Porcupine Flat Campground

Yosemite National Park

Porcupine Flat Campground will be available by reservation only in 2024. No first come, first serve sites are available.

The campground typically opens in late-June and closes mid-October. The opening date varies depending on the opening of the Tioga Road and related seasonal facility and road work.

Porcupine Flat Campground is located off the Tioga Road about 30 minutes west of Tuolumne Meadows and over an hour from Yosemite Valley. RVs and Trailers are not recommended for the narrow roads in this more primitive campground. At an elevation of 8,100 feet (2,500 m) elevation, the campground is near Porcupine Creek, which is the only water source (must be filtered, treated, or boiled). The Porcupine Creek Trailhead is nearby. There are no visitor services close to the campground.

For additional park information, call (209)372-0200 or visit www.nps.gov/yose

Porcupine Flat is extremely primitive and has no connectivity. Basic amenities include vault toilets, trash/recycling collection, food storage lockers, fire rings and picnic tables.

Wood and charcoal fires are permitted when the campground is open.

For a map of the campground, visit https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/porcupinecamp.htm

Need to Know

You are responsible for reading the site alerts and booking a site that will accommodate your equipment.
ATTENTION: Day use reservations will be required to enter Yosemite on weekends and holidays April 13 through June 30, daily July 1 through August 16 and weekends and holidays August 17 through October 27. Your camping reservation exempts you from this requirement. However, you must still pay the park entrance fee once you arrive. You MUST have proof of your camping reservation to show at the entrance station in order to enter Yosemite. Print or download your confirmation info PRIOR to arrival as there is no cell service at the entrance stations.

If members of your camping group are in separate vehicles, each vehicle must have a copy of the reservation AND a copy of the reservation holder's photo ID to present at the entrance station. Six people MAXIMUM per site. Each vehicle entering must pay the entrance fee or use an annual or lifetime pass.
If arriving one or more days late, call (209) 379-2123; your reservation will be forfeited if we do not hear from you within 24 hours of your arrival date.
Bears are present! Food and toiletries must be stored 24 hours/day.

o Food storage lockers are provided in all campsites (45" wide x 18" high x 33" deep)

o Absolutely NO food stored in vehicles

o Dispose of garbage immediately in bear-proof dumpsters.
Porcupine Flat is a primitive campground with vault toilets and no drinking water. A seasonal creek runs through the campground but water must be boiled and/or treated before drinking . Do not rely on creek water being available; bring water!
Bring proof of your reservation (screen shot or paper version). There is no internet access, cell service or public phone at Porcupine Flat.
There are no electric, water, or sewer hook-ups at this facility; however, a dump station is located in Yosemite Valley.
Resale or auction of advance reservations is prohibited.

For additional park information, call (209) 372-0200 or visit www.nps.gov/yose
Don't Move Firewood: Help protect our forests! Prevent the spread of tree-killing pests by obtaining firewood at or near your destination and burning it on-site. Moving firewood is illegal in some states. Visit dontmovefirewood.org to learn more.
Help Yosemite be a Zero Landfill park! Leave excess packaging at home. Use refillable water & propane bottles, food containers and travel mugs. Place all of your recyclable waste in designated recycling containers. For more information go to: www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/

Natural Features

Yosemite National Park covers nearly 1,200 square miles (3,100 square km) in the Sierra Nevada, with elevations ranging from about 2,000 feet (600 m) to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). Yosemite receives 95% of its precipitation between October and May (and over 75% between November and March). Most of Yosemite is blanketed in snow from about November through May. (The Valley can be rainy or snowy in any given winter storm.)

Porcupine Flat is situated along a seasonal creek which is it's only source of water. Creek water must be treated and/or boiled before consuming.

Nearby Attractions

Just 25 miles away is Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known. Hiking trails and bike paths are abundant in the valley. Rafting the Merced River is a fun way to cool down on a summer day when water levels are sufficient. Yosemite Valley also offers numerous guided bus tours, educational programs, museums, ranger-led activities, and an art center with workshops.

The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes and granite domes. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada, with its broad sub-alpine meadows and granite peaks. Several trailheads line the road offering hikes to beautiful, secluded areas that can only be accessed and enjoyed by foot.

Beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, just 23 miles from Crane Flat, is home to spectacular scenery and numerous wilderness trailheads.

Recreation

Yosemite's trails, cliffs, roads and rivers provide endless recreational activities for any kind of visitor. Hiking, biking, rock climbing, fishing, horseback riding, rafting, auto touring, and photography are all very popular activities within the park. The White Wolf area has hiking and backpacking opportunities that begin near the campground, such as Lukens Lake, Harden Lake and the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. The Crane Flat area, 23 miles west, offers many other hiking opportunities such as Tuolumne and Merced Groves of Giant Sequoias, both of which require a 2.5 to 3-mile roundtrip hike to view. Tuolumne Meadows and all it's High Sierra wonder lie 25 miles to the east, where many beautiful day and overnight excursions await.

The Tioga Road offers a 39-mile scenic drive past forests, meadows, lakes, and granite domes. The road’s elevation ranges from 6,200 feet to just under 10,000 feet. Tuolumne Meadows embodies the high-country of the Sierra Nevada and is a good starting point for countless hikes. There is little to no cell service along the road.

Changes & Cancellations

Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date will generate a refund, less a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged. One night reservations do not incur an additional $10 fee, but do not receive a refund. No-shows will be assessed a $20 service fee along with the loss of the first night's fee.

Contact Information

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 209-379-2123

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

The Porcupine Flat Campground is located off the Tioga Road 24 miles west from Tioga Pass, the park’s east entrance (35 minutes). From Yosemite Valley, take the Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road 38 miles (approximately 70 minutes). From Hwy. 120 west/Big Oak Flat Road, take the Big Oak Flat Road and Tioga Road 31 miles (45 minutes). You’ll find the campground north of the Tioga Road.

Available Campsites

Photo Gallery

Camp, RV, and Explore Outdoors

Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. We provide tools and tips to discover new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, and reservations. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Recreation.gov!