Visitors camping at North Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley can take advantage of the free shuttle to deliver them to almost all the favorite attractions in the valley.
Glacier Point offers spectacular views of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley.
Visit Happy Isles with a Nature Center and trails to Vernal and Nevada falls,
Take the short hike to Mirror Lake with close-up views of Half Dome,
Tour the Valley Visitor and Wilderness centers.
Enjoy easy scenic trails all around the valley and along the Merced River, connecting to viewpoints and picnic areas.
Experience Nature and History Programs - nature and photography walks, history tours, art classes, children's programs, and more. Most free, some with modest fees.
Join in Outdoor Adventures - nature and photography walks, history tours, art classes, children's programs, and more. Fees.
Key North Pines Campground Regulations
Campfires from May through September are only allowed from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
Bears: Store all food and similar items in bear-proof lockers, not in vehicles.
Generators may only be operated from 7 AM to 9 AM, Noon to 2 PM, and 5 PM to 7 PM.
North Pines Campground is located at the confluence of Tenaya Creek and the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Some sites are situated along the bank of the Merced River. All sites are among mature conifers offering at least partial if not full shade. The campground has 82 campsites. Of those, 13 are designed for RVs or trailers. The other 69 can accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents.
As in all campgrounds in Yosemite, visitors at North Pines Campground are required to follow strict guidelines about storing food and scented items in bear-proof lockers provided at each campsite. Food may not be stored in vehicles. Visitors who follow Yosemite's guidelines rarely have problems with bears.
Not all sites will accommodate the maximum trailer and RV lengths shown below. Read vehicle limitations on the reservation site carefully before making a reservation.
A Backpackers' Camp is located across the creek from the north end of North Pines Campground. A footbridge connects to the site.
Reservations can be made from 2 days up to 5 months in advance of arrival date. New dates are released in 1-month blocks on the 15th of each month at 7:00 AM Pacific time.
Camping Limit:
7 nights from May 1 to September 15
Maximum RV/Trailer Length:
40 feet and 35 feet
Wheelchair Accessible Sites:
#111,113,119,125,129
Favorite Campsites:
Along the river: #101 - 109 and 506, 520, 522, 524, 526
Other favorites: #215, 502, 504, 506
A free shuttle service to stops at North Pines Campground and connects to sites all around the valley.
General Information for Yosemite Camping
Opening and closing dates of campgrounds are only estimates, usually dependent on snow conditions.
Not all campsites can accommodate trailers or RVs of all lengths. Check carefully on the website when you make your reservation to be sure your vehicle will fit your campsite.
Accessible Sites
Designated Accessible sites are reserved for people with disabilities who have a vehicle displaying an accessible parking placard or license plate. For visitors who are temporarily disabled or do not have their permanent accessible parking placard with them, pick up a temporary placard at the entrance station or a visitor center.
Yosemite Valley Backpackers' Camp
The Backpackers' Camp is designated for those with wilderness permits to have a place to camp the night before or the night after a wilderness trip. There is a loading area in the North Pines Campground, but afterwards vehicles must be parked at the trailhead or at the Curry Village parking lot. Fee is $6 per person.
Backpackers' Camp next to North Pines Campground
Reservations Tips
Reservations open in blocks of one month at a time, 5 months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 AM Pacific Time.
Prime reservations fill within minutes. To improve your chances of obtaining a reservation, be poised online, already on the reservation website (linked above) at precisely 7:00 AM. Begin filling in the form before 7:00 AM. If you have 6 or fewer in your party, leave the Occupants space blank. You may only make 2 reservations per call or online visit. For more reservations, call or link again.
Yosemite makes these suggestions: "Another approach is to try to get different campsites each night (rather than one campsite for your entire stay). To do this, change the arrival date to your first desired night, the departure date to the next day, and specify that you're flexible for the next two weeks. With this method, you can search campgrounds in and near Yosemite all at once. Once you've chosen a specific campground, click on the date range availability choice to see if some of your nights are available. If you don't find availability using these methods, it's worth checking back as often as possible: cancellations will appear on the website immediately."
Phone reservations: (877) 444-6777, or (877) 833-6777 for TDD, or (518) 885-3639 from outside the US & Canada.
