Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Yosemite Valley, CA

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.

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Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Yosemite Valley, California (235)

    1. Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park

    66 Reviews
    Yosemite Valley, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (209) 372-8502

    $36 / night

    "Campground is close to curry village where showers, pool, market and pizza are available. Campground is near happy isles, where the trailheads for vernal falls, Nevada falls and half dome begin."

    "Close to Happy Isles and Mirror Lake/Meadow, this campground is convenient for day hikers. it's one of the better spots in Yosemite Valley, somewhat off the beaten path, so to speak."

    2. Wawona Campground — Yosemite National Park

    41 Reviews
    Wawona, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 375-9535

    $28 - $75 / night

    "Beautiful Campground along the river. it's about 16 miles from Yosemite Valley and not as crowded as Yosemite Valley campgrounds."

    "Nice location along the Merced River. Campsites have tree cover but aren’t super private. Bathrooms are primitive, but in good condition. Provides good access to Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point."

    3. North Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park

    24 Reviews
    Yosemite Valley, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (209) 372-8502

    $48 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    4. Lower Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park

    21 Reviews
    Yosemite Valley, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (209) 372-8502

    $36 - $60 / night

    "Bathrooms were clean, access to drinking water was easy. Park shuttle is nearby and easy to get around."

    "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."

    5. Yosemite Creek — Yosemite National Park

    16 Reviews
    Yosemite Valley, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 379-2123

    $24 / night

    "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!"

    "Not a bad drive, of course everything in California is beautiful compared to the flat lands of Texas."

    6. Goat Meadow - Dispersed Camp Site

    40 Reviews
    Fish Camp, CA
    17 miles
    Website

    "After accidentally driving to this location following the directions of another reviewer for the “Yosemite Boondocks” campground across 41 (which we never found) we were very happy with this location."

    "Great spot about 5 minutes away from Yosemite entrance. Only a few other campers nearby but plenty of space to where they were only seen from a distance."

    7. Tuolumne Meadows Campground — Yosemite National Park

    28 Reviews
    Lee Vining, CA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 372-4025

    $36 - $75 / night

    "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."

    "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."

    8. Yosemite Valley Backpacker's Campground — Yosemite National Park

    11 Reviews
    Yosemite Valley, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (209) 372-0200

    "For people with mobility issues, this site is a good walk away from the inner valley trails, fine for anyone else who is up for walking distances, because that is why you came to Yosemite!"

    "Beautiful campground, unfortunately right next to the trail, but very spacious and also has bathrooms and picnic tables right there!"

    9. Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes

    40 Reviews
    Eastman Lake, CA
    21 miles
    Website
    +1 (888) 707-1477

    "Perfect Campground for a night outside Yosemite Valley!"

    "Our tent site was #311 and it was perfectly tucked in the trees with a stream alongside."

    10. Hodgdon Meadow Campground — Yosemite National Park

    22 Reviews
    Mather, CA
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (209) 379-2123

    $36 - $75 / night

    "attractions: 40 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Near Tuolumne Sequoia Grove. I might camp here (just drove through checking out the campground)."

    "From the East entrance of the park off the 120 the campsite is less than a mile from the entrance gate."

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Yosemite Valley, CA

1602 Reviews of 235 Yosemite Valley Campgrounds


  • Michaela D.
    Jun. 1, 2018

    Wawona Campground — Yosemite National Park

    Right Along the River

    Beautiful Campground along the river. it's about 16 miles from Yosemite Valley and not as crowded as Yosemite Valley campgrounds.

  • B
    Jun. 29, 2016

    Crane Flat Campground — Yosemite National Park

    out of the way

    site: wooded. semi-private. large. quiet campground. cooler temps than in Yosemite Valley. amenities: clean. no showers at campground. attractions: near to a market. Hiking trails. 40 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Wildlife. I would go camping here again- nice quiet place.

  • B
    Jun. 29, 2016

    Hodgdon Meadow Campground — Yosemite National Park

    near grove

    site: wooded area. not very private. most sites have an incline. amenities: not very clean facilities. attractions: 40 minutes from Yosemite Valley. Near Tuolumne Sequoia Grove. I might camp here (just drove through checking out the campground).

  • Hannah H.
    Aug. 13, 2019

    Wawona Campground — Yosemite National Park

    Good last minute campsite

    We have stayed at Wawona a few times. We only stay there if we have not reserved a site in advance. You can visit the camp office and see if they have any openings the day of your arrival. It is close to the road so there is some noise from it. The river runs close to the campground. It is about one hour from Yosemite Valley.

  • D
    May. 15, 2017

    Summerdale Campground - Sierra National Forest

    Summerdale

    Near the South entrance to Yosemite National Park, SUMMERDALE campground is a small, quiet, well maintained campground that requires advanced reservations. The sites are spread out in a little valley with a small stream called Big Creek flowing through it. Nice, clean pit toilets and drinking water available. A short drive from Yosemite Valley makes it a good place to base day trips into the park and great, quiet place to spend the night.

  • T
    Jun. 17, 2019

    Tamarack Flat Campground — Yosemite National Park

    A Hidden Gem!

    I know that you don’t know me but trust me! Tamarack Flat is an awesome campground and definitely worth being a short 30 minutes away from Yosemite Valley. It is first come first serve but I have never had any problem acquiring a campsite. While it is remote, it is beautifully scenic and with many campers nearby, you don’t feel like you’re out in the wilderness alone. There are bear boxes at every site as well as a fire ring/pit. I would highly recommend camping here if you are tent camping or have a small unit. You will not be disappointed.

  • Darrin L.
    Jun. 20, 2016

    Sweetwater

    Not much of a campsite

    I stayed here for 4 nights while visiting Yosemite National Park. This was the closest campsite that I could get without a reservation (about 15 minutes from park entrance, & 1 hr. from Yosemite Valley) The campground looks like it used to be much nicer but it was obviously burned in the Rim Fire. Even if it wasn't burned, I still wouldn't be too impressed. The sites are pretty close together and the campground is right on the highway so the noise is pretty bad. Also, they are doing some kind of construction around the site so we woke up to the sounds of equipment driving right behind our tent. Also, this place is WAY over priced for what you get. I paid $20 per night plus $8 per night per extra vehicle. If you're planning on spending most of your time in the park, this place can be a decent last resort if everything else in the area is full.

  • B
    Jun. 30, 2016

    White Wolf Campground — Yosemite National Park

    Crowded with drug abuse in the bathrooms - not safe!!

    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.

  • Amanda M.
    Oct. 3, 2018

    Crane Flat Campground — Yosemite National Park

    Crane Flat - Yosemite National Park

    In the summer of 2015, my (now) boyfriend and I decided to plan a very last-minute hike up Half Dome. We finalized the decision to go about six weeks before our trip in the third week of September, therefore had missed the window of opportunity to reserve a valley campsite by about 5 months. The only available campgrounds in Yosemite were the ones outside the valley, and we decided to try out Crane Flat campground.

    The Crane Flat Campground is about 19 miles outside Yosemite Valley off highway 120 - it takes around 35 minutes or so to travel by car from Yosemite Valley to Crane Flat. Crane Flat is a nice and peaceful campground surrounded by trees, and at the time was at less than half capacity. While camping in Yosemite Valley would have been more convenient for us on the day of our Half Dome hike, we enjoyed the peace and quiet of the nearly empty Crane Flat campground.

    The campsites in Crane Flat have bear bins, fire rings, and picnic tables. The toilets were plumbed but there are no showers available. I imagine Crane Flat fills up during the peak seasons, but the sites seem to be more spread out than the sites in the Valley. If you want to avoid camping in the Valley, Crane Flat or Wawona campgrounds are both great options!

    We spent our first day doing easy hikes around the valley floor, swimming in the Merced River, and keeping our fingers crossed that we would win the lottery to hike Half Dome. We did, so we climbed it the next day.

    We were exhausted the day after our Half Dome hike, so we decided not to drive to the Valley. We swam in Tenaya Lake which was still FREEZING in September, but it felt good as it was hot out. We drove past the Big Oak Flat Entrance and out to Groveland, where we had lunch and drinks at the Iron Door Saloon. The Iron Door Saloon is a family friendly restaurant and bar that is apparently the oldest continuously operating saloon in California. It’s a little tourist-trappy, but I’ve enjoyed it the couple times I’ve been there, and they have good burgers and drinks for cheap.

    CAUTION: be extremely aware of bears while camping in Yosemite National Park! Each campsite in Crane Flat has a bear bin - USE YOUR BEAR BIN! Bears are known to break into cars to snack from coolers or any food or toiletries are left out. The bear bins are quite large, so coolers do fit inside - bears can still smell food in coolers inside of cars, and apparently recognize a cooler when they peak into your car windows. If you have to leave your cooler in the car, it is suggested that you cover it up with towels or gear to hide it from site. On the same note, do not leave any of your toiletries or snacks inside the tent with you. In general it seems that the rangers seem to have good control over the bears that have been tagged and are constantly monitored, but not all bears are tagged, and even the tagged bears will make their way into Yosemite campgrounds. Be smart and safe in bear country!

    CAMPSITE SPECS

    Fees: $26/night peak ($18/night non-peak)

    Plumbed Toilets: Yes

    Drinking Water: Yes

    Showers: No

    Picnic Table: Yes

    Firepit: Yes

    Cooking Grate: Yes

    Shade: Yes

    Cell Service: No

    Animal Bins/Food lockers: Yes

    Trash: Yes


Guide to Yosemite Valley

Discovering the great outdoors with your furry friends near Yosemite Valley is a rewarding experience. Several campgrounds in the area welcome pets, ensuring that you and your companions can enjoy nature together.

Pet owners like spacious sites and essential amenities

  • At Upper Pines Campground, you'll find clean and spacious sites with easy access to water and restrooms, perfect for your pet's needs.
  • Wawona Campground offers a mix of shade and sun, along with basic amenities like restrooms and drinking water, making it a comfortable stay for both you and your pet.
  • Thousand Trails Yosemite Lakes features large sites with electric hookups and a general store nearby, ensuring you have everything you need for a pleasant camping experience.

Dog owners appreciate the proximity to outdoor activities

  • North Pines Campground is conveniently located near hiking trails, allowing you to explore the stunning scenery with your dog by your side.
  • At Yosemite Creek, you can enjoy scenic views and access to various trails, making it an ideal spot for outdoor adventures with your pet.
  • Hodgdon Meadow Campground provides a great base for exploring the park, with ample opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing.

Pet-friendly campgrounds include unique features

  • Lower Pines Campground boasts a beautiful riverside location, perfect for cooling off after a day of hiking with your pet.
  • Tioga Lake Campground offers stunning lake views and easy access to water activities, making it a great choice for pet owners who enjoy fishing or kayaking.
  • Indian Flat RV Park features a pool and arcade, providing fun for the whole family, including your four-legged friends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Yosemite Valley, CA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Yosemite Valley, CA is Upper Pines Campground — Yosemite National Park with a 4.5-star rating from 66 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Yosemite Valley, CA?

TheDyrt.com has all 235 dog-friendly camping locations near Yosemite Valley, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.