RV Dump Stations In Mariposa, California

You have several options along the CA-140 corridor toward Yosemite. Indian Flat RV Park in El Portal, the closest full-hookup park to the Arch Rock entrance, has a dump and potable water for about $5, and the Mariposa Fairgrounds RV Park in town has hookups and a dump. Yosemite Westlake in the Midpines area offers a $5 dump, free for guests. Inside the park, Wawona Campground has water and dump access. Across the Mariposa area we track several dump locations. Plan to dump and refill water along CA-140 or in town before or after your park visit.

Via CA-140, the All-Weather Highway, and the Arch Rock entrance, which is the RV-friendliest approach to Yosemite. It runs northeast from Mariposa through Midpines and El Portal along the Merced River, a state-designated Scenic Highway, reaching the park in about 40 minutes. The one caution is the El Portal Road tunnel inside the park, with a 12-foot-10 height and 45-foot single-vehicle length limit. Crucially, avoid entering via CA-41 from the south or CA-120 from the east with a big rig, as their tunnels are only about 10 feet 2 inches high. CA-140 and Arch Rock keep you clear of the low tunnels.

Yes, though the closest are along CA-140 toward the park. Indian Flat RV Park in El Portal is the nearest to the Arch Rock entrance, with about 25 sites offering water and electric and some sewer, taking RVs up to about 35 feet. The Mariposa Fairgrounds RV Park in town has electric-and-water hookups with easy big-rig access, and Yosemite Westlake in Midpines has hookup sites. Inside Yosemite, the valley campgrounds have no hookups. So for hookups and dumping, base at Indian Flat or the fairgrounds; for an in-park setting, camp in the valley and run self-sufficiently.

Plan ahead and act fast, because in-park campgrounds are among the hardest reservations in the national park system. Yosemite Valley campgrounds like Upper, Lower, and North Pines book exclusively through Recreation.gov, with sites released on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific time, five months ahead, and they often sell out within minutes for summer dates. There are no phone bookings. Lower and North Pines take Class A rigs up to 40 feet, while high-country sites are smaller. If you cannot get an in-park site, base at a private park along CA-140 and day-trip into the valley instead, which many RVers do.

Spring and fall are ideal. Spring brings green foothills and Yosemite's waterfalls at their thundering peak from snowmelt, while fall offers mild, clear days and thinning crowds. Summer is hot in the Mariposa foothills, often in the 90s, though the park's high country stays cool, and the valley is extremely crowded with campgrounds booked out. Winter is quiet and cool, with the valley open but the high country and Tioga Road closed by snow. For the best mix of weather, waterfalls, and manageable crowds, aim for spring or fall, and reserve any in-park site far ahead.

For in-park sites and summer, absolutely. Yosemite Valley campgrounds book through Recreation.gov five months ahead on the 15th of each month and sell out fast. The private parks along CA-140, like Indian Flat, the Mariposa Fairgrounds, and Yosemite Westlake, also fill in peak summer, so reserve ahead. Spring and fall midweek are easier. Note that for 2026, Yosemite is not requiring a day-use peak-hours entrance reservation, but valley parking still fills by about 7:30 a.m. on weekends, so arrive early regardless. Book what you can in advance and have a private-park backup if in-park sites are gone.

The town of Mariposa has fuel, full groceries, propane, and services, making it a good supply stop before heading into Yosemite. Along CA-140, the Cedar Lodge complex at El Portal has groceries and restaurants closer to the park. Potable water is available at Indian Flat RV Park and the Mariposa Fairgrounds for filling fresh tanks, and Indian Flat also has rinse water. For RV service or a larger selection, Merced is about 35 miles west via CA-140. Stock up in Mariposa or El Portal before entering the park, where services are limited and prices higher.

Yes, via the right route. Enter through the Arch Rock entrance on CA-140, the RV-friendliest approach, where the main limit is the El Portal Road tunnel at 12 feet 10 inches high and 45 feet long for single vehicles. In the valley, Lower and North Pines campgrounds accept Class A rigs up to 40 feet. What you must avoid with a big rig is entering via CA-41 or CA-120, whose tunnels are only about 10 feet 2 inches high. Valley roads and parking are busy and tight, so many big-rig owners base at a CA-140 park and drive into the valley in a tow vehicle instead.

Plenty. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, near Yosemite's south entrance, is the park's largest sequoia grove and home to the Grizzly Giant. Historic downtown Mariposa is a Gold Rush district with the 1854 courthouse, the oldest in continuous use west of the Rockies, plus shops and a mining museum. The Merced River, a Wild and Scenic river running along CA-140, offers swimming holes, fishing, and rafting. And the surrounding Gold Country foothills are scenic in their own right. Mariposa is more than a gateway; it is a destination with history, sequoias, and river fun beyond the famous valley.

Hot, since the town sits at about 2,000 feet in the Sierra foothills. Summer highs commonly reach the 90s, occasionally higher, with afternoon thunderstorms possible, so foothill camping in July and August is genuinely warm, and a powered site with air conditioning helps. The advantage is elevation: drive up into Yosemite's high country, and temperatures drop sharply, giving you a cool escape on day trips. Start valley visits early to beat both heat and crowds, carry plenty of water, and consider spring or fall if you want to avoid the peak foothill heat while still enjoying the park.

Yes, in the surrounding Sierra National Forest outside the park, which offers dispersed, primitive camping with no hookups, water, or dump facilities, suited to self-contained rigs. There is no dispersed overnight parking in town or in Yosemite itself, where camping is limited to designated campgrounds. If you use forest sites, arrive with full fresh water and empty tanks, and plan to dump afterward at Indian Flat, the Mariposa Fairgrounds, or Yosemite Westlake. For most visitors focused on Yosemite, the mix of in-park valley campgrounds and the private full-hookup parks along CA-140 is more convenient and comfortable.

Yes, at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the largest grove in Yosemite National Park, located near the park's south entrance off CA-41. It is home to the famous Grizzly Giant and hundreds of ancient sequoias, reached by a shuttle from the arrival plaza during the busy season, with trails of varying lengths through the trees. It is a highlight of any Yosemite visit and a natural pairing with the valley. Note the CA-41 approach to the south entrance has low tunnels unsuitable for big rigs, so if you are driving a large RV, plan your route carefully or use a tow vehicle to reach the grove.

It is one of the best western bases, thanks to the CA-140 approach. Mariposa sits on the All-Weather Highway that leads to the Arch Rock entrance, the RV-friendliest way into Yosemite Valley, and it offers full town services, historic charm, and full-hookup private parks along the corridor, with Indian Flat in El Portal closest to the park. That makes it ideal for RVers who want reliable services and an easier drive than the low-tunnel southern and eastern routes. Whether you snag an in-park site or base along CA-140 and day-trip in, Mariposa is a convenient and scenic home base for Yosemite.

You have several options along the CA-140 corridor toward Yosemite. Indian Flat RV Park in El Portal, the closest full-hookup park to the Arch Rock entrance, has a dump and potable water for about $5, and the Mariposa Fairgrounds RV Park in town has hookups and a dump. Yosemite Westlake in the Midpines area offers a $5 dump, free for guests. Inside the park, Wawona Campground has water and dump access. Across the Mariposa area we track {{stationCount}} dump locations. Plan to dump and refill water along CA-140 or in town before or after your park visit.

Via CA-140, the All-Weather Highway, and the Arch Rock entrance, which is the RV-friendliest approach to Yosemite. It runs northeast from Mariposa through Midpines and El Portal along the Merced River, a state-designated Scenic Highway, reaching the park in about 40 minutes. The one caution is the El Portal Road tunnel inside the park, with a 12-foot-10 height and 45-foot single-vehicle length limit. Crucially, avoid entering via CA-41 from the south or CA-120 from the east with a big rig, as their tunnels are only about 10 feet 2 inches high. CA-140 and Arch Rock keep you clear of the low tunnels.

Yes, though the closest are along CA-140 toward the park. Indian Flat RV Park in El Portal is the nearest to the Arch Rock entrance, with about 25 sites offering water and electric and some sewer, taking RVs up to about 35 feet. The Mariposa Fairgrounds RV Park in town has electric-and-water hookups with easy big-rig access, and Yosemite Westlake in Midpines has hookup sites. Inside Yosemite, the valley campgrounds have no hookups. So for hookups and dumping, base at Indian Flat or the fairgrounds; for an in-park setting, camp in the valley and run self-sufficiently.

Plan ahead and act fast, because in-park campgrounds are among the hardest reservations in the national park system. Yosemite Valley campgrounds like Upper, Lower, and North Pines book exclusively through Recreation.gov, with sites released on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific time, five months ahead, and they often sell out within minutes for summer dates. There are no phone bookings. Lower and North Pines take Class A rigs up to 40 feet, while high-country sites are smaller. If you cannot get an in-park site, base at a private park along CA-140 and day-trip into the valley instead, which many RVers do.

Spring and fall are ideal. Spring brings green foothills and Yosemite's waterfalls at their thundering peak from snowmelt, while fall offers mild, clear days and thinning crowds. Summer is hot in the Mariposa foothills, often in the 90s, though the park's high country stays cool, and the valley is extremely crowded with campgrounds booked out. Winter is quiet and cool, with the valley open but the high country and Tioga Road closed by snow. For the best mix of weather, waterfalls, and manageable crowds, aim for spring or fall, and reserve any in-park site far ahead.

For in-park sites and summer, absolutely. Yosemite Valley campgrounds book through Recreation.gov five months ahead on the 15th of each month and sell out fast. The private parks along CA-140, like Indian Flat, the Mariposa Fairgrounds, and Yosemite Westlake, also fill in peak summer, so reserve ahead. Spring and fall midweek are easier. Note that for 2026, Yosemite is not requiring a day-use peak-hours entrance reservation, but valley parking still fills by about 7:30 a.m. on weekends, so arrive early regardless. Book what you can in advance and have a private-park backup if in-park sites are gone.

The town of Mariposa has fuel, full groceries, propane, and services, making it a good supply stop before heading into Yosemite. Along CA-140, the Cedar Lodge complex at El Portal has groceries and restaurants closer to the park. Potable water is available at Indian Flat RV Park and the Mariposa Fairgrounds for filling fresh tanks, and Indian Flat also has rinse water. For RV service or a larger selection, Merced is about 35 miles west via CA-140. Stock up in Mariposa or El Portal before entering the park, where services are limited and prices higher.

Yes, via the right route. Enter through the Arch Rock entrance on CA-140, the RV-friendliest approach, where the main limit is the El Portal Road tunnel at 12 feet 10 inches high and 45 feet long for single vehicles. In the valley, Lower and North Pines campgrounds accept Class A rigs up to 40 feet. What you must avoid with a big rig is entering via CA-41 or CA-120, whose tunnels are only about 10 feet 2 inches high. Valley roads and parking are busy and tight, so many big-rig owners base at a CA-140 park and drive into the valley in a tow vehicle instead.

Plenty. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, near Yosemite's south entrance, is the park's largest sequoia grove and home to the Grizzly Giant. Historic downtown Mariposa is a Gold Rush district with the 1854 courthouse, the oldest in continuous use west of the Rockies, plus shops and a mining museum. The Merced River, a Wild and Scenic river running along CA-140, offers swimming holes, fishing, and rafting. And the surrounding Gold Country foothills are scenic in their own right. Mariposa is more than a gateway; it is a destination with history, sequoias, and river fun beyond the famous valley.

Hot, since the town sits at about 2,000 feet in the Sierra foothills. Summer highs commonly reach the 90s, occasionally higher, with afternoon thunderstorms possible, so foothill camping in July and August is genuinely warm, and a powered site with air conditioning helps. The advantage is elevation: drive up into Yosemite's high country, and temperatures drop sharply, giving you a cool escape on day trips. Start valley visits early to beat both heat and crowds, carry plenty of water, and consider spring or fall if you want to avoid the peak foothill heat while still enjoying the park.

Yes, in the surrounding Sierra National Forest outside the park, which offers dispersed, primitive camping with no hookups, water, or dump facilities, suited to self-contained rigs. There is no dispersed overnight parking in town or in Yosemite itself, where camping is limited to designated campgrounds. If you use forest sites, arrive with full fresh water and empty tanks, and plan to dump afterward at Indian Flat, the Mariposa Fairgrounds, or Yosemite Westlake. For most visitors focused on Yosemite, the mix of in-park valley campgrounds and the private full-hookup parks along CA-140 is more convenient and comfortable.

Yes, at the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the largest grove in Yosemite National Park, located near the park's south entrance off CA-41. It is home to the famous Grizzly Giant and hundreds of ancient sequoias, reached by a shuttle from the arrival plaza during the busy season, with trails of varying lengths through the trees. It is a highlight of any Yosemite visit and a natural pairing with the valley. Note the CA-41 approach to the south entrance has low tunnels unsuitable for big rigs, so if you are driving a large RV, plan your route carefully or use a tow vehicle to reach the grove.

It is one of the best western bases, thanks to the CA-140 approach. Mariposa sits on the All-Weather Highway that leads to the Arch Rock entrance, the RV-friendliest way into Yosemite Valley, and it offers full town services, historic charm, and full-hookup private parks along the corridor, with Indian Flat in El Portal closest to the park. That makes it ideal for RVers who want reliable services and an easier drive than the low-tunnel southern and eastern routes. Whether you snag an in-park site or base along CA-140 and day-trip in, Mariposa is a convenient and scenic home base for Yosemite.