Complete Guide to Yosemite Camping for Beginners

Yosemite National Park is definitely one of my favorite National Parks to visit and I always love camping there whenever I have the chance.

If you haven’t been to Yosemite you definitely need to add visiting and camping at the park to your bucket list as there really isn’t any other National Park like it.

If your thinking about camping in Yosemite National Park though it can seem overwhelming as the park encompasses more than 761,000 acres and has 13 different campgrounds with tons of different camping options.

Because of this, I created this Yosemite camping guide for beginners so that even if this is your first visit to Yosemite you can camp like a seasoned pro and know exactly what to expect.

Basic Overview for Camping in Yosemite National Park

Before we get into a ton of specifics about the park and how to camp there it’s important to first understand some basic facts and information about Yosemite National Park.

Where is Yosemite National Park Located?

Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Central California. Yosemite is also almost due East from San Fransisco on the opposite side of the state.

Is Yosemite Open Year Around?

The great news is that Yosemite National Park is open year-round 365 days a year 24 hours a day. So you can visit Yosemite whenever you want.

It’s important to remember though if you’re planning on visiting the park in the fall, winter, or spring that some roads can be closed due to snow. As a general rule, some of the roads will be closed in Yosemite from November until May or June but don’t worry even if you happen to visit during one of these months there is still plenty to explore and see.

What are the Best Months to Visit Yosemite National Park?

By far the busiest time of year for Yosemite is during the summer months and you can count on all the campgrounds and the main attractions being packed. So if you’re one that does not enjoy crowds it’s best to avoid peak season and the summer months at Yosemite.

Also, while not a big deal for some it can be very cold in Yosemite as it is in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range during the winter months. So if you are not someone that enjoys cold weather it is best to avoid the colder months out of the year as well.

Personally, my favorite two months to visit Yosemite National Park are the months of May and September. As both of these months allow you to avoid the peak crowds of the summer and also avoid the colder weather of the winter months in the park.

Don’t worry though if the only time you can visit the park because of kids in school is the summer months it’s still worth going just be prepared for larger crowds at the campgrounds and attractions.

How Much Does It Cost to Camp in Yosemite?

You can camp for as cheap as $6 a night per person in the Camp 4 campground but most campsites in Yosemite are usually between $15 and $26 a night.

How Many Campgrounds are in Yosemite National Park?

There are 13 campgrounds in Yosemite National Park.

Below is a list of all 13 campgrounds in Yosemite. (Make sure to check out our helpful tables below that shows all of the details about each campground such as pricing, whether or not reservations are required, and how many sites are available at each campground.)

Upper Pines

Lower Pines

North Pines

Camp 4

Wawona

Bridalveil Creek

Hodgdon Meadow

Crane Flat

Tamarack Flat

White Wolf

Yosemite Creek

Porcupine Flat

Tuolumne Meadows

For a better understanding of where each campground is located in the park check out this helpful map of Yosemite National Park

Source

Do You Need a Reservation to Camp at Yosemite?

Out of the 13 campgrounds in Yosemite National Park 7 of them, require reservations depending on what time of year it is and 6 of them are on a first come first serve bases.

When planning your trip to Yosemite keep in mind that competition for campsites in Yosemite is fierce and campgrounds requiring a reservation from April through September are almost always full. Also, you need to make a reservation as early as allowed before your stay which is 5 months but will get into that more later.

In regards to first come first serve campsites know that during the busy month’s campsite will usually fill up by noon and sometimes even earlier. So if you’re trying to get a first come first serve campsite you should be at the campsite by mid-morning at the latest for the best chance to grab one.

What’s the Difference Between Front Country Camping and Backcountry Camping?

When planning you’re camping trip to Yosemite you will oftentimes see the terms front country camping and backcountry camping thrown around, leaving you to wonder what people are talking about.

It is really quite simple basically when people are talking about front country camping they are referring to camping in one of the 13 campgrounds that are accessible by your vehicle and roads. When people are referencing backcountry camping they are referring to camping in areas that are not in one of the main campgrounds and that are only accessible by foot.

For beginning camper’s, the best place to get your feet wet while camping at Yosemite is front country camping sites as they will be the easiest and safest to camp at.

However, if you are looking for a more peaceful camping experience that allows for a closer connection to nature then backcountry camping could be the way to go. Just know that backcountry camping is not for the novice camper and a permit is required.

Are There Bears in Yosemite?

Yes, black bears are in Yosemite and it is possible to see one while in the park although it is not common. If you do happen to encounter a black bear while in Yosemite you always want to keep your distance for safety and for the respect of the animal.

While attacks are rare and no one has been killed or seriously injured by a black bear while in Yosemite you still want to exercise caution and give the bear a wide birth.

You might want to invest in some bear spray like this one on Amazon as well. However, it is very unlikely that you will ever have to use it.

It’s also extremely important while camping in Yosemite to make sure you store your food properly in airtight containers and in bear boxes which are located in all the campgrounds.

How To Camp at Yosemite National Park

As mentioned above especially during peak camping season it can be very difficult and challenging to secure a campsite for the night at Yosemite National Park.

Don’t worry though after a lot of trial and error and research I have found the best ways to make sure you end up with a campsite when trying to camp in Yosemite.

Below is my complete how-to guide when trying to camp at Yosemite National Park.

Step 1 – Decide on Where You Want to Camp

The first thing to decide when deciding where to camp is whether or not you want to camp in the front country at one of the designated campgrounds or if you want to camp in the backcountry with a permit.

For probably 99% of you, you will fall into the first category of camping in the front country in a campground. (If you plan to camp in the backcountry see the bottom of this section.)

Once you have decided you are going to camp in one of the campgrounds at Yosemite the next step is to decide which campground you want to stay at and whether or not you are going to stay at a campsite that requires a reservation or one that is first come first serve.

To help with this decision check out these helpful tables below that show details about each campground at Yosemite.

Yosemite Valley

Campground	Open	Reservation	RV Length / Trailer Length	Daily Fee	Number of Sites
Upper Pines	All Year	All Year	35ft 24ft	$26	238
Lower Pines	Apr 27 – Oct 12	Yes	40ft/35ft	$26	60
North Pines	Apr 20 – Oct 12	Yes	40ft/35ft	$26	81
Camp 4	All Year	Late May – Early September	No	$6 Per Person	36

South of Yosemite Valley

Campground	Open	Reservations	RV Length / Trail Length	Daily Fee	Number of Sites
Wawona	All Year (but closed until June 2020)	Apr 8 – Oct 18	35ft/35ft	$26	93
Bridalveil Creek	Jul 15 – Sep 20	First Come First Serve	35ft/24ft	$18	110

North of Yosemite Valley

Campground	Open	Reservations	RV Length / Trailer Length	Daily Fees	Number of Sites
Hodgdon Meadow	All Year	April 13 – Oct 12	35ft/30ft	$26	105
Crane Flat	Jul 15 – Oct 12	Yes	35ft/35ft	$26	166
Tamarack Flat	Jun 16 – Oct 15	First Come First Serve	RV/Trailer Not Recommended	$12	52
White Wolf	Jul 1 – Sep 20	First Come First Serve	27ft/24ft	$18	74
Yosemite Creek	Jul 1 – Sep 7	First Come First Serve	RV/Trailer Not Recommended	$12	75
Porcupine Flat	Jul 15 – Oct 12	First Come First Serve	RV/Trailer Not Recommended	$12	52
Tuolumne Meadows	Jul 15 – Sep 27	50%	35ft/35ft	$26	304

Other Items to Know When Staying in a Yosemite Campground

There are no showers located inside any of the campgrounds and the only showers available are in Yosemite Valley in Curry Village and House Keeping Camp for campers.
For those that have pets be advised that campground Camp 4 does not allow pets so you will want to pick another campground if you are bringing your furry friend with you.
Dump stations for RVs and Trailer’s are available year-round in Upper Pines Campground, near Wawona Campground but only in the summer, and near Tuolumne Meadows Campground but also only available in the summer. There are no hook-ups of any kind at any Yosemite campsite.
Not all campgrounds have flush toilets as Tamarack Flat, Yosemite Creek, and Porcupine Flat they only have vault toilets which are waterless nonflushing toilets.

Backcountry Campers

If you are planning on camping in the backcountry in either little Yosemite Valley or near the High Sierra camps you will need to obtain a wilderness permit which is required to camp in the backcountry of Yosemite.

If you are interested in backcountry camping and want to learn more about wilderness permits click here and it will take you Yosemite’s website about wilderness permits.

Step 2 – Reserve a Campsite or Grab a First Come First Serve Site at Yosemite

Now that you have decided which campsite you want to stay at if you have chosen one that requires a reservation year-round or one that requires a reservation on certain dates which is about half the campgrounds in Yosemite you will need to reserve your campsite ahead of time on the website Recreation.gov.

I cannot stress enough how competitive it is for these reserved campsites in Yosemite so if you want to get one you need to plan far in advance and follow these below tips to have the best chance.

Reservations for Yosemite campsites can be made in advance up to 5 months and this is when you need to be making your reservations.
Reservations dates are released in one-month blocks on the 15th of each month.
These one-month blocks open up at 7:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time and it’s important to be ready as soon as the month opens for reservations.
Don’t make the mistake of waiting to register on the site when you are trying to make a reservation as you could get beat out by other campers that have already completed this step. Instead, make sure to register on the site before you plan on trying to get a reservation.
If the dates fill up that you were looking for be sure to check back often as cancelations do happen pretty frequently.

Tips to Make Sure You Get a First Come First Serve Campsite at Yosemite

If you plan on camping in a first come first serve campsite don’t think they are any less competitive than reserved campsites are especially during the summer season.

As first come first serve campsite at Yosemite usually fill up by mid-morning.

Below are tips that will give you the best chance of getting a first come first serve campsite at Yosemite.

Make sure you arrive at the campground to look for an open campsite before 10:00 a.m. preferably before 9:00 a.m.
Arriving too much earlier than 9:00 a.m. more than likely won’t make much of a difference because the campers from the previous night will more than like still be there.
If you can’t get there before 10:00 a.m. you might still find an open site but it gets more doubtful as the day goes on.
If I can get there before 12:00 though I would still check because you never know.
Once you find a suitable campsite for yourself don’t be too indecisive or picky or someone might grab it when you are checking out a potentially better site around the corner.
When trying to camp at a first come first serve campground it’s important not to panic if all the sites appear to be full because if you arrive early enough you should be able to find one. Also if that campground does happen to be full there are at least 4 more first come first serve campgrounds that you can check and possibly more depending on what time of year it is.

How to Claim a First Come First Serve Campsite at Yosemite National Park

If you are camping at either Camp 4 or Tuolumne Meadows campground they are staffed so you will just need to check-in with the attendant at the booth.

For all other first come first serve campgrounds they are not staffed with attendants so you will need to follow the below steps to reserve one.

Grab a registration form/envelope from the kiosk at the front of the campground.
Then drive through the campground to find an open site that is not already taken.
Even if there is no one currently there the site could still be taken. The way to tell this is to look to see if the site has a tag on the post. If the site has a tag on the post, it has already been claimed by another camper for the night.
Once you have found a site that works for you fill out the envelope and place the money inside and put the stub on the post for the campsite so everyone knows that it has been claimed.
Then return to the registration kiosk at the front of the campground to drop the payment envelope into the payment slot.

Step 3 – Know the Rules and Regulations of Yosemite National Park

To keep yourself and your camping party out of trouble while at Yosemite you want to know and have a good handle on all the rules and regulations of the park.

Below are some of the most important rules while visiting or camping in Yosemite National Park but if you have any questions about whether or not something is allowed always ask a park ranger directly.

You can only camp in Yosemite for 30 nights per the calendar year
From May 1st through September 15th you are only allowed to camp up to 14 nights in a row in the park.
Quiet hours at the park are from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Generator hours which are the times of day you are allowed to run a generator at your campsite are in 2-hour blocks which includes 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Check-in and check-out time is at noon in the campgrounds.
Pets are allowed in Yosemite with the exception of Camp 4 campground but must be on a leash at all times and cannot be left unattended while tied up.
A maximum of 6 people is allowed per campsite.
A maximum of 2 vehicles is allowed per campsite.

Want to learn even more about camping in Yosemite Nation Park? Check out this informative video from the Yosemite Nation Park channel on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/sE7_2pfuq5w

Top 3 Campgrounds to Stay at as a Beginner in Yosemite National Park

While all of the campgrounds are great and offer unique benefits below are my top 3 choices for beginner campers at Yosemite.

Upper Pines Campground

Really any campground in the Yosemite Valley is good for new campers because of it’s close proximity to most of the main attractions at the national park.

However, Upper Pines is always at the top of my list for beginners because it is the largest campground in Yosemite and is one of the most popular and for good reason. As the campground is within walking distance of several trailheads and spectacular views can be found in multiple spots around the campground.

Also for those of you that like to get a shower from time to time Curry Village which is one of only two places for campers to get a shower is only about 5 minutes away. Just make sure that you bring your own towel.

The campground also has drinkable water, flushable toilets, a bear box to store all of your food in, and easy access to the shuttle service.

North Pines Campground

Located in Yosemite Valley, North Pines Campground is a great choice for people new to Yosemite.

Like Upper Pines Campground it is also located centrally to many of the main attractions of Yosemite but one area that North Pines has Upper Pines beat is the size of the campsites.

While North Pines only has 81 campsites compared to Upper Pines 238 the North Pines Campgrounds has much larger campsites and offers more privacy compared to Upper Pines.

Also, North Pines is also within walking distance from several popular trailheads for hiking.

Lower Pines Campground

The final recommendation for a beginner camper in Yosemite is the Lower Pines Campground. As with the two above the Lower Pines Campground is located in Yosemite Valley making it a good campground if you want to see all the main sights and attractions while at Yosemite.

However please be aware that one side of this campground runs along a river which can be great for the views but also has a tendency to flood and if it floods your campsite your reservation will be canceled. Creating a stressful situation of trying to find a first come first serve campsite so you’re not homeless for the night.

So be aware if you are reserving a site near the river in either May or June when the river tends to run high you run the risk of having your reservation canceled due to a flooded campsite.