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a scenic lake in Yosemite National Park

A Guide to Yosemite National Park Camping

A haven for naturalists, campers, hikers, and biologists since 1864, Yosemite National Park offers something for each of its 3.7 million annual visitors. For the many visitors who choose to camp during their stay, Yosemite National Parks has a variety of locations to sleep in the beautiful surroundings.

Curry Village

Curry Village, also known as Camp Curry, was established in 1899 for visitors who wanted a place to pitch a tent. This area has greatly expanded in the last one hundred years to include a grocery store and standard hotel rooms, but it still offers two camping options.

  • Canvas Tents

    On the property are over three hundred canvas camping tents; these are made of wooden floors, doors, and framing and are covered in rugged canvas. While the tents do come with an electric light inside, they do not offer electrical outlets, phones, or televisions. Guests using these tents have access to shower facilities on the property. Some of the canvas cabins are heated and can accommodate up to four people. The unheated cabins can hold up to five. All of the cabins include a bear-proof locker where guests can store food and scented items.

  • Wooden Cabins

    If you're looking for a step up from the basic camping offered by the canvas tents but still want to stay close to nature, consider a stay in the wooden cabins. Also located in Curry Village, these rustic cabins have porches on which you can admire the surroundings. The cabins have electricity and electrical outlets, but televisions and phones are not offered.

Housekeeping Camp

This camping option is located on the Merced River in the middle of Yosemite Valley and has the area's only campfire ring. The camp's canvas tents are similar to those available in Curry Village; however, these will accommodate up to six people each. The Housekeeping Camp cabins do not come furnished with linens, and guests must use the public bathing facilities onsite. The cabins do not come with televisions or telephones, though they do offer electrical outlets and lamps.

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge

Another great option for campers who don't want to bring their own tents, the Tuolumne Meadows area has 69 canvas tents, each of which will hold up to four people. At 8,775 feet above sea level, the Tuolumne Meadows cabins are located within the Sierra Nevada's largest sub-alpine meadow. It is only open from mid-June to mid-September due to weather concerns.

Other Camping Options

In addition to these camping options, visitors to Yosemite can also choose from 13 other camping sites scattered across the park, including Upper Pines, Bridalveil Creek, Hodgdon Meadow, and Porcupine Flat. At these locations, guests must bring their own camping equipment as pre-pitched tents are not available. Most accept RVs or trailers. Check the individual campground in the area that you'd like to camp for seasonal availability, trailer and RV length restrictions, and pet access. To stay at one of these campsites, fees range from $10-$20.

Last Updated: January 09, 2015