National park · Yosemite National Park · California
Lower Pines Campground is a National Park Service campground in Yosemite Valley, California, sitting right on the Merced River in the heart of the Valley. Along with North Pines it takes some of the longest rigs allowed in the Valley, which makes it the campground to watch if you drive a larger Class A and still want to camp under the granite walls rather than in a gateway town. Our Yosemite guide calls the riverside setting and central location hard to beat.
| Hookups | None |
|---|---|
| Sites | ~60 (reservable) |
| Max RV length | 40-ft RV / 35-ft trailer |
| Cost | $36 |
| Fees | No Yosemite campground has hookups; exact site still controls. |
| Reservations | Recreation.gov; 5-month release |
| Dump station | Use nearby Upper Pines |
| Best for | Larger rigs that still want a Valley site |
Source-backed: NPS 2026 campground table (checked 2026-07-18). Rates and site details change — verify with the operator before you book. Compare it with every other park we track in the price index.
Lower Pines Campground is a National Park Service campground in Yosemite Valley, California, sitting right on the Merced River in the heart of the Valley. Along with North Pines it takes some of the longest rigs allowed in the Valley, which makes it the campground to watch if you drive a larger Class A and still want to camp under the granite walls rather than in a gateway town. Our Yosemite guide calls the riverside setting and central location hard to beat.
Like every Yosemite campground, Lower Pines has no hookups; the NPS 2026 table we checked confirms that no campground in the park offers them. Limits are 40 feet for motorhomes and 35 feet for trailers, but the exact site controls, so read each listing. Roughly 60 reservable sites run about $36 a night on Recreation.gov, released on the five-month rolling window at 7 a.m. Pacific on the 15th of each month. There is no dump station here; use nearby Upper Pines. The trade-off is scarcity: it is small and sells out within minutes for summer, so treat the release date as a hard appointment.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Regional guide
RV Camping in Yosemite National Park: The In-Park Campground GuideLower Pines sits right on the Merced River and accommodates some of the longest rigs in the Valley — this and North Pines are the spots to look at if you run a larger Class A. It is small and books out fast, but the riverside setting and central location are hard to beat.
Read the guide →Our verdict
Book Lower Pines if you run a bigger rig, can dry camp, and are prepared to win the five-month release. Skip it if you need hookups or cannot commit to the booking window.
No. No Yosemite campground has hookups; Lower Pines is dry camping with shared water spigots.
Up to 40 feet for motorhomes and 35 feet for trailers, but the exact site controls. Check the length listed on your specific site.
About $36 per night, per the NPS 2026 campground table we checked in July 2026.
On Recreation.gov, released about five months out at 7:00 AM Pacific on the 15th of each month. Summer Valley sites sell out within minutes.
No. Valley campers use the dump station at nearby Upper Pines.
Compare alternatives before you book — or browse the whole California hub.