Camping is the most popular way to stay overnight in Yosemite National Park. More than 3 million people visit Yosemite National Park each year. Many of those people stay in one of the park's 13 campgrounds or in the vast Yosemite backcountry. You can take full advantage of Yosemite's fitness opportunities such as hiking when you stay overnight in the park.
Yosemite Valley
If you plan to camp in the Yosemite Valley you should reserve your site early in the year. Camping in the park is extremely popular, and the park service recommends making early reservations in any campground that offers a reservation system.
The Yosemite Valley features four campgrounds. Both the Upper Pines and Camp Four are open all year, however, Camp Four is on a first-come, first-served basis, so make alternate plans if this campground is on your list of places to stay.
Camp Four is the only campground in the valley that does not permit RVs or camper trailers. The other two campgrounds in the valley are the Lower Pines and North Pines. They are only open from spring to autumn and, as with all campgrounds in Yosemite, their open dates vary from year to year.
North of Valley
The majority of the park's campgrounds are located north of Yosemite Valley. Of the six campgrounds in this area only one, Hodgdon Meadow, is open year-round. The remaining five are open from early July until mid-autumn.
Again, dates may vary from year to year. With the exception of three campgrounds north of the Valley--Tamarack Flat, Yosemite Creek and Porcupine Flat--all campgrounds in the park feature tap water.
If you camp in any of the three aforementioned campgrounds, you must retrieve water from one of the nearby creeks and boil it before consumption.
South of Valley
Wawona campground and Bridalveil Creek campground are both located south of Yosemite Valley.
Wawaona is open year-round, but the park service recommends making reservations between April 1 and Sept. 27.
Bridalveil Creek is the park's only equestrian equipped campground and is open from early July until varying dates each year. This campground is filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so make alternate plans if you are considering staying here.
Backcountry Camping
A number of additional regulations are in place for backcountry campers. These rules are meant to protect the environment, maintain the natural aesthetic for other hikers and keep you safe.
You must carry a wilderness permit at all times if you are camping in the wilderness. Your wilderness campsite must be 4 miles by trail from Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Hetch Hetchy and Wawona.
It also must be at least 1 mile by air from any road in the park. Wilderness camping is also prohibited in the Dana Fork area of the Tuolumne River.
Bears in the Park
Bears are present in the park. You should take precaution whenever hiking in the wilderness and when preparing or storing food.
The park service considers anything with a scent as food. This may include toothpaste, baby wipes, soaps, drinks and unwashed food containers.
Although these items may be stored in your car during the daylight hours, they should be placed in a secure food locker during the night. Food lockers are available at every campsite in the park.
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