Within Yosemite National Park, Lower Pines Campground sits on the valley floor where the Merced River curves past towering granite walls. This National Park Service campground operates from early April through early November, charging $36-60 per night for sites that accommodate RVs up to 40 feet with water hookups available.
The campground buzzes with activity during peak season, drawing visitors who want immediate access to Yosemite Valley's iconic features. Adam C. notes his site was "across the road from the river so it was easy to pop in," while Half Dome looms overhead with climbers' headlamps visible at night. Sites include bear boxes, picnic tables, and fire rings, though rangers discourage unnecessary fires due to air quality in the valley bowl.
Most campers use Lower Pines as a base for day hikes to waterfalls and viewpoints accessible via the free shuttle system that stops near the campground entrance. The proximity to North Pines Campground and Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park creates a concentrated camping zone where amenities like flush toilets, drinking water, and dish-washing sinks serve hundreds of visitors. Half Dome Village provides showers, food, and supplies within walking distance.
Reservations prove essential and fill quickly months in advance. Carly E. describes the atmosphere: "Bathrooms were clean, access to drinking water was easy." Pine sap from the overhead canopy sticks to gear and vehicles, while wildlife encounters remain common despite required food storage in bear boxes. Some sites flood during heavy rain, creating temporary lakes around fire rings.
Lower Pines works best for campers who prioritize convenience and valley access over solitude, accepting the trade-offs of crowds and noise for unmatched proximity to Yosemite's most famous landmarks.
Description
Overview
Lower Pines is closed for the winter season.Lower Pines campsites are available to reserve up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. PST. For example, on January 15, arrival dates for the period May 15 to June 14 become available to reserve, and therefore, the full arrival date window would be from the campground open date to June 14.__Reservation tips! Campsites in Yosemite are extremely popular and typically sell out in minutes. Login to your account or create a new account before the 7:00 a.m. PST release time. You may only add reservations to your cart and proceed with your reservation if you are logged into your account. The recreation.gov call center does NOT have access to additional sites or additional information beyond what is published on recreation.gov.Lower Pines Campground is located in breathtaking Yosemite National Park in Central California's rugged Sierra Nevada Mountain Range at an elevation of 4,000 feet. The site is situated in the heart of Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known. Within Yosemite, visitors gaze upon waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, vast wilderness areas and much more. Yosemite National Park Campground Reservation Dates__For additional park information, call (209) 372-0200 or visit www.nps.gov/yose_
Recreation
Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, auto touring and photography are all very popular activities within the park. Hiking trails range from the easy, paved, two-mile round-trip walk to Mirror Lake/Meadow, to the grueling but rewarding 14- to 16-mile trek to Half Dome (advanced permit required). Both of these trails begin near the Pines Campgrounds, and there are many additional trailheads within Yosemite Valley. Rafting the Merced River is a fun way to cool down on a summer day when water levels are sufficient. Yosemite Valley also offers numerous guided bus tours, educational programs, museums, ranger-led activities,and an art center with workshops.
Facilities
Lower Pines Campground is one of the three reservation campgrounds in Yosemite Valley. It offers paved roads and parking spurs, flush toilets, drinking water, and an amphitheater. Each campsite contains a picnic table, fire ring, and a food storage locker. Yosemite's free shuttle bus stops at the campground entrance. Within walking distance, historic Curry Village offers showers (for a fee), a general store, restaurants and a bar, amphitheater, and tours and activities desk.
Natural Features
Yosemite Valley is forested with a diverse mix of California black oak, ponderosa pine, incense-cedar, white fir and whiteleaf manzanita, which offers a pleasant combination of sun and shade. Through the trees, Yosemite's telltale granite cliffs peek through, and the gentle, refreshing Merced River flows nearby.
Nearby Attractions
Glacier Point offers sweeping views of Yosemite Valley, Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and Clouds Rest, among other notable landmarks and a visit to Wawona and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center is like stepping back in time. The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada, with its broad sub-alpine meadows and granite domes and peaks and the beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is home to spectacular scenery and numerous wilderness trailheads.
Charges & Cancellations
Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date only incur a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged (Exception: 1 night reservations do not incur an additional $10 fee, but do not receive a refund). No-shows will be assessed a $20 service fee along with the loss of the first night's fee.
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Warning 1 Alert is In Effect
There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!
Lower Pines will be closed from June 9 through June 19, 2026 for internal campground road construction.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsLower Pines Campground is located in California near Yosemite Valley
Directions
Take Highway 41 north from Fresno, Highway 140 east from Merced, or Highway 120 east from Manteca into Yosemite National Park. Follow signs to Yosemite Valley and the campgrounds.
Address
PO BOX 577, 9024 Southside Drive
Yosemite national park, CA 95389
Coordinates
37.7408333 N
119.5666667 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 129 usersLast on 6/14/26
VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 39 usersLast on 6/14/26- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 40 usersLast on 6/14/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 129 usersLast on 6/14/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 39 usersLast on 6/14/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 40 usersLast on 6/14/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Hike-InBackcountry sites.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Cabins
- Tent Cabin
- Yurts
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 49 min from Merced, CA
- 2 hrs 5 min from Fresno, CA
- 2 hrs 23 min from Modesto, CA
- 2 hrs 37 min from Stockton, CA
