It was the last day of school and my kids were eager for summer break… My son kept on asking, “When are we going camping?” He could barely contain his excitement when I told him we were going on an adventure with our friends to Yosemite National Park. GoRving’s Park Model Cabins have been a wonderful and convenient glamping option for my family in the past, and we were thrilled to explore a new campground with them!
The seven hour scenic drive to Thousand Trails in Yosemite was gorgeous. “Are we there yet?” my son said repeatedly. Our lives are hectic, and we are always on the go. Carlos travels a lot for work, and I it was nice that he could take some time off to spend quality time with the kiddos.
I have included an easy meal plan and tip list in the post to help you plan your next travel adventure!
Disclosure: Thank you Thousand Trails and GoRving for hosting our family at Yosemite Lakes Campground. All opinions are my own.
This was our adorable GoRVing home away from home, at Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes RV Resort. It was so refreshing and therapeutic to walk outside and breathe fresh clean air, see nature, and hear the trickling sounds of stream close by.
The Park Model RVs are ideal for families who want to get away, but don’t have the time or want to fuss with packing tents, stoves, and other heavy camping gear. These cabins are fully-loaded and equipped. Most have A/C, heat, a full kitchen & bathroom, bedroom, grill, fire pit, porch and more! They are super comfortable and close to all the campground activities.
Each cabin is nice and cozy, and has two bedrooms with two satellite televisions.
The kids loved the bunk beds and fought over who was getting to top bunk. Lol
More Tips On What to bring:
Soap, shampoo, toiletries
Bug spray, sun screen
Music / iPod & amp; speakers
Cell phone & charger
Camera / video recorder
Your own GPS
Spatula or tongs for grill
Paper towels / foil / plastic wrap / paper plates / napkins / plastic ware
Wet wipes
Garbage bags
Matches / lighter for grills
Bottle / wine opener
First aid supplies
Flashlight / battery operated lantern
Folding chairs & picnic blanket
Games / cards
Binoculars
Beach Towels
The kitchen is fully equipped with kitchen utensils, pots and pans, cutting board, microwave, stove, refrigerator, kitchen table and much more!
Trailers
You can pull some trailers with the family car and store it in your garage. Or, try one a little bit bigger that
has a full kitchen and bath. Trailers start $6,000.
Motorhomes
Motorhomes are great for families that want to feel like they’re at home, even when riding down the road.
Passengers often enjoy playing games at the dinette table, watching TV, or relaxing on the couch.
Motorhomes have lots of storage space and come in all sizes and price ranges. Starts at $60,000 and can be
financed up to 15 years OR rent one starting around $150 a day.
Park Model RV
A great way to try camping is to stay in a park model RV, sometimes called Park Model Cabins. These are
fully-loaded cabins built on an RV chassis and located in many campgrounds in the U.S. Most have A/C,
heat, a full kitchen & amp; bathroom, bedroom, grill, fire pit, porch and more – super comfortable and you still
have access to all the campground activities. It’s also a great way for anyone with a disability to go camping.
It was so nice to sit outside and enjoy nature. Each cabin has its own grill too!
Here is a suggested grocery list, to help prepare for your own camping adventure.
Grocery list:
Cereal / Milk
Eggs / bread / bacon
Sandwich meats / chips
Steaks / chicken / hot dogs / hamburgers – anything you want to grill
Ketchup / mustard / butter / salt / pepper / spices
Any veggies or salads you’ll want with your barbecue– or shop at local farm stands for really fresh, local
ingredients
Sodas / beer / wine / bottled water
Snacks
Coffee / tea/ cream / sugar
Charcoal (or you can buy it at the campground store)
Chocolate bars, marshmallows, graham crackers, long skewers for s’mores!
Reusable water bottles
Check out my easy s’more cheesecake! I bought a pre-made cheesecake and just added, graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate syrup. Easy breezy!
Meal planning with my blogger friends was lots of fun. Each family took turns on hosting dinner each evening.
1st night- We made tacos, ceviche, rice and beans
2nd night- Penny (On The Go OC) made homemade chili
3rd night- Mary (Let’s Play OC) made pasta
For a easy meal planning list, check out Let’s Play OC’s post here.
Musicians and artists entertained guests around a cozy campfire by the clubhouse.
About Yosemite Lakes Campground
Yosemite Lakes Public RV Camping is an authentic American RV campground located just outside of California’s beautiful Yosemite National Park. Ideally situated just 5 miles from the west gate of the park entrance, this 400-acre preserve is a wonderland of activity during the summer. The South Fork of the Tuolumne River running through the preserve is ideal for swimming, fishing and panning for gold. This RV campground in California is just 35 miles west of Lake Don Pedro where fishing, boating and water skiing are popular pastimes. The state’s largest public cavern, Moaning Cavern, is also a well-known local attraction.
Thousand Trails: Yosemite Lakes Resort Amenities:
- Clubhouse
- Gameroom
- Shuffleboard
- Fishing
- Creek, Lake, and Canal
- Pets Welcome
- Store
- Nature Trails
- Mini Golf
- Laundry Facilities
- Picnic/ BBQ Area
- Volleyball
- Basketball
- Horseshoes
Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes Campground is an easy 20 minute drive from Yosemite National Park. We hopped on our vehicle and made our way to the Lower Falls, Bridal Veil, and Glacier. It was magical, and was a unique park to explore…
There is so much to see at the National Park, we can’t wait to return and hit other parts! Click here for more park info.
On day three, we packed up our lunches and enjoyed a lovely picnic with our friends by the creek.
Both the kids and adults had a blast, and since then we have become like family!
It was so nice to see my teen daughter disconnected from her phone and exploring nature on our incredible nature walks.
Read 6 Important Reasons To Go Camping With Your Kids.
The sunset in Yosemite was incredible, and simply took my breath away…
My family had a wonderful time and I am glad we got to enjoy this time together. Can’t wait for our next adventure!
Yosemite Lakes RV Resort Address
31191 Hardin Flat Rd. Groveland, CA 95321
