Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park

If you’re ok with the most close quarters camping you’ll probably ever have, this site is great! People respect quiet hours, bathrooms cleaned every morning, bear boxes are easy and super friendly staff!

Upper Pines is a mostly tent and some small RVs camp. It’s a different atmosphere because we are all under big tall pines. Sites are pretty next to each other but everyone was respectful. I liked the quiet atmosphere even though the camp was almost full. I enjoyed all the different smells of the pines, campfires, BBQs, burning different types of firewoods. The camp is near many hiking trails, and there is a free bus that takes you around the valley. I would go back !

Heavily wooded area. Great location to get to all the Hiks. Good location to be in the valley. Sites are tight would not recommend a rig over 30. Good access to shuttle system.

Location is near to everything but also secluded from big crowds, we walked to Mirror Lake from our site. Free shuttles are easy to access. No shower so you would have to go to curry village for that.

Wonderfully kind and informative park rangers and camp host. Sites are a bit cramped but almost everyone around me behaved. Only sites up to 97 of upper pines campground were open this time of year. The loop is closest to the entrance and you can walk to the park shuttles. Pay attention to the site map as most spots are for just 1 vehicle if you want to camp in a group, and short if you have an RV or trailer. I didn’t use the restrooms or showers. There is a spot to RV dump and fill water. This was free when I was there (FEB) but it was clearly being renovated so might be pay in future.

After numerous previous backpacking trips throughout Yosemite's high country, this was my first stay in the valley itself. The site was clean, spacious enough, flat enough, and very convenient to access to everywhere in the valley. We ended up driving up to Tuolumne Meadows in the high country so being able to leave the trailer and all our camping stuff in a safe, relatively crowded and lively campground was was really nice. The site easily accommodated my trailer and Jeep. There were plenty of clean bathrooms, fresh water, fire pits, and spacious site located bear boxes throughout. One thing to note, although it is in one of, if not the most beautiful national parks, I wouldn't call it rugged or even having the illusion of privacy.

Had a great weekend going to Yosemite national park, either way if the temperature was low

Great place, amazing position with astonishing views, but almost impossible to book. At last moment I get a reservation

We camped here late February to capture the firefall. We got a decent photo the first day we arrived so mission accomplished. I was very happy to be able to book spots within 2 weeks of the date.
EV drivers get the bonus of free charging at the main lodge.

We stayed in spot 91 with our 32’ Imagine travel trailer. Our Ram 2500 did not fit in the site with us, so a few of us booked an extra spot to park our vehicles. We went mid-march and the park was empty and peaceful. There are zero hookups and you can use a generator 3 times per day. You have beautiful views and we could see half dome directly from our picnic tables.

Campsite 058. Had service basically the whole time on Verizon with two bars. Campsite didnt flood like the others when the rain started and not too much snow in the campsite unlike February times.

Campground was nice and clean on arrival with small snow piles around. Temps were touching freezing at night and close to 60 during the day.

First site we reserved was too exposed, site 3, talked with camp host and was able to get a more into the trees campsite 29. Clean campsite with plenty of room and bathrooms nearby along with an amazing view of half dome which I got to paint at sunset walking distance to campsite.

Would give this a 4.8 if we could - pretty private sites for a NP campground! And right in the valley!!! Level spots and access to showers! Bathrooms decent - quiet. Nice neighbors. We lucked out and checked at Rec.gov at 6:30 pm for any cancellations and scored a 2-night spot!

Wonderful place to camp if you will be hiking Yosemite. Walking distance to trails. Trees surrounding campsites, not to close together, but not spaced a lot either. I've been in December and in summer, much less crowd in the snow and its beautiful. There are restrooms and a store a medium walk down the road.

Great campground close to trails and Curry Village. A creek and forest run behind our sites; and a couple hundred feet was the river. The kids had a great time exploring. Close by is a restroom (no showers). The restrooms were cleaned everyday!

The campground is nice. Great place to start hikes. Easy to get around the valley with bus system. Reservations are hard in general. We were lucky to get hold of a last day cancelation. There were a lot of tent campers, regardless of the snow and cold.

Great place to walk and hike

Great base camp for exploring the Valley. Sites are very close together with vague boundaries. This is not great camping, but you can't beat the location.

You’re in Yosemite. The park alone is worth 5 stars for sure!

The campground was more than half closed due to Covid restrictions in April 2021, and even with less than half capacity it was still crowded.

Close to the Valley Loop Trail and Yosemite Village, which has a general store and snacks.

This site is RV compatible up to 35ft. It is also ADA. Has partial shade in the morning and late afternoon but midday the sun beats straight down on the site.

Bathrooms nearby with paved access (ADA).

First time at this campground and I will most definitely come back. If you can get past the fact that it is a bit crowded, mix between tents and RVs, you will feel and appreciate the awesome location that it is. You are in the middle of these grand rocks, you can hear waterfalls in the background, and you can walk to some fantastic trails. You do not come here because you want privacy and seclusion. You come here because you are in one of the most awesome places on Earth.

These camping spots fill up pretty quick in advance. But we checked for cancellations and got lucky because the storm was coming through in a bunch of people canceled. So we slid right in not minding the weather at all, it made for a great photographs. The campsites are very close together, but it’s a small price to pay to sleep on the valley floor. It allows you to wake up super early and beat the huge crowds to have Yosemite to yourself.

I love Yosemite! While the campsites are very crowded, I don’t care. The natural beauty of this place forgives every shortfall. I will return again and again.

The view up the valley walls is amazing.

I’m so grateful that Yosemite has a portion of Upper Pines open for camping!! It felt appropriately socially-distant even though there was no gap sites between bookable sites. Thank goodness for escapes into nature during times like these...

Being able to sleep under the stars in Yosemite Valley is a dream come true. The campground is crowded but the scenery makes up for it. Everywhere you look is an Ansel Adams portrait. Lots of trails leave from the surrounding area. Bathrooms are clean but its a trek to the showers. Have fun.

Cell Coverage: Verizon (Low)