looking for a place near Yosemite to park the MH and take the toad into Yosemite for the day. We are passing through this area (on the way to San Francisco) and wanted to take a day to go in, but that is all the time we have.
My first thought was to park in Merced or Madera at a Walmart, drive in and out that day and stay the night and move on the next day. This would save time and money not driving the MH in and allow us more flexibility to explore in the time we have. But looking for suggestions and thoughts on good possible places around that area. So i am turning to you that have some experience around there for direction. thanks!
Wife, Daughter 16, Dog female - Girls have me surrounded
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I don't think that you will find many boondocking places around the Park. Most of the area is privat land and well developed. We usually just drive over for the day from the Eastside if the Sierra and haven't tried over on the Westside, but the few times we've come in that way it didn't look promising.
Sorry you can't spend more time there and maybe Sequoia and Kings Canyon. They are worh a trip out here just for those three parks. Don't know if you will have time to freelance in SF but there is a resturant called Scoma's near but not on Fisherman's Wharf, it is staffed by pros not kids working their way thru college or for the summer and the seafood is fantastic. Never tried and meat dishes there, we go for the seafood. Ask any cab driver or use you're GPS if you have one.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson
When are you planning to visit? If it's any time soon, be sure to check for road conditions – Highway 120 near Foresta is closed for repairs for several weeks. When it reopens, you might be able to boondock somewhere near Hetch Hetchy and then drive into Yosemite Valley from there. It's not too far. Talk to the Rangers in the national forest areas near Yosemite – they can be very helpful.
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We found some boondocking locations in the NF on CA 120 west of the park. Takes some exploring to find a reasonably level spot, but a whole lot closer than the places you mentioned.
Mariposa Fair Grounds offers RV parking/camping. I don't know what they charge, but it doesn't hurt to call and ask. I know it isn't boondocking, sorry.
TexasShadow
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Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.
Yosemite is full of curving, twisting roads and low speed limits. It takes a long time to get anywhere, and if you're not careful you will feel like all you did was spend the whole day driving (and feel burned out from it). Ask me how I know this!
If you can stay in the park and spend some time with your feet up, just smelling the air and enjoying the view, you will be much happier afterward. Yosemite is like a fine wine; it is best when sipped and savored, not gulped in one day.
I believe I read somewhere once (Tioga George's writings, perhaps) that it was possible to find boondock spots in the national forest near Fish Camp. But that was a few years ago, and with the new MVUMs, who knows...
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