Yosemite National Park's pet-friendly accommodations span elevations from 4,000 feet in the valley floor to over 8,000 feet at Tuolumne Meadows. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F during daytime with overnight lows dropping to 40-50°F, requiring campers to pack accordingly. Most campgrounds enforce quiet hours from 10pm to 6am and have maximum stay limits of 7-14 days depending on season.
What to do
Swim in natural water spots: The Merced River provides cooling relief during hot summer months at Lower Pines Campground where sites along the riverbank offer direct access. "Right on river was a huge plus! Semi-private, decent sized site," notes camper Benjamin C.
Attend ranger programs: Campground amphitheaters host educational evening programs on topics like wildlife behavior and geology. "They ask you not to have a fire if you don't have to, and you will see why at night. It hangs in the air," explains Robyn H. about conditions in the valley.
Visit less crowded areas: Hetch Hetchy offers spectacular waterfalls without valley crowds. Patricia O. recommends, "If you can handle a longer day hike – go all the way to Rancheria falls. Otherwise to Wapama falls and back is about 5.5 miles."
Explore high country trails: Tuolumne Meadows Campground serves as an excellent basecamp for alpine hikes. "There are many great hiking trails across from the camping area to Lembert Dome and Dog Lake," shares Christy C., highlighting trails suitable for leashed dogs.
What campers like
Riverside sites: North Pines Campground offers coveted waterfront camping spots. "If you can get one of the sites by the Merced river it is icing on the cake. Site 504 rocks! I had a great view of Half Dome," reports Alix F.
Easy shuttle access: The valley floor campgrounds connect to Yosemite's transportation system. "This campground is in the heart of Yosemite Valley. It is great to camp on the valley floor, especially during peak season as traffic from all main gates to the valley floor is very congested," explains Kerry V.
Peace outside the valley: Wawona Campground provides a quieter alternative to valley camping. "The sites are large, well-spaced, and idyllic. Many of them are situated along the South Fork of the Merced River. It's quiet there - and peaceful," shares Joe H., who found it ideal for pet owners seeking more space.
Free dispersed camping: For budget-conscious pet owners, Goat Meadow offers no-cost camping with more flexible pet policies. "Beautiful scenery, clean, close to Yosemite, and easy to reach. As others have said, follow Mount Raymond Rd up until you see the sign for the snow play area," advises Derrick H.
What you should know
Elevation affects temperatures: Higher campgrounds experience colder nights. "The elevation here means that it gets fairly cold at night, even during the summer," warns Les R. about Tuolumne Meadows, making it important to pack warm clothing for pets.
Wildlife interactions: Ground squirrels, deer, and other animals frequent campgrounds. "This place has bear proof food storage containers for a reason. Use them. I had my backpack ravaged by a raccoon, because of a handful of trailmix that I forgot to take out," cautions Pavel T.
Reservations strategy: Securing campsites requires planning. "If you are going in the 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," explains Brittany S., noting available pet supplies.
Limited cell service: Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes has minimal connectivity. "There is no cell service and the 'pay WIFI' did not work for us...but there is complimentary WiFi at the laundry to check in on things that works just fine," notes Erin A., important when coordinating with pet sitters.
Tips for camping with families
Choose campsites near amenities: Sites near bathrooms can be convenient but noisy. "We had a nice open camping spot. The only downside was everyone else had an RV and had their generators on at 6am. Next time we will camp in a tent only area," shares Sarah F. from North Pines.
Bring extra water containers: Limited water sources at some campgrounds means storage is essential. "There are no hook-ups, and the comfort stations only have toilets and sinks (no showers), a fresh water faucet, and a disposal 'toilet' for dish water. All dishes must be washed at camp," explains Erin S.
Plan for laundry needs: With pets, access to cleaning facilities becomes important. "No showers here, but hot showers are close by at Half Dome Village," notes Kerry V., which helps when dogs track dirt into tents.
Check pet exercise areas: Yosemite Valley Backpacker's Campground offers spaces for pet activity. "The campsites are also really beautiful, as the grounds are situated near a picturesque wooded area, creek and unique rock formation," describes Anna C., providing natural spaces for dog walks.
Tips from RVers
Generator restrictions: Valley campgrounds limit generator use to specific hours. "Generator hours are limited so plan accordingly," advises Christy C., important for RVers with pets needing climate control.
Limited hookup options: Most in-park sites lack utilities. "It can get crowded in the summertime and some sites are closer to each other than I would like but, overall, I think it is great," Alix F. notes about North Pines.
Road conditions: Access to some campgrounds requires careful driving. "Roads are not the best here so I do not recommend RVs," cautions Kevin T. about certain dog-friendly campgrounds.
Alternative campgrounds: Outside the park, full-hookup options exist for RVers with pets. "Beautiful campground with even more amazing staff. It is first come first serve (after a reservation) so get there early. We lucked out with a pretty big and shaded riverfront spot (site 73) and could not have been happier," reports Erin A. about camping with pets at Thousand Trails.
