Best Campgrounds At Yosemite National Park

Above, Yosemite's North Pines Campground. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wanted to camp in Yosemite National Park but wonder which are the best campgrounds to do so?

You're in luck! Time Out USA has posted a list of the 13 best campgrounds in Yosemite National Park. I have personally camped at North Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley and enjoyed my stay there. The park's shuttle system stops near the main entrance to the campground, so one doesn't need to drive their vehicle in the park.

They begin with:

Camping is the best way to immerse yourself in a national park. But it can be hard to decide which campground you should stay at in Yosemite. Thankfully, with 13 different campgrounds (as well as a selection of backcountry areas which require a separate wilderness permit), you can choose the one that will make your trip unforgettable. A valley campground ranger once told us White Wolf and Tamarack Flat were her favorites – but really, you can’t go wrong in this beautiful park. 

There are some things you should take into account when deciding which campgrounds in Yosemite are best for you. Some sites aren’t accessible for disabled people, and some require you to treat, filter or boil creek water. If you’re bent on taking a shower, stay at one of the Pines campgrounds so you can walk to Curry Village, where the pool’s showerhouse is the only place you can hose yourself down. Take note of elevations in the descriptions; you might get short of breath at some of the higher campgrounds and wish you had brought an inhaler.

Some campgrounds are currently closed for renovations, and some only open in mid- to late-summer depending on snowload (such as Tamarack Flat, White Wolf and Yosemite Creek), which also means that certain roads in Yosemite will also be closed. If you want to bring your pet, avoid Camp 4, the only one where pets aren’t allowed. Not all campgrounds have RV parking, and only three campgrounds allows horses. All of them will have metal bear boxes to store your food and you MUST use them. Bears will break into your car or tent if you leave any food inside. And they’ll have fun doing it, too.

Finally, you must make a reservation in advance – this is the first year that there isn’t any first-come, first-serve during summer months – and read campground information carefully because each differs in what they offer. 

Otherwise, read on for the best campgrounds in Yosemite National Park. 

To see what they are, go here.