12 Best Private Campsites Near Yosemite Valley, CA, US 2026

If you're looking for a camping experience near Yosemite Valley, California, Hipcamp has over 140 private sites that you can choose from. Whether you prefer a riverside retreat or a secluded garden camp, you'll find options to suit your preferences. With popular amenities like trash disposal, potable water, and toilets, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. And if you're into wildlife watching, off-roading, or hiking, you'll have plenty of activities to keep you entertained. Check out highly-rated campsites like Cosumnes River Ranch with 382 reviews, Yosemite Garden Camp with 194 reviews, and Ace's Yosemite Hide Out with 119 reviews.

100% (53)

Top-rated campgrounds near Yosemite Valley

If you're looking for a camping experience near Yosemite Valley, California, Hipcamp has over 140 private sites that you can choose from. Whether you prefer a riverside retreat or a secluded garden camp, you'll find options to suit your preferences. With popular amenities like trash disposal, potable water, and toilets, you'll have everything you need for a comfortable stay. And if you're into wildlife watching, off-roading, or hiking, you'll have plenty of activities to keep you entertained. Check out highly-rated campsites like Cosumnes River Ranch with 382 reviews, Yosemite Garden Camp with 194 reviews, and Ace's Yosemite Hide Out with 119 reviews.

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Top-rated campgrounds near Yosemite Valley

1. Squirrel Rock RV Campground

100%

(173)

49mi from Yosemite Valley · 2 sites · RVs

Private gated RV campground in the Gold Country. Located in the historic townsite of Columbia known as the "Gem of the Southern Mines". There is 1 site so you'll have the campground to yourselves. There are 2 electrical panels so you can bring your family or friends if you like. If there are 2 RV's you can reserve the campground as a double site. WE ONLY ACCEPT FULLY SELF CONTAINED RV'S ONLY. NO TENTS NO LONG TERM STAYS. Campsite has 2 electric pedestals 50/30/110. Water hookups at each site. NO SEWER. NO DUMP NO RESTROOMS AVAILABLE. Includes picnic table, camp fire ring, Weber BBQ, doggie station, horseshoe pit, corn hole, walking trails, and garbage/recycle bins. Winter camping dates subject to weather conditions. Located 0.6 mile to Columbia State Historic Park, parking and entrance is free and open year around. It is about a 15 minute walk. Close to Murphys, New Melones lake and Tuttletown recreation area, Moaning Caverns, Downtown Sonora, Mother Lode Escape Rooms, Columbia Airport, Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, Black Oak Casino, Chicken Ranch Casino, Indigeny Reserve, Inner Sanctum Cellars Basecamp with other wineries and breweries nearby. About a 50 minute drive to Big Trees State Park and Pinecrest Lake. Yosemite National Park is about 1-1/2 hour drive to the Yosemite valley floor. Check for YARTS for transportation from downtown Sonora to Yosemite valley. There are several rafting outfitters in the area. Restaurants in the immediate vicinity include Mandy's Breakfast-Lunch, Columbia Frosty, El Jardin, St. Charles Saloon Pizza. Gas, diesel mini mart, market store nearby.

2. Camp SourBerry (near Yosemite)

96%

(85)

28mi from Yosemite Valley · 2 sites · Tents

Welcome to Camp SourBerry! Here, you can pitch your tent with a view. You can enjoy the feeling of rural seclusion while within walking distance (~1 mile) from shops and restaurants in Oakhurst. The South Gate to Yosemite National Park is less than a 30-minute drive (~75 minutes drive-time to the Valley floor), and Bass Lake's shores are only 15 minutes away. Local wildlife is abundant. Wild turkeys are a common sighting, especially in the spring and fall, as are squirrels, bears, deer, coyotes, and bobcats, plus all kinds of native birds (hawks, quail, jays, woodpeckers, ravens, vultures, and eagles). We have a small homestead-style farm and so do the neighbors, so you can hear the distant sounds of chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, and cows. Because the safety of our animals (and yours) is paramount, we do not allow pets off-leash. Whether you want to stay put and enjoy the natural setting or have a base from which to explore world-class attractions, we would love to host your next vacation.

3. Glitter Cove Retreat

100%

(38)

34mi from Yosemite Valley · 8 sites · Lodging

This beautiful property is situated on 55 secluded acres in the lovely foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Your adventure begins when you escape the pavement and experience three miles of beautiful scenery on a maintained dirt road. Swimming, fishing, and hiking await you. SAFE, GATED and perfect for moms who want to take their kids camping, or any one who wants to try out the camping experience but has been hesitant. 1 1/2 hours from Yosemite National Park. Reservations may be required. Experience the abundant wild life and soothing sound of the Fresno River. Put your feet in the sand and just unplug for a few days. Each season is uniquely beautiful. Spring hosts an abundance of green hills, wild flowers and cooler weather. The river is higher, faster and colder. New life pops up everywhere. Baby ducks, geese, quail and beaver frequent the river. Glitter Cove waterfall is in its full glory. The nights can be cool, so come prepared. Summer is the perfect time to swim and lounge in the river. As the days heat up, the river begins to slow and warms up to a comfortable yet refreshing temperature. New beaches emerge, just waiting to be explored. In late summer, early fall, there is a feeling of calm. The river slows significantly but still feels amazing to sit in. You can hear its gentle flow and soothing sound as it trickles over the rocks. This is a great time time to explore the river as it is mostly shallow with some swim holes. Most of the time it is very quiet. There is another camp down stream owned by a wonderful family. They are here a couple times per week, and also rent their camp. You may hear them having fun and engaging in target practice. The river is a shared space but it is rare to see anyone else. Noise travels in the canyon so you may hear occasional barking or other vehicles. Hearing coyotes sing at night is very common. The rarely seen wildlife includes rattle snakes, bob cats, coyotes, fox, mountain lions and bears. Don't worry, our animal friends like to keep their distance. Hope to see you soon! Watch a video! https://youtu.be/QI_YsFr-kh8

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

K

Kenneth

3 weeks ago

29 ft Class A

With pets

Weekend Trip to Squirrel Rock RV Campground

Best campground in Gold Country. We always stay here when visit this area of California.

M

Michael

3 weeks ago

33 ft travel trailer

With pets

3 nights at Squirrel Rock RV Campground

Our stay at Squirrel Rock was absolutely fantastic. Julie was super nice and gave us the perfect balance of attention and privacy. The campground is beautiful and so well maintained plus there are lots of things to see in the Columbia area. We will definitely be coming back and recommend Squirrel Rock to everyone else looking for a quiet getaway in the gold country.

G

Gwendal

November 2025

25 ft Class C

With kids

Weekend Trip to Squirrel Rock RV Campground

Beautiful camp, extremely well maintained. Our 2 families had a great time and the kids loved climbing the rocks! Walking distance to Columbia state park as well! Highly recommend

D

Dennis

November 2025

25 ft travel trailer

1 night at Squirrel Rock RV Campground

Everything was awesome, only I forgot my water hose and Julie called and let me know. I picked it up the next time I was in the area.

B

Brian

October 2025

15 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Squirrel Rock RV Campground

This spot is an absolute gem! It’s so nicely appointed and private. Perfect spot as a home base to explore gold country! We will absolutely be back!

J

Jean

October 2025

30 ft Class C

3 nights at Squirrel Rock RV Campground

This is by far the best place we have stayed on hipcamp. Beautiful, peaceful, private and easy to get to. We had a wonderful time with our dogs and will definitely be back!

R

Roger

October 2025

31 ft Class C

With pets

2 nights at Squirrel Rock RV Campground

This was our second stay at Squirrel Rock and we love it. Quiet, clean, easily accessible and very well appointed. Easy walking distance to town is also great for us because once we set up the RV that’s where it stays till we leave. We look forward to coming back soon!

Dandy

October 2025

Group trip

5 nights at Glitter Cove Retreat

This place is more than a campsite, more than a stop off. It is magical! Cindy has done an incredible job curating a special place for those who want to commune with nature, watch the stars and cool in water. It is well appointed, well taken care of and a delight to visit

T

Travis

September 2025

With kids

Weekend Trip to Glitter Cove Retreat

Beautiful private spot overlooking a river. Cindy has really done a great job with setup and decor. Everything is super functional and well thought out. The sleeping area is extremely comfortable with solar powered lights and fans everywhere. Bug nets surround you and if you want total protection from the outside there are canvas covers for all sides that zip up. Bathroom is clean and easy to use, shower is cute and had hot water during the day when we rinsed off from swimming. Cook area is great with stove, sink and bbq. I will note that wasps do show up when you cook meat and they do have wasp traps all around to deter them but that’s part of being in nature. We took our food inside the pergola and had no issues once inside the netting. The river is great, we swam in there swimming spot and fished as well. We caught some baby bass and a small catfish while there. We adventured up river and it was truly beautiful. At night we laid out a blanket on the beach and stared at the amazing night sky. We saw so many shooting stars, was truly amazing. Cindy also had a propane fire pit available for night time fun too. Night lights at camp were functional and beautiful as well. All in all this trip was amazing. Cindy was amazing. She met us at the gate and walked us through everything and answered all of our questions. She was in communication with us our entire stay and responded quickly. I recommend glitter cove 100%. Thanks Cindy!

S

Sophie

September 2025

21 ft Class C

Weekend Trip to Camp SourBerry (near Yosemite)

Lovely peaceful place, clean and tranquil with super helpful host. It feels like miles from anywhere but is actually close to the main routes through the town. Really enjoyed my stay.

T

Tracy

September 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Glitter Cove Retreat

This is a magical place. The views are spectacular and the accommodations have everything a glamper could want. We will definitely be returning. Thank you Cindy for being such a wonderful host.

T

Timothy

September 2025

25 ft travel trailer

With pets

Weekend Trip to Squirrel Rock RV Campground

We recently did a trip to some Calaveras County attractions and found Squirrel Rock for our stay with our 25' trailer. The owners did a great job setting up the site for visitors. Parking and hooking up was very easy. The site had a bunch of cool things to do while hanging out (introduced my kids to horseshoes and they loved the games bin). They gave us some recommendations for nearby food (which were awesome!). We would definitely stay here again and recommend it for others too!!

Kristen

September 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Glitter Cove Retreat

What a magical place! I can confidently say that this was the BEST "glamping" experience ever! Our two daughters (ages 8 and 11), our two dogs, and my husband and I had a wonderful time. Cindy keeps the place immaculate and fully stocked with everything you need and more! The living spaces were comfortable and cozy. The setting couldn't have been better. We caught loads of fish and had complete privacy. Best hidden gem ever!

Kurt

September 2025

36 ft Class A

With pets

2 nights at Squirrel Rock RV Campground

This is an outstanding HipCamp. The hosts are incredible and the facilities are best in class. A must stop if you are in the area!

L

Larry

September 2025

30 ft fifth wheel

With pets

4 nights at Squirrel Rock RV Campground

Clean, well kept, private quiet place to relax Larry

S

Savannah

September 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Glitter Cove Retreat

This clamping site was perfect, very secluded and included everything you needed so you don’t have to bring a lot of extra stuff to cook. Will definitely be back!

A

Alison

September 2025

With pets

Weekend Trip to Glitter Cove Retreat

Great spot on the river! Everything you could need was provided making for easy packing. Day trips to Yosemite and Bass lake also possible from this site which we did!!

L

Louise

August 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to Glitter Cove Retreat

My husband and I along with our two teenage kids just spent the weekend at Glitter Cove. Cindy, the host was a great communicator throughout the process. Booking, directions to get there plus check-in was a completely smooth process. Cindy was there to meet us on arrival to give us a walk through and answer any questions. Then she left us to ourselves -so total privacy. The place was really clean and had everything we needed. The pergola and setting were beautiful. Lots of space for outdoor games and a great outdoor cook and dining space with a comfy sleeping set up. Outdoor composting toilet and shower worked great. It was very hot (we were there late August) but the swim holes in the creek and the solar powered fans in the pergola really helped. All in all a great stay and we will definitely go back again.

L

Laneya

August 2025

With pets

2 nights at Glitter Cove Retreat

The site was just as pictured. Beautiful and unique. The host was very attentive and helpful. Our kids had a wonderful time “mining” for gold and swimming with the little fish in the river. We would love to come back.

S

Sashont

August 2025

28 ft travel trailer

1 night at Squirrel Rock RV Campground

Squirrel R Campground was amazing! The property is very well kept, tidy, and adorably decorated with seating areas, a horseshoe area, and great ambiance lighting. The RV spot was exceptionally level, and the connection area was easy to access. The host was very accommodating of our varied arrival time and welcomed us upon arrival. I would 100% stay here again!