Yosemite Westlake Campground & RV Park sits in Coulterville, about 24 miles west of Yosemite National Park’s main entrances. With 21 full-hookup spaces for both RVs and tents, it’s a practical staging point if you’re planning to spend time in the park but want a quieter base camp where your dog can move around more freely than in many park campgrounds.

The location puts you in Gold Country, the historic mining region with old towns and backroads worth exploring if you want to break up your Yosemite time. Getting there from Modesto is straightforward — Highway 132 east connects to Highway 49, and the roads are well-marked. If you’re coming from the Bay Area, you’re looking at roughly a two-hour drive to the campground, then another 45 minutes or so to Yosemite’s west entrance.

The full hookups mean you can set up with power, water, and sewer connections rather than roughing it completely, which is helpful if you’re managing a dog in hot weather or need to keep things running. Coulterville itself is a small town where you can pick up supplies and grab a meal without driving far. There’s a reasonable amount of space between sites compared to many campgrounds, so dogs have some room to move around the property.

The area around Coulterville has some decent walking opportunities on back roads and smaller trails if you want to give your dog exercise before or after longer Yosemite hikes. It’s the kind of place where you can actually relax at your site without feeling crammed in, which matters when you’re traveling with a dog for several days. The campground takes reservations, and it’s worth calling ahead during peak season since spots fill up quickly for anyone planning a Yosemite trip.