Camping in Yosemite is a magical experience that will enhance your vacation to this stunning California valley.
Is there anything better than hiking to the mountaintops, swimming in a pristine alpine lake, or breathing in the woodsy aroma of the forest? Imagine yourself camping in Yosemite National Park — all of those things can be yours!
This guide is all about the frontcountry camping possibilities within the national park. It is designed to help you decide which campground is perfect for your needs!
What You Need to Know About Camping in Yosemite
- Reservation windows at Yosemite are complicated! Some campgrounds open reservations up to 5 months in advance on the 15th. Others offer reservations two weeks in advance. And one campground uses a 7-day reservation window. Read more about this here so you’ll be prepared to book on time!
- Reservations are accepted only online. Competition is fierce, so prepare ahead of time! If your desired dates are already full, check back often because people cancel!
- The campground season opening and closing dates change from year to year, so be sure to check the website to find out which campsites will be open during your trip.
- The only showers in the park available to campers are located at Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp (these are not campgrounds) in Yosemite Valley.
- Each standard campsite only accommodates six people. If you have a larger group, you will need to book two campsites or look for a campground that offers double or group campsites.
- Yosemite is bear country! Each campsite provides a bear box for you to store your food and other scented items in, but be sure to educate yourself on proper food storage practices before you go.
This article contains information on the frontcountry camping experiences that are available within Yosemite National Park. In other words, it covers places you can get to with your car! If you’re interested in hike-in backcountry camping options, click here.
Getting to the Campgrounds in Yosemite
Take a look at the map of campgrounds in Yosemite National Park to plan your trip. For your convenience, you can click on the name of a campground in the list below to read more about it.
How to Get a Campsite in Yosemite
All of the park’s campgrounds accept reservations. If you’re hoping to reserve something, click over to Recreation.gov to find a site. Depending on which campground you’re interested in, reservations open up using three different reservation windows: up to five months in advance on the 15th of the month, two weeks in advance, or one week ahead. You can read much more about this here.
For the sites that are released up to 5 months ahead, that occurs in one-month blocks, from the 15th to the 14th. So, if you’re looking for a campsite starting on July 20th, you’d want to reserve it on March 15th. If you’re looking for a campsite starting on July 14th, you’d want to reserve it on February 15th.
Campsites with a two-week window should be booked 14 days prior to your arrival date. For example, if you arrive on June 15th, book on June 1st. If a campground uses a 7-day window, book exactly one week before your first night. For example, if you arrive on May 8th, book on May 1st.
One campground, North Pines, is completely unique and holds an early booking lottery. Be sure to read about that if you hope to stay at North Pines!
No matter which campground you choose, you’ll want to sign in and pick out your site in advance so that you can hit reserve as soon as the clock strikes 7 a.m. PST. These tips will help you understand what date to reserve your site!
Only a few campgrounds in Yosemite offer first-come, first-served sites, and that is only during less busy times of the year. See this page for more information.
To choose your ideal campground, take a look at the in-park options below:
Campgrounds in Yosemite Valley
Camping in Yosemite Valley is for those who are looking for convenience over anything else. What you get in location, you give up in solitude and privacy while staying in the busiest part of the Park. Your campsite will be close to hikes, shuttles, restaurants, visitor services, showers, etc. but you will be less likely to hear the sounds of nature. Map of Yosemite Valley campgrounds.
Upper Pines Campground
This campground is the largest in Yosemite Valley, has a dump station, and feels like a parking lot nestled among the trees.
Open Season: All Year
Max RV Length: 35 ft
Max Trailer Length: 24 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: Yes
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 238
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: 10 sites
Lower Pines Campground
This campground is sandwiched between a beautiful meadow and the Merced River, making it a nice area to explore.
Open Season: Late April to the beginning of October
Max RV Length: 40 ft
Max Trailer Length: 35 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 60
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: 5 sites
North Pines Campground
North Pines has the Merced River and Tenaya Creek nearby, providing several nice riverside campsites.
Open Season: End of March to the beginning of November
Max RV Length: 40 ft
Max Trailer Length: 35 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, there is an Early Access Lottery for this campground. After the lottery, click here to check availability.
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 81
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: 5 sites
Camp 4 Campground
Camp 4 is unique because these campsites are filled to 6 occupants, but they are assigned on an individual basis, meaning that each member of your party may not be assigned to the same campsite, and you may be sharing the site with strangers.
During the busy season, reservations are available one week prior to your visit. Please read this information to learn more about how it works.
Parking next to your site is not available. A parking lot is provided, and from there, you must walk to your site.
Open Season: All Year
Max RV Length: No RVs allowed
Max Trailer Length: No Trailers allowed
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here for reservations from mid-April to October. Sites are first-come, first-served during the off-season.
Fee: $10 per person
Number of Sites: 35
Pets Allowed: No
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: No
Planning a trip to Yosemite can be overwhelming.
How do you make a solid plan if you’ve never been to the park before? How do you keep everyone in your group excited and engaged?
You can spend hours on the internet searching for things to do, but you still won’t find the insider tips and first-hand knowledge that I’ve gained from working as a park ranger.
If you’re hoping to see the best sights without getting stuck in traffic, circling parking lots, or being surrounded by people, check out this Yosemite Itinerary.
You will see all of the can’t-miss spots, plus get lodging and dining guides, driving directions, and insider tips!
Campgrounds South of Yosemite Valley
Visit the magical Mariposa Grove to see the Giant Sequoia trees or drive along the Glacier Point Road to gaze down into Yosemite Valley as you head to the south end of the National Park. Two developed campsites are available along the way, each providing beautiful trees, rivers, and a lovely nature experience.
Wawona Campground
Wawona Campground is near the South Entrance of Yosemite and Mariposa Grove. Group sites and horse sites are available, as well as some great riverside sites.
Open Season: All Year
Max RV Length: 35 ft
Max Trailer Length: 35 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: Yes
Reservations Required: Yes, click here for reservations from mid-April to October. Sites are first-come, first-served during the off-season.
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 93
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets and running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: 2 sites
Bridalveil Creek Campground
This campground is located along Glacier Point Road, nestled among the trees with several rivers and creeks. It provides a good amount of privacy as well as group sites and horse sites (reservable) to accommodate your needs.
Open Season: Mid-July through the middle/end of September
Max RV Length: 35 ft
Max Trailer Length: 24 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 110
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: No
Campgrounds North of Yosemite Valley
Variety is the name of the game when picking a campsite north of Yosemite Valley. This area is more susceptible to the seasons because of the changes in elevation along the Tioga Road. Several of the campsites are slightly more hidden and primitive than others, while some are very developed and busy, but all boast amazing views of a varied landscape.
Hodgdon Meadow Campground
This campground is unique in that it offers tent-only sites that are grouped together, some farther away from where RVs and trailers can camp. If you are a tent camper looking for a “wilderness” experience while still having the convenience of being right next to a road, this site may be the one for you. Group sites are also available.
Open Season: All Year
Max RV Length: 40 ft
Max Trailer Length: 30 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here for reservations from mid-April to October. Sites are first-come, first-served during the off-season.
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 105
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: No
Crane Flat Campground
Crane Flat is a popular campground because of its close proximity to Yosemite Valley.
Open Season: End of May to the middle of October
Max RV Length: 35 ft
Max Trailer Length: 27 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 166
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: 2 sites
Tamarack Flat Campground
The road to Tamarack Flat is narrow and has some huge potholes. The sites are nicely spread out for privacy, and Tamarack Creek runs next to many of the sites.
Open Season: End of May to the middle of October
Max RV Length: No RVs allowed
Max Trailer Length: No Trailers allowed
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $24
Number of Sites: 52
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Pit toilets and no running water. No drinking water available.
Wheelchair Accessibility: 5 sites
White Wolf Campground
This campground has a lot of trees, making it very private, with some fun hiking trails nearby.
Open Season: July to the middle of September
Max RV Length: 27 ft
Max Trailer Length: 24 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 74
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets and running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: No
Yosemite Creek Campground
It’s hard to find a campsite here that isn’t near the water, making it a great place to explore. Be sure to bring bug spray!
Open Season: Beginning of July to the beginning of September
Max RV Length: No RVs allowed
Max Trailer Length: No Trailers allowed
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $24
Number of Sites: 75
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Pit toilets and no running water. No drinking water available.
Wheelchair Accessibility: 2 sites
Porcupine Flat Campground
These sites are nicely spaced with limited availability for RVs.
Open Season: Beginning of July to early October
Max RV Length: 24 ft (limited availability)
Max Trailer Length: 20 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: No
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability
Fee: $24
Number of Sites: 52
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Pit toilets and no running water. No drinking water available.
Wheelchair Accessibility: 4 sites
Tuolumne Meadows Campground
Tuolumne Meadows Campground is the largest in Yosemite and is also the highest in elevation at 8600 feet above sea level. Plan for cold nights and lots of neighbors, but enjoy the many fantastic hiking trails in the area. Group and horse sites are available.
Open Season: End of May to the end of September
Max RV Length: 35 ft
Max Trailer Length: 35 ft
Hookups: No
Dump Station: Yes
Reservations Required: Yes, click here to check availability. (Currently closed until 2025)
Fee: $36
Number of Sites: 304
Pets Allowed: Yes, but please review Yosemite’s Pet Policy
Restrooms: Flush toilets with running water
Wheelchair Accessibility: 6 sites
Now that you’ve seen your options for camping in Yosemite, are you ready to make sure you don’t miss any of the best sights in the park?
Click NEXT to see the 12 things you can’t miss on your first visit!
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We were unable to get a site in Yosemite Valley. We do have a Hodgon eadow reservation. Would you recommend using the YARTs bus or driving ourselves into the valley each day? We do want to use the shuttle system, just aren’t sure what the better option is. Also, how likely are we to snag a spot with last minute cancellations in the valley?
Our first time!
I would take your own car and then catch the Valley Shuttle when you get down there. Cancellations are possible, so definitely keep checking back as it gets closer!
I booked a campsite for June and we have five kids. Will we get in trouble trying to bring in our family of seven when the site size limit is six?
Thanks
No, not if they are all immediate family. Have fun!
How do you reserve 2 campsites together, on for an RV and one for tents?
Very good info on your website. Thank you.
You’ll have to check the sites individually to see if they’ll fit the vehicles/campers you plan to bring. If you can find two sites together that will work for you, you’ll need to have two people trying to reserve the sites when they open up. There’s pretty much a 0% chance of one person getting two sites in Yosemite. Have someone else in your group try for one, and you try for the other. The sites will get snatched up within seconds of being released. Good luck!
Good morning. Your website has a hyperlink to Reserve America to check on availability at Tuolomne Meadows. However, that site then says that it does not handle reservations at that campground. So, where do I go to check availability.
Thanks!
Thanks for pointing that out….I’ve updated the links to the reservation pages. Have a great trip!
We pull a 39 ft fifth wheel with 3 slide outs with a 3500 Ram dually. Is there really no place we can camp (dispersed or not) close to Yosemite? We were trying to plan this for spring 2020. I have only camped in the east coast .
With the length of your truck and 5th wheel together, you will be very hard-pressed to find anything large enough in the park. There are numerous RV parks in the surrounding communities that should be able to accommodate you though! You could also look into some of the Forest Service campgrounds in the area. I’d try a website like http://www.campendium.com to search for options. Have fun!
Hello Ash, I booked 2 sites at Touloume Meadows for this coming Sept. I know the sites are assigned upon arrival. There is a great chance that we may arrive after hours. If it’s in that case, do rangers usually put 2 sites next to each other? Thanks!
Are you reservations under 2 different names? It likely just depends on what’s available that evening and what type of site you reserved. The sites of the same type are not all together {for example, the sites that accommodate a 24 foot trailer won’t all be in the same area}. I guess what I’m saying is I wouldn’t count on it :( If you really want to have two sites together, I’d really try to be there before the rangers leave so that you can talk to them about it!
Hey! We are two camping novices excited to be visiting Yosemite for the first time May 17-20, driving up from Los Angeles. Where can you recommend for us to stay? What can you recommend for us to do? Pack? We are open to any and all suggestions.
Hi Maya,
My specific recommendations/tips/tricks can be found in my Yosemite itineraries, found here: https://dirtinmyshoes.lpages.co/yosemite-itinerary/ Have a great time!
Where can we camp march 25 campervan
Hi Joy, you’ll want to check the website to see what’s available! https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm