Kings Canyon - Yosemite

[Gary521]

Anyone got any suggestions for parks by either or both Yosemite and Kings Canyon. Pulling a 3055RL.

 

[pegmikef]

I have camped in both of those parks, but it was years ago. I think the camping at Kings Canyon was actually a couple of parks at Sequoia NP and Yosemite had several separate campgrounds. I'm pretty sure most of them don't have hookups, but there were nice campsites.

 

[lorax]

These are super parks that you will want to be inside the park rather than back and forth each day. I would only go there with reservations. At times these parks, particularly Yosemite, are very crowded. Head to Recreation.gov. You can input the size of your trailer, dates of visit, and more. On our visits to Yosemite we camped both in the valley, then up in Tuolumne Meadows. Crowds in the valley and few visitors in the meadows. Be bearproof. Safe travel.
Ted

 

[lorax]

I just checked Recreation.gov on a whim and Yosemite is pretty full. Check this link.

 

[jwalker1]

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[TandT]

Tuolumne Meadows is too tight for a 34' Bighorn coming from the valley. IMHO.
There is a really tight left turn, that I remember thinking I could not make with a 30' SOB I owned. Not sure if you could make it coming from 395 on 120 over Tioga Pass to the East. Doubtful however.

Also as recently as about a year ago there was a detour coming into the valley from the south on 140, due to a rock slide.
I think it said max combined length 40'. I usually cheat on length, but I remember thinking they were pretty close on that estimate.
We stayed at the KOA south of the park in Mariposa that trip.

There are a few spots at Yosemite Upper Pines, or Wawona that should accomodate your rig.

Kings Canyon, Sunset Campground opens May 21st. It's first come, first served. I remember seeing some longer sights in there and it's very close to Grant Grove.

As far as Sequoia goes, Lodgepole says they accomodate some rigs up to 36'. Dorst is a little tight.
Been to Lodgepole many times. It's a great campground. I went there with a 30' SOB and some of the turns are tight in the campground. I did make it , however.

I agree staying in the parks is nicer.

Reservations are a must at both Yosemite and Sequoia. Do your homework before heading out. Trace

 

[sJv]

Unfortunately, it's nigh impossible to get reservations at one of the Yosemite valley campgrounds in the summer. I tried to reserve online (via recreation.gov) the second the window opened up for early June, and it was COMPLETELY sold out in like 5 seconds. I don't know how anyone can camp there in the summer anymore. It's a shame. I suspect half the reservations are bought by scalpers using some automated reservation tool. Luckily, my kids get a week off in October and we've been able to get into Upper Pines at that time.

I scouted out Sequoia/Kings Canyon a few months ago as I had never been there. I found the Sunset campground to be the nicest of the ones I could get to. I liked it better than Lodgepole and Dorst. I saw a few spots for large rigs.

 

[TandT]

Unfortunately, it's nigh impossible to get reservations at one of the Yosemite valley campgrounds in the summer. I tried to reserve online (via recreation.gov) the second the window opened up for early June, and it was COMPLETELY sold out in like 5 seconds. I don't know how anyone can camp there in the summer anymore. It's a shame. I suspect half the reservations are bought by scalpers using some automated reservation tool. Luckily, my kids get a week off in October and we've been able to get into Upper Pines at that time.

I scouted out Sequoia/Kings Canyon a few months ago as I had never been there. I found the Sunset campground to be the nicest of the ones I could get to. I liked it better than Lodgepole and Dorst. I saw a few spots for large rigs.

I agree the National Park Campground reservation system is a mess.
The fact is when you do rarely get into these parks, you see half of the folks are Europeans in rented motorhomes.
That tells me what you are saying is correct. Somehow european travel agents are getting on line and getting tons of these spots, whereas we can not.
Very irritating.

 

[jimtoo]

Re: San Antonio to Sequoia/Yosemite

Hey Joe,,, you need to joint the Heartland Owners Club and attend the Heartland National Rally in Gillette, Wy. in June and then another rally the next week in Cody, Wy. Start out fulltiming the right way.

Jim M

 

[sandman]

Re: San Antonio to Sequoia/Yosemite

There is a great little rv park on the west side of the sierra's called Sequoia ranch rv park. sits right along the river. not real fancy but clean and quiet. Its only a short drive in to Kings canyon.

 

[Gary521]

Re: San Antonio to Sequoia/Yosemite

Thanks for all the help.