Facilities

Club House

Laundry Room

Swimming Pool

Hot Tub

Fitness Center

Game Room

Rec Hall

Pavilion

Exercise Room

Restroom/Shower

Restroom Only

Shower Only

Restaurant

Groceries

RV Supplies

ATM Machine

WiFi

Dog Park

Cocktail Lounge

Dog Washing Station

Pit Toilet

Snack Bar

Play Ground

Sites

Water

20 Amp

30 Amp

50 Amp

Sewer

Cable TV

Services

Escort to Site

Self-Service RV Wash

Metered LP Gas

Firewood

Fishing Supplies

Pet Supplies

Onsite Rentals

Worship Services

Golf Carts

Fishing Guides

Onsite RV Service

Staffed RV Wash

Fishing Licenses

Complimentary Breakfast

Recreational activities in or near the park

Recreational Activities

Archery Range

ATV Riding

Biking

Boating

Body Of Water

Casino

Climbing

Dock

Driving Range

Fishing

Golf

Heated Pool

Hiking

Horseback Riding

Horseshoes

Kayaking

Lawn Bowling

Mini Golf

Paddle Boats

Pickle Ball

Putting Green

Ramp

Sauna

Shuffleboard

Snow Sports

Splash Pad

Swimming

Tennis

Wading Pool

Water Slide

Water Sports

Water Umbrella

Whitewater Rafting

Policies

RV Age Restrictions

Pets Welcome

Pet Restrictions

Pet Restriction on Quantity

Pet Restriction on Breed

Pet Restriction on Size

No Pets

Tent Camping Allowed

Folding Tent Campers Allowed

No Tents

No Overnight Guests

<h2>Overview</h2><p>Upper Pines Campground serves as the premier destination for travelers seeking an immersive experience within the heart of <strong>Yosemite Valley</strong>. As the largest of the three reservation-based campgrounds in the valley, it offers a classic national park atmosphere under a thick canopy of ponderosa pines and incense cedars. Because the park is <strong>open year-round</strong>, it provides a rare opportunity for RVers to witness the seasonal shifts of the Sierra Nevada, from the lush greens of spring to the quiet snows of winter, all from the comfort of their own rig.</p><h2>Location & Surroundings</h2><p>Situated at the eastern end of the valley floor, the park is surrounded by some of the most iconic granite monoliths in the world. From many sites, you can catch glimpses of <strong>Half Dome</strong> towering above the trees, providing a constant sense of scale and wonder. The <strong>Merced River</strong> flows nearby, offering a soothing soundtrack to your stay and a convenient place to cool off during the summer. The level terrain makes the campground easy to navigate, even though the sheer canyon walls remind you of the vast wilderness just beyond the site markers.</p><h2>Amenities & Park Features</h2><p>This is a traditional national park facility, meaning it focuses on preserving the natural environment rather than providing resort-style luxuries. There are <strong>no hookups</strong> available at the sites, so RVers should arrive prepared for a dry-camping experience. However, the park maintains essential infrastructure to support self-contained travelers including:</p><ul><li>A seasonal <strong>dump station</strong> located near the campground entrance</li><li>Mandatory <strong>bear-proof food lockers</strong> at every site for safety</li><li>Potable water spigots and restrooms with flushing toilets</li><li>Paved parking pads and communal fire rings for evening gatherings</li></ul><h2>Nearby Attractions & Things to Do</h2><p>The location is unbeatable for those who want to be in the center of the action. The trailhead for the famous <strong>Mist Trail</strong>, which leads to Vernal and Nevada Falls, is just a short walk or bike ride away. For those who prefer to leave the RV parked, the <strong>Yosemite Valley Shuttle</strong> stops frequently near the campground, offering easy access to various landmarks.</p><ul><li>Mirror Lake trail for stunning reflective views</li><li>The Ansel Adams Gallery and Yosemite Village</li><li>The Happy Isles Art and Nature Center</li></ul><h2>Who This Park Is Best For</h2><p>Upper Pines is ideal for the <strong>self-contained RVer</strong> who prioritizes proximity to world-class scenery over modern conveniences. If you enjoy the rustic charm of woodsmoke and starlit nights without the hum of high-voltage electronics, this is your place. It is a perfect fit for <strong>active families</strong> and nature photographers who want to be the first on the trails at sunrise, bypassing the long morning entry lines at the park gates. While it requires a bit of planning and self-sufficiency, the reward is a front-row seat to one of the most beautiful valleys on earth.</p>



Yosemite Upper Pines Campground is located in Yosemite Valley, California, and is one of the most popular campgrounds in the park. It is situated near the base of Yosemite Falls and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The campground offers over 200 sites, including tent and RV sites, and is open year-round. Amenities include flush toilets, showers, and a dump station. There are also several picnic areas and a general store. Yosemite Upper Pines is a great place to explore the beauty of Yosemite National Park.

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Yosemite/Upper Pines

Experience Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley, CA. Enjoy RV dry camping near Half Dome with easy access to the Mist Trail and park shuttles.

Upper Pines Campground | Yosemite Valley, CA

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

We had stayed in The Ahwahnee, but wanted to spend at least one day/night in this campground. The sites are a nice size. You don't feel cramped in like sardines even if the campground is full. Bear boxes are available on each site. Grab some firewood from the nearby market in Curry Village or in Yosemite Village if you happen to be there. Clean bathrooms at the campground.

Sitting there next to the campfire at night stargazing through the trees is one those peaceful, fulfilling experiences to have. It was just beautiful. The people out here followed the quiet time protocol for the most part. Only heard a few laughs after 10pm. Not a big deal. We also heard what we think were coyotes.

No complaints, but something I want to point out. We showed up around 4:30pm and the camp hosts were giving instructions to the people ahead of us because the hosts were walking back to their RV. So if you show up "late", you sign in on the clipboard, look up your site# on the whiteboard, and go to your site. You're also supposed to check in by 10:00am the next morning or you're threatened to lose your site. Not sure why you have to check in again if you've already signed in. Seems like a waste of time. We didn't bother checking in the next morning because we were there for one night, so we left.

Bring a good, metal-handled, flathead shovel for the snow. Bring a lot of firewood. Bring snowshoes and snowpants. Ice is everywhere on road but campsites are mostly snow, about 3-5 inches deep. Loved snow camping though! Just come prepared. See photo.

Camping in Yosemite....doesn't get any better. Even in the snow it was fun.

Amazing campground! well spaced sites, plenty of room, close enough to the trailheads and Curry Village. (for coffee)

Going to start with the bad.  The sites don’t really have privacy and are closer together than I like.  But it’s an amazing location in the he valley with half dome towering over it.   So many trails paved and unpaved.  I found plenty of space to walk with my dog for miles.  Such a bike and pedestrian friendly park.  I biked from camp to the village and around to some sights.  Great spot.

Beautiful campsite! The bathrooms are very clean. It has bear lockers for food storage, which are pretty good in size and fire pits are also there. Park rangers were super helpful. The campground has easy accessibility to some amazing hikes- vernal falls, mirror lake.  People are mindful of the quiet hours.

Reviews

Yosemite/Upper Pines