Camping in Yosemite National Park: Campgrounds, Reservations and Tips

Yosemite campgrounds at a glance

Figures are from the NPS campground table for 2026 (dates are tentative and can change). Fees are per site per night unless noted. RV figures are the longest RV and trailer the campground's sites can easily fit; many individual sites are shorter, so check the site details on Recreation.gov before you book.

No campsite in Yosemite has electric, water or sewer hookups. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and food locker, and the limit is six people and two vehicles per site.

What's open in October 2026

As of the NPS conditions update on October 10, 2026, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Camp 4, Wawona and Hodgdon Meadow are open with reservations required. Porcupine Flat closes October 11, and Crane Flat and Tamarack Flat close October 12. Lower Pines closes October 19 and North Pines October 26. Bridalveil Creek, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek and Tuolumne Meadows are closed for the season.

Bridalveil Creek closed early this year, on August 14 instead of September 7, after a lightning strike damaged its water and restroom systems. It also sits next to the Dome Fire, which started September 15 northeast of Wawona. As of October 9 the fire covered 6,829 acres and was 61% contained, and fire restrictions are in effect below 8,000 feet. Check the restrictions page before planning a campfire.

Sleeping in a vehicle is allowed only in a campsite you are registered for, and overnight parking on Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road ends October 15. If every open campground is full, you need to leave the park to sleep.

How Yosemite campground reservations work

All reservations go through Recreation.gov or 877/444-6777. Yosemite does not use a rolling six-month window. It uses four schedules:

• Five months ahead, on the 15th: Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Wawona and Hodgdon Meadow. Each month's release covers a one-month block of arrival dates.
• Two months ahead, on the 15th: half of Tuolumne Meadows, for summer arrivals.
• Two weeks ahead, rolling daily: Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, Porcupine Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, Bridalveil Creek and the other half of Tuolumne Meadows.
• One week ahead, rolling daily: Camp 4, from April 15 to November 29.

Upcoming release dates and booking tips

On October 15, 2026, at 7 a.m. Pacific, sites open for arrivals from February 15 through March 14, 2027. On November 15, 2026, arrivals from March 15 through April 14, 2027 open. In winter that mainly means Upper Pines, the only campground on reservations all year.

NPS says sites typically sell out within minutes. Create your Recreation.gov account ahead of time, be logged in before 7 a.m. Pacific, make sure your device clock is accurate, and have backup dates ready. You can book two reservations per website visit or phone call. Cancellations appear daily, so keep checking if you miss out.

North Pines used a one-time early-access lottery for 2026 (a $10 application in late 2025). NPS has not said whether it will repeat for 2027. Lower and North Pines sites near the river may be held back in May and June until the Merced River drops to a safe level.

First-come, first-served and winter camping

From mid-April through October there are no first-come, first-served campgrounds open in Yosemite. In the off-season, Hodgdon Meadow and Wawona become first-come, first-served from late October to early April, and Camp 4 from mid-November to mid-April. Camp 4 is tents only; sleeping in a vehicle there is not allowed. NPS lists slightly different Camp 4 dates on its campground table and its no-reservation page, so confirm at 209/372-0266 before a November trip.

Group sites, horse camps and backpackers campgrounds

Hodgdon Meadow has four tent-only group areas (A to D) on Recreation.gov. RVs, trailers and pets are not allowed at group campsites.

Stock camps hold up to six people and six head of stock per site: Tuolumne Meadows has 4 sites, Bridalveil Creek 3 and Wawona 2. Reservations are required, feed must be weed-free, and grazing is not allowed. There is no stock camp in Yosemite Valley.

Backpackers campgrounds in Yosemite Valley (behind North Pines), Tuolumne Meadows, White Wolf and Hetch Hetchy are for wilderness permit holders the night before and after their trip, and for visitors arriving by bicycle or YARTS bus. The fee is $8 per person, and each is open only when its campground is open; Hetch Hetchy's is open all year.

Wilderness permits for backcountry camping

Any overnight trip in the Yosemite Wilderness needs a wilderness permit, all year. Reservations are available for trips from May through October. Sixty percent of each trailhead's quota goes to a weekly lottery 24 weeks before the start date, and leftover spaces are released on Fridays at 9 a.m. The other 40% open on Recreation.gov seven days ahead.

The cost is $10 per application plus $5 per person. The trip leader picks up the permit in person at a wilderness center. Bear canisters are required for overnight trips, and backpackers add a Half Dome permit request to their wilderness permit instead of entering the day-hiker lottery.

RV dump stations, showers and camping rules

• Dump stations: Upper Pines (all year) and near Wawona (summer only). The Tuolumne Meadows station is closed until further notice for wastewater plant work.
• Showers: only at the Curry Village pool showerhouse, for a fee.
• Stay limits: 30 nights a year. From May 1 to September 15, 14 nights total, with no more than 7 in Yosemite Valley or Wawona.
• Check-in and checkout are at noon. If you have not checked in by the morning after your first night, the reservation can be canceled.
• Quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators are allowed only 7-9 a.m., noon-2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
• Pets are allowed on leash in all campgrounds except Camp 4 and group sites.
• Food storage: all food, trash and scented items go in your site's locker, closed and latched. No food in your car after dark. Fines reach $5,000.

Camping near Yosemite

If the park is full, national forest and BLM campgrounds sit near each entrance. Near the South Entrance on Highway 41, Sierra National Forest's Summerdale Campground is about 1.5 miles outside the park near Fish Camp. Along Highway 120 west of the Big Oak Flat Entrance, Stanislaus National Forest runs several campgrounds, including Lost Claim, about 12 miles east of Groveland.

On Highway 140 by the Arch Rock Entrance, the BLM's Merced River Recreation Area has McCabe Flat, Willow Placer and Railroad Flat campgrounds, reached by a five-mile dirt road from Briceburg. East of Tioga Pass, Inyo National Forest has summer campgrounds along Highway 120 and Lee Vining Creek. Most of these have short seasons and fewer services, so check each forest's current status.

More Yosemite guides

• Best Time to Visit Yosemite National ParkWhen to visit Yosemite: waterfall peak in May and June, Tioga and Glacier Point road seasons, February Firefall, winter access and the 2026 reservation status.
• How Many Days Do You Need in Yosemite?Plan 2 days for Yosemite Valley and 3 to 4 to add Glacier Point, Mariposa Grove and Tuolumne. Sample itineraries plus where to stay inside and outside the park.
• Best Hikes in Yosemite National ParkThe best Yosemite hikes, from easy waterfall walks to the Mist Trail and Half Dome, with NPS distances, elevation gain, permits and October 2026 closures.