Five Yosemite campgrounds are drawing the kind of reviews nobody wants on a camping trip
If you are planning a Yosemite camping trip on a budget, the campsite choice matters almost as much as the park itself. A new review roundup highlights five Yosemite National Park campgrounds that have left some parkgoers disappointed, with complaints ranging from overcrowding and sloping sites to dirty bathrooms and rough access roads.
The list, compiled from recent reviews on Yelp, Google Maps, Tripadvisor, and Reddit posts, points to Hodgdon Meadow Campground, Crane Flat Campground, Upper Pines Campground, Camp 4, and Yosemite Creek Campground. The source article notes it focused on the past two years, after Yosemite fully reopened all of its campgrounds in 2025 for the first time since the pandemic.
That matters for budget travelers because camping in Yosemite is still one of the cheaper ways to sleep inside the park. But cheap only works if the site is actually usable, and not a place where your tent ends up on a slope next to someone else’s breakfast.
Why these Yosemite campgrounds are getting mixed reviews
Not every complaint is the same. Some campers are frustrated by noise. Others are dealing with crowded layouts, limited bathrooms, or sites that are difficult to set up on. In a park as busy as Yosemite, those details can make a big difference.
Here is the quick version of what reviewers have said about each campground.
| Campground | What reviewers complained about | Review highlights mentioned by source |
|---|---|---|
| Hodgdon Meadow | Uneven sites, too few bathrooms, overcrowding | 3.2/5 on Tripadvisor, 3.5/5 on Yelp, 4/5 on Google Maps |
| Crane Flat | Crammed sites, dirty or lacking restrooms, dusty and not level after renovations | 4.2/5 on Google Maps, 3.7/5 on Tripadvisor |
| Upper Pines | Heavy crowding, bathroom issues, smoke from campfires | 3.9/5 on Tripadvisor |
| Camp 4 | Dirty facilities, broken showers, noise | Reviewers praised the location more than the sites |
| Yosemite Creek | Remote access, no bathrooms, no showers, no electricity, rough road in | 3.9/5 on Tripadvisor |
Hodgdon Meadow: the west side option that may test your patience
Hodgdon Meadow Campground, on the west side of the park, stands out for the wrong reasons. Reviewers cited sloping and uneven ground at some sites, which is hardly ideal when you are trying to build a decent sleeping setup after a long drive. Several also mentioned that the campground has too few bathrooms for the number of sites.
Overcrowding is another common complaint. For campers who want a quieter, more relaxed Yosemite stay, that is a pretty clear warning sign.
Crane Flat: convenient, but not exactly a crowd favorite
Crane Flat Campground is also on the west side and is seasonal, which already makes planning a little more annoying. Reviewers said the sites are tightly packed together, and some noted dusty, not level pads after renovations. Bathroom quality came up repeatedly, which is never the kind of campfire conversation anyone wants to have.
For travelers trying to keep costs down, convenient access is only part of the equation. If you are paying for a hard-to-love campsite, the savings start feeling less heroic.
Upper Pines: close to Yosemite Valley, but busy enough to feel it
Upper Pines Campground sits near the Merced River in Yosemite Valley, so the location is a big plus. But the tradeoff appears to be heavy traffic from other campers. Recent reviews mention crowding, trash in the bathrooms, missing soap, broken hand dryers, and smoky conditions from campfires.
That makes Upper Pines a classic example of Yosemite camping math: location wins, comfort loses some ground.
Camp 4: good location, rougher experience
Camp 4 gets credit for where it is, but not always for what it offers. Reviewers complained about dirty facilities, broken showers, and doors that did not lock properly. Noise was another issue, with one reviewer saying quiet hours were not enforced during their stay.
For backpackers and budget campers, Camp 4 may still be tempting because of its reputation and location. Just go in knowing that popular does not always mean peaceful.
Yosemite Creek: remote by design, inconvenient by default
Yosemite Creek Campground earned mixed feedback mostly because it is remote. One Tripadvisor reviewer said it was hard to find, and the source article notes that there are no bathrooms, showers, or electricity. Another reviewer described the road in as rough.
That setup will suit some campers just fine, especially those chasing a more stripped-back experience. For everyone else, it sounds like a long way to go for very basic conditions.
What budget travelers should take from this
Yosemite still belongs on plenty of camping bucket lists. The park remains one of California’s best national parks for camping, and the source article stresses that these reviews do not erase that. But they do show why it pays to read recent feedback before booking.
- Check recent reviews, not just the overall rating.
- Pay attention to bathroom and shower comments. Campers notice those fast.
- Think about campsite layout if you are bringing larger gear or arriving late.
- Balance location against comfort. A cheaper site is not always the better deal.
- If privacy matters, avoid the most crowded campgrounds in Yosemite Valley.
If you are set on camping in Yosemite, this kind of homework can save you from a trip that looks great on paper and feels a lot less magical once you are dodging foot traffic to reach the toilet block.
The bottom line
The five Yosemite campgrounds flagged by the source article are not unusable, but they do come with enough complaints to warrant caution. For travelers watching their budget, the best move is to compare the campground’s location, facilities, and recent reviews before locking in a reservation.
Because in Yosemite, as in most national parks, the cheapest bed is not always the one that gives you the best night’s sleep.