Best Campsites in Yosemite National Park

Best Campsites in Yosemite National Park

Yosemite was the first National Park in 
America and has been a must-visit spot since 1890. Over 4 million visitors come to see 
its natural beauty every year. Its popularity means it can quickly become overcrowded.
Yosemite has 13 campgrounds that have thousands of camping sites within them. An important part 
of planning your trip is finding the one that fits your needs and reserve it as soon as you can.
Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more tips on getting the best out of your trip to this famous 
natural wonder. Keep watching to learn about the best campsites in Yosemite National Park.
Lower Pines This is often considered one of 
the best campsites in Yosemite, and definitely one of the best in Yosemite 
Valley. It has 60 campsites along the Merced River that offer beautiful views of Half Dome. 3 
of them are doubles that fit 7-12 people. They’re private with a mix of deciduous and pine trees.
Lower Pines is open from April to October but may be closed in times of flooding. 
You can bring an RV up to 40 feet long or a trailer up to 35 feet long.
Single sites cost approximately $26 per night, and doubles cost $36. Be sure to make 
reservations to these popular grounds in advance. North Pines
This campground sits on the other side of the river from Lower Pines. 
It has 81 closely packed sites that are open from March to October. They cost $26 per night. You 
can bring a tent up that’s up to 40 feet long, an RV that’s up to 40 feet long, or 
a trailer that’s up to 35 feet long. Upper Pines
This campground sits on the east end of Yosemite Valley and is 4,400 feet above 
the ground. It’s the largest in Yosemite Valley and the 2nd largest in the park with 238 
campsites. They accommodate RVs up to 35 feet long and trailers up to 24 feet long.
Upper Pines is made up of several loops, but navigating it is easy. The pines and cedars 
provide shade, and you’ll get beautiful views of Half dome, El Capitan, and other famous Yosemite 
sites. The nearby Curry Village gives you access to many of the best amenities in the park. You can 
reserve a site from March-October or try to snag one from December-March.
Camp 4 This is the only campsite in Yosemite 
that doesn’t allow cars, RVs, trailers, or pets. It’s 11 acres wide and 4,000 feet up, 
with 36 walk-in sites for tent campers. You’ll need to park next to the campground and walk to 
your site instead of parking directly next to it. Camp 4 is one of the best campsites in 
Yosemite for rock climbers. Major names such as Royal Robbins and Warren Harding started 
visiting in the 60s and 70s. It even earned a place on the National Register of Historic 
Places for its contributions to the sport. Getting a spot at Camp 4 means paying $10 to 
enter an online lottery the day before your trip. You’ll also have to camp in a 6-person 
site with whoever else wins the lottery. Bridalveil Creek Campground
This is the only campground on Glacier Point road. It’s a 26-mile drive 
from Yosemite Valley and is 7,200 feet high. It has 110 tent and RV sites, 3 horse sites, and 
2 group sites that hold 13-30 people but need to be reserved up to 5 months before your trip.
There’s even an RV park within the campground, as well. It has no hookups or dump stations.
Staying at Bridalveil means enjoying beautiful views from the Glacier Point lookout. It’s also 
the perfect place for hikes and has amenities such as a fire ring, picnic tables, fresh water, 
flushing toilets, and food lockers. The creek is so clean that you can get drinking water from it.
Bridalveil is closed in 2022, so keep checking to see if it reopens.
Crane Flat Campground This is the closest campground to Yosemite Valley 
at only 15 miles and a 30-minute drive away. It has 166 campsites that you can reserve 
5 months in advance from July-October. They only cost $26 a night. It’s currently 
closed, but consider a visit when it reopens. Hodgdon Meadow Campground
This campground is open year-round with reservations available from 
April-October. There are 105 campsites that cost $26 per night. The convenience makes 
it one of the best campsites in Yosemite. Hodgdon Meadow accommodates larger RVs of up to 
40 feet long. There are no electricity or water hookups, but there is a dump station nearby.
Long droughts have removed many of the trees, and the ground is fine and dusty. Try to avoid 
getting a site near the entrance, and make a reservation from April to October.
Tamarac Flat Campground Getting to this campground requires a drive 
on a 3-mile unpaved road. It sits along the Tamarac Creek and has 52 campsites. It’s 
private and full of beautiful trees. You can reserve a site from July-October 
for $12 per night. RVs are allowed but not recommended here.
White Wolf Campground This campground is 8,000 feet above the ground. 
It has 74 sites that accommodate RVs up to 27 feet long and trailers up to 24 feet 
long. They also feature fire rings, picnic tables, food lockers, public restrooms, 
water taps, and more. There are no electricity or water hookups, but there are 2 dump stations
White Wolf is close to Lukens Lake and Harden Lake, making it perfect for swimming and fishing. 
It has plenty of hiking trails and rock climbing sites for campers of every skill level.
The campground is so high up that it tends to get cold at night. Bring warm clothes 
before making a reservation. You can get one from July-September for $18 per night.
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Keep watching to learn about more of the best campsites in Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite Creek Campground This is one of the best campsites in Yosemite if 
you want to see Yosemite Falls. It has a 7-mile trail that leads directly to it. You’ll need to 
use the creek as drinking water, and there are no electricity or water hookups or dumpsites
Yosemite Creek gets cold in the winter due to its 7,700-foot elevation. It has 
74 pet-friendly sites, but don’t bring an RV or trailer with you. You can reserve a 
spot from July-September for $12 per night. Porcupine Flat
This campground is located only 15 miles away from Tuolumne Meadows. It has 52 remote campsites that 
are available from July-October for $12 per night. Porcupine Flat isn’t the best place 
to go if you’re expecting amenities. You’ll even have to bring your own 
water or boil what you can find nearby. It’s still worth a stay because it offers 
gorgeous views and miles of trails. Tuolumne Campground
This is the largest and highest campground in Yosemite with 304 campsites and an 
elevation of 8,600 feet. You can stay in a tent, RV, or trailer that’s up to 35 feet long.
Tuolumne fits plenty of amenities into its large size, including a restaurant, gas 
station, post office, mountaineering school, visitor center, and more. It’s also the namesake 
of the Tuolumne Meadows and Tuolumne River. This campground offers beautiful views of 
Elizabeth Lake and Lyell Canyon. You may even see a black bear on the John Muir Trail.
You can reserve half of the campsites here from July-September for $26 per night, and 
you’ll just have to hope the rest are available. It’s closed until 2025 for reservations 
but worth the trip when it reopens. Wawona Campground
This campground sits on the South Fork of the Merced River. It’s also 
only a mile north of the small town of Wawona. It has 93 campsites you can reserve from 
April-October for $26 per night. Its RV park has no hookups, water, or electricity, but there 
is an available dump station on Forest Drive. Wawona is split into 3 loops. Loop A is wide, 
close to the entrance, and open all year. Loops B and C are more private 
but only open from spring to fall. Each site accommodates tents, RVs, and trailers 
that are up to 35 feet long. They also have plenty of basic amenities such as water, fire, 
and toilets, but it’s more remote than most other campgrounds that offer the same features.
Wawona is the closest campground to the impressive Grizzly Giant sequoia tree, and you’ll also get 
a chance to visit the Mariposa Grove to see more trees. Go to the Pioneer Yosemite History 
Center if you want to learn something new. Wawona Campground is closed in 
2022. Be sure to see if it reopens. Summerdale Campground
This campground is only 1.5 miles from the south entrance to Yosemite. It’s privately run 
with 30 basic sites scattered along its meadow. You’ll see a river and gorgeous trees like 
cottonwoods, cedars, and sugar pines. You’ll also have your own toilet, water, picnic tables, 
and fire ring. Pets are welcome, and reservations should be made 6 months in advance.
Indian Flat RV Park This is another privately-run campground and a 
useful alternative if you can’t find a campsite anywhere else. It has 25 sites for tents and 
25 for RVs. There are also plenty of nearby amenities such as an outdoor pool and lodge.
Indian Flat provides the forest atmosphere you’re looking for. It’s so popular that you’ll want 
to make a reservation up to a year in advance Curry Village
This is one of the best campsites in Yosemite if you want to 
stay in style. There are over 319 cabins. The canvas tent options have 
wooden floors, cot beds, lights, and propane heat. They also offer daily 
housekeeping and nearby washrooms and showers. There are also 70 wooden cabins, and 56 of 
them have running water and bathrooms inside. Unlike the tents, they all have heat and 
electrical outlets. You can also get daily housekeeping and go to a nearby bathroom 
if your wooden cabin doesn’t have one. Have you ever camped out in Yosemite National 
Park? Let us know in the comments below. Like and subscribe to ViewCation 
for more national park camping guides.

Check out excursions you can do on your trip at the link below:
https://www.viator.com/San-Francisco-attractions/Yosemite-National-Park/d651-a53

Have you ever camped out in Yosemite National Park? It’s one of the first and most popular of all the protected areas in the US. The beautiful Yosemite Valley has many of the best campsites in Yosemite National Park. Lower Pines offers riverside views, and North Pines does the same with more closely-packed sites. Upper Pines is one of the largest campgrounds in the park, and Camp 4 is a rock climber’s paradise. Glacier Point is long and high with gorgeous views. One of its best campgrounds is Brideveil, a place where you’ll get options for all group sizes.

▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 – Intro
00:24 – Lower Pines
00:58 – North Pines
01:15 – Upper Pines
01:53 – Camp 4
02:34 – Bridalveil Creek Campground
03:17 – Crane Flat Campground
03:35 – Hodgdon Meadow Campground
04:05 – Tamarac Flat Campground
04:24 – White Wolf Campground
05:10 – Yosemite Creek Campground
05:38 – Porcupine Flat
06:00 – Tuolumne Campground
06:41 – Wawona Campground
07:37 – Summerdale Campground
07:58 – Indian Flat RV Park
08:21 – Curry Village
08:50 – Outro

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Crane Flats is close to Yosemite Valley. Hodgdon Meadow has survived disasters like droughts and fires to remain a wonderful campground. There are plenty of great campgrounds along Tioga Road. Try the lovely and private Tamarch Flat, go to White Wolf for forest activities and amenities, or go to Yosemite Creek to see Yosemite Fall. Tuomone Campground is the largest and highest in Yosemite with beautiful views of the river and meadow that bears its name. Wawona has 3 loops and plenty of amenities. Summerdale is a private campground near the south entrance with unique sites and gorgeous trees. It’s a great choice if you want a bit of privacy, basic amenities, and a place to bring your pets. Many of the best campsites in Yosemite give you a more luxurious experience than you’d get by putting up a tent in the woods. The Indian Flat RV Park is perfect if you want to spend the night in your vehicle. Curry Village features canvas tents and wooden cabins with amenities galore.

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Best Campsites in Yosemite National Park