A Circle
Campground · Yosemite corridor
A Circle is a 5,702-foot campground in the Yosemite corridor's high Sierra, positioned away from the heaviest valley foot traffic. Typically calmer and less crowded than roadside pullouts on Highway 120.
Wind averages 7 mph but funnels to 19 mph on exposed afternoons. Morning hours are markedly calmer. Cold nights dip to freezing even in shoulder season. Afternoon thermals and lake effect wind pick up by mid-day.
The 30-day average wind of 7 mph and temperature of 40 degrees F reflect spring transition conditions at this elevation. Over the same window, crowding averaged 12 users, well below Highway 120 corridor peaks. Watch the next 7 days for afternoon wind strengthening as temperatures climb; cooler mornings remain reliable.
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About A Circle
A Circle sits at 5,702 feet in the high Sierra along the Yosemite corridor east of Highway 120. Access is via Highway 120 from the west (from Lee Vining or Mono Basin approaches). The campground serves as a secondary staging point for visitors bypassing the overrun Highway 120 gateway towns. It is positioned in the Tioga Pass approach zone, roughly 30 miles northeast of Yosemite Valley floor elevation but sharing similar Sierra Nevada drainage and weather patterns. Spring and early summer runoff, snowmelt timing, and afternoon wind regimes dominate the site character.
Spring conditions at A Circle show a 30-day average temperature of 40 degrees F and average wind of 7 mph, but afternoon gusts reach 19 mph. Crowding averages 12 users over rolling 30 days, substantially lower than highway corridor parking areas. Winter snow lingers into late April above 5,700 feet; expect soft ground and muddy approaches through early May. Summer temperatures rise into the upper 50s by mid-season. Autumn from late September onward cools rapidly and sees more stable morning conditions. The 365-day temperature range spans 28 degrees F (winter lows) to 57 degrees F (summer highs), pinning the site in the subalpine transition zone.
A Circle suits visitors seeking quieter high-Sierra camping away from valley congestion and Highway 120 bottlenecks. Day-hikers and backpackers staging Mono Basin trips, or those avoiding peak Yosemite parking, find the elevation and isolation helpful. Morning departure windows before 9 AM coincide with calm winds; afternoon wind ramp makes mid-day activities challenging. Parking is limited; arrive before mid-morning on weekends. Snow and mud closure risk persists into late May in heavy years. The site works best for visitors comfortable with cold nights and self-contained camping rather than amenity-dependent users.
Nearby alternatives include Tioga Lake (slightly lower elevation, more exposed to afternoon wind) and Tenaya Lake (closer to Yosemite Valley but heavier crowds). Lee Vining to the east offers a gateway anchor with services and weather forecasting access. Visitors planning Mono Basin access or reversing the Highway 120 approach from the eastern Sierra will find A Circle a logical camp to avoid the Yosemite Valley reservation gauntlet entirely.