Camp 4 Yosemite Valley is one of Yosemite National Park’s most popular camping options because it sits right in Yosemite Valley, but popularity also means planning details matter. Public information from the National Park Service (NPS) shows the campground operates year-round and that the way you secure a site changes by season—so your “best” strategy depends on your dates and how flexible your group can be.
Below is a practical, decision-focused stay guide built around the campground facts that are easiest to misread: reservation timing, what “shared” sites mean for your group, and a few check points to confirm with the park before you drive in.
First, match your dates to the campground’s seasonal rules
Camp 4 is open all year for tents, but the booking method is seasonal. From mid-April through October, campsites are available only by reservation via Recreation.gov, released one week in advance of your arrival date. For the 2026 season specifically, NPS notes that campsites are reserved from April 15, 2026 through November 9, 2026, and a reservation transaction can register up to six people per site. The camping fee is listed as $10 per person per night.
From November to mid-April, Camp 4 operates on a first-come, first-served basis for the portion of the campground that remains open, and visitors self-register for a site on arrival. NPS also cautions that the campground may close with short notice when forecasts call for Yosemite Valley winds above 30 mph or more than one foot of snowfall over 24 hours—so build in weather buffer time if you’re visiting in shoulder seasons.
Understand what “shared” means for your group
One reason Camp 4 is known as a social, campground-in-a-community type of experience is that sites are shared. In other words, your reservation is tied to a campsite footprint where other campers may be nearby, and NPS states that campsites are shared with up to 6 people per site. That matters if you’re traveling with multiple tents, if your group includes children, or if you prefer more spacing and privacy than a dense Valley campground typically offers.
Before you finalize your party size and packing plan, confirm how your group will be arranged within a single registered site (for example, whether everyone fits within the same campsite area and how tents are expected to be positioned). If you arrive together but plan to separate your tents and gear, you may want to rethink that arrangement so you’re not scrambling once you’re on-site.
Use the official contact details when something changes
If your travel plans shift—your arrival time slips, you’re delayed by road conditions, or you need to confirm how a rule applies to your specific situation—start with the official NPS page and the phone number listed there. Public contact details include the campground’s address reference at Northside Dr, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA 95389, United States and a phone number of +1 209-372-8502. The official listing is here: https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/camp4.htm.
Even though most booking questions are handled through Recreation.gov for reserved dates, it’s still smart to call or check the latest NPS guidance when your situation is unusual (for example, group size edges, timing conflicts, or weather-driven changes).
Plan for practical campground reality: location, season, and demand
Camp 4 is in Yosemite Valley, which is exactly why demand is high during peak camping season. Public signals for the listing include a 4.5 from 149 reviewers rating, but reviews won’t tell you whether a specific week is sold out or how the current operating rules will feel in practice. Instead, use the campground’s seasonal framework: book early for mid-April through October, and expect more variability during the first-come window later in the year.
Finally, remember that Yosemite Valley weather can turn your itinerary into an on-the-ground decision. NPS specifically notes that the campground may close on short notice tied to forecast wind or snowfall thresholds. Bring a plan B for what you’ll do if the campground is temporarily affected, and keep essentials—warm layers, lighting, and food storage—easy to access.
What to confirm before you leave home
To reduce last-minute confusion, confirm these items using the official NPS page and Recreation.gov for your dates: whether your visit falls within the reservation window (mid-April through October), what the reservation rules mean for your exact group size (up to six people per reservation transaction), and whether there are any current weather alerts that could affect access. Once those are clear, you’ll be ready to focus on the part you can’t reserve—time outside in Yosemite Valley.
Camp 4 is a great example of how good planning turns a busy campground into a smooth trip: align your dates to the seasonal system, treat “shared” as part of the experience design, and rely on official contact details when anything changes.
