Reviews

Dine & Dash

Upper Pines isn’t the campground you come to for privacy. It’s the campground you come to because you want to spend every waking minute exploring Yosemite. The sites are definitely closer together than your average campground. Think apartment complex, not suburban backyard. Even so, everyone was respectful, camp stayed surprisingly quiet, and the constant shade made it a comfortable place to relax after long days on the trail. Every site has a picnic table, fire ring, and generously sized bear locker. The crows, however, believe the picnic table belongs to them and will happily supervise every meal in hopes of collecting a tax. Oddly, we saw far fewer squirrels here than elsewhere in the park. One thing that really stood out was the restroom maintenance. Bathrooms were plentiful and seemed to be cleaned constantly. My only suggestions would be to add soap, fix the hand dryers, and give the dishwashing stations a little extra attention. The location is hard to beat. We walked to Curry Village for the $5.75 showers and pool (worth every penny after Half Dome), rode bikes throughout the valley, and used the shuttle without ever needing to move the car. Having your vehicle parked right at camp while the rest of Yosemite is accessible by foot, bike, or shuttle makes for a wonderfully low-stress visit. If you’re looking for solitude, this probably isn’t your campground. If you’re looking for the perfect home base for experiencing Yosemite Valley, it’s hard to imagine a better location.

Sophie Gullett

Really lovely campsite in the heart of the park. Walking distance to Curry village so you can hit the general store or restaurants over there. Lots of bathrooms and water spigots. Our campsite (141) was right next to a little creek which was lovely. Can be a little noisy since you're near a walking trail but we weren't bothered by that. Easy access to happy isles as well.

Rob V.

Beautiful location but site 229 and the sites around it have ZERO shade, so be sure to bring something to make shade. The site is full of tripping hazards like tree stumps and rocks, so be careful at night. Restrooms were clean, but no soap, and the toilet paper is that cheap stuff that tears instantly, so bring your own. Overall, we had a great time because we had an EZ-up to make shade, would've been miserable without it.

Beto N. Filho

Camp with my family with RV, the spot was enough to stop the rented RV (24feet) that was more bigger than the spot (for parking 12 ft), even this worked. Was amazing experience sleep there. The dump station were closer to the campground. Really recommend this camp in Yosemite.

Gagik Virabyan (Gavi)

I’ve had the opportunity to stay at the Upper Pines Campground. Location is amazing. Restrooms were clean. Campground was very nice and with bear proof boxes. Everyone around also were very respectful. And I want to thank the campground employee who went above and beyond to help us to have the best stay. Thanks again. Definitely coming back.

Uncle Sal

Upper Pines campsite was outstanding! The location is breathtaking, with easy access to mountain streams, rivers, and stunning views. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the bathroom was well enough kept. If you can burn there is a fairly short window of time to burn; 5pm to 10pm available for campfires, and the Village store was well-stocked, for necessities, a decent walk away, drive if your getting supplies. There are numerous biking and hiking trails accessible from the site. Curry village is also close by full of essentials and novelties. Even with all the neighboring camps full, everyone was friendly and approachable. The night sky through the trees was easy to take in and enjoy its beauty! The ranger made his rounds, ensuring everything was safe without being intrusive. Plus, it was super convenient to catch the shuttle within walking distance to explore the rest of the park. Highly recommend this campsite for an amazing outdoor experience!

S Delfin

I absolutely loved my stay at Upper Pines Campground! The park ranger who checked us in was incredibly kind and welcoming, which set the tone for a wonderful experience. The campground itself has everything you need, and the sites are very flat—perfect for setting up a tent with no hassle. Even though the campground was full, I never had issues with the bathrooms. There are always two or three nearby, and they were usually empty when I went. The location is unbeatable. Being so close to the Mist Trail and right in Yosemite Valley makes it a truly magical experience. Waking up surrounded by the beauty of Yosemite is something I’ll never forget. Highly recommend Upper Pines if you want to experience the heart of Yosemite!

Klaus Schniedergers

Great campground with lots of space for each site, most are shaded. Bathrooms are plenty and kept very clean. A few annoying RVs with generators (to be turned off after 10pm), but otherwise mostly tent camping, and thus more quiet and social. The whole campground is quiet as there's not much traffic allowed close by. Not much cell phone signal. Firewood and ice is expensive.

Tim Hofmann

Yosemite valley is my favorite place on our trip and possibly on planet earth. The campsite has stunning views, nice personal/rangers and acceptable restrooms, but no showers! Rangers make sure it's silent at night. We all loved it.

John Liberty

The campground offers a stunning view of the cliff and a shortcut through the woods to the Mist Trail and John Muir Trailhead, as well as shuttle stops #15 and #16. It's the cleanest campground I've ever visited—no ants, no bugs, and no tiny flying insects in the evening either. There are many well-maintained, clean bathrooms throughout the campground. While there are no showers, I soaked in the nearby river instead.

Benjamin S

Absolutely fantastic place to go camping. Reservations are very difficult to get, but we managed to get one over the Fourth of July weekend. We will definitely be coming again. The river was ice cold but so much fun. The restrooms were as expected and no showers, so bring a shower/water bag. Overall we had an excellent experience although super busy.

Sarah Anna Jung

Amazing campground in Yosemite National Park Positive Super nice atmosphere Enough restrooms Food lockers against bears In total 3 generator time slots a day and dumping station available Nice fire place Negative Really nothing you just have to wash your dishes at your place for bear safety

Cam Hatch

My friends and I stayed here and it was awesome! One of the most beautiful camp sites I’ve stayed at. Since we camped in December it was super cold but it was worth it. Smaller crowds and great views of the valley in the winter.

Rick Ayleen

We came here late but we were able to get to our reserved spot. Toilet areas were clean but basic. Water is only cold. The water bottle refill station didn't work (it was winter time, maybe due to that). The location was great. You can walk a few trails from here.

thu nguyen

One of the best camp site. The fire place is amazing with the adjustable grill. Toilet is clean. Stores and diner is walking distance with everything you need for your camping. Campground is spacious for both your tent and your car. Great spot for star gazing as well