DISCOVER THE ADVENTURE
YOSEMITE CAMPGROUNDS

Since we're only allowed to camp within designated campgrounds in Yosemite National Park, it's kind of important for you to know where the campgrounds are, don't you think? (See Yosemite Camping for more information on Yosemite's camping rules.)

There are 13 campgrounds - four of them are on the Valley Floor and the rest are near Wawona, Glacier Point, or Tuolumne Meadows.

Let's take a look at each in its turn...

Half Dome & the Merced River;
PD nps.gov

The only showers in Yosemite are in Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp, but those are open for the use of all campers, regardless of which of the Yosemite campgrounds you're using.

You'll find groceries nearby at both Yosemite Village and Curry Village, and pets are allowed at Upper Pines (properly leashed, of course).

Lower Pines

Lower Pines Campground is also near Curry Village and is open from approximately March through approximately October, reservations required throughout that time.

Lower Pines is smaller than Upper Pines, with only 60 sites (RVs allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water.

Showers are available at Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp.

You'll find groceries nearby at both Yosemite Village and Curry Village, and pets are allowed at Lower Pines (properly leashed).

North Pines

Yosemite Deer;
(CC) James Marvin Phelps

North Pines Campground is near Curry Village (the three Pines campgrounds are clustered in the same general area), tucked between the Merced River and Tenaya Creek, and is open from approximately April through approximately September, reservations required throughout that time.

This campground has 81 sites (RVs allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water.

Showers are available at Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp.

You'll find groceries nearby at both Yosemite Village and Curry Village, and pets are allowed at North Pines (properly leashed).

Camp 4

Camp 4 is near Yosemite Lodge, and it's a bit different from the other Yosemite campgrounds. I call it a "hostel-style" campground as it's run a little like a hostel. The overseers will put 6 people to each campsite, and your group may be split up in the process. This campground is listed with the National Register of Historic Places for playing a significant role in the development of the sport of rock climbing.

Camp 4 is open all year and they don't take reservations.

You'll find 35 sites, and RVs are not allowed. Each campsite is equipped with a fire pit, a picnic table, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water. There are shared food lockers to protect your food.

Showers are available at Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp.

You'll find groceries nearby at both Yosemite Lodge and Yosemite Village, and pets are not allowed at Camp 4.

Giant Sequoias;
CC Joe Shlabotnik

There's one campground in the Wawona area - called, interestingly enough...

Wawona Campground

Wawona Campground is near the Wawona Hotel, along the South Fork of the Merced River, and is open all year, reservations required May through September; it's first-come, first-served the rest of the year.

Wawona has 93 sites (RVs allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water. The food lockers are shared.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - about a half-hour drive.

You'll find groceries nearby at a small grocery store near Wawona, and pets are allowed at Wawona Campgrounds (properly leashed).

There's only one Yosemite campground in the Glacier Point area - not called, interestingly enough, Glacier Point Campground...

Bridalveil Creek

Bridalveil Creek Campground is off Glacier Point Road, and is open approximately July through approximately early September, no reservations - it's strictly first-come, first-served.

This campground has 110 sites (RVs allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water. The food lockers are shared.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - about a half-hour drive.

You'll find groceries down in Yosemite Valley, or up in Wawona, and pets are allowed at Bridalveil Creek (properly leashed).

Yosemite's High Country
/(CC) Complicated

Hodgdon Meadow

Hodgdon Meadow Campground is off Big Oak Flat Road, and is open all year, reservations required from mid-April through mid-October - first-come, first-served the rest of the year.

Hodgdon Meadow has 105 sites (RVs allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - about a 40 minute drive.

You'll find groceries at Crane Flat, and pets are allowed at Hodgdon Meadow (properly leashed, of course).

Crane Flat

Crane Flat Campground is also off Big Oak Flat Road, and is open approximately July through approximately September, reservations are available for 50% of the sites - the rest are first-come, first-served.

This is one of the larger of Yosemite campgrounds with 166 sites (RVs allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - about a 40 minute drive.

You'll find groceries at Crane Flat - there's a small grocery store, and pets are allowed at Crane Flat Campground (properly leashed).

Tamarack Flat

Yosemite Coyote
(CC) Sara Atkins

Tamarack Flat Campground is off Tioga Road (Highway 120), and is open approximately late-June through approximately September, reservations are NOT available - it's strictly first-come, first-served.

Tamarack Flat has 52 sites (RVs are not recommended), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby vault toilets, and NO drinkable water.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - about a half-hour drive.

You'll find groceries at Crane Flat - there's a small grocery store, and pets are not allowed at Tamarack Flat campgrounds.

White Wolf Campground

White Wolf Campground is off Tioga Road (Highway 120), and is open approximately July through approximately early-September, reservations are NOT available - it's strictly first-come, first-served.

White Wolf has 74 sites (small RVs are allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - about a 45 minute drive.

You'll find groceries at Crane Flat or Tuolumne Meadows, and pets are allowed at White Wolf (properly leashed).

Yosemite Creek

Yosemite Squirrel;
(CC) Angela Sevin

Yosemite Creek Campground is off Tioga Road (Highway 120), and has its namesake creek running right through the middle. It's open approximately July through approximately early-September, reservations are not available - it's strictly first-come, first-served.

There are 40 sites here (RVs not recommended), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby restrooms with vault toilets, and no drinkable water.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - almost an hour's drive.

You'll find groceries at Crane Flat or Tuolumne Meadows, and pets are allowed at Yosemite Creek (properly leashed).

Porcupine Flat

Porcupine Flat Campground is off Tioga Road (Highway 120), and has a seasonal creek running by. It's open approximately July through approximately October 15, reservations are not available - it's strictly first-come, first-served.

There are 52 sites here (small RVs are allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby restrooms with vault toilets, and no drinkable water.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - almost an hour's drive.

You'll find groceries at Crane Flat or Tuolumne Meadows, and pets are not allowed at Porcupine Flat.

Tuolumne Meadows Campground

May Lake; PD Jon Sullivan

Tuolumne Meadows Campground is also off Tioga Road (Highway 120) - it's the one farthest east. Largest of all Yosemite Campgrounds, Tuolumne is open approximately July through approximately late-September, reservations are available for half of the sites - the rest are first-come, first-served.

Tuolumne Meadows has 304 sites (small RVs are allowed), and each campsite is equipped with a fire ring, a picnic table, a food locker, nearby restrooms with flushing toilets, and drinkable water.

You have to go down to Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp for showers - about an hour and 10 minutes away.

You'll find groceries at the Tuolumne Meadows store, and pets are allowed at Tuolumne Meadows Campground (properly leashed).

Well, that should get you started figuring out which of the Yosemite Campgrounds would best fit your needs. Regardless of which you choose, I promise you won't find a bad view in the lot!!

But maybe you're more interested in Yosemite lodging than you are in camping:

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