Yosemite Creek, near Yosemite National Park, is a stunning campground that draws visitors with its breathtaking scenery and outdoor adventures. With a mix of tent and RV sites, it’s a prime spot for those looking to immerse themselves in nature, though RVs are not recommended due to the terrain.

This campground is known for its picturesque views and easy access to some of the park's best hiking trails. Campers rave about the beauty of the area, with one visitor stating, “It’s just breathtaking!” The sites are first-come, first-served, so arriving early is key to snagging a good spot, especially near the river, which many campers prefer.

Yosemite Creek is a great base for exploring the park, with plenty of hiking options nearby, including iconic spots like Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. The campground is also pet-friendly, making it a great choice for those traveling with furry companions. Just keep in mind that there are no showers or drinking water available, so plan accordingly.

Visitors appreciate the clean facilities and the friendly atmosphere, with many noting that the campground feels secluded despite being popular. As one camper put it, “You’ll never run out of cool things to do.” Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer stay, Yosemite Creek offers a memorable experience in one of America’s most beautiful national parks.

## Overview

 Tucked away among the pines is the hidden gem of Yosemite Creek campground. Accessing this campground is an adventure down a 5-mile, single-lane dirt road. Motorhomes and trailers are NOT allowed. 
## Recreation

 Your adventure awaits! Hiking, swimming, bouldering, napping (some of us are tired!), bird watching; the possibilities are as great as your imagination. Be sure to bring bug spray and sunscreen, plenty of water, and dress in layers as the weather can rapidly change at this elevation. 
## Natural Features

 Granite boulders abound and the peaceful Yosemite Creek meanders through the campground on its way to Yosemite Valley. Bring your comfy chairs and hammocks and let the sounds of nature whisk you away from the busyness of day-to-day life. 
## Nearby Attractions

 Head to Tuolumne Meadows for breathtaking views and a multitude of day hiking opportunities. Tenaya Lake is a great place to relax and swim or canoe. Yosemite Valley offers restaurants, museums, bike paths, day hikes and world-famous climbing. Don't forget about the Pioneer History center in Wawona, and of course, the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. Be prepared to make your own fun here-take delight in the quiet and give your screens a rest.

Yosemite Creek — Yosemite National Park

Looking for the best campgrounds near Yosemite Valley, CA? Yosemite Valley is filled with the activities, sights, and experiences to make everyone in your crew a happy camper. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your California camping adventure.

Yosemite Valley

The Best Camping Near Yosemite Valley, California

you will never be disappointed in any campground in Yosemite. Roads are not the e best hear so i do not recommend RVs. This campground is in high elevation so beware if you have breathing problems. There is bears so you have to hand your food in a bear bag 

Yosemite creek

Its simply beautiful all year long. The only issue is the crowd factor during the busier season such as during spring break or the weekends. I would recommend coming here during a weekday if possible. Enjoy jumping in the water with the solitude of the wilderness! 

Beautiful

Good camping sites, scenic, and a long bumpy road that keeps away RVs. Great spot.

A bumpy ride, but worth it

As Yosemite is a very well visited National Park, the Yosemite Creek bears an amazing view of the massive granite wonders and the nature that fills the Yosemite valley, a beauty within itself! As an overall experience, I give the Yosemite Creek, and the Yosemite National Park overall amazing experience and would highly recommend it!

Beauty just around the corner!

Absolutely gorgeous campsite 10ft from the Yosemite Creek. Well worth the drive. Clean, well-style toilets.

Bumpy ride, but secret gorgeous campground

As always, the park is beautiful. However, this is a huge tourist attraction.. the park was so overcrowded. Forget trying to get a RV into a parking spot or even camp without months ahead reservations. Also with my most sincere thoughts for the emergency crew and survivors of the wreck witnessed on the Tioga road, the park was unprepared for an accident of that magnitude. Please always drive safely! 

Yosemite National Park

Yes. Yosemite is popular, but for a reason: its breathtaking scenery and wildlife. Reserve in advance, avoid peak times for a little less of a touristy vibe, and soak this place up. It’s a must for CA camping. 

A Bucket List Destination

Yosemite is absolutely amazing! If you ever get a chance to explore Yosemite, take it! I got to go on a spur of the moment thing. My husband was working on the clean-up for the wildfires that ravaged California and he had been gone a while, so we decided I would fly out and meet him and we would take a camping trip together. Be aware, it was December... it was freezing! The days were great! We did about 14 miles in hikes every, because unlike Texas it was cool and refreshing. Then at night we froze...but I wouldn't change it for the world.

So I ended up flying into Sacramento and then we drove about 4 hours to get to Yosemite National Park. Not a bad drive, of course everything in California is beautiful compared to the flat lands of Texas. Please make sure if you are going in the off season to bring chains for your tires and to check for road closure into Yosemite Valley. Thankfully we did not run into any ice or closure on the way in, but believe me we were nervous! The roads can get a little nerve racking going up the mountains with such steep drops off the side. I think i stopped breathing a few times!

I reserved our campsite online, there weren't many options since it was winter, but we stayed at the Upper Pines campground that is open all year long. Surprisingly there were quite a few people there, but mostly hiking/camping enthusiast like us that kept to themselves and were quiet, friendly neighbors! Since it was off season the restaurant at Half Dome village was closed, but the store they have was open if you are in need of groceries, firewood, first aid...etc. It seems Yosemite is still a hopping place even when it is freezing which was reassuring for us Texans!

The trails were amazing and well marked even though the place is HUGE! Some of the more extreme hikes were closed off for safety because of ice but we still had a lot of options. Lots of variety and diversity in trails. We stayed 5 days and did between 8-14 miles each day without seeing the same thing twice! We visited in December, so yes it was cold, and the waterfalls were not flowing but it was still the most beautiful place.

Campgrounds are tightly packed, but that is just nit picky. We had a fire pit, a 'bear box', a picnic table, and a parking spot next to our site. They have sites to accommodate everyone, it is just a matter of reserving early, spots fill up fast. There are also cabins and yurts you can stay in, which might be a good idea if you go in the winter. Park rangers are very helpful and the place is well kept. There are bugs and animals, so make sure your being safe and watching your surroundings, especially out in the trails. Trekking poles are also a good idea if you don't have great ankles, knees,or back. The trails can be difficult at times with lots of rocks and uneven terrain. Just be safe and take your time.

Definitely one for the books!

A whole different world!

Was kind of hard to get a campsite. Better to book way in advance. Was inside the actual park. Also was very accessible because there are trams running all day to bring you to the different hiking locations.

Gorgeous but HOT!!!

It's been awhile since I've camped at Lower Pines Campground, but our experience was GREAT! Our friends were fortunate enough to score a reservation for Memorial weekend. The campground was easy to find, conveniently located within the park, spacious and very clean. I was a little nervous about bears, but there is a bear locker for every site. The sites were pretty spacious and we didn't notice our neighbors, even with it being a busy holiday weekend. The bathrooms were clean and the campground was walking distance to Curry Village, where we were able to pay for a hot shower. It was also nice that we were walking distance to the Vernal Falls trail head. With this being a holiday weekend, there was MORE than enough cars and we didn't have to worry about driving and parking as we could walk and/or use the shuttle to get where we wanted. We were also pretty lucky as our site was along the Merced River! I should say that we left a day early, as the weather started to turn. The rangers were helpful and had hinted it might snow. We weren't prepared for weather that cold and thought it best to cut our trip short. Driving out of the park it started to snow. Either way it's a great campground and you can't beat being in Yosemite National Park! I'd definitely return to this campground!

Lower Pines - EXCELLENT LOCATION

Yosemite Creek Campground is a cute little campground on the north-ish end of the park. All the sites are rented out on a first come first serve basis, so it's really a matter of luck if you can find a spot. The campground is strictly for tent campers, no RV sites. The sites are pretty nice! The one I had was not the largest, but it was flat and secluded which I loved. They all seemed to have picnic tables and a bear box for your food.

I think the sites also close down during the fall and winter seasons, so be sure to check on that if you're planning a trip.

In terms of the park, you'll never run out of cool things to do. Yosemite is one of my favorite places to rock climb. The routes are interesting and you gotta love that California granite. If you can hike half dome, DO IT. Also check out Yosemite Falls and Mono Pass.

Everyone needs to visit yosemite at some point in their life. It's amazing!

nothin' better than yosemite 

I came here with a bunch of my friends, it was really beautiful and easy to access all the hikes. Good area and fun to see in summer and winter! 

Awesome

4 miles off the Tioga Pass. RV not recommended. Always a great place 72 sites first come first served @ 17$. If your early river sites the best, no showers. 

Photos of Yosemite Creek — Yosemite National Park

Real photos from real campers