Camping Options for Tuolumne This Year

Hey folks. Everybody knows the campground is closed. Beyond just day tripping it, what other options do I even have if I want to get some climbing in in the Meadows? I'm down to sleep in my car and keep to myself, do some dispersed camping, or camp somewhere close-ish and drive in and back out a couple days. Thoughts?

There are about three (not sure) of these first-come, first-served campgrounds (i.e., not reserveable) on Lee Vining Creek.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/inyo/recarea/?recid=20638

You're not going to find anyone willing to blow up their spots by giving exact locations here, but the options are the same as they were last year, and the year before, which are the campgrounds Frank posted about and the dispersed options you've mentioned. If you choose the (illegal) dispersed bivy option, being low-key (in late, out early, LNT, quiet, no fires) will help keep these locations from getting more enforced. Legal dispersed camping can be found along HW 395, with more options found closer to Mammoth. 

Brandon R wrote:

You're not going to find anyone willing to blow up their spots by giving exact locations here, but the options are the same as they were last year, and the year before, which are the campgrounds Frank posted about and the dispersed options you've mentioned. If you choose the (illegal) dispersed bivy option, being low-key (in late, out early, LNT, quiet, no fires) will help keep these locations from getting more enforced. Legal dispersed camping can be found along HW 395, with more options found closer to Mammoth. 

Totally. I never want to blow up options for folks, and not expecting anyone to give out their super secret spot either. I just wasn't sure if anybody was having luck with any sorts of campgrounds, or if it was all winging it.

There are three campgrounds currently open between crane flat and the meadows.  Porcupine flat, white wolf (maybe it’s not open?  Check rec.gov for deets), and crane flat campground.  Information for each will be on rec.gov

Not a secret spot - Crane Flat CG has reopened:
Crane Flat back open

Natalie Blackburn wrote:

Totally. I never want to blow up options for folks, and not expecting anyone to give out their super secret spot either. I just wasn't sure if anybody was having luck with any sorts of campgrounds, or if it was all winging it.

I’ll just add that it’s extremely easy to find a dispersed camping spot along Lee Vining Canyon, especially if you’re able to sleep in your car—you will see many others doing it (though as Brandon said, try not to be too obvious about it). So if your concern is just finding somewhere to sleep, you don’t need to worry, you’ll definitely find something. Getting space in a ‘real’ campsite in the area is much more of a crapshoot

There were issues because of the fire at Mariposa, the highway was closed. It could be those campers could not get in the park and gave up.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/inyo/learning/safety-ethics/?cid=stelprdb5182515

"Do not camp in the Restricted Recreation Area Boundary, typically where there are developed campgrounds and paved roadways."
https://www.essrp.org/camping

Sure, you can't get a site at one of the campgrounds and/or you don't want to pay $28/night for one...
but, just because everyone camps along the 120 doesn't mean it is legal and that you should do it also.
It has gotten out of hand the last few years. People see others do it, assume it is allowed and then they also do it. Snowball.

Hmmm perhaps.