Lower Pines

Yosemite National Park

ATTENTION: Beginning Friday, May 21, and continuing through Thursday, September 30, day use reservations will be required to enter Yosemite. If you obtain a wilderness permit, lodging or camping reservation, you are exempt from this requirement. However, you must still pay the park entrance fee once you arrive. You MUST have proof of your camping, lodging or wilderness permit 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. 

Lower Pines Campground is located in breathtaking Yosemite National Park in Central California's rugged Sierra Nevada Mountain Range at an elevation of 4,000 feet. The site is situated in the heart of Yosemite Valley, an awe-inspiring landscape containing many of the famous features for which Yosemite National Park is known. Within Yosemite, visitors gaze upon waterfalls, sheer granite cliffs, deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, vast wilderness areas and much more.

Yosemite National Park's reservable campsite are available up to five months in advance on the 15th of each month at 7:00 a.m. (PT) or 10:00 a.m. (ET). For example, on January 15, the time period May 15 to June 14 becomes available to reserve, and therefore, the full booking window would be from January 16 to June 14. 

Reservation tips! Campsites in Yosemite are extremely popular and typically sell out in minutes. Login to your account or create a new account before the 7:00 a.m. (PST) release time. You may only add reservations to your cart and proceed with your reservation if you are logged into your account. The recreation.gov call center does NOT have access to additional sites or additional information beyond what is published on recreation.gov.

Yosemite National Park Campground Reservation Dates 

Lower Pines Campground is one of the three reservation campgrounds in Yosemite Valley. It offers paved roads and parking spurs, flush toilets, drinking water, and an amphitheater. Each campsite contains a picnic table, fire ring, and a food storage locker.

Yosemite's free shuttle bus stops at the campground entrance. Within walking distance, historic Curry Village offers a general store, restaurants and a bar, amphitheater, and tours and activities desk.

Notifications and Alerts

• Lower Pines campsites are available only on Recreation.gov. This includes both advance and same-day reservations. Same-day reservations in person at the Valley Campground office are not currently possible (this includes the traditional "3PM sale").

   

Need to Know

• You are responsible for reading the site alerts and booking a site that will accommodate your equipment.

• If arriving one or more days late, call (209) 372-8502; your reservation will be forfeited if we do not hear from you within 24 hours of your arrival date.

• Due to Yosemite's temporary entrance reservation requirement, you must have proof of your camping reservation, along with photo ID, to show at the entrance station in order to enter the park between May 21 and September 30, 2021. Print or download your confirmation info PRIOR to arrival as there is no cell service at the entrance stations. You will also need to pay the entrance fee; annual or lifetime passes are accepted. 

  • 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. 
• Bear habitat! Food and toiletries must be stored 24 hours/day. Dispose of garbage immediately in bear-proof dumpsters.
• Food storage lockers are provided in all campsites (35'Dx43'Wx28'H). Absolutely no food stored in vehicles.
• Resale or auction of advance reservations is prohibited.
• Road conditions can change at any time; before arrival, please call (209) 372-0200 for road and weather conditions inside Yosemite, and 1-800-427-7623 for conditions outside the park.
• 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 bottles, food containers and travel mugs. Place all of your recyclable waste in designated recycling containers. For more information go to: https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/zlf.htm

Natural Features

Yosemite Valley is forested with a diverse mix of California black oak, ponderosa pine, incense-cedar, white fir and whiteleaf manzanita, which offers a pleasant combination of sun and shade. Through the trees, Yosemite's telltale granite cliffs peek through, and the gentle, refreshing Merced River flows nearby.

Nearby Attractions

Glacier Point offers sweeping views of Yosemite Valley, Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and Clouds Rest, among other notable landmarks and a visit to Wawona and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center is like stepping back in time.

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 domes and peaks and the beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir 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.


Hiking trails range from the easy, paved, two-mile round-trip walk to Mirror Lake/Meadow, to the grueling but rewarding 14- to 16-mile trek to Half Dome (advanced permit required). Both of these trails begin near the Pines Campgrounds, and there are many additional trailheads within Yosemite 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.

Changes & Cancellations

Cancellations more than 48 hours in advance of arrival date only incur a $10 transaction fee. Within 48 hours, $10 and the first night's fee are charged (Exception: 1 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

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PO BOX 577, 9024 Southside Drive Yosemite National Park CA 95389

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: (209) 372-8502

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

Take Highway 41 north from Fresno, Highway 140 east from Merced, or Highway 120 east from Manteca into Yosemite National Park. Follow signs to Yosemite Valley and the campgrounds.

Available Campsites

• Site 017, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 051, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 031, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 040, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 069, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 076, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 023, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 021, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 039, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 071, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 049, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 037, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 062, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 026, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 088, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 041, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 072, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 005, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 050, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site DBL1, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 029, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 018, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 025, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site DBL3, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 063, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 001, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 048, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 002, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 067, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 036, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 058, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 013, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 070, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 004, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 020, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 052, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 060, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 033, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 054, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 089, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 035, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 042, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 038, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 003, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 053, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 043, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 015, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 027, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 012, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 024, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 073, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 030, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 068, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 065, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 044, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 028, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site DBL2, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 045, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 059, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 055, Loop Lower Pines, Type Rv Nonelectric
• Site 019, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 014, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric
• Site 034, Loop Lower Pines, Type Standard Nonelectric

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