Forest camping near Merced with campfires
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94% (2051 reviews)
- Merced
94% (2051 reviews)
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11 top forest campgrounds near Merced with campfires
96%
(813)
Diamond Gulch
43 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents824 acres · Groveland, CA
CLOSE TO YOSEMITE! Explore the mines and hang out on our Groveland, California ranch! We are 35 minutes to the main gate of Yosemite National Park. A great place to stay just outside of the park.
We have 824 acres on a beautiful cattle ranch with two small ponds. On our property, you'll find frogs, turtles, oak trees, pine trees and stunning views of Yosemite.
We have several campsites to choose from including RV camping, tent camping, and a glamping tent. Pets are welcome. Campfires are permitted as long as there is no fire ban. Potable water and toilet are available onsite.
There's a golf course less than a mile away. We are also very close to town. In just a few minutes, you can drive to our local grocery store and pizza parlour.
We are a 10-minute drive to Pine Mountain Lake. Beautiful Pine Mountain Lake offers golfing, dining, horseback riding, water sports and an airport.
When you come to the ranch it feels like you are hundreds of miles away from civilization, but still close to everything you need. It is incredibly peaceful!
This is a great place for someone who wants to escape city life and enjoy the tranquillity of nature.
Much of the ranch is open wilderness for you to explore, and it's not uncommon to see deer, frogs, turtles, quail, turkeys, or other countless species of birds.
Diamond Gulch Camp is the perfect place to relax if you’re a photographer, artist, family or a group of friends looking for a place to camp near Yosemite.
A small portion of the property was used as a gold mine years ago, and you may find remnants of old home sites if you go exploring. We're not far from Wards Ferry Road, Groveland, Lake Don Pedro and other interesting places.
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$36
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88%
(450)
Yosemite Westlake Camp
33 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Coulterville, CA
Located on the John Muir Historic route to Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Westlake Campground and RV Park is convenient to all things Yosemite.
Between here and the park is Rainbow Pool, a well-known swimming hole that campers here often visit on their way back to the campground for a refreshing dip in the cool waters.
Coulterville was started as a gold-rush town. You can visit the museum and visitor center even try your hand at panning for gold.
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$51.30
/ night
97%
(566)
Wondernut Farm
4 sites · Lodging37 acres · Big Oak Flat, CA
Wondernut Farm is an upstart, entirely off grid, working farm-stead being built from the ground up. We breed milking goats and sheep, heritage pigs, and are in the process of converting to a grade A dairy and creamery! We use organic practices, management intensive rotational grazing, and dryland pasture management. We sell our animals locally so that others can have their own milking and meat animals. Our 110 year old hay barn and the roof of the former lumber mill were all we had to work with in getting off the ground.
Being first and foremost a functional farm, we can't help but offer a somewhat warts-and-all look into everything it takes to be working to our goals. Our hearts are, and always will be, educational and local community focused, and we work closely with farmers and friends alike in better understanding our innovative animal husbandry, power, pasture and water systems. Whenever we have time, we'll afford the same time and opportunities to interested hip-campers.
Our location is stunning and historic, and the beauty of the wild, natural landscape is powerful, yet offers easy access to both Yosemite Valley and the San Francisco Bay area. The area features excellent road and mountain biking in the immediate vicinity, vast access to hiking and backpacking trails, a huge variety of rock climbing in the area, the best whitewater rafting in California on the Tuolumne River, with some tasty places to eat or drink coffee in the nearby town of Groveland, just 10 minutes away.
Accommodations at the farm are certainly rustic, and private but not secluded, with occasionally heavily project-exploded shared kitchen and living space, showers, and airy flush toilets.
Do be advised that animals are pooping, hammers are hammering, sometimes we need to look into a health or animal injury related issue. Sometimes there is blood in an animal birth or slaughter, and our working guardian dogs have been known to be noisy some nights. Water and electricity are both very limited (though we reuse all our water), waste must be carefully sorted into a number of different categories, and there is always evidence of ump-teen projects unfolding at once. The most difficult condition during much of the summer are nuisance flies, which are always gone at night. We have almost no mosquitoes or ticks.
Depending on the exact situation and time of year, guests may have the opportunities to snuggle with baby animals and run our herd to or from pasture, and maybe even get their hands dirty picking veggies in the garden.
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$102
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94%
(35)
Camping At Yosemite's Doorstep
2 sites · RVs, Tents15 acres · Groveland, CA
Reserve your tent site on 15 exclusive, wooded-acres only 10 minutes from the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Once you've set up camp, you can explore the walking trails on the property and if you make it to the top, why not enjoy a lovely picnic with beautiful mountain views?
Conveniently located across the highway from a gas station and a general store, you never have to worry about running out of ice or forgetting to bring the bug spray.
If our base package isn't enough, as an "extra" we can have a tent set up and ready for you when you arrive. Whatever you're looking for, Yosemite's Doorstep is ready to provide the ideal camping experience to suit your needs.
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$80
/ night
96%
(246)
Hudson and Wendy's Land
2 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents5 acres · Oakhurst, CA
Welcome to Hidden Falls Yosemite Camp. Come and enjoy our beautiful and private micro climate, created by the cascading waterfalls from Nelder and Lewis Creek. Camp by the creekside and fall asleep to the sound of the meandering creek, with absolutely incredible views of the stars overhead. Both creeks feed into the head of the Fresno river next to the campsite. You'll be surrounded by Oaks, Alders, Pine and Cedar trees. Take a day trip to Yosemite, hike/bike in the mountains, or explore the nearby towns of Oakhurst and Bass Lake.
The south gate to Yosemite is approx. 20 minutes and Bass Lake is 5 minutes by car.
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$72
/ night
97%
(180)
Red Dragonfly Ranch
18 sites · Tents38 acres · Groveland, CA
At Red Dragonfly Ranch our goal is to create a HipCamp that our campers can fully enjoy. Our property is the destination of choice when visiting Yosemite or the gold country of the Sierra’s. We are only 29 miles from Yosemite Big Oak Flat entrance and only minutes away from the beautiful town of Groveland " The Gateway to Yosemite" and all the hidden gems in between.
We are working on maintaining the many raised beds, and our goal is to have our campers feel free to pick fresh herbs, fruits and veggies for their pleasure. Our seasonal spring fed Cobb creek is great to cool off in and shade is plentiful.
Follow us on instagram @red_dragonfly_ranch
Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have
Yosemite National Park Reservation Information :
A reservation is required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park for those driving into the park between 5 am and 4 pm as follows:
April 13 through June 30: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays ( May 27 and June 19) .
July 1 through August 16 : A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm every day
August 17 through October 27: A reservation is required from 5 am to 4 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays .
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$59
/ night
78%
(9)
El Captain’s View 4X4 ONLY Yosemite
2 sites · RVs, Tents80 acres · El Portal, CA
80 majestic acres of mountain top with a bird's eye view of El Capitan in Yosemite! No frills, no extras, just you and nature. 4x4 access only. Surrounded by over 500,000 acres of land owned by the U.S. Forest Service, there are no houses or stores (45 Minute drive). Far below in elevation is the Merced River and its many swimming and fishing holes (45 Minute drive).
Look to the west to see the coastal mountains. Gaze across the Yosemite Valley to the East at iconic El Capitan in the distance. Take a drive into the Yosemite National Park (1 hour drive). Escape the hustle and bustle and federal laws of Yosemite at night (420 friendly). Inclusive. Views in every direction. Breathtaking sunsets. Incredible wildlife. Freedom. America the Beautiful!
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$49.50
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100%
(3)
The Little Lodge Cabin
1 site · Lodging48 acres · Ahwahnee, CA
A perfect place to stay on a trip to Yosemite. This quiet, small cabin is just the right size to use as your base as you explore the wild and incredible Yosemite National Park. This is a dry cabin with access to an outhouse just outside the door. Portable water is provided inside the cabin. A microwave, mini fridge, and coffee maker keep all the creature comforts available. Access to a small charcoal grill and fire pit make this glamping experience extra fun and memorable. The cabin is located directly between the South Gate entrance and the West gate Entrance to Yosemite. This cabin sits on 47 beautiful acres. We live on the property and a couple other cabins share the vistas, making our visitors feel welcome and safe while totally enjoying themselves. Come and enjoy glamping near Yosemite!
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$85
/ night
94%
(1158)
Southgate Summit Campground
8 sites · Tents20 acres · Oakhurst, CA
Hey Campers! We are temporarily closed for the winter.... but back open April 1st! See you then!
This area was once inhabited by local native American Tribes. In the 1840's prospectors arrived in search of gold but none was found in the immediate area. Old Yosemite Base camp was along the route into Yosemite National Park prior to the construction of Highway 41. Horse and Carriage traveled along Old Yosemite Road from Mariposa and the entire golden state. Visitors from the world now pass through Oakhurst to Yosemite National Park along this route. Don't for to check out Bass Lake and its full service amenities.
ALL CAMP SITES REQUIRE 4 WHEEL DRIVE or All-Wheel drive- NO Exceptions.
Hipcampers, come pitch your tent at one of five Old Yosemite Base Camp drive in and walk in sites. OYBC offers over six acres of pine, oak, and bay trees, sprinkled around large granite features that remind you that Half Dome is not far away! Each unique site is equipped with a stone fire ring with cook top and a picnic table accommodating four person dining. Old Yosemite Base Camp is the perfect place to enjoy the sunset and stargaze next to a campfire after an adventurous day in the southern Yosemite region. Yosemite tent camping without all the crowds and tour buses is what you can expect. Backing up to the Sierra National Forest OYBC is conveniently located near HWY 41 just 14 miles from Yosemite’s south gate entrance. The region also offers a large amount of hiking trails where you can find swim holes, waterfalls giant sequoias, lakes, and rivers. Take 15-minute drive to Bass Lake and enjoy water sports and lake view dining.
OYBC offers five camp sites and all wheel drive is required to get to the top of camp. OYBC sites 1, 2, 3, are drive up sites and 4 & 5 are walk in sites that have a separate parking area. All wheel drive is still needed to get to this lot.
Have a large group? Old Yosemite Base Camp offers discounts for larger parties of up to 25 campers. Message OYBC to reserve the whole mountainside to yourselves!
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$66
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100%
(46)
"See Across California"
6 sites · Lodging2672 acres · Sonora, CA
We do not know the history very well. Fires have ravaged the country there for years and left many of the hills in recent secondary brush growth from the last fires. Up on top of the property where you drive in, pastures and older oaks are established. The old homestead cabin and root cellar are pre 1900, but the property has lots of 1849+ gold rush stream mounds and mines which we do not know much about at all. We purchased the ranch in 2001 from a Swiss rancher, Otto Gilser who had the property from the 1950s. There are acorn grinding pits in the big rocks below the frog pond from the first nation people who first lived there. Bob and Zane McDow, who lease the grazing rights and live on the property are the real deal, incredibly colorful locals, great story tellers with a ton of hilarious and hair raising tales to tell. Bob is a cowboy who still can do it all, raises cattle, horses, goats, ropes, brands and rides, hunter and fisherman, bulldozer sculptor, chain saw master, master house, cabin, barn, fence, gate, water systems builder, and a hard drinker, dancer and partier... he knows Yosemite and the back country like no other. Bob still runs cattle on 6-9 ranches at once and moves them with the feed. Bob and Zane are treasures and if you get to have a conversation with them you are lucky!
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$295
/ night
Private Riverfront Resort Pool Spa
1 site · Lodging2 acres · Oakhurst, CA
Welcome to your private paradise! Nestled on a riverfront property with stunning waterfalls and swimming holes, this custom 4,000 sqft home offers unparalleled luxury and serenity.
Boasting 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, this expansive residence features a swimming pool adorned with rock waterfalls, as well as a spa complete with its waterfall—perfect for unwinding and taking in the picturesque surroundings.
Step inside and be greeted by a grand spiral staircase leading to a family room and wet bar, ideal for entertaining guests and enjoying quality time with loved ones. For those who enjoy staying active, a private tennis court awaits, providing endless opportunities for recreation and fitness.
Outside, breathtaking views abound, offering a feast for the eyes in every direction. Whether you're relaxing on the patio, taking a dip in the pool, or exploring the private campground area, you'll find tranquility at every turn.
Conveniently located near Yosemite Park and Bass Lake, adventure awaits just beyond your doorstep. Whether you're hiking through majestic forests, boating on pristine lakes, or simply soaking in the natural beauty of the area, this property offers the perfect home base for all your outdoor pursuits.
Escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and experience the ultimate in luxury and relaxation at your private resort. Welcome home.
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$1,496.25
/ night
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