequoia National Park every year, at least 2 times. I would recommend camping in Stony Creek Campground or Upper Stony Creek Campground. I see that there are still reservations available in late July. (We're going ourselves 7/18 - 7/21) There are flush toilets in Stony Creek and showers are available 1 mile away. You'll be in Sequoia National Forest so the campsites will be twice the size of the sites in the National Park. You'll be about 15 minutes from General Sherman tree and the Sequoia National Park area. You can drive to Kings Canyon and spend a day hiking that area, it's about 45 minutes to 1 hour to Kings Canyon on the winding road. Stony Creek reservation: http://www.reserveamerica.com/campin...ex=CampingSpot


I would stay at least 3 days in the Sequoia/Kings Canyon area. Then when we go to Yosemite, if we can't get into the campgrounds inside, we drive to Wishon Bass Lake campground right outside of Yosemite. There is a beautiful lake to swim and boat in. Then make the 1 hour drive into Yosemite valley. I saw there are also sites available during the end of July in this campground as well. We have made this trip combo many times and absolutely love it.

Good luck and if you have any other questions, feel free to contact me, I'd be happy to provide details.

Wishon Bass Lake Campground:
http://www.reserveamerica.com/campin...ex=CampingSpot

jkr

These sound wonderful and look nice and roomy. We have a large tent 10x16. Is there much difference between Upper Stoney creek and Stoney Creek other than size and vault vs flush toilets? I couldn't find elevation...how hot does it get the last week of July? I didn't have any luck finding availabity on the weekend but did during the week July 27-29. Would love to stay another day or two - any other suggestions?

spirobulldog

I think tent camper gave you some great options. Generally nights are cooler, so you would probably sleep ok when it cools down.

Otis_B_Driftwood

There are many fine campgrounds in the Sequoia/Kings Canyon area. Many don't need reservations. Just show up early on a Sunday-Wednesday morning and you should have no problem getting a site. Once you have one of these non-reserved sites, you can stay for up to 14 days. We have camped in Azaela and Sunsst campgounds several times and have always found nice sites that were not too small. Just avoid the weeks surrounding July 4 and Labor Day. These campgrounds are about 6500 feet as are the Stony Creek campgrounds. The nights are nice and cool.

Yosemite Valley is a different situation. Getting a site nearby is really tough in the summer. When we go, it's in Spring or Fall. Yosemite Valley is way too crowded in the summer. So, unless we have guests visiting, we try to avoid it in July and August. There are many, many other camping options in the Sierra at that time.

TentCamper

jkr,

We've camped in Stony Creek with the flush toilets in a 10 x 14 tent with room to spare. Upper Stony Creek is just across the street. There are only about 12 sites in Upper Stony Creek so it's a bit quieter. You would not have a problem with your tent size at either campground. The elevation of 6500 makes it great weather for hiking and yes, you'll need a sweatshirt/jacket and a good campfire at night.

You can also look into Dorst Creek campground in Sequoia National Park. We also like this campground, but the sites are much closer togther. It looks like there are sites available for the weekend of July 30th. http://www.reserveamerica.com/campin...ex=CampingSpot

Sequoia National Park is a great location. Where Yosemite gets really hot since it's a much lower elevation, (think 90s in July), Sequoia is in the 80s. Yosemite is definately a must see spot, but we like it in the spring time. It is really crowded in July. Where Sequoia has the tourists, but it's quite a bit less and you can escape the crowds.

If you camp at Wishon Bass Lake, you can have the Yosemite experience during the day, and go swimming at the lake as well. To stay in Yosemite Valley, is a wonder. Just set your Outlook calendar to remind you the day they go on sale and start booking at 7:00 am PST. It can be done.

Either way, you'll have an excellent time. We love them both and find new places to explore every time we go.

Oh, by the way, when you go to Sequoia, take a hike around dusk at Crescent Meadow and drive very, very slowly on the way. You're sure to see bears. We do every time, without fail.

jkr

What is the difference in Kings canyon and Sequoia NP?
Does Sequoia National Forest surrond both on the west side?
Anyone camped in Kings Canyon?

spirobulldog

There are groves of trees in both places. Most people see both. General Grant is the famous tree in Kings Canyon and General Sherman in Sequoia. They are administered together and really act as one park. You should read the NPS website and it really tells you about the hikes. You might want to check out the cave in Sequoia as well. If you are just talking trees, the Sequoia/Kings Canyon area is much better than Yosemite. Yosemite just has a couple of smaller Groves and they are very nice, but Sequoia/KC is much better, in my opinion. Yosemite does have the killer waterfalls, though. Both places are awesome. I agree with tentcamper, see Yosemite earlier in the year, to avoid some of the crowd. We did Sequoia at Christmas a couple of years ago, it was great in the snow.