Lower Pines Campground offers a unique and picturesque camping experience in the heart of Yosemite National Park. Nestled along the Merced River and surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, this campground provides easy access to some of the park's most iconic attractions, including Half Dome, North Dome, Glacier Point, and Yosemite Falls. With its prime location at the east end of the Valley, Lower Pines is ideal for visitors looking to explore the park's diverse ecosystems and recreational opportunities.
Campers have praised Lower Pines Campground for its convenient access to trails and amenities, allowing them to explore Yosemite without relying on vehicles. The campground offers a mix of tent and RV sites, providing options for all types of campers. While site selection is important (some sites may be closer to noise or wildlife), many visitors find the trade-offs worthwhile given the park's beauty.
Picnics
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Wheelchair accessible restroom
RV camping
RV sewer hookup
Hiking
Barbecue grill
Picnic tables
Public restroom
Public shower
Restroom
Running water
Tent sites
Camping fee
Credit cards
Debit cards
Good for kids
Kid-friendly hikes
On-site parking
Dogs allowed
We love camping at Lower Pines!!! Views of all the hits from the campground—Half Dome, North Dome, Glacier Point, Yosemite Falls, on the Merced River, closest camping to Curry Village amenities, and early sunshine to warm up with your camp coffee. 10/10
Camping at Lower Pines Campground in June 2022 brought us a different perspective of the Yosemite NP experience. We had camped in Bridalveil Campground in the past and had to drive or hike to the valley floor. Lower Pines is located in the east end of the Valley right next to the Merced River, hiking & biking trails, a meadow, and Curry Village. We hiked and biked everywhere and never needed to drive our truck or wait in shuttle lines. The campground has gorgeous views all around. June was a great time to camp as the weather was perfect and the waterfalls flowing. Reserving a campsite was a challenge due to the popularity of the 3 Pine campgrounds. We were in site #55. We would not pick # 55 again. It is right next to the trash cans and it has a dead tree stump next to the bear box. Squirrels live under the stump and we believe ticks got on our dog when she went in that area. There are plenty of perfect campsites in Lower Pines. If we get the chance to go back to Yosemite and manage to get a reservation, Lower Pines would be our top choice.
You can't do much better than this campground if you are going to experience Yosemite. This is in the heart of it all! You have Curry Village right next to you for food, showers, coffee and other necessities. You have the Merced River right next to you. A spectacular view of Half Dome. And the campground itself is great. They provide bear boxes (which are essential; we were visited by a bear). There are bear-proof trash and recycling bins. Flushing and portable bathrooms. And it's surprisingly quiet for how many people are there.
We HATED this campground, it should be avoided at all costs. Don't go here. Volunteer Jack is way too friendly and helpful, and everyone should just stay away... ...so we can get a reservation here whenever we want! 🤪🤣 Still reading? Hopefully not and more room for us!! On ok, here's more deets: Flushing toilets and running water but no soap so BYO. Fire pits allowed 5-10pm only. Generator can be run only certain times: 7-9am, 12-2pm, etc. Bear boxes at each site, which is standard. Merced River not far so plan your floaties...we brought our boogie boards!! Walking distance to Curry Village and the shuttle pickup is nearby!
A little loud at night because the camp sites are close to one another and there are lots of kids. But otherwise, this is one of the best locations in the park for camping in my opinion!