North Pines Campground

Merced River frontage in the heart of Yosemite Valley

Location: Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, CA, CA

Price: From $16 per night

Price range: $16–$48 per night

Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (4210 reviews)

Season: April – October (flood-dependent on some sites)

North Pines sits directly on the Merced River, making it the most scenic of the three Valley reservation campgrounds. Many sites back up to the riverbank with direct water access for swimming and fishing. At 4,000 ft in the center of Yosemite Valley, it’s walking distance to Curry Village showers and store, the free shuttle network, and the Valley’s main trailheads. The 2026 season uses an Early Access Lottery for the full season — remaining spots drop monthly on the 15th at 7:00 a.m. PT. Flood

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): weak signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: Verizon. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 0%. T-Mobile 4G: 0%.

Amenities: Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Dump Station (Upper Pines, adjacent), Picnic Tables, Fire Rings, Food Storage Lockers, Free Valley Shuttle Stop, Merced River Access

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/north-pines-campground-yosemite to be notified when sites open up.

North Pines is the best of the three Yosemite Valley reservation campgrounds for one reason: Merced River frontage. Many sites back up directly to the riverbank. You wake up, walk ten feet, and you're swimming in one of the most iconic rivers in the Sierra. Every trailhead in the Valley is within walking distance or a free shuttle stop away.

Site 524 and nearby riverfront sites have direct Merced River bank access with a double driveway — book one of these if you can and you basically have a private swimming hole outside your tent.

What is new at North Pines Campground: 2026: Early Access Lottery opened for the full season. Remaining availability releases monthly on the 15th at 7am PT. Check nps.gov/yose for current lottery status.

Wildlife alert: Black bears are highly active in Yosemite Valley. Food storage lockers are mandatory 24 hours a day for everything — food, drinks, toiletries, trash. Bears WILL break into cars. Do not leave anything in your vehicle.

Fire rules: Campfires in fire rings only. No outside firewood. No fires during elevated fire danger periods. Check current conditions at nps.gov/yose.

Things to do near North Pines Campground: Merced River swimming from camp. Mirror Lake loop (0.5 mi). Half Dome via Mist Trail (14-16 mi RT). Free Valley shuttle to Yosemite Falls.

Insider tips for North Pines Campground: The dump station is at adjacent Upper Pines and is free to use — no need to go elsewhere Curry Village showers are 0.3 miles away — $5 for campers The shuttle stops near the entrance — use it for everything and leave the car parked for the whole trip

Skip North Pines Campground if: You have a rig longer than 35 ft. You need hookups. You can't book exactly on release day.

Best time to visit North Pines Campground: May — Waterfalls at peak flow. Valley relatively uncrowded.. Jun — Long days, warm river, wildflowers on valley floor.. Sep — Crowds drop. Cooler temps. Best light for photography..

Common issues at North Pines Campground: Impossible to book in summer — sells out in minutes on the 15th. Set an alarm for 6:55am PT on the release date. Log in before 7am. Have your site selection and dates ready. Any hesitation and it's gone. May-June flood holds — some riverfront sites not released until river levels are confirmed safe. Check for these specific site releases on March 15 and April 15 at 7am PT. Worth the alarm if you want a riverfront site. 7-night limit May 1 through September 14. Plan multi-camp itineraries. North Pines + Upper Pines + Hodgdon is a classic week-long Yosemite loop.

What campers say about North Pines Campground: "Our site was literally on the Merced River. Kids swam all day while we read in camp chairs. Perfect." — Google Reviews "Photo ID required at check-in. They will cancel your reservation if you don't show up by noon the next day." — Recreation.gov reviews "Free shuttle stops at the campground. Never needed the car once we arrived." — The Dyrt

Nearby campgrounds: Lower Pines Campground (Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, CA), Upper Pines Campground (Yosemite Valley, CA), Camp 4 (YOSEMITE, CA), Porcupine Flat Campground (Yosemite National Park, CA).