10 Important Tips for Spring Camping in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is one of the most visited parks in the United States and arguably one of the most beautiful National Parks. One thing some people don’t realize is that springtime is one of the absolute BEST times to visit Yosemite. Why? Because of the gushing waterfalls, amazing landscape, lush greenery, and minimal crowds. It can be chilly at times, and sometimes, there will still be snow at the top of the mountain peaks, but it’s all worth it…as long as there isn’t flooding!

I went to Yosemite at the end of April and had an amazing time camping with my friends. This was the first time I’ve camped in Yosemite. The other times, I stayed in a cabin at Scenic Wonders (this was awesome, read here), and the other times, I stayed at Curry Village (now called Half Dome Village) in their canvas tent/yurts.

Either way, Yosemite is epic, and I highly recommend a visit. If you do plan on camping in Yosemite in the spring, know that things will be colder, and at night, it could get down to freezing temperatures. That being said, let’s dive into my tips for camping in Yosemite!

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Important Tips for Spring Camping in Yosemite

Best Time to Camp in Yosemite

1. Figure out where in Yosemite to stay

There are many options for places to stay in Yosemite. I have another post here about the cabin I rented last time I was there in Scenic Wonders. For my April trip, my friend booked a last-minute camp spot at Hodgden Meadow Campground for the weekend. Keep in mind that there are a lot of campsites, even in the springtime. In total, there are 13 campgrounds, and that doesn’t even include backcountry spots you can get to if you backpack in.

Yosemite Valley and Wawona will be accessible by car all year round, but Tioga and Glacier Point Roads are typically closed still because of snow. You can see the list of opening dates here to help you decide where in Yosemite to stay!

Best Campsites in Yosemite

Popular campgrounds in Yosemite are:

• Lower Pines Campground
• Upper Pines Campground
• North Pines Campground
• White Wolf
• Yosemite Creek
• Wawona
• Camp 4
• Hodgdon Meadow

2. Secure your camp spot in advance 

If you’re looking for camp spots in Yosemite Valley, check this site out about 5 months before you want to camp, especially if you plan on going over a weekend. Because Yosemite camping spots are so popular, they typically go on sale 5 months in advance and release spots on the 15th of each month at 7 a.m. PT. Check out the website to see if any other spots become available, as sometimes they do have last-minute cancellations, which is how we got our spot!  Be sure to continue to check back in case anyone does cancel!

3. Check the weather

The weather in the spring can fluctuate a lot, so I recommend double-checking it before you head to your reserved campsite in Yosemite. You will likely have relatively warm days, but you could get the occasional rain or winter snowstorm!

If you stay in the Yosemite Valley and Wawona, expect highs of 69 degrees and lows of 39 degrees. And if you’re in Tuolumne Meadows, it will be colder, with a high of 51 degrees and a low of 22 degrees. 

At some points of the year, you may even need tire chains, but be sure to check the Yosemite website to see what they recommend.

4. The camp spots can be noisy

If you’ve ever camped in more rural locations, like Idaho, be prepared to be in VERY close quarters with your neighbors in Yosemite. The campgrounds are pretty close together and if you are a light sleeper, this might not be your jam! It’s not a magical sleeping experience like you might expect being secluded from your neighbors.

You’ll hear other people talking, you’ll hear cars and RVs driving around and you’ll hear the damned bear box closing and opening throughout the night. Just go into it knowing that it may not be the most peaceful night’s sleep you’ve ever had!

5. Try to arrive early and before dark

If you can, try to arrive at your campsite before dark. It’s so much easier to set up camp if you have light. If you know you’ll be arriving in the dark, bring a headlamp or lantern because car headlights can only reach so far! 

Also, if you arrive before mid-morning, especially on weekends, you’ll avoid delays at the entrance stations and popular places to visit like Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point.

6. Know about the bear lockers and beware of bear safety

There are plenty of bears in and out of the Yosemite Valley, and the National Park takes bear safety very seriously. While we didn’t see a bear while we were there, we heard people who had seen them. Plus, spring is when they come out of their hibernation, so just be aware! 

Each campsite has a bear locker, and not only do you need to store your food and garbage in there, but you also need to store anything that smells there, like toiletries or sprays. You can’t even keep them in your car because bears are known to break into cars, so you absolutely don’t want to store any of that in your tent. 

7. Bring fire-building material

Because it gets cold at night in Yosemite in the spring, you’ll want to bring enough firewood and kindling to last the whole time you’re there. I also recommend bringing lighter fluid and a match/lighter, which may sound obvious, but hey, it doesn’t hurt to remind! The coolest part of most campgrounds is that they have grills that cover the fire so you can cook food on a skillet, which is what we did! It worked out great since none of us had a portable grill. Be sure to check your campground amenities before you head out.

8. Pack warm clothing for spring camping

The weather can be hit or miss in the spring. It can rain, hail, snow, or be hot and sunny. We were lucky with the weather in mid-April, but it was still really cold at night. I recommend packing for all types of weather if you can!

Last trip, I brought my Patagonia puffer jacket, sweats, warm sweatshirt, scarf, hat, and gloves. This was all to keep me warm at night and in the morning. Also, don’t forget to pack a tent cover and tarp in case of rain/snow.

A headlamp or lantern is also a good idea! For a better camping list, check out this list.

Please excuse my hideous outfit here. 🙂

9. Be sure to visit all of the spring waterfalls 

The falls are at their absolute best in the spring! Be sure to check out as many as you can! If you hike to Glacier Point you’ll be able to see most of them from a panoramic view. Some of my favorite falls to see are Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Fall and Nevada Fall. When you get into the park, be sure to get a map that will show you where all of the falls are located.

10. Enjoy some spring hiking

There are so many amazing hikes to do in Yosemite, and while most of Yosemite is still a bit snowy til around June, there are some hikes that are snow-free by April or May! Similar to winter, backpacking will be super limited due to weather conditions. 

Best Day Hikes in Yosemite

Some of my favorite day hikes in Yosemite are:

• Lower & Upper Yosemite Falls
• Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls
• 4 Mile Trail to Glacier Point
• Half Dome (have to win the lottery to climb it)

This past trip, I hiked Glacier Point with my girlfriends. You can drive up to Glacier Point lookout, but it doesn’t open until early May once the snow melts. We ended up hiking the trail, and they let us go up to the top even though there was snow and it was a bit sketchy! It was an incredible hike, though, if you want a challenge and want to see the entire park, including Half Dome and all the falls.

I hope these Yosemite camping tips helped you out! Have you been camping in Yosemite in the spring before? Did you enjoy it?