How Big Are The Camping Sites In Yosemite?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Yosemite National Park has

13 popular campgrounds

, of which up to seven are on a reservation system.

What is the best camp site in Yosemite?

  • Lower Pines Campground. …
  • Camp 4. …
  • Tents and Cabins at Curry Village. …
  • Wawona Campground. …
  • Summerdale Campground. …
  • Indian Flat RV Park. …
  • Hodgdon Meadow Campground. Hodgdon Meadow Campground | Photo Copyright: Lana Law. …
  • Tuolumne Meadows Campground. Tuolumne Meadows.

How hard is it to get a campsite in Yosemite?

According to Gloria Sandoval, deputy director of the California Department of Recreation, more than 67 million people visit the state’s parks each year, with more than 6.5 million coming to camp. But with approximately 13,000 campsites available,

it’s impossible for most to get a spot

.

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Yosemite?

The campgrounds in Yosemite Valley, including Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, and Camp 4 (not reservable), are the hardest spots to get because of their

close proximity to most of the park’s icons

.

Can you sleep in your car in Yosemite?

Within Yosemite National Park,

you may not sleep in your car or RV except in a campsite that you’re registered to stay in

(except at Camp 4, where sleeping in cars is not allowed because it’s a walk-in campground). Sleeping in your car along the side of the road is not allowed.

How much is it to camp in Yosemite?

Type of Fee Effective 3/1/2015 Effective 1/1/2016 Yosemite National Park

Annual Pass


$60

$60

How long can you camp in Yosemite?

There is a

30-night camping limit within Yosemite National Park in a calendar year; however, from May 1 to September 15, the camping limit in Yosemite is 14 nights

(this includes wilderness camping).

What is the best month to visit Yosemite?

The best times to visit Yosemite are

May and September

, when the park is accessible, but not too crowded. It’s important to know that many roads and trails in Yosemite are closed for the majority of the year due to snow.

Can you camp for free in Yosemite?

Yosemite National Park is completely surrounded by national forests.

You can always boondock for free in these forests

. However, there are also free campgrounds set up by the U.S. Forest Service…

How do I reserve a campsite in Yosemite?

You can reserve Yosemite camping

by telephone at 800-44-6777 or 518-885-3639 from outside the United States and Canada

. You can also make Yosemite camping reservations online.

What do you need to camp in Yosemite?

  1. Map & compass.
  2. Trash bag.
  3. Sunglasses and sunscreen.
  4. Food and water.
  5. Storm gear.
  6. Headlamp/flashlight (with extra batteries)
  7. First-aid kit.
  8. Fire starter.

Can you transfer Yosemite camping reservations?

With hopes of bringing an end to the scalping of campsites, Yosemite National Park officials will require that visitors show some identification to claim their campsites, and

won’t allow reservations to be transferred to anyone else

.

How can I get into Yosemite without reservation?

People can drive through Yosemite without a reservation



The entrance station ranger will provide a time-stamped permit valid for the time needed to travel from entrance to entrance

,” park officials said.

Are there first come first serve campgrounds in Yosemite?

You must have a reservation to camp in Yosemite.

There is no first-come, first-serve camping in Yosemite in 2021

.

What does sliding window mean on recreation gov?


For reservations made that include dates at the end of the available booking window

(also known as the sliding window), you are not able to make changes or cancel your reservation until the site is available to the general public for four days.

Are there bears at Yosemite?


American black bears found in Yosemite National Park

have long been of intense interest to park visitors and managers. Seeing one of the approximately 300 to 500 black bears in Yosemite can evoke excitement, awe, and fear. If visitors spot a bear while in the park, it is a black bear-not a brown or grizzly bear.

Is there BLM land near Yosemite?


There are three developed BLM campgrounds along the Merced River between Briceburg and Bagby

. The campgrounds are accessed by crossing the suspension bridge just past the Briceburg Visitor Center and heading down river along the unpaved Briceburg River Road (old Yosemite Valley Railroad Grade).

Are there public showers in Yosemite?

In normal circumstances,

showers are available in Yosemite Valley at Curry Village and Housekeeping Camp

. Showers are not available elsewhere in the park. Dump stations are available at Upper Pines Campground (all year), near Wawona Campground (summer only), and near Tuolumne Meadows Campground (summer only).

Does it cost money to drive through Yosemite?

Yosemite National Park has had an entrance fee since 1913. The current rate of

$30 per vehicle or $25* per motorcycle

has been in effect since 2015. The park is one of 117 in the National Park System that charges an entrance fee. The remaining 300 sites are free to enter.

How many days do you need in Yosemite National Park?

How many days to spend in Yosemite National Park? One day is enough to see all of the Yosemite Valley, but

2-3 days is ideal if you wish to take some of the longer hikes or explore Glacier Point and the Tioga Pass

.

Can you pitch a tent anywhere in Yosemite?

Since there are only a few designated campgrounds,

you can camp anywhere you like, provided you follow all wilderness regulations

. The exceptions are near the five High Sierra Camps and in the Little Yosemite Valley area, where you must you camp at the designated campgrounds.

What does tent only mean?

RVs are not allowed in tent-only campsites.

These sites only have space for tents

and, in many cases, the parking is a short distance away from the campsite (and you’re required to camp in the campsite).

Can we have a fire in Yosemite?

Camping in Yosemite

Campfires are allowed in all open campgrounds at any time. However,

from May through September, wood fires in Yosemite Valley are only allowed between 5 pm and 10 pm

(fires must be completely extinguished by 10 pm). Fires are allowed at any time from October through April.

How crowded is Yosemite?

With all of the superlatives come the crowds;

some 3 million people visit the valley each year

. That amounts to 95% of all Yosemite visitors, whereas the valley occupies only 1% of the park’s 1,169 square miles.

How big is Yosemite National Park?

Yosemite National Park Area

759,620 acres

(3,074.1 km

2

)
Established October 1, 1890 Visitors 2,268,313 (in 2020) Governing body National Park Service

What months does it snow in Yosemite?

Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about

November through May

. (Yosemite Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.