Yosemite Pines RV Resort and Family Lodging
A base camp an hour from Yosemite Valley offering cabins, pull-through RV sites, and convenience store check-in.
The verdict
Pick a traveller type to re-weight the scores and re-rank the rooms around what you actually care about.
Yosemite Pines RV Resort provides a rustic base camp about an hour from Yosemite Valley and just minutes from Groveland. Guests enjoy a quiet atmosphere, friendly host assistance, and straightforward check-in at the convenience store. However, visitors frequently complain about paying extra fees for Wi-Fi and RV dumps, along with dusty sites and noticeable wear in the chalets. 2522
Every line below traces back to something a traveler actually wrote — open a line to read the original sentence and follow it to the source.
What travelers noticed
- The location serves as a practical base camp roughly an hour from Yosemite Valley and minutes from downtown Groveland grocery stores. 25119
- Campers appreciate the friendly and helpful staff who make check-in quick at the convenience store and assist with unlevel sites. 25
- The grounds remain surprisingly quiet and peaceful, offering a relaxing environment away from heavy park traffic. 11
The catch
- Internet quality divides guests, as some stream Netflix and YouTube without buffering while others experience dropped signals and resent paying extra fees for access. drawn from the full read
- Bathroom conditions are inconsistent, with some visitors praising clean shower facilities while others find them dirty and out of toilet paper when the park is full. 9
Who it's for
- — RVers and campers touring Yosemite Valley
- — Families booking chalets and pull-through RV sites
- — Travelers seeking a quiet campground base
Skip it if
- — Anyone expecting free and reliable Wi-Fi
- — Travelers wanting updated, modern chalets
- — Campers sensitive to small, dusty spots
Seen on camera
9 moments · 2 videos · Yosemite Pines RV Resort and Family Lodging
Each moment is pulled at the second a cited reviewer said the words. Play it here, or open the original video at that timestamp.
“If you're thinking about visiting Yusede National Park and are looking for a place to stay, then this is a great option…”
youtube.com0:21“Site C31. Site C30. These are the backend spots. Campsite's nice and clean.”
youtube.com3:55“For location and scenery, this park is close to Yusede, which is great, but there's no fantastic views or anything like…”
youtube.com16:37“For accessibility, it is paved roads to get here, and it's all paved roads inside the park. However, you have to go on a…”
youtube.com16:45“And there's the heater, air conditioner, couple of chairs, a huge TV on the wall, and the TV actually has like a thousan…”
youtube.com1:24“Cleanliness, I didn't see any trash anywhere. This gets a five.”
youtube.com17:07“And there's the lake. Look at that. I didn't request a lake view, but I got one. So, pretty nice.”
youtube.com2:28“So, I give this a three. Also, sight space is good, at least in the RV section where we stayed. However, the layout is k…”
youtube.com16:52“The noise level was good when we were there in November. However, during summer, I think it would be really loud. The sp…”
youtube.com17:15Frames are citations: each one links to its second in the source video, attributed to the creator who filmed it. Nothing here is supplied by the hotel. Creators who want a moment removed can ask and we take it down.
How to book
No loyalty currency of its own — this one is a cash or card-portal booking.
Score breakdown
How the 64/100 is built, category by category — each one with the strongest thing travelers actually said, and the source it came from.
Bathroom
69Food
92- “The people were awesome, the facilities were clean and the pool was refreshing. They have WiFi that works great, a store with ice, snacks, and food.” 9
Location
72- “One of the biggest advantages of this park is its location. It served as an excellent home base for exploring Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Monterey Bay, San Francisco, and Pinnacles National Park,(we don't mind a long drive!).” 11
- “So, positive: location is great. It's about 1 hour to Yosemite Valley and a few minutes from downtown Groveland -with a nice grocery store and several good restaurants.” 25
Noise
92Room
65- “So, I give this a three. Also, sight space is good, at least in the RV section where we stayed. However, the layout is kind of tight. So, if this was really busy, you'd be packed in there. I give this a three.” 416:52
Service
64Bed & Sleep
67- “Bathrooms were very unclean but the park gets the job done as a place to sleep while visiting Yosemite.” 9
Where it is, how to reach it
Details checked 2026-09-14
Where it sits
Yosemite Pines RV Resort and Family Lodging and the 19 other hotels we cover in Yosemite. Hover a marker for the hotel; click to open it.
Stay value
How this property reads against the hotels we cover alongside it. Measured on review evidence, not on a nightly rate.
Falls short of what $$$ usually buys
Scores 28 points below the upscale median of 92, across 410 hotels in the same bracket. In Yosemite it sits 17 points below the local median of 81.
- This hotel
- 64
- Bracket median
- 92
- Index median
- 88
Based on 410 comparable hotels.
Which room to ask for
What reviewers say about where to sleep inside this building — by room number where one is named, and otherwise by floor, wing, aspect and position. Every line opens onto the quotes behind it.
- 1 mention
- 1 mention
No location within the hotel draws repeated complaints yet.
Where travelers agree — and don’t
The topics reviewers split on most. A wide bar means your experience depends on which room you get — or whose opinion you trust.
View the 89 things travelers said behind this verdict▾
Quotes run exactly as travelers wrote them — spelling and all. We trim for length, never for tidiness.
- “The rest of the facility was very quiet. The highway is not far away, but road noise was very sparse.” 25
- “High Sierra is tight but quiet. We found the sound of the creek at night drowned out just about everything even though the park is right off the main road through town.” 2
- “Campground is quiet without road noise.” 24
- “We were directly across the street from the bathrooms and showers, which were also very clean and well stocked.” 25
- “The grounds were well maintained, and the park was surprisingly quiet during our stay.” 11
- “We parked at the far east end past the cabins in a pull-through group spot. They are the biggest spots and didn't seem like people really use that area much. It was pretty quiet for the two weeks we were there.” 11
- “site: wooded. semi-private. large. quiet campground. cooler temps than in Yosemite Valley.” 11
- “The noise level was good when we were there in November. However, during summer, I think it would be really loud. The spaces are just too close together. I give this a three.” On camera417:15
- “If you're thinking about visiting Yusede National Park and are looking for a place to stay, then this is a great option as it's far enough away to give you peace and quiet, yet it's only about a 30-minute drive to the park entrance.” On camera40:21
- “Great area, quiet. Only 5 minutes away from a small town for groceries.” 9
- “Instead, we encountered an unprofessional and discourteous staff, led by a manager, Carmella Hoeft, who was as unaccommodating as she was rude.” 9
- “The staff is helpful and friendly.” 22
- “The showers are free and usually clean although on Saturday evening the campground was full and the bathrooms were dirty and out of TP.” 9
- “The staff and management were very accommodating. They told us about things we could do in the area as well as just visiting Yosemite.” 16
- “Power went out to the entire campground two days in a row. Not the campground's fault as high winds knocked out power to the entire area. They were nice and let us use our generator even though they are not allowed any other time.” 11
- “Staff were all very friendly. There's complimentary wifi at the main office if you need it.” 11
- “re, friendly staff, and central location made it one of our favorite long-term stays.” 11
- “Nice campground. There were clean bathrooms and showers with hot water.” 22
- “The bathrooms were clean and nice (not the cleanest) but not disgusting or dirty.” 25
- “Staff were generally helpful and they have everything you'd need in their office/general store (ice, firewood, snacks, etc).” 9
- “"Resort" might be an overstatement but it does have a pool, a few simple activities and a mostly nice staff (one lady was very rude and condescending when quoting the cancellation policy” 9
- “It was close to stores, shopping and gas. Property is well maintained with helpful staff.” 13
- “Here is my opinion, We had no issues with ants, the bathrooms where clean, and the people who ran it where very friendly and helpful.” 2
- “The workers there are friendly and there are things for kids to do during the summer.” 25
- “Cleanliness, I didn't see any trash anywhere. This gets a five.” On camera417:07
- “The staff throughout the park were welcoming, friendly, and helpful.” 11
- “And there's the lake. Look at that. I didn't request a lake view, but I got one. So, pretty nice.” On camera32:28
- “Management is very helpful and works hard maintaining grounds. They are in their own RV at the back of the campground.” 11
- “Check-in was quick and easy. Don't forget it's first come first serve like most Thousand Trails campgrounds.” 11
- “Check-in was quick and easy inside a convenience store with hours until 8pm.” 25
- “Don't forget it's first come first serve like most Thousand Trails campgrounds. Staff were all very friendly.” 11
- “Staff is excellent. Uneven parking in pull thru @ full hook ups Could not burn fire-pit due to basin burn ban. Lots of Ants.” 13
- “I'm the morning we saw how nice the property was and speak with all the friendly staff. Loved it!” 9
- “The bathrooms and showers were not clean, which is a shame because they are nice and spacious.” 9
- “The pool was large and looked clean. However I wouldn't return for 2 major reasons: there were stickers and burrs coating the ground literally anywhere I looked, and the bathrooms were either out of service or extremely dirty.” 25
- “Nice enough park. Aston at the desk will brighten your day.” 13
- “The campground has nice views, but wow, what a scary drive up a curvy mountainous road to get to it.” 9
- “We stayed in a Yurt and it was absolutely amazing. We ended up coming in really late but they left our key for us. They were super accommodating.” 9
- “Convenient shuttle service allowed us to keep our motorhome set up in camp, and to avoid the parking congestion at the trailheads.” 12
- “Originally, we were only able to reserve one month at a time, but when our circumstances changed, the office staff were incredibly understanding and worked with us to extend our stay.” 11
- “Family friendly, clean and responsive” 24
- “Friendly interactions with staff.” 9
- “Although this campground is not particularly RV-friendly - with only 34 of its 104 sites suitable for RVs - a very helpful campground host greeted us and picked out a suitable site for our 30-foot Winnebago.” 12
- “The staff were excellent. I really feel they are doing the best with what they have. They were all very friendly and helpful.” 25
- “We asked the office person about refunding money if we had to leave due to lack of power. The woman, again, was not particularly helpful.” 25
- “"We stayed in the premium sites at this camp ground. Loved the hosts. They were wonderful to work with and very accommodating."” 11
- “Our lawn chairs were literally 6 feet from our neighbors sewer hook up and our picnic table sat at about a 30 degree slope. They also said the staff tried to resolve my issues, which never happened.” 9
- “The office staff was friendly and accommodating when we asked to move to a shadier location.” 22
- “Site C31. Site C30. These are the backend spots. Campsite's nice and clean.” On camera43:55
- “"AT&T service occasionally let a text go through but completely unreliable. No wifi."” 11
- “One of the biggest advantages of this park is its location. It served as an excellent home base for exploring Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Monterey Bay, San Francisco, and Pinnacles National Park,(we don't mind a long drive!).” 11
- “For location and scenery, this park is close to Yusede, which is great, but there's no fantastic views or anything like that. So, I give this a three.” On camera416:37
- “Nice location to Yosemite.” 9
- “Convenient location only 24 miles from Yosemite National Park” 17
- “The campground's strategic location offers easy access to notable attractions, including the majestic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and the Yosemite History Center in nearby Wawona, where visitors can explore some of the park's oldest structures.” 22
- “Conveniently located within biking and walking distance of numerous services and trailheads, North Pines also enjoys accessibility to the free shuttle route, enhancing the convenience for campers exploring Yosemite Valley.” 22
- “So, positive: location is great. It's about 1 hour to Yosemite Valley and a few minutes from downtown Groveland -with a nice grocery store and several good restaurants.” 25
- “"The sites are spacious and in the pines. Great location in the valley. Can walk everywhere or bike everywhere in the valley,"” 11
- “Plenty for the kids and family to do and a great location close enough to bike/walk to most stores on the east end of town.” 11
- “The spaces are bit close together, but nice lawns and facilities. Walk to grocery store, Mono Cone burger joint, sporting goods/hardware store, etc," noted one RV traveler.” 11
- “$137 after a 10% discount was to high. I get it it's close to the park.” 13
- “Views are not impressive for being close to Yosemite but it's a decent base camp for trips into the park.” 9
- “Situated along the serene Merced River in the heart of Yosemite Valley, Lower Pines offers a prime location amid the central hub of Yosemite National Park, showcasing some of its most iconic natural wonders.” 22
- “Very good location about 45 minutes to the western entrance to Yosemite on Highway 120 from San Francisco.” 20
- “We think in the end it was an animal, but it definitely sounded like human footsteps which was very unnerving. It was a great location for Yosemite, a bit far away, but a good base camp especially when Yosemite is full.” 9
- “Gravel/Dirt back in site but pretty level. Kind of pricey.” 9
- “Very nice campground, the prices are great and the bathrooms are very clean it is about 1 1/2 hrs from Yosemite however” 9
- “I've enjoyed it the couple times I've been there, and they have good burgers and drinks for cheap.” 11
- “You have to pay for WiFi and sometimes the signal drops. For the cost of the campground the WiFi should be free! Lesser known campgrounds even have free WiFi.” 9
- “To use the park, you'll need an Escapees membership(about$50), which we found well worth the cost given the quality of the facilities and amenities.” 11
- “If relying on Wi-Fi during your stay, be prepared to pay a small fee for better signal quality” 17
- “Fairly pricey, additional cost for WIFI, additional cost for RV dump, pool closed mid August, deli closed, Sites small and dusty, poor upkeep and maintenance.” 25
- “There's NO phone signal of any kind for miles. There is Jabba Communications wifi throughout that campground that you can pay for but it's pricey and very shoddy and unpredictable here. Unless you're staying for a long time it's not worth it.” 11
- “I paid for Tengo internet and it's barely ok, but it was $5 for three days. It was fine for checking email.” 25
- “The price for the yurt was like $100 a night and when we split that up, it was nothing!” 9
- “I didn't like that they charge for a weak wifi.” 9
- “Large dog run which was amazing. Personal just a bit expensive 100 ish for a rv spot with 30 amp an water.” 11
- “We had a choice of full hook-ups or just water/electricity. We selected the full hookup because the costs were so reasonable.” 16
- “Despite the exorbitant fees charged for the stay, we found the park to be ill-maintained and malfunctioning, the staff unprofessional, and the overall experience thoroughly regrettable.” 9
- “Bathrooms were very unclean but the park gets the job done as a place to sleep while visiting Yosemite.” 9
- “The shower facilities were clean and comfortable.” 11
- “The bathrooms/showers were not very well maintained (quite dirty and dusty) although the stalls did all have toilet paper.” 9
- “The sites are small with 2 parking spaces, the bathroom were well maintained.” 9
- “The shower house was clean with hot water and good water pressure.” 25
- “The shower house was clean with hot water and good water pressure. However, it's very expensive for what you get.” 25
- “So, I give this a three. Also, sight space is good, at least in the RV section where we stayed. However, the layout is kind of tight. So, if this was really busy, you'd be packed in there. I give this a three.” On camera416:52
- “The people were awesome, the facilities were clean and the pool was refreshing. They have WiFi that works great, a store with ice, snacks, and food.” 9
What we still don't know
What we can’t tell you yet, said plainly. These close as we read more coverage of this hotel.
- No reviewer has named an individual room number here yet.
- Nothing reliable said about room types.
- Nothing reliable said about floor level.
- Nothing reliable said about building or wing.
- Nothing reliable said about which side it faces.
- Nothing reliable said about position on the floor.
- Food rests on 2 sources — too thin to rely on.
- 17 sources carry no publication date, so we cannot tell how current they are.
Ask about Yosemite Pines RV Resort and Family Lodging
Answered only from the coverage cited on this page. If nobody has written about your question, it will say so rather than guess.
How much we read
Solid coverage · 63/100We read 32 sources for this property, and pulled 153 traveler insights worth knowing. Last checked 2026-09-15.
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Sources
Everything quoted on this page, grouped by traveler insights, outlets, and video & podcast. Counts beside each group show everything we’ve read of that kind; no one kind can carry the score on its own.
4 of 5 summary lines above are traced to specific quotes. The rest summarise the read as a whole rather than any single document.
View all 28 cited sources▾
Everything quoted on this page.
- 9Yosemite Pines RV Resort & Family Lodgingthedyrt.comReview site2026-06-08Current38 quotes used
“Instead, we encountered an unprofessional and discourteous staff, led by a manager, Carmella Hoeft, who was as unaccommodating as she was rude.”
Read originalthedyrt.com - 19Has anyone stayed at Yosemite Pines RV Resort with kids?reddit.comForum thread2026-01-06RecentRead originalreddit.com
- 25Yosemite Pines RV Resort, Groveland - Map - Campendiummaps.campendium.comReview site2025-09-01Recent21 quotes used
“The rest of the facility was very quiet. The highway is not far away, but road noise was very sparse.”
Read originalmaps.campendium.com - 5
- 12RVing in Yosemite National Parkrv.comReview site2020-12-02Ageing6 quotes used
“This time we boarded the shuttle for the mile ride to the trailhead. This trail is mostly level, with great views looking up the valley as well as seeing the reflection in the lake.”
Read originalrv.com - 16Yosemite Pines RV Resort - Groveland, CA - RVBuddy.comrvbuddy.comReview site2020-11-26Ageing3 quotes used
“The staff and management were very accommodating. They told us about things we could do in the area as well as just visiting Yosemite.”
Read originalrvbuddy.com
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