National park · Yosemite National Park · California
Upper Pines Campground is the largest campground on the floor of Yosemite Valley in California, a national park campground of 238 sites under ponderosa pines and incense cedars with the Merced River along its eastern edge. It is the in-park choice for RVers who want to walk to the Mist Trail, Curry Village and the Valley shuttle rather than commute in from a gateway town. Half Dome hangs over the treeline, and that address is the whole reason people fight for a site here.
| Hookups | None |
|---|---|
| Sites | 238 sites, max 35 ft |
| Max RV length | 35-ft RV / 24-ft trailer |
| Cost | $36 |
| Fees | No Yosemite campground has hookups; exact site still controls. |
| Reservations | Recreation.gov; 5-month release |
| Season | Typically late March through November (weather dependent) |
| Elevation | ~4,000 feet |
| Dump station | Available in the valley, free with camping |
| Water | Yes — potable water at spigots |
| Generators | Permitted 7:00 AM–9:00 AM and 5:00 PM–7:00 PM only |
| Best for | First-time Yosemite visitors who want valley floor access |
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.
Upper Pines Campground is the largest campground on the floor of Yosemite Valley in California, a national park campground of 238 sites under ponderosa pines and incense cedars with the Merced River along its eastern edge. It is the in-park choice for RVers who want to walk to the Mist Trail, Curry Village and the Valley shuttle rather than commute in from a gateway town. Half Dome hangs over the treeline, and that address is the whole reason people fight for a site here.
The practical picture is dry camping, full stop: no electric, water or sewer at any site, though a free two-lane dump station with potable fill runs year-round at the campground entrance. The published limits are 35 feet for RVs and 24 feet for trailers, but many individual sites are far shorter, so filter Recreation.gov by your rig before the booking window opens. Sites cost $36 a night and release on a rolling five-month window at 7:00 AM Pacific on the 15th of each month; summer dates vanish in seconds. Generator hours are strict, sites are tight, and midweek September is our favourite balance of weather and availability.
Excerpts from the RV Parks Guide articles that cover this campground. Each links to the full guide.
Full review
Upper Pines Campground Review: RV Camping in the Heart of Yosemite ValleyAn honest review of Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley — 238 sites, no hookups, brutal reservations, and the best location in American camping. Site picks, booking strategy, and RV limits.
Regional guide
Best RV Parks in California: From Big Sur to Joshua TreeUpper Pines is the only Yosemite Valley campground where an RV camper can park with any real comfort and still walk to the valley's iconic views. You are on the valley floor, a short shuttle ride or bike ride from Yosemite Falls, Half Dome viewpoints, and the Ahwahnee. That access is the entire value proposition, because Upper Pines itself is not a quiet wilderness experience — it is a busy campground in one of America's most visited national parks.
The sites accommodate rigs up to 35 feet, but length alone does not tell the full story. Several sites have tight approach angles and overhead clearance issues from mature trees. We would recommend mapping your specific site on campsite review sites before committing a rig over 30 feet. Generator hours are strictly enforced (7–9 AM, 12–2 PM, 5–7 PM), and your neighbors will absolutely report violations.
The reservation system is the real challenge. Upper Pines opens on a rolling five-month window through Recreation.gov, and popular dates sell out in seconds — not minutes, seconds. The strategy that has worked for us: have your account loaded, payment saved, and be clicking refresh at the exact moment the window opens. Midweek dates in September offer the best combination of availability and weather. If Upper Pines is full, our guide to the best RV parks near Yosemite covers gateway campgrounds and full-hookup options just outside the valley.
Read the guide →Regional guide
RV Camping in Yosemite National Park: The In-Park Campground GuideUpper Pines is the largest Valley campground and the most reliable RV option, with views of the surrounding granite through the pines and easy access to the Mist Trail, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and the Valley shuttle. It also has the Valley's main RV dump station, which makes it the logistical hub for in-park RVers.
Read the guide →Regional guide
RV Parks Near Yosemite: Full Hookups & In-Park Camping (2026)Upper Pines is the largest and most popular campground in Yosemite Valley, and it is the best option for RV campers who want to wake up with Half Dome visible through the pines. The campground sits on the Merced River at about 4,000 feet elevation, within walking distance of the Valley shuttle stops, Curry Village, and the trailheads for Mist Trail, Vernal Fall, and Nevada Fall.
The campground has 236 sites. The published campground maximum is 35 feet for RVs and 24 feet for trailers, but your selected site can be shorter. Sites have food lockers, and the campground has tap water and regular restrooms. There are no hookups; the year-round Valley dump station is at Upper Pines.
Reservations are made through Recreation.gov on a rolling five-month window. Sites open on the 15th of each month at 7:00 AM Pacific for dates five months out, and they sell out in minutes — often in under 60 seconds for peak-season weekends. This is not an exaggeration. Set your alarm, have your Recreation.gov account loaded and logged in, and click the moment the window opens. Weekday availability is slightly less competitive but still difficult from May through September.
Booking reality check: Upper Pines has 236 sites, and NPS says peak reservations commonly fill within seconds or minutes of release. Have backup dates and check cancellations rather than arriving without a campsite.
Read the guide →Our verdict
Book Upper Pines if you can dry camp in a rig under the site limit and want to wake up in Yosemite Valley within walking distance of the Mist Trail. Skip it if you need hookups, privacy or a big-rig site; a full-hookup gateway park outside the gates is the better base for those trips.
No. There are no electric, water or sewer hookups at Upper Pines or anywhere else in Yosemite. The campground does have potable water spigots, flush toilets and a free year-round dump station with fresh-water fill at the entrance.
Standard sites are $36 per night through Recreation.gov, plus the separate Yosemite park entrance fee. Yosemite Valley enforces a 7-day camping limit from May 1 through September 15.
The campground maximum is 35 feet for RVs and 24 feet for trailers, but each site lists its own equipment length on Recreation.gov and many are shorter. Check your specific site before booking, and route in via Highway 140 and the Arch Rock entrance if your rig is tall.
Reservations are required year-round on Recreation.gov using a rolling five-month window. New dates open at 7:00 AM Pacific on the 15th of each month and peak-season sites sell out within seconds to minutes, so be logged in with your rig details saved and a shortlist of site numbers ready. Cancellations do appear afterwards.
Yes. Upper Pines is the only Yosemite Valley campground open all year, and its dump station keeps running through winter. From December to mid-February the park typically opens only the first two loops, roughly 50 sites, and reservations are still required.
Not in the campground. The nearest public showers are at Curry Village, a short walk away, available to non-guests for a small fee paid at the registration office.
Compare alternatives before you book — or browse the whole California hub.