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The complete guide to scoring a campsite at Yosemite

Yosemite Valley campsites are the most contested reservations in the National Park System. Here's exactly how the booking system works — and how to beat it.

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Yosemite is different: it uses a 5-month rolling window (not 6) and releases new dates at 7am PT — not midnight. This catches a lot of people off guard.

Reservation window

When does recreation.gov release Yosemite dates?

Yosemite Valley campground reservations use a rolling 5-month window with dates dropping every morning at 7am Pacific. In peak season, Upper Pines sites can be gone within 60 seconds of release.

Daily Release Schedule

7:00 AM PT

New dates drop — exactly 5 months from today become bookable

7:00–7:05 AM

Peak competition — Valley sites in summer vanish in under 2 minutes

All day

Cancellations trickle in — monitor for freed-up spots continuously

1–3 days before

Last-minute cancellations spike — best window outside of release day

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Booking Window

Rolling 5 months

New dates at 7am PT daily — not midnight

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Peak Season

May – September

Books out within minutes at release — literally

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How fast sites go

Under 2 minutes

Summer weekends at Upper Pines — under 60 seconds

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Best window

1–3 days before

Last-minute cancellations are your best bet

Strategy

Best times to catch a cancellation

Yosemite is the hardest campground in America to book. But cancellations happen every single day — and they're your best shot if you missed the initial release.

1–3 days before your date

This is the single best cancellation window for Yosemite. As the date approaches, people who booked 5 months ago finalize their plans — many realize they can't make it and cancel. CampSnag catches these the second they drop.

Be at your device at 7am PT

If you're targeting a date 5 months out, the only way to guarantee a site is to be logged in at exactly 7am PT on release day. CampSnag can't help with this initial drop — but for everything after, we've got you.

Target shoulder season

October and April/early May are dramatically more accessible than the summer peak. The Valley is stunning in fall foliage and late spring — and you'll actually have a chance of booking without waking up at 7am sharp.

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Pro tip: Lower Pines is smaller (74 sites vs 236) and slightly less known — it sees marginally less competition than Upper Pines while being equally beautiful, closer to the river, and quieter. If you're flexible, it's worth monitoring both.

Campgrounds monitored

Where CampSnag watches for you

We monitor both Yosemite Valley campgrounds 24/7. Every 90 seconds, day and night. You get a text the second a site opens.

Upper Pines

Extreme

236 sites · The largest and most central Yosemite Valley campground

Flush Toilets Running Water Food Storage Shuttle Access Nearby Village

The flagship Yosemite campground — central location, shuttle stop, close to the Yosemite Village and all Valley services. The most coveted campground in the National Park System. Expect vanishing within 60 seconds of the 7am release on summer weekends. Plan 5 months ahead or let CampSnag catch the cancellations.

Lower Pines

Extreme

74 sites · Quieter, riverside, slightly under the radar

Flush Toilets Running Water Merced Riverfront Food Storage Shuttle Access

Lower Pines sits right on the Merced River — some sites have direct river access, which is spectacular. Smaller and slightly less frantic than Upper Pines at release time. Just as breathtaking. If you're not picky about which of the two you get, monitoring both doubles your chances.

Stop refreshing

Let us watch for you.
Day and night.

CampSnag monitors Yosemite as fast as every 15–25 seconds. The second a site opens at Upper Pines or Lower Pines — you get a text with a one-tap booking link. Be first, every time.

Set a CampSnag Alert for Yosemite →

Scans as fast as every 15–25s

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