Yosemite National Park has spectacular natural sites such as El Capitan and Half Dome, which are visible within Yosemite Valley. Unfortunately, this also means getting a campsite is very difficult during the summer, especially those inside Yosemite Valley.
During the summer, almost all campsites and lodging within Yosemite National Park are completely booked. However, with some persistence, it's possible to get a campsite at the very last minute or by booking during the winter.
Book Yosemite Campsites Early
The first step is to learn the date and time when campsites become available for reservation. Campsites can be reserved according to the following schedule:
- Jan 15th for reservations between Jan 16th and Jun 14th
- Feb 15th for reservations between Feb 16th and Jul 14th
- Mar 15th for reservations between Mar 16th and Aug 14th
- Apr 15th for reservations between Apr 16th and Sep 14th
- May 15th for reservations between May 16th and Oct 14th
- Jun 15th for reservations between Jun 16th and Nov 14th
- Jul 15th for reservations between Jul 16th and Dec 14th
- Aug 15th for reservations between Aug 16th and Jan 14th
- Sep 15th for reservations between Sep 16th and Feb 14th
- Oct 15th for reservations between Oct 16th and Mar 14th
- Nov 15th for reservations between Nov 16th and Apr 14th
- Dec 15th for reservations between Dec 16th and May 14th
The campsites available are:
- Yosemite Valley - Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, Camp 4 (Sunnyside walk in only, no reservations)
- Outside of Yosemite Valley - Hodgdon Meadow, Wawona, Tuolumne Meadows (50% first come, first served), Crane Flat
Campsites are booked by calling the National Park Service (NPS) at (877) 444-6777 or by going to the NPS website. Most campsites take both tents and RV, but check with the NPS before booking a particular site. Fees vary depending on the campsite.
Typically, all June, July, and August dates are completely full shortly after reservations are opened up between January and April.
If all campsites are full, the best course of action is to wait until one or two days before the desired date and check for last minute cancellations. Last minute cancellations are common because people are forced to book up to five months in advance.
Campsites Outside of Yosemite Valley
Consider camping at the many campsites outside of Yosemite Valley. Crane Flat, Hodgdon Meadow, and Wawona are within a 15 minute drive of Yosemite Valley. There are other Yosemite campsites further away from Yosemite Valley. Keep in mind that these campsites are often full during the summer as well.
If a reservation isn't available, it's possible to get a campsite at a first come, first serve site. Those are:
- Tuolumne Meadows (50% first come, first served)
- Porcupine Flat
- Yosemite Creek
- White Wolf
- Tamarack Flat
- Bridalveil Creek
Show up at the campsite during the morning to get a spot. The ranger at the entrance station may know which campsites are still available. During busy summer days, many of these campsites fill up by noon.
During May and June, it is extremely unlikely to get a campsite without a reservation due to many first come campsites being closed due to snow.
Other Lodging Options in Yosemite
If no campsites are available within Yosemite, there may be campsites outside of the park available such as those near June Lake (east of Yosemite). Another option is to stay at cabins and hotels in Yosemite Valley such as the Curry Camp cabins, Yosemite Lodge, or the four star Ahwahnee hotel.
Those with wilderness permits can set up backpacking camps at least one air mile from a road and four trail miles from some popular trailheads.
Do not attempt to camp in Yosemite Valley outside of a campsite. Rangers are very good at finding illegal campers behind giant boulders and other hidden spots. It is not legal to sleep inside a parked car or RV outside of a campsite. Fines are several hundred dollars and may include a night in jail.
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