Yosemite Camping Reservation Tips

Call Early

• Yosemite accepts reservations up to five months in advance, and spots often sell out within minutes of becoming available. It's crucial that you know the date when reservations for your desired time period become available. For example, if you want to go camping between June 15 through July 14, the first day you can make reservations for that time period is February 15. Reservations are available promptly at 7 a.m., so call as soon as you can. Increase your chances by checking the online booking system at 7 a.m. and by calling the reservation line as well. You are allowed to make two reservations at a time by phone or online, though you may refresh the web page or call again if you need to make more.

  Yosemite National Park

  P.O. Box 578

  Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

  801-559-4884

  yosemitepark.com

Be Flexible

• Even though you may have very specific dates in mind, you may need to be flexible in order to get a spot, as the dates you want can fill up within minutes of becoming available. Consider reserving a spot in a campground you hadn't originally planned on, even if it means more people or fewer amenities. If you are unable to make a reservation, try the "first come, first serve" campgrounds. Though its difficult to get a reservation this way in May and June, you will have a decent shot during other months. The park recommends arriving by noon on week days, and by mid-morning on weekends. The park also offers a hotline number you can call to see if there are any open spots.

Be Persistent

• You may be able to get last minute reservations by showing up to a reservation kiosk and checking to see if there have been any cancellations. Some campers swear by this method and claim to get spots even when the website calender is booked solid for months. Curry Village, a tented campground in the park, allows visitors who get in early (around 7 or 8 a.m.) to leave their names on a list in case there are people with reservations who don't show up. At 3 p.m., reservations are given to the first few people on the list, depending on how many campers have canceled.