Upper Pines Campground operates from February through December at $36 per night, with reservations opening five months in advance and filling within minutes during peak season. The 238-site campground sits along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, accommodating RVs up to 35 feet with water hookups available at select sites.
Sites cluster closely together under tall pines with minimal privacy between neighbors. "Standing at your campsite in Upper Pines at Yosemite, you can turn around and see probably 50 people, tents, cars and RVs around you at any given time," observes Corinna B.. The campground maintains a community atmosphere with families and groups gathering around fire rings each evening. Generator hours run in three two-hour slots throughout the day, creating periods of mechanical noise.
Trailheads for Half Dome, Mirror Lake, and the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls sit within walking distance of the campground. The Merced River provides a short walk for cooling off after hikes, while the Valley Loop Trail connects directly from camp. A free shuttle stops at the campground, though many campers find biking faster for valley exploration. Lower Pines Campground and North Pines Campground offer similar valley access just 0.4 miles away.
Bear activity requires strict food storage in provided metal lockers. Rangers emphasize keeping all scented items including toothpaste and sunscreen secured. Winter camping brings fewer crowds but icy conditions on roads and trails. Restrooms provide flush toilets and drinking water, though no showers are available on-site.
Book exactly five months ahead on Recreation.gov, calling right at 7 AM Pacific when reservations open on the 15th of each month.
Description
Overview
Upper 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 January 15 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. Upper 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 can 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, cross-country skiing and photography are all very popular activities within the park. Hiking trails range from the easy paved, two-mile roundtrip walk to Mirror Lake/Meadow, to the grueling but rewarding 14- to 16-mile trek to Half Dome (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
Upper Pines Campground is the largest of the three reservation campgrounds in Yosemite Valley. It offers paved roads and parking spurs, flush toilets, and drinking water. Each campsite contains a picnic table, fire ring, and a food storage locker. Yosemite's free shuttle bus stops at the campground entrance. Nearby, historic Curry Village offers showers (for a fee), a general store, restaurants and bar, amphitheater and a tour 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.
Contact Info
For facility specific information, please call (209) 372-8502.
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. The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes and granite domes. 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!
Upper Pines will be closed from May 26 through June 8, 2026 for internal campground road construction.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsUpper 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
9024 Southside Drive
Yosemite national park, CA 95389
Coordinates
37.7361111 N
119.5625 W
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 108 usersLast on 5/6/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 64 usersLast on 5/6/26
- AT&TPossible CoverageVerified by 35 usersLast on 5/6/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 108 usersLast on 5/6/26
- VerizonLTEGood CoverageVerified by 64 usersLast on 5/6/26
- AT&TPossible CoverageVerified by 35 usersLast on 5/6/26
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
- Tent Cabin
- Yurts
Features
For Campers
- Market
- Trash
- Firewood Available
- Phone Service
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Water Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 1 hr 50 min from Merced, CA
- 2 hrs 6 min from Fresno, CA
- 2 hrs 24 min from Modesto, CA
- 2 hrs 35 min from Stockton, CA




























































