Yosemite National Park is the fifth most-visited National Park in the USA, attracting over 4.4 million visitors during 2019. People flock here to admire the towering granite boulders, amazing wildlife, and the natural abundance of this beautiful destination.
Camping in all its forms is one of the best ways to make the most of any trip to Yosemite. Here is why you should consider tent camping in Yosemite National Park and how you can make the most of it.
A Snapshot of Tent camping in Yosemite
You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to tent camping in Yosemite. Each one offers its own unique attributes, facilities, and accommodations.
Many accommodate both RV and tent camping, while others offer the chance to experience the convenience of Yosemite camping cabins.
You’ll find these campsites located in pristine destinations as follows:
Yosemite Valley Camping
This glacial valley is found in California’s western Sierra Nevada Mountains. It’s almost 98 miles long and up to 3,500 deep in places. The towering cliffs, recognized as features of universal importance, and dense forest pines in this area form a picturesque backdrop for camping at Yosemite National Park.
Almost all the campsites in this area are pet-friendly. They all have water on tap as well as flush toilets. You’ll find a food storage locker, and a picnic table at your campsite in these campgrounds.
These are the available camps in this area:
Upper Pines
This pet-friendly campsite is located close to Curry Village and is the largest campground in Yosemite. The closest attractions to Upper Pines include giant sequoia groves, the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail, Chilnaulna Falls, and Tunnel View.
Most of Upper Pines remains open all year. The campsite has 238 sites and accommodates RVs up to 35 feet long, trailers up to 24 feet, and tents. From December to mid-February all but 50 campsites are inaccessible.
Lower Pines
Along with North Pines, Lower Pines is one of the most accommodating campsites for large RV camping, and you can camp here with an RV up to 40 ft. long, a 35-foot trailer, or a tent.
You can book into one of the 60 onsite campgrounds at Lower Pines from April through October every year. Nearby points of interest include Glacier Point, Taft Point, and the Nevada Falls Loop.
North Pines
RV camping, tent camping, and trailer camping is permitted at North Pines from March through October. There are 81 sites available with the same length restrictions as Lower Pines.
Nearby, Curry Village offers a general store, amphitheater, restaurants, and a bar, as well as tours and activities.
Camp 4
You can’t bring your pets to Camp 4, but you do get a fire pit, picnic table, and shared food lockers close to your campsite. This walk in campsite is only available by lottery, 24-hours in advance of arrival.
Camp 4 is only available for tent camping and a maximum of six people may occupy a campsite. This rustic campsite is a popular choice for climbers wanting to take on the towering boulders nearby.
South of Yosemite Valley
The southern reaches of Yosemite offer opportunities for a less crowded experience where you can enjoy learning more about the history of the park. The quieter trails in this area offer abundant opportunities for climbing and hiking.
Attractions in southern Yosemite include the historic Wawona Hotel, which dates back to the Victorian era, and the park’s largest grove of giant sequoia trees. Here’s where to check-in if you’d like to experience the wilderness on the southern tip of the valley:
Wawona
Wawona Campsite has 93 tent sites, 2 sites with horse stalls, and 1 group site. Most of the sites remain open from April through September every year, except for the group site and about 20 sites in Loop A which are open year-round.
The campground sprawls along the banks of the Merced River and accommodates RVs, tents, and trailers. Each campsite has a fire ring and picnic table as well as access to food lockers and a bathroom with tap water and flushing toilets.
Bridalveil Creek
This campground is located about 45 minutes from Wawona and offers RV, trailer, and tent camping on 110 campsites, 3 horse sites, and 2 group sites. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring, and access to food lockers and a bathroom with water and flushing toilets.
There are numerous hiking trails among the red fir and lodgepole pine forests in the area. Some popular ones include the Panorama Trail, 4-Mile Trail, Sentinel Dome, Taft Point, and Ostrander Lake.
North of Yosemite Valley
Most of the vast northern part of the park is accessible on foot or horseback only, but there are two roads available to help you get a start your adventures. Here you’ll find sweeping expanses of meadows, and forests as well as mountains where a series of mighty rivers originate.
Despite its remote location, the northern part of Yosemite is popular among even less experienced nature lovers, with a variety of camps to offer, as follows:
Hodgdon Meadow
Hodgdon Meadow’s available for RV, trailer, and tent camping at Yosemite, with 105 sites available from mid-April through mid-October.
The campground is located adjacent to the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, offering access to Olmsted Point, Tenaya Lake, and Lembert Dome.
Crane Flat
Crane Flat is a popular destination for setting off on the 2.5 to 3-mile round trip hike to Tuolumne and Merced Groves of Giant Sequoias. There are 166 sites at this campground accommodating RVs, trailers, and tents.
You can head off on adventures to Stanislaus National Forest and Elizabeth Lake or hike, bike, and bird watch to your heart’s content. This campsite is open from July through mid-October.
Tamarack Flat
These 52 sites are nestled on the shores of Tamarack Creek, close to Tioga Road, and reserved for tent camping only.
Please note there is no potable water at this camp, you’ll need to boil stream water for drinking purposes. It’s largely an off-grid campsite with limited facilities.
Tamarack Flat seems perfect for those who want to get away from it all. Unfortunately, it has become a popular spot for people wanting to do just that, so it can be crowded at times.
White Wolf
White Wolf is open July through early September annually, offering 74 sites accommodating trailers and RVs up to 24 feet long as well as tent sites. This campsite is about an hour north of Yosemite Valley on the Tioga Road.
It offers a great starting place for exploring Glacier Point, Half Dome, Tenaya Lake, Wawona, and Mariposa Grove, as well as heading out on horseback trail rides.
Yosemite Creek
Here you’ll find 75 tent-only campsites available from July through early September. You’ll need to rely on boiling stream water, or bring your own drinking water while staying at this campground.
While camped at Yosemite Creek, you can spend your days taking in views of Half Dome and the Yosemite Valley from the nearby Olmsted Point Lookout, exploring Tenaya Lake, or hiking at Tuolumne Meadows.
Porcupine Flat
Porcupine Flat welcomes tent campers from July through October 15. RVs and trailers aren’t recommended at this 52-campsite destination.
There is no potable water available onsite, but you can pop into the Yosemite Village Store for supplies. The strenuous Porcupine Flat Trailhead starts here, taking you to experience stunning views over Cloud’s Rest, North Dome, and Half Dome.
Tenaya Lake is a 10-minute drive away. Don’t forget your camera while exploring this scenic destination.
Tuolumne Meadows
The Tuolumne Meadows visitor center is a popular stop, as are opportunities to explore the Young Lakes Trail or take a mule ride into the surrounding hills.
Tuolumne is an ideal base for exploring wonderful hiking trails like:
- Soda Springs
- Mount Dana
- May Lake
- Lembert Dome
- Cathedral Lakes
- Pothole Dome
- The John Muir Trail
- Twin Bridges
- Elizabeth Lake
So get your hiking boots ready before you leave.
Unless otherwise stated, Yosemite National Park camping in this area offers fire rings, food lockers, picnic tables, and access to bathrooms with drinking water and flushing toilets.
High Sierra Camping at Yosemite National Park
There are five campsites in the High Sierra offering the convenience of a fully-inclusive stay as well as the natural experience offered by camping.
This loop of camps sprawl across some of Yosemite’s most picturesque landscapes, which you can explore on foot or on horseback.
Almost everything you need is provided onsite, and you get to enjoy wall-tent style accommodation while at these camps. The camp provides breakfast and dinner.
You’ll find the following camps in this beautiful part of Yosemite.
- Vogelsang High Sierra Camp
- Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp
- May Lake High Sierra Camp
- Sunrise High Sierra Camp
- Merced Lake High Sierra Camp
It’s easily the best camping in Yosemite for less experienced campers, those who don’t have equipment, or for experienced campers wanting to travel light.
Backcountry Tent Camping in Yosemite
Heading out into the vast wilderness of the park’s backcountry offers some of the best camping Yosemite has to offer. You’ll have about 1,100 square miles almost to yourself when you spend time in the backcountry.
You must buy a wilderness permit to experience the park in all its natural glory.
You can get these 24 weeks in advance and a few unreserved permits are also granted on a first-come-first-served basis. You’ll need to get a permit that applies to the trailhead where you’ll start your backpacking journey.
Reservations for Yosemite Park Camping
You don’t need a Yosemite camping reservation for all these campgrounds. In cases where you do, the booking window is five months and reservations for the next period open on the 15th of every month at 7 am.
You should make reservations for car camping in Yosemite if you plan to visit from March 15 through November at the following campgrounds:
- Crane Flat
- Hodgdon Meadow
- North Pines
- Tuolumne Meadows
- Upper and Lower Pines
- Wawona
At Tuolumne Meadows, half the available campsites are first-come-first-served and you must pre-book the remaining sites. You also need to book in advance for all the High Sierra Camps.
You can complete your Yosemite camping reservation online or by phone.
Things to Do in Yosemite National Park
You’ll find no shortage of ways to fill your time while camping in Yosemite. Some of the most popular activities include:
- Sightseeing at Tunnel View Outlook
- Marveling at the gushing displays of Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, Bridalveil Falls, and Yosemite Falls
- Enjoying panoramic vistas from Glacier Point
- Tackling the Half Dome Cables Route
- Scenic drives along Tioga Road
- Climbing the six hundred steps along the Mist Trail
- Visting the Fallen Monarch at Mariposa Grove
El Capitan, rising 3,000 ft above the valley floor is one of the largest chunks of granite on Earth and a draw for courageous climbers. Catch sight of the action from El Capitan Meadow, or dare to try it yourself.
Apart from all these things to see, Yosemite offers a rich natural experiences in the form of bird watching, wildlife photography, horseback riding, and swimming in lakes and streams.
You can also enjoy boating, kayaking, and rafting on certain bodies of water.
There are 90 species of mammals in Yosemite including bears, deer, bighorn sheep, wolves, and mountain lions. Bird species number in the hundreds including the rare pine grosbeak and sooty grouse.
Of course, you’ll also enjoy plenty of chances to relax around camp, catch fish, and try out some new campfire recipes. Whether you’re into exertion, high-adrenalin activities, or natural abundance, Yosemite National Park won’t disappoint.
Explore More Nature-Focused Pursuits
Once you’ve experienced the joys of tent camping in Yosemite, there is a good chance you’ll want to explore some more of North America’s wonderful campgrounds.
Keep reading our blog for more information on the best places to go camping, Alternatively, join us in our efforts to make the world a better place for nature lovers just like you.
