Lower Pines Campground
The Quick Take
Lower Pines is the campground equivalent of a downtown apartment — small, expensive, and worth every penny for the location. Sitting right along the Merced River in the heart of Yosemite Valley, you're a short walk or bike ride from Curry Village, the Valley shuttle, and trailheads to Half Dome, Mist Trail, and Mirror Lake. The trade-off is real: with a modest number of sites packed into a riverside strip, privacy is more concept than reality, and you'll hear your neighbors' dinner conversations. Unlike the larger Upper Pines next door, Lower Pines feels slightly more intimate and scores better river access. Don't expect flush toilets or showers — you'll trek to Curry Village for those. This is the campground for first-timers who want Yosemite's greatest hits within walking distance and don't mind trading solitude for convenience.
Booking
Reserve Your Campsite
All 73 sites are reservable.
Book at Yosemite LodgesWhat You Get
Sites & Setup
RV Information
RVs allowed. Maximum length: 40 feet. No electrical hookups.
Accessibility
7 ADA-accessible campsites. The following campsites are suitable for wheelchairs and include picnic tables with extended tops. The closest restrooms to these campsites are also wheelchair accessible. These campsites are limited to people with disabilities. Lower Pines: sites 7, 13, 14, 18, and 20 Paved Roads - All vehicles OK
Rules to Know
- Fires:<b>Fires:</b> Wood and charcoal fires are permitted.
- Bear Safety:<b>You are required to store food properly in order to protect Yosemite's bears.</b> Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/bears.htm">bears</a>, <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/bears.htm">proper food storage</a>, and <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/lockers.htm">food lockers</a>.
- Occupancy:<b>People per site:</b> A maximum of six people (including children) are allowed per campsite.
Pro Tips
Reservations open five months in advance on Recreation.gov at 7 AM Pacific on the 15th of each month. Set an alarm and have your dates pre-loaded — Valley campgrounds sell out in under two minutes. Mid-week stays in September and early October are your best shot at snagging a last-minute cancellation.
Request a riverside site if you can — the sound of the Merced drowns out campground noise and the morning light on the water is genuinely spectacular. Sites on the river loop's south side tend to get more shade in the brutal July afternoons.
Bear canisters and food lockers are not optional here — Yosemite Valley bears are PhD-level food thieves. Never leave anything scented in your car, including sunscreen and toothpaste. The provided food lockers are tight, so pack strategically and skip the oversized cooler.
Photos
NPS Photo / Sheree Peshlakai
NPS Photo
NPS PhotoGetting There
Directions
From Hwy. 140/Arch Rock Entrance, continue driving west on the El Portal Road 8 miles to Yosemite Valley. From Hwy. 41/South Entrance drive 33 miles north (approximately 1 hour) on the Wawona Road to Yosemite Valley. From Hwy. 120 west/Big Oak Flat Entrance, drive 23 miles (approximately 45 minutes) on the Big Oak Flat Road to Yosemite Valley. From Hwy. 120 east/Tioga Pass, Yosemite Valley is approximately a two-hour drive. In Yosemite Valley follow Southside Drive and signs for Valley campgrounds.
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