By Emily Frantz, June 14, 2025
Yosemite National Park, California
Just in time for summer, Yosemite National Park’s most popular season, a flurry of new campgrounds are open and ready to cater to travelers looking for a more luxe experience. Gone are the days of pitching a tent after a long day in the park, with furnished glamping sites, lodges, and campervans joining the fold. The park still has several traditional campsites in Yosemite Valley that are available for tent, hammock, and RV camping. But if you’re looking to try something new, several options are available within easy reach of the park. While in the county, make the most of California’s “Gateway to Yosemite” and stop in the town of the same name.
Yosemite is one of the most visited National Parks in the United States every year, reaching almost four million visitors in 2023. A trek to get in and out of, and it’s impossible to experience this park in just one day. Yosemite National Park has five entrances around its nearly 750,000 acres. Fresno Yosemite International Airport is the closest spot to fly into, but it is still 64 miles away, so you’ll need to plan transportation to get into the park. Once you make the journey, staying in a nearby campsite allows you easy and convenient access to everything the park has to offer.
In May of 2024, a similar setup opened nearby at Firefall Ranch. This glamping location is just outside of Yosemite’s northwest gate and is named for the park’s famous “firefall” that occurs every February, in which the water from Horsetail Falls appears vividly red. The ranch is settled on one of the original stagecoach routes that led into Yosemite National Park, many of which are now hiking trails.
These cottages and villas have luxurious furnishings, fireplaces, and private decks among other amenities you won’t find in a tent. If you’d like a kitchenette and more space, three-bedroom villas are available. Unlike many campgrounds, Firefall Ranch also has three places to grab a bite on site, from fine dining to a quick spot to pick up a coffee or trail lunch in the morning. There’s also a pool, steam room, sauna, and sensory room to add luxe serenity to your natural adventure. A similar site, Outbound, will open later this year.
