I'm hoping to arrive on a Friday in mid-September and snag a campsite at Tuolumne Meadows. I know there are no guarantees but does anyone know how fast the non-reserved sites go that time of year?
By that time school is back in and the tourism season is over so you should be fine. Worse case scenario drive west on the 120 a little ways further and grab a spot in Porcupine Flats, Tamarack Flats or White Wolf (though White Wolf might be closed by then, it's estimated to close on Sep. 16 this year). Good luck!