Reds Meadow Campground
Campground · Yosemite corridor
Reds Meadow Campground sits at 7,628 feet in the Yosemite corridor's high Sierra, east of the main valley. A modest base for access to the Ritter Range and Inyo National Forest.
Wind averages 8 mph but can spike to 27 mph in afternoon thermals. Exposure is moderate; ridges and open water to the east funnel air upslope by midday. Mornings are calm and cold. Temperature swings 22 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit across the year; expect frost through late spring and early fall.
Over the last 30 days, Reds Meadow averaged a NoGo Score of 17 with temperatures around 34 degrees Fahrenheit and wind at 8 mph. The coming week will track typical late-spring patterns. Crowding remains low, averaging 12 on the 30-day scale. Snow can linger into early summer at this elevation; confirm current road access before heading up.
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About Reds Meadow Campground
Reds Meadow Campground occupies a high-elevation pocket in the Yosemite corridor on the east flank of the Sierra Nevada. The campground sits near Highway 395, the primary north-south artery through Inyo County; Mammoth Lakes lies roughly 20 miles north. Road access is seasonal; Highway 395 stays open year-round, but the meadow itself can hold snow into late spring. The site serves as a staging point for backpackers heading into the Ritter Range and Inyo National Forest. Parking is limited; arrive early on busy weekends or plan for a short wait.
Spring and early summer bring warming temperatures and lengthening daylight but also unpredictable snow. Over the past year, the 365-day temperature span reached 22 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, with the 30-day average now at 34 degrees and wind holding steady at 8 mph. Afternoon thermal uplift pushes wind to 27 mph most frequently in May and June. Summer (July and August) offers the most stable weather, with temperatures in the 40s to 60s and lower wind. Fall cools rapidly; by September, frost becomes routine and crowds drop sharply. Winter snow closes or severely restricts access.
Reds Meadow works best for backpackers and high-country campers comfortable with cold nights and thin air. The low base popularity (0.3) means you will not face valley-scale crowds, though weekends during the short snow-free window do fill. Experienced visitors arrive Tuesday to Thursday mornings to claim sites. Watch for afternoon wind spikes; plan water activities and exposed hiking for the early daylight hours. Smoke from range fires (late summer and fall) can degrade visibility and air quality.
The Yosemite corridor stretches from the main valley east over the Sierras to Inyo Country. Reds Meadow sits closer to Mammoth Lakes and the 395 corridor than to Yosemite Valley itself, making it a logical entry point for those skirting the main park bottleneck. Nearby Minaret Lake and the Ritter Lakes offer day-hike alternatives. Compare Reds Meadow to busier valley campgrounds; the trade-off is shorter access but colder nights and less infrastructure.