If you are looking for an epic adventure you can't go wrong with Yosemite Camping! Waking up with views of El Capitan, Half Dome and the Merced River are definitely not a rough way to start the day.
There are 13 campgrounds in Yosemite National Park. Four of the campgrounds are in Yosemite Valley, five of them are along the Tioga Pass and Tuolumne Meadows which are open seasonally, the rest are found along Highways 120 and 140.
One thing to know is Yosemite National Park Camping is crazy popular! If you plan on camping during the busy summer months you will want to be prepared to make a reservation ahead of time.
There are tent cabins available for rent in Half Dome Village and Housekeeping Camp. The National Park Services uses Recreation.gov for all of their campground reservations.
The seasonal campgrounds along Tioga Road are mostly first to come first served when they are open. Many of these campgrounds are only open for a short season due to the amount of snow built up from the winter.
If you are looking for an adventure check out the highly coveted High Sierra Camps! If you are planning on backcountry camping make sure you have a wilderness permit. The National Park Service limits the number of campers in each area of the park.
Yosemite Camping
Contents
We are excited to share our guide to Camping in Yosemite! We are breaking down each of the 13 campgrounds and what to expect in each campground. Keep an eye out on which ones you have to have reservations for versus first come first served.
If you are planning on staying in a first come first served campground you will want to plan to get there early in the morning especially during the busy summer months. Yosemite is one of the most popular national parks in the United States and it shows.
We visited campgrounds in Yosemite where people line up at 2:30 am hoping to get a spot!!!
Be prepared with a backup option or two if the campground you are planning to stay at is full.
You will want to check the historical opening and closing dates of each campground to make sure they are open during your planned visit.
Yosemite Camping Reservations
If you are planning a Yosemite Camping trip you will want to be prepared for making a reservation ahead of time! Campground reservations open up to five months in advance on the 15th of the month.
I would mark it in your calendar to be ready before 7 am with the dates you are hoping to make a Yosemite Camping Reservation. All of the Yosemite Valley car camping campgrounds require reservations year-round.
Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat, Wawona, and half of Tuolumne Meadows reservations are required summer through fall.
Reservations go quickly!!!! You will want to know your dates, preferred campground, and backup campground ahead of time especially if you are looking to camp in Yosemite between May through September or on a weekend.
Prior to the 15th, I would suggest making sure you have a www.recreation.gov sign in created and as much information filled out as possible.
Compare your phone/computer time to the official US Clock so you are in sync with recreation.gov and don't miss the time because you had a later time.
How to make a Yosemite Camping Reservation
- Visit www.recreation.gov (recommended)
- Call 877-444-6777
or 877-833-6777 for TDD
or 518-885-3639 from outside the US & Canada
You may only make two reservations per phone call or website visit
If you are camping with a trailer or RV you will want to know the size of the equipment you plan to camp in. RVs are not allowed in tent-only campsites.
If you are planning to camp with a trailer make sure to look at each campground description to confirm the length of the campsite.
You will want to do as much research as possible days before trying to make a reservation. The more prepared you are the better chances you have of making a reservation for camping in Yosemite.
Terms you will want to know when you make your reservation
Standard nonelectric site = suitable for both tents and RVs (or a combination of both)
RV nonelectric = campsite is best suited for RVs and trailers, generally, do not have adequate or level space to pitch a tent
Helpful hints for making a Yosemite Camping Reservation
When on Recreation.gov make sure you sort the results by distance so you only see Yosemite Campgrounds. The search results may show results outside of the park.
Yosemite Valley Campgrounds
One thing to remember when camping in Yosemite Valley is the campgrounds are at 4,000 feet. Be prepared for cool nights and warmer days. If you are used to being at sea level and not higher elevations make sure you drink a lot of water.
Upper Pines Campground
Location: Yosemite Valley, near Curry Village
Elevation: 4000 ft/1200 m
Open: All year
Number of sites: 238
Accessible Sites: yes, 6, 7, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 39, 42, and 43
Cost per night: $26
Reservations?: Yes, Recreation.gov
Up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. (PT) or 10:00 a.m (ET).
Campground amenities: Tap water, restrooms, fire rings, bear food storage boxes, easy access to the Yosemite Shuttle Bus.
RVs allowed?: Yes
Maximum Rv Length - 35 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 24 feet
For more information and photos check out our post on Upper Pines Campground
Lower Pines Campground
Location: Yosemite Valley, near Curry Village
Elevation: 4000 feet
Open: April 1 - October 27
Number of sites: 60
Accessible Sites: 5
Cost per night: $26
Reservations?: Yes, Recreation.gov
Up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. (PT) or 10:00 a.m (ET).
Campground amenities: Tap water, restrooms, fire rings, bear food storage boxes, easy access to the Yosemite Shuttle Bus.
RVs allowed?: Yes
Maximum RV length - 40 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 35 feet
For more information and photos check out our post on Lower Pines Campground
North Pines Campground
Location: Yosemite Valley near Half Dome/ Curry Village
Elevation: 4000 feet
Open: April 1 - October 27
Number of sites: 81
Accessible Sites: 5
Cost per night: $26
Reservations?: Yes, Recreation.gov
Up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. (PT) or 10:00 a.m (ET).
Campground amenities: Tap water, fire pits, toilets, located near the Merced River and Tenaya Creek.
RVs allowed?: Yes
Maximum RV length - 40 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 35 feet
For more information and photos check out our post on North Pines Campground
Camp 4 Campground
Location: Yosemite Valley near the Yosemite Valley Lodge
Elevation: 4000 feet
Open: All year
Number of sites: 36
Accessible Sites: 0
Cost per night: $6 per person
Reservations?: New reservation system starting in May 2019.
You must enter the daily lottery for an opportunity to reserve a campsite for the following day at Camp 4 during the peak season (mid-May through mid-September).
There may be days when Camp 4 is not accepting lottery applications for next-day arrivals due to no availability. In this case, please check back the next day for an opportunity to apply to the lottery.
Campground amenities: Tap water, bathrooms, bear boxes, fire rings
RVs allowed?: No RV's Allowed
Additional info: Pets are not allowed in this campground
For more information and photos check out our post on Camp 4 Yosemite
Yosemite Campgrounds south of Yosemite Valley
Wawona Campground
Location: Near the Wawona Hotel/Big Trees Lodge in South Yosemite.
Elevation: 4000 feet
Open: Year-round, closed Nov 3, 2019–Apr 2020 for sewer upgrades
Number of sites: 93
Accessible Sites: 2
Cost per night: $26
Reservations?: Apr 8–Oct 1, Recreation.gov
Up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. (PT) or 10:00 a.m (ET).
Campground amenities: Tap water, flush toilets. Located right on the South Fork Merced River some sites have epic river views.
RVs allowed?: Yes
Maximum RV length - 35 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 35 feet
For more information and photos check out our full post on Wawona Campground
BridalVeil Creek Campground
Location: On the Glacier Point Road
Elevation: 7200 feet
Open: August 1 - September 23
Number of sites: 110
Accessible Sites: 0
Cost per night: $18
Reservations?: First Come first served
Campground amenities: a fire ring, picnic table, and food locker [33"(D)x45"(W)x18"(H)], and is near a bathroom with drinking water and flushing toilets.
RVs allowed?: Yes
Maximum RV length - 35 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 24 feet
Check out our full post with site photos of Bridalveil Creek Campground.
Yosemite Campgrounds - North of Yosemite Valley
Hodgdon Meadow Campground
Location: 45 miles northwest of Yosemite Valley near the Big Oak Flat Entrance.
Elevation: 4900 Feet
Open: Year-Round
Number of sites: 105
Accessible Sites: 0
Cost per night: $26
Reservations?: April 8th - October 1
Campground amenities: Tap water, restrooms, fire ring, bear food lockers, picnic tables
RVs allowed?:
Maximum RV length - 35 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 30 feet
For more information and photos check out our post on Hodgdon Meadow Campground
Crane Flat Campground
Location: On the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) just west of Crane Flat, about 30 minutes northwest of Yosemite Valley
Elevation: 6200 Feet
Open: July through mid-October
Number of sites: 166
Accessible Sites: 2
Cost per night: $26
Reservations?: Yes,
Campground amenities: A fire ring, picnic table, and food locker [33"(D)x45"(W)x18"(H)], and is near a bathroom with drinking water and flushing toilets.
RVs allowed?: Yes
Maximum RV length - 35 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 35 feet
For more information and photos check out our post on Crane Flat Campground
Tamarack Flat Campground
Location: Tioga Road
Elevation: 6300 Feet
Open: approximately late June through September
Number of sites: 52
Accessible Sites: 5
Cost per night: $12
Reservations?: First come, first served
Campground amenities: Creek water that will need to be boiled. A fire ring, picnic table, and food locker [33"(D)x45"(W)x18"(H)], and is near a vault toilet.
RVs allowed?: RV's/Trailers not recommended
For more information and photos check out our post on Tamarack Flat Campground
White Wolf Campground
Location: Tioga Road
Elevation: 8000 Feet
Open: White Wolf Lodge will be closed for the 2020 season.
Number of sites: 74
Accessible Sites: 0
Cost per night: $18
Reservations?: First come, first served
Campground amenities: A fire ring, picnic table, and food locker [35"(D)x43"(W)x28"(H)], and is near a bathroom with drinking water and flushing toilets.
RVs allowed?: Yes
Maximum RV length - 27 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 24 feet
Yosemite Creek Campground
Location: Tioga Road
Elevation: 7700 Feet
Open: ??? to September 3rd, Opening date depends on weather and snow.
Number of sites: 75
Accessible Sites: 2
Cost per night: $12
Reservations?: First come, first served
Campground amenities: Creek water that must be boiled, a fire ring, picnic table, and food locker [33"(D)x45"(W)x18"(H)], and is near a vault toilet
RVs allowed?: RV's/ Trailers not recommended
See our Yosemite Creek campground post for site photos and more information on the great campground.
Porcupine Flat Campground
Location: Tioga Road
Elevation: 8100 Feet
Open: ??? to October 15
Number of sites: 52
Accessible Sites: 4
Cost per night: $12
Reservations?: First come, first serve
Campground amenities: Creek water that must be boiled, a fire ring, picnic table, and food locker [33"(D)x45"(W)x18"(H)], and is near a vault toilet
RVs allowed?: RVs/Trailers not recommended
Check out our full article on Porcupine Flat Campground with site photos and info.
Tuolumne Meadows Campground
Location: Tioga Road
Elevation: 8600 feet
Open: August 1 - September 23
Number of sites: 306
Accessible Sites: 7
Cost per night: $26
Reservations?: 50% of the campground is on reservations
Campground amenities: A fire ring, picnic table, and food locker [33"(D)x45"(W)x18"(H)], and is near a bathroom with drinking water and flushing toilets
RVs allowed?:
Maximum RV length - 35 feet
Maximum Trailer Length - 35 feet
Check out our full article on Tuolumne Meadows Campground for site photos and more info!
Check out all of our articles on Yosemite National Park!
You don’t want to miss the best things to do in Yosemite during your visit.
If you are looking for Yosemite Travel Tips this post has everything you may be looking for.
Leave a Reply