Upper Pines is the largest campground in Yosemite Valley and one of the hardest reservations in the country. How the booking window actually works, which loops suit which setup, and what to do when the calendar is empty.
Five months. Reservations release on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. Pacific for the entire month five months ahead. Book on March 15 for August dates. Summer months typically sell out within a minute of release.
For June through September, very hard. The realistic strategies are being logged in and ready at the exact release minute with the facility page already open, or watching for cancellations in the two weeks before your dates. Winter reservations are usually available with little planning.
Yes. It is the only Yosemite Valley campground that stays open all year. Lower Pines and North Pines close seasonally, which increases winter demand on Upper Pines even though the valley is much quieter overall.
No hookups of any kind, and no showers in the campground. There is a dump station and potable water fill on site. Paid showers are available nearby at Curry Village.
Generally RVs up to about 35 feet and trailers up to about 24 feet, but limits vary site by site. Check the specific site length listed on the recreation.gov page rather than relying on the campground maximum, and study the loop map before booking a long rig.
Six people per site, with a limit of two vehicles and two tents in most cases. Limits are enforced. Larger parties need to book additional sites, since Upper Pines has no group camping.
Sometimes. Yosemite has used a peak-hours vehicle reservation system on certain summer and holiday dates in recent years. A campground reservation usually covers entry for your stay, but the policy has changed year to year, so confirm the current rule for your specific dates.
Happy Isles, which is a short walk from the campground and is the start of the Mist Trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls and the John Muir Trail. Being able to start that hike on foot at dawn is the main reason people fight for this campground.
