This southern gateway to Yosemite National Park is worth a stopover for lake activities.
Just 17 miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park, the small community of Bass Lake is a great option for an RV stay, especially for those who didn’t snag a coveted camping spot in the park. The lake is about an hour north of Fresno and offers swimming, fishing, kayaking, water-skiing, and boat rentals, as well as a boat launch if you’re towing your own. The hiking trails of Sierra National Forest are nearby, as is the family-favorite Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Around the lake are a couple of RV parks, at least one of which offers full hookups, a pool, and laundry. Campgrounds dot the lakeshore, but just a few allow small RVs only and not usually with hookups. More RV sites can be found along Highway 41. Bass Lake is busiest in the hot, dry summer. Consider spring or fall for a quieter atmosphere before the chilly, wet winter.