Best Cabin Camping near Yosemite Valley, CA

I stayed here twice during a visit to Yosemite. The first time was at the beginning of my trip and i was backpacking out the next morning. I took the shuttle from Yosemite Valley where I parked and left my car and utilized one of the backpackers campsites towards the back (first come first serve but you need a wilderness permit to stay at these). The spot I was at (#40) backed up to large rocks and was quite nice. It was close to a creek and there was some firewood you could collect (though people at this campground were hoarding firewood like the apocolypse was coming). After my backpacking trip I extended my stay in Yosemite to hike the Mist trail and stayed here another night. This night I grabbed site 39. The camp was loud and crowded. There were many people making large bonfires that seemed dangerously uncontrolled. At some point in the vening I used the restroom and there were people smoking what appeared to be meth in the mens room at which point I felt very unsafe. I made it through the night without more problems but was happy to leave the next day. I would never expect such issues with a NPS campground, but this one is on the outskirts. If possible choose another campsite for your visit as this one does not have the NPS ranger staffing it clearly needs.

Yosemite Valley is pure magic and Half Dome Village is no exception. It’s definitely more “glamping” than camping and the tents feel like cabins and are very close together. Bathrooms are nice and there’s a store, bar, cafeteria, coffee shop and pizza place to take care of your needs. It does have a bit of a party atmosphere at night as folks from other campgrounds gather at the bar/pizza spot but the tent area was pretty quiet (save for me hearing someone peeing outside my tent one night...). Dark at night, bring a headlamp or flashlight.

Biggest complaint is the price. Location can’t be beat but it’s so expensive for canvas tents that aren’t super clean and are smushed together. I love Half Dome Village but next time will probably camp elsewhere and shuttle in for pizza and beer.

Overall, the proximity to being in The Valley outweighed the negatives of our stay. 

While pricey for what it is, it IS at the far east end of Yosemite Valley with easy access to the Mist Trail. The tent-cabins are close to each other (3-8 feet), and we were woken by our neighbors our first morning (they were checking out early, and while quiet hours were 'officially' over, it was still 0730...and since it was during the heat wave, we hadn't gotten to sleep til well after midnight).

That said...we were expecting foam rubber mattresses on wooden plywood shelves for beds, but the bed frame, mattresses, pillows and Rumpl blankets were a nice surprise (the website stated there would be wool blankets). The towels and sheets were in need of some fabric softener though.

 It was HOT. Having camped in tent-cabins before (not Curry Village), we brought fans with us that helped cool things down in the evenings, but having fans [battery operated/ rechargeable (we had Ryobi rechargeable fans)] helped us out.

We couldn't figure out how to make the tent-cabin canvas window 'shades' to stay open- which was necessary because we needed the ventilation - we had brought along some binder clips that we were able to jury-rig to keep the canvas flaps over the screens open,  though. 

Showers and restrooms were adequately clean, and showers were hot…but nothing to write home about. 

We were surprised by the trash on the grounds near the cabins (where our nearest showerhouse was)-  in fact, a zip-lock baggie sat on the ground in the same spot for the three days we were there, before I picked it up on our way out. Additionally, on the grounds of the tent-cabins, we found several nails and other hardware on the ground.

 We were also surprised by the size of Curry Village, which isn't really discussed on the website. We were in tent-cabin 749 on the far east end, which was great until we had to walk to Camp Curry and/or the parking lot. We brought a wagon to carry our gear from the car to the tent-cabin, but once again, we've done this before, and we felt really bad for the folks lugging all their stuff without the benefit of a cart. Next time we'd bring bikes to help with the longish walk (400 meters? Maybe longer?) 

The food options were great! The pizza is fantastic, and it was nice having the ability to grab pizza/tacos/burgers as an option at the end of the day (cooking is not allowed in the camp, but we 'tailgated' with backpacking stoves and meals a couple of the days).

I love Yosemite. I love camping. But this campground is not my favorite. We stayed here, just for the convenience of being close to the trailhead for Half Dome, which was the purpose of our visit. It is also a convenient place to see much of the park and the Valley. However, it is far too crowded for my tastes. And full of touristy people (read: RVs).

Pros: Nice facilities, convenient access to Yosemite Valley via the free shuttle system, convenient access to Half Dome trailhead and other hiking trails, nearby amenities. If you need food or a shower, it's just a short shuttle or car ride over to Half Dome Village to get what you need, including restaurants and a bar. You can even hop on shuttles to Glacier Point and other popular destinations. It is all well shaded and you have access to potable water and flush toilet restrooms. It is also centrally located in the park and you can get to most of the sites with just an hour or so drive.

Cons: TOO MANY PEOPLE. When I camp, I like to get away from people and get away from civilization. If you do too, think about looking into campgrounds outside of Yosemite Valley. When I do camp around other people, it is usually with the understanding that they are also "camping people". The folks you are likely to find in the Valley are not these people. They are tourists. Tourists just don't have the same "campers' code" that you find among camping people. There is an unspoken rule that is honored among campers. And up at the top of that is respecting other campers' campsite and property. We had people walking right through our site as a shortcut to the restrooms and I even had someone steal my hammock in the middle of the night from right next to my tent. The next time I stay in Yosemite, I will avoid staying in this area.

Conclusion: Convenient, but loud and crowded. Beware of thieves.

The Yosemite Valley campgrounds are large and busy - it's an extremely popular park, and Lower Pines is right in the heart of things. Don't expect silence and solitude if you are staying here. That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Lower Pines. We camped for 3 nights in a camper van (switched to Upper Pines for a 4th night). Reservations are hard to come by; we got very lucky and reserved our spot only a couple of weeks before our trip (traveling in the Fall helped some).

Site was large with a bear box to store food - be sure to use this and store food safely! The rangers will warn you about the destruction bears can cause, and there are pictures posted all over to prove it. Our site had a large level parking pad (perfect for the campervan), picnic table, and fire ring. Awesome views of El Cap towering above us, at night you could see the lights from climbers up on the wall.

Bathrooms were clean, access to drinking water was easy. Park shuttle is nearby and easy to get around. Half Dome Village was a short walk/shuttle ride with access to food, stores (got some tenacious tape to repair a hole in a hydration bladder, saving our hiking!) and showers (for a fee). They had rental bikes which we used for a day to explore the path around the Valley. Trails were very close, we did a lot of hiking/trail running and were able to get a permit for Half Dome as well which was awesome! We were there in late September/early October - Yosemite Falls was dry and the other waterfalls are much lower that time of year, something to keep in mind if seeing the waterfalls roaring is in your itinerary.

All of our nearby campers were very polite and friendly. Yes, this is a "tourist" type campground, not a backcountry or dispersed site in the middle of nowhere. Everyone is there to experience Yosemite Valley in their own way. We found it to be fairly quiet and enjoyed checking out other people's camping setups and chatting with them while walking around, etc. We didn't find that to be a negative experience at all.

http://adventuresneaker.com/2017/01/23/california-road-trip-days-1-2-san-francisco-to-yosemite/

http://adventuresneaker.com/2017/01/25/california-road-trip-day-3-yosemite-hiking-4-mile-trail-panorama-trail-mist-trail/

http://adventuresneaker.com/2017/02/06/california-road-trip-day-4-half-dome/

A convenient hub for activities in Yosemite Valley. Toilets, water, and a storage box for all the food and other smelly items that attract bears. The valley can be a circus, but get off the beaten path and enjoy taking in the soaring cliffs and plunging waterfalls!

Great location right in the middle of Yosemite Valley. Great access to beautiful hikes and scenery. The camp sites are spacious. Because it's an equestrian campground, you will smell the horses and stables....be prepared. The river is close to the campgrounds and are refreshing on a hot day.

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!

You're staying in Yosemite Valley, one of the most beautiful places in the world. We stayed a couple nights in the tents, and it was fine. They're close together, but it's nice to have a "room" instead of just a tent. The bathrooms and showers were nearby too. Be sure to enjoy the countless miles of trails and epic views.

We had a nice open camping spot. It was at the edge of Yosemite Valley. The only downside to the spot was everyone else had a RV and had there generators on at 6am. We are not RV people so we don’t know why they need to run them. Next time we will camp in a tent only area. This area had no showers.

Getting there: As far as campsite in Yosemite go, Tuolumne Meadows is one of if not the most difficult to get to. From the East entrance of the park your still about 1.5 hours away from the campsite. To increase the difficulty of getting there Tioga Road is closed during the winters and will close anytime it snows.

Campsites: Tuolumne Meadows rest halfway between the Yosemite Valley and Mono Lake. Additionally Tuolumne sits just feet from the John Muir and the Pacific Crest Trail. All this access in combination with the difficulty of getting to Tuolumne Meadows makes it a great campground for those wanting to get away from the crowds and out onto the trails. WARNING: Because Tuolumne Meadows is so exposed to the forest there is HEAVY BEAR ACTIVITY. Keep your campsite clean, keep all food/toothpaste/sunscreen/anything that smells (even canned beer or alcohol) in the Bear Bin. The Park: Yosemite is awesome. What to do: You're already WAY OUT THERE so you might as well go see everything off Tioga Road (White Wolf, Porcupine Flat, etc. Also drive out to Mono Lake. You have perfect access to hiking the John Muir and Pacific Crest trail. Find a route and get out there!

Sites are not too tight. We had a corner lot which was nice. Campground was clean. Had some noisy neighbors and dogs but they were friendly. Close to Groveland proper and Yosemite Valley. Campground Wi-Fi is third party, cheap ($15/wk), but connectivity was inconsistent, we had to keep disconnecting and reconnecting to get any throughput. Trails around campground itself aren't that great, but there are plenty of awesome trailheads around.

Sick of the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of the Yosemite Valley at peak times? Head to the high country and stay at Tuolumne Meadows Campground. I lucked out and snagged a walk-up spot in early summer, when it was still showing closed for reservations online, but was actually open.  Quiet, full of trees, bear boxes at every site, bathrooms with flushing toilets, water, lots of nice hiking trails nearby, and not nearly the crowds of the valley floor.

On the east side of Yosemite Valley, it offers a convenient spot to rest after exploring and enjoying all the activities the area has to offer. Is crowded, but each spot is equipped with fire ring, food storage, picnic table, parking spot and flat, shaded spots for your tent.

Advantages: car camping, good for families, pets are allowed, bathroom and potable water nearby. Shuttle bus is pretty close too.

Disadvantages: Crowded, have to book a lot of time in advanced, distance between campsites is short.

This is one of the most beautiful places I have camped. We have stayed here in a RV and a tent. Tuolumne Meadows is a little removed from the hustle and bustle of the Yosemite Valley area but worth the stay. The sites are booked online but assigned by the ranger when you arrive. Try to get one by Tuolumne River. No hookups is the only negative thing I can say but if you stay at National Parks often then you are used to this. There are many great hiking trails across from the camping area to Lembert Dome and Dog Lake.

Yosemite Lakes RV Resort was a gem of a campground. It was like we were nestled in the heart of Yosemite Valley but we were actually over an hour away from it. A taste of what Yosemite National Park has to offer, if you will. They offer the best riverfront camping spots. The tranquil waters were a pleasant surprise to our trip. We have been to Yosemite many times but have never experienced it quite like this before. I recommend Yosemite Lakes RV Resort to anyone looking to take a relaxing break from lifes hustle and bustle.

I stayed one night here before embarking on a backpacking trip through the Yosemite back country. Anyone with a wilderness permit can spend the night before their trip in the backpackers camp behind the main campground loop. It is a very short walk to the general store and Tuolumne Meadows Grill. The campsites all seemed pretty big with lots of space. Bathrooms were also clean and well kept. There is a large community fire pit where they have Ranger led campfire talks which are great for families. In my opinion, this campsite is much more enjoyable than any of the sites down in Yosemite Valley.

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. There is a shuttle stop right outside the campground. You are also in easy walking distance to the path to Mirror Lake and the ever popular Mist Trail. Shuttle stops at all valley attractions and you can easily get to the Pizza Deck in Half Dome Village, the deli in Yosemite Village, and many different hiking trails. Some spots are right along the Merced River. No showers here, but hot showers are close by at Half Dome Village. We will be back!

I recently stayed at Yosemite Lakes Park Campground with a number of colleagues of mine and had an amazing time! Although we spent most of our time in Yosemite Valley, hiking and exploring, the drive into the valley was not too long and quite a pleasant one to say the least. Yosemite Lakes Park Campground is tucked in nicely in the surrounding wilderness and has a very family friendly vibe with plenty of amenities. There may not be a pool but the river has several areas that are great for wading about.

Although there could have been better wifi, like most campgrounds, it's almost a blessing in disguise to unplug and live in the moment.

Cheers!

This campground is located outside of Yosemite Valley, so it has less of the “Disneyland of the Sierra” feel—more serene and fewer people and buses.

we stayed in the area for backpackers—our first night there before hitting the trail for backcountry camping, as well as our last night before heading home. The spots in the backpackers camp area are first come first serve, take your pick when you arrive—only for folks with a backcountry permit. I recommend walking further back and up the hill to the more tucked away spots. Our first night we grabbed one of the first spots we saw which had an exposed feeling and plenty of foot traffic going by. Our last night we went to the back area and had a nice spot tucked against the forest.

A lovely creek runs along one side of the campground. It’s also walking distance to the general store and cafe.

Campground Review

Yosemite is one of those granddaddy national parks. It is large, gorgeous, and has pretty much everything you’d want in a park: great vistas, trails, campsites, facilities, lodges, history, activities, interpretive centers, etc. We drove down in a 32’ RV and got lucky in finding a campsite open on Tuolumne Meadows near the eastern entrance to the park. This area is more alpine in feeling than the more famous Yosemite Valley—more on that in a bit—but the landscape is no less incredible. The campsite was a little tricky to find in the dark but definitely large enough for our RV. No hookups at the campsite but a dump was a five minute drive away. Plenty of wooded area and a fair amount of privacy and quietness between the many campsites crammed in the space.

We picnicked in the gorgeous meadows before taking the 90-minute drive towards Yosemite Valley. It being the summer season and Yosemite now fully open—Tuolumne Meadows doesn’t even open until June due to snow—the park’s main challenge is its popularity. There were a lot of people on the highway throughout and Yosemite Valley itself was packed. The myriad falls, Half Dome, El Capitan and more all live up to their billing as absolute must-sees. But be prepared to see them all in the valley with a lot of people around biking, walking, hiking, listening to music, and coming to-and-fro from the fancy and amazing Majestic Yosemite Hotel (aka Ahwahnee Hotel). And even with the crowds, the whole park is absolutely fantastic. If you’re able to camp there or stay late enough for the sunset, the “dome glow” is inspiring.

Product Review

Gregory has been making backpacks forever and being a backpack junkie, I was keen to try out the Miwok 18 as a day pack which my wife had won via a Dyrt contest. It was an apt pack to use in Yosemite as the Native American tribe that frequented the area many years ago was, in fact, the Miwok tribe.

The pack is a very light weight 18 liter pack with lumbar and waist cross support straps, a nifty suspension system that kept the pack high on my back and not saggy, a fairly well-ventilated back cushion, a small sunglasses/smart phone/key pocket near the top and a good sized main pocket to house gear. There are two water bottle holders on the sides and an external quick stash pocket on the outside. The quick stash pocket expands with zippers but the top is still tied down with bungie cord so you can’t totally open it. Still plenty big to stash a jacket or wet towels—as we used it for a dip in the Merced River—and other gear. In fact, the pack as a whole had more than enough space for four towels lashed to the outside with compression straps, dry clothes for myself, my wife and two boys, two water bottles and some snacks.

The straps run a bit long that they dangle and I might think about shortening them but what it lacks in strap economy it more than makes up for in its best feature: its light weight. Apart from the Yosemite day of hiking around the valley, I also used it in Legoland to carry all our stuff for the day and my back didn’t get sore or tired shoulders.

All around, the Gregory Miwok 18 is a very solid day pack for a good hike and weekend excursion.

We tent camped on the river here and really enjoyed our stay. We floated on the river in tubes, visited Nearby Rainbow Pools, went into Yosemite Valley a couple of days, the park is about 5-10 mins from the entrance to Yosemite but we didn’t mind we enjoyed the drive into the valley and used it as an opportunity to spot wildlife. We had two young kids (6 &8) and the campground restrooms and showers were perfect after a long day hiking, they were well maintained, good water pressure. These restrooms were located at the ponderosa tent sites, we had some family also camping in RVS along the river and I can’t speak for those restrooms. No cell service & WiFi is unlikely to work so prepare to be unplugged..they do give you printed directions to the closest area to get a signal depending on your carrier. The staff was very friendly and helpful! We will definitely be back one day. Side note: we came during COVID so reservations to Yosemite National park were required, therefore the park and surrounding campgrounds were not as packed as they normally would be. (This was heavenly).

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!

Campground Review

I gave this campground a 3 out of 5 stars for two primary reasons. The first being that there is very little information available out there about the campground and the actual location of the grounds can be somewhat cumbersome to find. We spent a fair amount of time researching how to find this place and asking around at multiple information centers within Yosemite National Park before eventually finding it. The second reason being that the sites are not reservable and considering how crowded Yosemite NP can get, this is quite the gamble. Some crowd control is provided, as you need a backcountry permit in order to stay at the campground but with only 20 sites available, there’s a likely chance you may not get a spot. Most hikers use this campground as a basecamp before or after making their treks through the backcountry but it can be difficult to plan out your trip if you’re not sure that you can reliably find the campground or even secure a spot. That being said, this campground is located very close to some amazing amenities (10 minutes to Half Dome Village and 10 minutes to most trailheads). In addition to nearby amenities, the campground itself offers some great amenities including picnic tables, fire pits, bathrooms and bear boxes. The campsites are also really beautiful, as the grounds are situated near a picturesque wooded area, creek and unique rock formation. All in all, if you’re willing to wage the risk of not knowing how to get there or if you’ll even have a spot when you get there, you’ll be rewarded with one of the only remaining patches of solitude in Yosemite Valley.