Camping in Yosemite National Park - Everything You Need to Know

Planning a camping trip to Yosemite? This video will answer some of the most common questions when it comes to planning your trip like

1 What are the best campgrounds in Yosemite?
2. Do you need a reservation to camp in Yosemite?
3. Should you be worried about bears?

Q.) What are the best campgrounds in Yosemite?
There are 13 total camp campgrounds in Yosemite National Park, 4 of them are open all year while all others are open seasonally. The most popular campgrounds are the four that are in Yosemite Valley which are Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines and Camp 4. Out of the four campgrounds in Yosemite Valley, Upper Pines and Camp 4 are open year round while the other 2 are open seasonally.


Q.) Do you need a reservation to camp in Yosemite?
About half of the campgrounds in Yosemite National Park, about half require a reservation and the other half are on a first come first serve basis. The 3 Pines Campgrounds in Yosemite
Valley require reservations while Camp 4 is first come first serve. You can view more detailed information on all campgrounds here: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisi...

To Make a Campground Reservation
• Visit www.recreation.gov (recommended)
• 877/444-6777 (or 877/833-6777 for TDD)(or 518/885-3639 from outside the US & Canada)

Keep in mind that reservations open up in blocks of 1 month at a time and up to 5 months. Reservations open up on the 15 of every month at 7:00am PST. Spring and Summer are the most popular times to visit Yosemite. Set a reminder for yourself to make a reservation in January 15 and February 15 if you are planning on visiting June/July and be ready to book your site at 7am because spots go within minutes.

Q.) Should you be worried about bears?
Nobody has ever been killed by a black bear in Yosemite. Bears are afraid of people and will usually run away if you see one. If you do see a bear please give it space and do not approach it. Rangers recommend that you make a loud noise to scare it off and they also ask that you report the sighting. Bears in Yosemite are marked and tracked. It is also very important that you follow the proper food storage guidelines. Please don’t leave any food or items like toothpaste in your car or tent.

How much is it to enter Yosemite National Park?
Non-commercial car, pickup truck, RV, or van with 15 or fewer passenger seats
$35 per vehicle (no per-person fee)


Group Camps  $50/night
-Wawona Campground
-Hodgdon Meadow
-Bridalveil Creek
-Tuolumne Meadows 
There is also a group site at the Hetch Hetchy backpackers' campground.