The best camping in Yosemite National Park, CA

Yosemite Valley smashes into your sightline with a big hello from the Tunnel View parking lot. Soaring Half Dome. Plummeting waterfalls. Forested greenery as far as the eye can see. Is this real life? Elbow-to-elbow crowds quickly confirm its reality, but escaping the valley hordes is easy if you follow one of the many hiking trails leading into the wilds. The Mist Trail, which climbs the Granite Staircase past thundering waterfalls in spring, is especially worthy. Outside the valley, alpine lakes and lush meadows along Tioga Road are the stunning backdrop for High Sierra campsites.    

• Best for rock cimbers: Long popular with climbers, Camp 4 is near Yosemite Falls in Yosemite Valley.
• Best launchpad: Crane Flat Campground sits between Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows.
• Best for hikers: Tuolumne Meadows Campground connects with the John Muir Trail.

1. Of the park’s 13 campgrounds, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, North Pines, and Camp 4 campgrounds are in Yosemite Valley.
2. Reservations are required year-round for all Yosemite Valley campgrounds.
3. Outside the valley, reserve ahead for summer and fall campsites at Wawona, Hodgdon Meadow, Crane Flat, and half of the sites at Tuolumne Meadows.
4. Make online reservations up to five months in advance on the 15th day of each month beginning at 7am Pacific. Competition is fierce for campsites between May and September. Don’t dawdle!
5. Bridalveil Creek, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, and Porcupine Creek campgrounds are first-come, first-served. These campsites typically fill by noon from April through September.

Everything is open in summer, but crowds may bum you out, especially in Yosemite Valley. Wildflowers bloom at higher altitudes in summer too. Spring is the best time to see the waterfalls, which are usually surging from snowmelt as temperatures warm, while colorful foliage is a highlight in fall. Tioga Road typically closes in November, reopening in late spring. Glacier Point Road remains groomed and opens up to the Badger Pass Ski Area from mid-December through early April, but the stretch to Glacier Point is closed until spring. Yosemite Valley is also quite pretty in winter after a light snow, and February brings the awe-inspiring Yosemite firefall.

• Campers are required by law to store all food overnight inside food lockers, which are found at every campsite. Food includes scented items, canned goods, bottles, and toiletries. Do not store these items in your car or truck overnight.
• Although the recreational use of small amounts of marijuana is legal across most of California with certain restrictions, don't possess or partake of cannabis in the federally run park.
• Cell service is best in eastern Yosemite Valley. Access is unreliable in Tuolumne Meadows. Free wifi is available at Degnan’s Kitchen in Yosemite Valley.

• Experience the tranquility of riverside camping near the Merced River. With its clear waters, abundant fishing opportunities, and scenic surroundings, the Merced River camping experience blends adventure and relaxation in California's serene wilderness.
• Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting and relaxing fishing sessions when camping near Tuolumne River. With ruggedly beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife, the Tuolumne River camping experience is truly one for the outdoor enthusiast’s bucket list.