Unveiling a New Era: Tuolumne Meadows Campground Reopens!

Get ready to experience Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows Campground like never before! After a transformative three-year 26.2 million investment from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) Legacy Restoration Fund, this beloved campground reopened on August 1, 2025. This marks a monumental achievement, transforming one of the National Park System's largest and most iconic campgrounds for current and future generations of outdoor enthusiasts.

Tuolumne Meadows campground includes new walk-in sites and parking to support them.

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Yosemite National Park Tuolumne Meadows Campground entry gate from 2016.

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Tuolumne Meadows Campground, originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s and expanded in the 1960s, is a high-elevation gem located at 8,600 feet along the Tioga Road. It provides direct access to the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River, the John Muir Trail, and breathtaking alpine views. Annually, the campground welcomes more than 141,000 overnight guests and plays a key role in managing the estimated 500,000 visitors who explore the Tuolumne Meadows area.

For years, the campground faced long-standing maintenance needs, including aging infrastructure, damaged facilities, and challenges meeting modern accessibility standards. This GAOA-funded rehabilitation specifically addresses more than $11 million in deferred maintenance.

This section of the Tuolumne Meadows Campground old A-Loop Road (left) is now converted to a trail. The road was narrowed to a footpath and rip-rap was removed for riverbank restoration.

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The project touched nearly every aspect of the campground, focusing on:

• Campground Modernization: The project now supports 336 sites, including 304 standard and walk-in, 21 backpacker, seven group, and four horse sites, serving up to 2,200 visitors nightly. New and upgraded restroom facilities now total ten, all meeting Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards, alongside a new winter camping vault toilet.

• Utility Upgrades: Critical replacements include a water distribution system and upgrades to sewer infrastructure.

• Amphitheater Access Improvements: The Dana Campfire Circle, a beloved site for ranger-led evening programs, has been updated with accessible routes and companion seating.

• Ecological Restoration & River Protection: In alignment with the 2014 Tuolumne River Plan, the campground's Loop A road has been realigned to create a 150-foot buffer from the Tuolumne River. Twenty-one campsites within the sensitive 100-foot buffer zone were removed and relocated, restoring fragile riparian habitat in this federally designated Wild and Scenic River corridor.

The new 2025 revitalized entrance kiosk at Tuolumne Meadows Campground.

NPS

Investing in Our People & Places

The rehabilitation of Tuolumne Meadows Campground is more than just a renovation; it’s an investment in the core NPS mission. It means:

• Enhanced visitor experiences
• Reduced operational costs
• Improved regulatory compliance, and
• A mitigated risk of utility system failures.

A commitment to environmental protection and resource preservation drove key changes at Tuolumne Meadows. Sections of old loop roads (including this historic road section) were once too close to the river. Today, it maintains historic alignment and protects the river from erosion.

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Beyond the gates, this $26.2 million GAOA investment supported more than 325 job-years and contributed $78.6 million to the nation's economy, demonstrating that GAOA is not only restoring our heritage but also supporting communities nationwide.

As we celebrate the opening of this revitalized space, we recognize the incredible dedication of every NPS employee and partner who contributed to making this vision a reality. This project ensures that Tuolumne Meadows will continue to inspire millions of visitors, fostering connections to nature and creating lasting memories for generations to come.