Lower Pines Campground
Lower Pines Campground is located along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Set among towering pines and within walking distance of Curry Village, the campground is among the most popular in California.
As in all campgrounds in Yosemite, visitors at Lower Pines Campground are required to follow strict guidelines about storing food 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.
Lower Pines Campground has 60 campsites, including 3 double sites. Ten of the campsites are designated for RVs or trailers only. The rest of the campsites can accommodate RVs, trailers, and tents.
| Lower Pines Campground Basics |
| Lower Pines Campground Location: |
Yosemite Valley near Half Dome (Curry) Village |
| Elevation: |
4,000 feet |
| Distance & Driving Time from gateway cities: |
Stockton - 115 miles, 3:15
Fresno - 94 miles, 2:15
|
| Number of Sites: |
60 |
| Camping Season: |
Usually open mid-April through late October, depending on weather |
| Max. People per Site: |
6 (including children); double sites, 12 |
| Vehicles per Site: |
2 (3 in double sites) |
| Pets: |
On leash, always attended |
| Operated by |
Yosemite National Park |
| Campground Office: |
(209) 372-8502 |
| Reservations for Lower Pins Capground |
| Reservations Required: |
"All campgrounds [in Yosemite] will require a reservation from approximately April through October. First-come, first-served camping is not available during this time. Any canceled reservations will be available on Recreation.gov until the arrival date." |
| Booking Window: |
Campsites are available up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. PST. For example, on January 15, arrival dates for the period May 15 to June 14 become available to reserve, and therefore, the full arrival date window would be from the campground open date to June 14. |
| Peak Season Camping Limit: |
7 nights from May 1 to September 15 |
| Maximum RV/Trailer Length: |
RVs 40 feet
Trilers 35 feet |
| Wheelchair Accessible Sites: |
7, 13, 14*, 18, 20
*Site 14 has electric charging available for electric wheelchairs. |
| Favorite Campsites: |
#23, 35, 37, 38, 39, 43, 63, 71
|
| Fees: |
$36 per night, double sites $60 |
| Online Reservations: |
Lower Pines Campground Reservations |
| Winter camping: |
None |
| Check-in, check-out: |
Noon, Noon |
| Lower Pines Campground Amenities |
| Campsites: |
Picnic table, bear-proof food locker, fire ring |
| Campground: |
Restrooms with flush toilets, tap water, amphitheater |
| Showers: |
Showers are available in nearby Curry Village or Housekeeping Camp. |
| Dump station: |
A dump station is available at Upper Pines Campground. |
| Campground map: |
Lower Pines Campground Map |
| Note: |
A free shuttle service stops at Lower Pines Campground and all around the valley.
|
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.
Recorded campground availability message: (209) 372-0266
General Camping Information for Yosemite
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.
