Housekeeping Camp

Several steps up from tent camping. Electrical outlets are nice. Bring a large Power Strip so everyone can plug in and charge their devices. Only one outlet in the bedroom. Been going to Housekeeping for decades and still enjoy it and proximity to everything. Staff very accommodating.

Absolutely beautiful, stunning location perfect for accessing valley hikes and activities! Very rustic accommodations, but the basics are there (beds, electrical outlets, roof over your head, table and campfire ring) to have a great experience. Make the most of it and in your expectations, know that you will experience a forest/outdoor setting- not an enclosed hotel room or cabin that is completely protected from the elements.

Okay this place has a few benefits, and a few downsides(sorry dad if you're reading this review, but I am not glazing this place). I think it comes down to what you value. For one the location is top tier, no questions asked, great views of the granite walls, convenient to all the trails, and next to the Merced river great. As someone who camps in the back country, the showers and mattresses were a nice upgrade for sure.The shop was very nice as well. As for the mixed bag, the large amount of people, may either add to the atmosphere or take away from it depending on your preferences. Moving on to the rooms, I wasn't expecting much, but if they are charging the prices they are, I would expect at least some cleanliness on the tent itself, I don't know how old that thing was, but definitely been here since the Jurassic period, like at least try to mimic the cleanliness of curry village. Anyways, yeah the overall design of the crib is not very attractive looking, but it will do the job. Also the bathrooms, were not very clean either. Look I wasn't expecting a 5 star hotel by any means but at least have the urinals not covered in poop from 1950 and smell unbearably bad. Also my only other complaint was the garbage truck, like that damn thing kept waking me up at 6am. Also don't stay here if you hate spiders, I saw about 3 in my room while I was here during my 3 night stay, and I didn't even check under the bed. However I think overall it comes down to what you value, if your okay with more rustic and rough conditions in exchange for a convenient and gorgeous location, then its not half bad and will do the job (not with glam but it will do it). But if you value a comfortable and clean experience, then even curry village will seem like a god send.

Two words: DEER MICE They are everywhere. Their droppings are everywhere. They run around like they own the place. The "shacks" that you sleep in have no front door whatsoever. You are completely exposed to the outside and the mice know it. You are better off staying in a tent in the camping area. It's far cheaper and tents are a little more sealed up so that mice can't just run inside. We stayed here one night and mice were running around everywhere. Hardly got any sleep. Staff were extremely nice and understood and allowed us to cancel our other nights so we could move elsewhere. The only reason I could ever see anyone staying here is if the camping area was full and they planned on sleeping inside of a tent outside of the shack or in an RV outside. As far as other amenities - do you get access to a gross uncleaned bathroom and gross uncleaned showers. You get a power outlet but it's limited to 15 amps and if the breaker trips they will not restore power, so basically don't use it for anything except charging your phone (which and also be done in the car if staying in the camping area without power)

The lady that checked us in had no customer service skills. Our campsite was not very clean when we arrived. The first night everyone was quiet after 10 o’clock. The second night our neighbors stayed up until 1130 and were very loud. But it was very nice and spacious. Close to the restrooms. The shower was nice. Would definitely stay there again.

My sister and I greatly enjoyed our 2 night stay in Housekeeping Camp. I had read many terrible reviews so was a little concerned before we arrived. We need not have worried! The “tent” was smaller than I expected, but was obviously cleaned recently since there were no dust piles or spiderwebs. The camp was generally quiet after dark, and although we could hear our neighbors talking and laughing it wasn’t noisy enough to be disturbing. Having electricity was great and our location along the river was probably quieter than further in the interior.

The tent is very dirty, you can tell they don’t clean them at all between guests. I wasn’t expecting it to be super glamorous, it’s a tent. But it was really bad. We didn’t end up sleeping there. The girls at the front desk are very helpful and nice, and the location is great.

Extremely disappointing experience at Housekeeping Camp. The tents were disgusting: the walls were ripped with large holes, the mattresses were filthy, and you had to pay an extra $4 for sheets and blankets… which did nothing against the freezing cold at night. There’s no door, so no privacy and no protection from the wind or animals. Honestly, it felt worse than a refugee camp. Everything was dirty and poorly maintained. The camp store is outrageously overpriced, and even to make a fire, you’re forced to buy their expensive wood – bringing your own is not allowed. The "bear box" is only for food storage, so it offers no real safety from bears wandering nearby. You’re basically sleeping in a torn-up canvas sack with zero security. The camp roads are badly designed. But the worst part is the price – for a tent in this state, it’s absolutely outrageous, especially when better options are available in nearby villages for less. Only good points: the location is convenient for exploring the valley, and the river is close by. But seriously – stay away.

We had an amazing trip at Housekeeping Camp. I do not like to camp and my husband does so this was our compromise, there are beds and real bathrooms but it's rustic and is real enough camping for my husband. I was honestly worried by the online reviews I read before we went but I was very happy with our experience. We went in June and everyone was helpful, our area was clean and ready when we arrived. The kids loved it and always ask when we can go back!

The setting is hard to beat, and there's immediate access to a nice river that runs along the camp and some spectacular views on the bridge. The "cabins" are essentially three concrete walls, a roof and a hospital curtain but there's an electrical outlet and some light, so it's camping made easy. Each cabin has a double bed and a bunk bed. If you are staying on the top bunk, make sure you get a safety rail from the rental office (it's free) and even then, take caution because I didn't get the sense it was incredibly sturdy. You can rent sheets and blankets as well.

Housekeeping camp is definitely not for everyone, so make sure that everyone in your party is a camper and likes camping near other people, because there are plenty of other people close by. The entire set-up of housekeeping camp is definitely much better seen up close as opposed to just seeng it driving by; It can look a little like a shanty town at first glance, but if you get out and walk around, you will notice it's a pretty well laid-out environment with a General Store, a very large and well-equipped laundry room, plenty of showers and toilets, and the different campsites are all laid out very well.

I've been to Yosemite many times and this was my first and last time ever staying in Housekeeping Camp. Full disclosure I am not a camper. I stayed in Curry Village many moons ago but this was just a little too rustic for me. However, in all fairness I need to outline the amenities that are here. It seems to be a place where people go year after year. In fact, a lot of ills said just that. Most of the other campers said that they looked forward to Housekeeping camp every year. One this trip I stayed in a site near the entrance and then the person I was camping with wanted to stay near the river so we moved. The staff was very helpful and helped us out a lot. The convenience store is very helpful and not overpriced at all. The showers are clean and they give you one towel a day. Lots of bathrooms nearby. One the first night they said we could have our campfires on for an extra 30 mins but the next night lights out promptly at 10. After 10 it's pretty quiet and very dark. There's nothing wrong with Housekeeping Camp. But the Camp part just isn't for me. I mean it really is like camping because you're sleeping outside. Lots of flies everywhere and mosquitoes galore. You have to walk up a sink to wash your pots and pans. It was just a lot of work. The whole thing was just work. Setting up the campsite and then cooking and washing and putting everything in the Bear box and then taking everything out. It's just a lot of work. Not my idea of a vacation so all. I do love Yosemite and something that was really cool was that I saw someone camping on one of the mountains. It's really a gorgeous and majestic place but if I stay in the park it will be at the Ahwanhee or the Rush Creek. I'm too old and/or high maintenance to rough it out in nature. But if you're a camper and you have kids. You'll love Housekeeping camp.

This campground is full of canvas cabins, many restrooms, a shower building, and store. The cabins come with mattresses and a shelf, but bedding costs extra so either pay or bring a sleeping bag. They also come with a covered outdoor patio area that has a table, but that area will get water in it once it starts raining. Each cabin has a bear box. Showers are free, come with a towel, but you must ask the office for a shower voucher. The store us nice This is your best bet at finding convenience store goods without the extremely busy crowds at Yosemite Village or Curry Village. Prices are inflated but the selection is good given you're in the park. Unlike the Village Store which isn't operated by the park service, this establishment is meaning your purchases help the park.

It's good for a short stay. It's like staying in a hotel where you have to eat out all the time.

The service was so nice and the camp was absolutely adorable. The price was not too bad at all for staying in Yosemite. The only thing I wish is that somehow the tents had some sort of noise cancellation of some sort because we were up until 10 when we had to wake up at 5 AM the next day because of very loud residence but otherwise the camp was perfect and the views from the camper absolutely amazing you can see jaime from the camp and you have the Merced river in your backyard

Magical location. Bring your favorite camp items and create a dream camp. We did. They provide the basics. Great location, close to everything and easy shuttle navigation.

In 2021 I would've given this place four stars but this year, it was way too crowded And the neighbors were a little more loud than last year but hey, i would almost say you get what you pay for but it's pricey for what it is. Could you at least power wash or fix the canvas structures? Time for a nice deep clean. Also, someone pooped in the ladies showers. Not sure why since the bathrooms are just as you walk in. Gross. Avoid shower stall 7.

I'm sure people have lots of great memories of this place that keep them coming back. Everyone I spoke with talked about "coming here since they were a kid." For me tho, it was not nostalgic or even really that fun. The tents were gross and definitely not cleaned before we got there. It looks like the tent flaps have not been cleaned in many years. Definitely the worst part tho was the bathrooms. They were not cleaned one time in 3 nights I was there. Tampons, wrappers, toilet paper and seat covers were all over the floor. It was raining while I was there so of course add mud to everything. We saw a guy spend an entire 5 mins inside restocking TP and seat covers. That's it. Not an ounce of cleaning happened. The lights went out from the storm the first night and they never fixed them. My cousin spoke to the front desk and was told "there's an order in, that's all we can do." The partying and noise is not monitored at all. I saw a fire left burning by my camp. When I got up at 3am to use the bathroom, the people had gone to bed and left it burning. I had to pour water on it. So, I will not be back, but it's Yosemite, there will always be people there. Just don't expect too much.

I have stayed in housekeeping since I was a kid! I recently visited and I am happy to report that everything is exactly the same. The tents are open enough for a bear to get in but you also, have restrooms and showers so the camping experience is outdoorsy but you can keep your hygiene up. The tents next to the river are great! Rafting down the Merced River is a must! Be sure to go all the way to El Capitan! The ducks will probably accompany you as well! I love housekeeping because it brings so many great memories of my childhood , so I maybe bias but here are some of my favorites. In housekeeping you get your little private patio to cook, hangout and play game. Outside you have your fire pit which is nice to sit by and enjoy the the fire and gorgeous stars! I can go on and on about how great this place is but you just have to check it out for yourself! One thing is for sure do not ignore the bear signs they are curious and are alway looking for food so don't leave anything out ! I actually had a bear in my tent!

I have been coming to Yosemite and stayed in housekeeping with my family since I was a baby. So this review may be more of a nostalgic thing for me. If you aren't into camping in general and using public restrooms or showers then you may not enjoy it. But this is a nice in between for straight up camping and lodging. Each space has a light, outlet, shelving, full size cot, and twin bunk, patio area with picnic table, outlet, and bear container for food and drinks. Oh! I do wish they had a smaller bear container on top of the 1 large one they provide. I remember when I was younger they used to have it like that and I think it would be great if they could provide a smaller one on top so that it's easier for taking things in and out of the containers. We stayed for 6 nights so we had a lot of shuffling to do because we were staying for an extended time so it made things a little difficult when we'd be looking for something. The showers were cleaner this time then when I used to come as a child and so we're the restrooms. So that was nice to see.

This will probably be our last stay in Housekeeping. The price is comprable to a 4-star hotel and the customer service and amenities are not !!! The units are dirty and falling apart (Duct tap on canvas covers and missing wood on fencing). Employees are rude and lazy. The showers and bathrooms we're never cleaned on time, or if at all. They allowed families to stay in units with up to 8 or 10 people. We have been coming to Housekeeping in Yosemite since the early 80s and I've never been more disappointed then this last visit..

We recently stayed at Housekeeping Camp. It was our very first time as well as my other family members. Remember it is a camp ground so don't expect it to be like a hotel. Basic amenities/necessities are provided and it is enough for us. Bring your own ear plugs and eye mask if you're sensitive/light sleeper as there will be noises throughout the night whether from your neighbor snoring, trees rustling through the night, etc. Keep in mind there is only 1 entrance/exit and if you miss it you have to drive back around the circle as it is a one way road. It is affordable and prime location being in the heart of Yosemite valley. Registration is next to the General Store. They provide parking permits and shower passes upon check in. They are very prompt on opening and closing. They do not appreciate those who visit the store 10 minutes before closing. They have toilets! They have laundry and shower facility adjacent to the General Store/Registration. They provide towels for showering; however, it is recommended that you bring your own as their towels are thin and it's like lent galore - it's like a terry clothe. Don't forget to bring slippers as they don't clean showers after each person but rather 1.5hr during the day. Showers are open from 7:00am - 10:00pm. They provide a wall mounted combo shampoo/conditioner dispenser if you forget to bring your own. I suggest you bring your own. There are at least 6 shower stalls. It is very narrow so don't expect a lot of room to work with. Bring hangers if you have several things to hang as there's only 1 hook. The restrooms are detached buildings closer to the campsites. They're not the greatest but they work. It is better than a hole in the ground. Another great amenity is being able to have a campfire. They are very strict on the time of when you can have a campfire from 5:00pm to 10:00pm to limit emissions, etc. They have staff and rangers walking around reminding us to smother the fire and keep our volume down at/after 10pm. Another great feature is the river running next to the campsites. We walked there at night to stargaze and it was amazing. It was so dark we saw so many stars and a shooting star on our very first night! This is glamping! I'm just so glad I don't have to bring a tent and set it up. There is electricity and a plug at every campsite which is another great feature. It may not be the cleanest but it works! We enjoyed our stay and already booked for the following year riverside sites =)

Just got back - Housekeeping is running at 50% capacity (only one side of the cabins). Showers are great (NO lines, we'll cleaned). Had my first experience with a "camp host"! My family has been going every year for over 20years now & this is the VERY first time we had a host introduce themselves to our group. His name was Patrick, and he went above and beyond to make every day we were there enjoyable. This was his 6th week in this job and his enthusiasm and smiles were infectious. Things that seemed "old hat" to us took on a fresh look hearing his input (the wildlife, history of the Valley, hikes and trails). We did see other "hosts" walking around (those bright blue shirts stand out), but not one acknowledged us, greeted us, or even bothered to smile. Housekeeping...you hired an absolute amazing ambassador for the park that embraced kindness and love of his job. We were so sad he wasn't there on our last day! Our ONLY complaint is that this year, the attitudes of some of the campers was unbearable. It seemed like some groups forgot basic manners, how to be kind to fellow campers and were only concerned with their experience. They ignored the rules (which they agreed to at check in) and were outright hostile when staff called them out on it (fires past 10pm, abiding by the set quite hours, leaving food and trash out, etc.). We did make 2 complaints to the receptionists and the assured us those specific campers would be dealt with. See you next year Housekeeping!

Stay here if you like to party. It's past quiet hours and there's two different groups next to us smoking weed & blasting music around their campfire. Your canvas tents aren't air tight so all the smoke traps in your cabin. If you haven't inhaled smoke in an enclosed space, well youre gonna be super parched. My 2 year old daughter is still awake asking for water. We were planning to hike in tomorrow but god knows what kind of mental and physical state we will be in from this sleep deprivation. Party on dudes. Maybe you'll get lucky and stay in an area where there's no partying. Good luck.

Sad to say that the bathrooms were gross. We were there 4 nights and they never got cleaned. There was literally crap smeared on the front of the toilet and the sinks were nasty too.

We went almost every year until Covid. We were there from Monday to Saturday this year and the first 3 days were great. Great neighbors - with fun parties that ended at the right time. Then a big group moved in that has 4-6 cabins and they did not feel the need to respect quiet hours. Even after the 10p curfew they were drinking and yelling and banging their bear boxes with no concern for anyone else. Like they owned the place. We talked to them at 10:45p and they quieted down. For 5 minutes. So we went to the front desk at 11p. And the front desk staff said they had people out. But there didn't seem to be any signs of that cuz the party kept rolling on. This used to be a great family campsite but after this my opinion is really bad. I'll be issuing a complaint against all those cabins in the morning. Shame on those losers who think they own the valley. Go somewhere in the desert and disrupt their wildlife and visitors instead.

So you're headed to Yosemite!!! Congrats on securing a reservation to one of the most sought out national parks in the world . If you're adventure lands you with accommodations at Housekeeping Camp, you are in for quite the experience. I feel it's only appropriate to set the stage as you read this review. Me: mid twenties female, love all things outdoors for workouts/hikes/sunshine. I've never camped in a tent and I appreciate electricity, running water, clean things, and safety. So you're probably wondering - why the heck would you stay at Housekeeping camp?? Same answer as a lot of you might respond - it's the only thing open/available. We randomly came across an opening for housekeeping camp 6 days before we wanted to do a weekend Yosemite trip. It's rare for there to be an opening that last minute so we grabbed it without hesitation or looking too much into the details. We were only staying one night so figured how bad could it be?? Well, it's no Ritz Carlton or St. Regis. I've stayed at the Yosemite Valley Lodge and that hotel is like a W compared to camp. You are paying (not much) for a true Yosemite experience at Housekeeping. Checkin is at 5pm so feel free to take that long hike beforehand. Checkout is at 10am. They give you shower passes and your cabin number then send you on your way. There's a handful of rules to follow like quiet hours, trash, etc but the most important one is to make sure you use the bear boxes for basically all your belongings. Bears are extremely active in the valley. Which brings me to the next point - safety. All things considered, you're around a lot of people with a lot of supplies. Thank goodness we had respectful people there that evening but you better hope your fellow campers are locking up their food and belongings too, or you will have visitors. I barely slept that night from the fear of a bear coming through our janky curtain and curling up into bed with us, or from the constant opening and shutting of the steel bear boxes and worrying people were stealing our things. Happy to report no bears and all belongings were there the next morning. Kudos to you fellow campers! The facilities were as clean as they could be. There's bathrooms all over the 300+ unit campsite (which during covid is only operating at 50% capacity) and staff cleaning them at least every day. We truly treated this stay as a bed to sleep on and nothing more. We laughed about how insane the structure was and that it set the scene for a murder documentary or weird prison experience. We ended up "showering" in the river beside the campsite which was honestly one of the best parts of the whole experience. If you're wanting to try out camping without the tent, this could be a great option for you! Pricing was about $115/night and guarantees admission to the park (no advanced reservation needed). Campsite comfortably sleeps 3, I would recommend any more than that. Bring everything you'd think you need - sleeping bag, pillow, shower towel, blankets, bug spray, etc. if you don't want to cook, you can visit the cafeteria at YVL or the few restaurants at Curry Village. I will note that the pictures on the website are outdated and this place has definitely seen some wear and tear. It's not glamorous but hey, camping is what it is. Now get out there and plan your hikes!

9/20/22, We are checked in for 4 nights. Presently, it's downpour rain which is a pleasant difference than my previous years here.

Filthy and gross. I've camped a lot and stayed in some very basic hostels, and this was by far the worst. The units are not cleaned between guests, the walls and roofs are covered with grime and mold, and there is a thick layer of dirt and god knows what else under the bunks. This was especially disturbing, given the warnings about hantavirus and mouse droppings posted in the unit. The bathrooms are disgusting. We seriously considered pitching a tent by our fire ring instead of sleeping in the unit.

Stayed here pre Covid with another couple. I think was a bunk bed and then a larger bed. We made a makeshift partition out of a sheet which kind of helped for privacy lol. The place is not bad but it's not very pretty. It looked prettier on the photographs haha. Well. I wasn't expecting much but now that I've gone camping and have something to compare it to.... you won't be waking up to sunrise shining through your tent sort of thing. It's sort of like a permanent tent with canvas functioning as a thick curtain. The pros are you get to sleep on a mattress. There are plugs for your electronic gadgets. There is an enclosed area outside and a nice table with a pit for a fire close by. The enclosed area felt clean and we were able to cut up veggies and make foil packets without many bugs bothering us. There are large restrooms that have flushing toilets and numerous water pumps throughout the area. Oh and the bathroom has mirrors. I didn't bother to shower cause I only stayed one night but it's an option. It's a ten minute walk from Yosemite lodge which was where the shuttle stop was for our star gazing event which I highly recommend. We enjoyed it a lot. It's affordable compared to many other options in the park. However for those who want to go actual camping like my husband, this is not it. However it's a nice compromise and gateway to camping.

Customer service was non-responsive. We had reserved 7 cabins for 21 people. We were spread at a distance from each other all over the camp. This made it difficult to gather in the mornings and evenings with little children involved. We asked to be grouped together but received little help in that regard. Check-in time of 5pm is too late to set up camp and cook dinner on the night of arrival. Even a couple of hours additional would help immensely. One bright spot was our interaction with Malcolm who came to our rescue when we found a large puddle of rainwater under our bed which had soaked our bedding. He swept excess water and moved our bed so all could dry. He then arranged for complimentary linens for the remainder of our stay. He was a pleasure to deal with and represented Housekeeping with a true example of excellent customer service.

We've stayed at Housekeeping many times over the years and have always had a great time. This most recent trip was still fun, but the facilities were beyond disappointing. Half of the restrooms were closed, the other half were dirty, had no toilet paper and toilets that were backed up. Collapsed roofs, filthy canvas walls and doorways with bowing rods that make closing the "drapes" next to impossible were present all over camp. Many of the campsites were blocked because of COVID, so I understand those aren't being used, but they could still use some basic maintainence. The little market was also closed even though stores at Curry Village and the main market were open. (Charging $15 for ice, no less!!). Also, check in at 5 pm and check out at 10am is RIDICULOUS! Yosemite is being run by Aramark and they are clearly running this national treasure into the ground and grabbing as much money as possible while they do it. Housekeeping is a fun, rustic place to stay in Yosemite and I hope they don't completely let it go or get rid of it altogether.

GERMOPHOBES STAY AWAY! Interesting experience due to last-minute booking but I will plan ahead next time and get a Village lodge or hotel. Yes you do get the 'camping' part all taken care of for you, but it's old and filthy and you would be better off tenting with your own clean gear (that will also keep the bugs and pesky squirrels out, which these 'housekeeping units' do not) and a comfortable sleeping bag. Another con is it's a hassle getting to the Village on foot or by shuttle. It looks close on the map but in reality you have to go through half the valley to get to and from the Village, with all the stops along the bus route -- about a 30-40 minute trip. At $100 + taxes it's OK if you must stay in the Valley (highly recommended) and nothing else was available. Otherwise you can get a $100 room in Oakhurst. Interestingly, I've seen gas station restrooms in Oakhurst that were cleaner than the one in this camp. If you do decide to stay here, bring lots of Chlorox wipes. Great Verizon and AT&T reception in the Yosemite Valley. T-Mobile & others are out of luck.

Great for families! Provides electricity and sleeping area for 4. Step up from tent camping.

Avid camper... so this was glamping to me. I would normally book a campsite but knowing how crazy busy this place is, there's almost no available sites when I try to go & the walk-in sites are almost booked every time we come since we usually arrive really late in the evening. Sometimes the only choice you have to be able to stay inside Yosemite (guaranteed!) is to book a site like such. 5 STARS FOR THE LOCATION OF OUR SITE. I believe it was 40 & 41. I booked two riverfront sites and it was prime. A hop away from the General store & the shower room... two skips away from the bridge that gives you such an amazing view of the falls & a shuttle ride or a nice walk from Half Dome Village. Concrete walls with a tarp (you can tie to close the tarp curtains) & a little enclosed patio area with a picnic table. Each unit has a queen bed with a vinyl covered mattress & a solo bunk bed. Can comfortably sleep 4 people. Pillows, wool blankets, and sheets are available for rent. Just make sure you return them upon check out or you will get charged $25 per unit. This place allows campfires which is perfect especially when your site is situated right next to the Merced river. Also comes with a bear locker per unit. Parking was easy and close by. This was perfect for easing my party into the outdoors. Rugged enough but not too rugged for them to struggle & be uncomfortable, and not enjoy. LOL. I was able to enjoy a hot shower (they provide towels), sleep on a bed, hang by a campfire & wake up to the lovely sound of the Merced... no regrets. I don't mind staying here again!

Yay for housekeeping camp. You just need to bring bedding and the other camping essentials - no tents needed. We had about 8 cabins reserved. We did stay right on the lake side (J tents) which was BEAUTIFUL, but there was as fluke flood, and before we could even spend 1 night there the flood made 4 of our tents un-usable. This was about 8pm at night and the "rangers" were pretty useless, telling everyone to go to curry village and get in line for other housing. Our tent was about 3 feet from our tent-cabin by the time we were ready for bed - so we decided to chance it. A coyote ran through camp one night. Some industrious previous users had installed hooks all throughout the cabin...so if you want to help the greater good/future users, hit up a hardware store on the way to Housekeeping and install hooks.

This is camping. NOT glamping. If you want luxury stay at one if the hotels in the valley. Situated on the edge of the Merced River, walking distance to Half Done Village, hot showers, cheap, clean facilities. Amazing views right from camp. If you are taking a bus to Yosemite (like I wish more people would) this is the place to crash when you arrive. It's basic, but with everything you need close by. Squirrels are pests. Everything has to go in bear boxes, but my guess is it has more to do with rodent control. Your alarm clock is the sunrise corvid calls. Crows and stellar jays have made their home here thanks to all of the garbage and food us humans leave unattended for them to eat. All of the people I met working at Housekeeping Camp on our stay were friendly, helpful and professional. I am giving it 5 stars because this is one of the most affordable places to stay in the valley without RVs running their generators right next to your tent only campsite like in Upper & Lower Pine campgrounds. Camp 4 is the best place to stay cause you leave car door slamming and the masses behind. But you have to pack in everything. Housekeeping Camp allows you to be lazy and just bring the basics.

My first experience here and went with a large group who have been regulars. Camping can be lots of fun but to do it in Yosemite adds to the experience. Camping at this site is no different with the exception that you don't have to set up tent. The photos they have on their website is dated and can be deceiving. In person, it's very dirty. Just remember that your camping and not in a hotel. However, the $120/day charge is something to think about but you do get electrical outlets, beds, covered space to enjoy in private, and hot showers. The sites are along the Merced river, and although the water was rather low, it was enough to soak in and enjoy the very cold water on the hot days while were there.

Escaped to #Yosemite on a #budget. Had the opportunity to stay at the #Housekeeping Camp. Sort of like outdoor tent camping but your surrounded by a three wall enclosure with a small kitchen area. The #kids loved being near the river and walking over the bridge. Everything was pretty close to our campsite; the restrooms, the bridge, the showers. The showers were warm and soothing after a long amazing hike to #MirrorLake. The grocery store had a lil bit of everything we needed or wanted. The kids enjoyed a refreshing ice cream after riding the free shuttle from #CurryVillage. The evenings were spent by the #campfire with s'mores and stories. Every where you looked there was #beauty (even in my own mirror ) I was in complete awe of God's #creation. House Keeping Camp was welcoming and a great experience. The squirrels, the crows & the bluejays were some of the wildlife we saw. They were so close to our campsite. The bears were nearby the ranger told us and we all screamed for "Elmer" once the sun went down. If you are looking to create a memorable experience I would definitely recommend making a reservation. I would love to go again and stay longer.

This was our second time staying in this camp location. I enjoy this campground because it's family friendly and each unit comes with a fire pit. There is some work required if you plan to stay here. If cleaning out dirt, washing dishes, cook outs, smoke, mosquitoes and being in a rugged sleeping unit is not your thing stay at lodge or half dome village. Pros: - Near all tourist areas & shuttle service -Family friendly -Free showers -Bear lockers & fire pits -Beautiful scenery and proximity to river -Rangers are friendly -Store offers lots of goodies & essentials Cons: - Rude neighbors - leave the disco balls at home and let other guests enjoy the night sky. I'm ok with music but kill the strobe lights please. -Campers who may not be considerate of cleaning up after themselves leaving trash near river and hair wads in restrooms/showers -Toilet & shower cleanliness.. with summer crowds the facilities should be cleaned more frequently, kudos to staff for cleaning up after campers -Shower line...women's shower line is always long due to moms having to wash up their kiddos...they should make a few more family shower areas Tips: - Bring tarps to cover entry way to your unit (hammer & nails too) -Broom & floor mat -Life vest needed even for small rafts -Lights to decorate your unit (just don't leave them on all day & night conserve energy)

The 2 stars is for Housekeeping Campgrounds, not Yosemite National Park. If Aramark is in charge of the maintenance and cleanliness of the campground? Their contract shouldn't be renewed! The campgrounds are falling apart and in need of major updating and renovations. The tents and surrounding areas are being held together by old used nails and rope. No,joke! If Aramark is also in charge of the local stores and shops? The government needs to look into their price gouging prices on a bag of ice. They charge $15.00 for a bag of ice. That's with no Vaseline.

I had the most amazing experience at Yosemite House keeping. The camp site was clean, including the bathrooms and community showers. At all times I seen staff making their rounds to keep the bathrooms clean, as well as ensuring all food is safely put away. We also got to meet 2 very friendly employees! Patrick was the best and offered such great hospitality. He stopped by daily to check in on our site and even offered trash bags when we ran out. We also met Malcom, he was awesome making sure our restrooms were up to par and offering us information for a good experience. If you are looking for a enhanced camping experience, I would definitely recommend house keeping. Also, it's super close to the lake!!!! Great for the kids.

First of all, this is camping people. You want something clean & comfortable, make reservations at the hotel! We loved this place! We experienced Upper Pines and Curry Village, and loved them as well, for specific reasons I will get to those reasons in a bit. We had originally booked with Upper Pines, but heard that a couple of weeks before our trip out that it had snowed and the week we were to visit, there may be rain. So, since we had experienced some weather issues a couple of visits ago, my husband found this camp after looking at Curry Village again. The reason we wanted this location because we wanted to have a camp fire, which we love doing & using. Check-in was helpful and friendly per my husband, I was outside taking pic's! We pulled up to our sight & checked it out. We were both pleased with what we saw, and our location was perfect! We had the beach (river) with sand area and the Yosemite Falls view from our campsite, so awesome! There is an outlet available, a prep or cooking table (wood legs, & aluminum top), a picnic table (some table types differ at other sites) under a covered area. There is also one outdoor lighting already available (with switch) in the patio area. Right outside of your fenced area is a water spout or fountain, and on the other side of that are the bear lockers (we bring locks). Your sleeping quarters, a three cyinder block wall (which you share with your neighbor), canvas rooftop and front doors. On top of that canvas ceiling is another canvas, this is connected with your neighbor as well. You have a bunk bed on one side and a queen on the opposite side of the room. In between the two you have the bookcase and mirror and on that same wall you have one, 2 plug outlet. You also have one light available inside the quarters, which gives out enough light. Depending where you are staying, the showers (generic shampoo and body soap available in the shower) are not too far. One night we rode our bikes, and another night we walked (the weather was great the week we were there). Please note women, in the "shower" room there is only one sink and one toilet. They also have laundry facilities for your use. If you don't want to bring your own sheets, pillows etc. they have that available for a fee, you could pick up firewood here too. Small convenience store in this area too. We found the beds to be comfortable. I brought old sheets & comforter from home for our beds and used our sleeping bags on top of that. It was actually warm one night, we had to unzip our bags. You are near the river and I think in the distance I can hear the Yosemite waterfall, so bring ear plugs if this will not put you to sleep. Shuttle stops near by. Tips for first timers: Bring broom, small rake (if the leaves will bother you) something to wipe tables down, and something to secure your canvas when you retire for the night. We used the clothespins I kept in our camp box. We just used beach mats to lay on the floor between the beds. The pictures that the Yelper's added will give you some ideas what you will be facing and what to bring. I'm excited to visit this site again, I hope we could get the same spot, it was perfect! We came at the end of April, the weather was absolutely perfect to go biking, hiking and walking. The other times we had come it was snowing and freezing so this was very nice not having to bundle up. I hope your experience a good time at Housekeeping as we did. Oh, when we tented at Upper Pines a couple of years ago, we set up our tent, had a camp fire (it was cold!) and hit the sack after dinner. We woke up to snow! Thank goodness my husband made reservations at Curry Village "just in case," for whatever the reason. We packed our things and we were warm & dry for the duration of our stay. Yes, at Curry Village it is heated (some are not). When we returned to Upper Pines to check our tent, it caved in from the heavy snow! We probably needed a better tent. So each campsite is good for certain occasions or reasons. We enjoyed each location.... Happy Camping!

I was very skeptical after reading the reviews about Yosemite Housekeeping camp. But after staying here a few days I can't wait to do it again. I had low expectations to begin with but my experience was a great one. It helps that the weather was great the campers around us were respectful and quiet. The week after the 4th of July was expected to be crazy packed with tourist. When we arrived at the park it was just after 10am. Our campsite was pre assigned we couldn't change the campsite. It worked out we had space 145 we were close enough to the river and far enough from the loudness of campers closest to the beach. Tip be sure to bring a broom, Christmas's lights to decorate your area and make it your own, clothes pins to secure your curtain, pad lock for the bear locker. I was pleasantly surprised there were no ants at the campsite. We kept our campsite very clean with no food out after we ate. But I did see lots of squirrels running from campsite to campsite scrounging for food. Bring your quarters if you would like to wash your clothes. If you check in early you wave for the staff to skip your site from cleaning. The campers before us left empty cardboard boxes that was it. It was worth checking in early. So much to write about but I'll end it here. There are s lot of campsites to choose from. We were happy we chose housekeeping camp.

We stayed here for 4 days and it was great. They offer warm showers and the bathrooms were always clean. It's very close to all the trails so you can either walk there or take the shuttle. We will definitely be staying here again!

I guess I would prefer 3.5 stars but 4 will do. I stayed in this camp April 30-May 4th. The timing was perfect - the weather was gorgeous, the river was flowing. We arrived early on Thursday and went to the front desk to see if we could check in, we were told we had about 2 hours until they could allow us to check in and the young man would NOT tell us which site was ours (we had a river unit). We walked around and waited the 2 hours and were finally able to check in - we went to our site and while we were able to SEE the river we definitely were not ON the river. There were a few other vacant sites around that we would've preferred to switch to but he said we could absolutely not switch so we just accepted our spot. The site itself was nice - the table area, bear lockers, and electricity is a huge bonus. I would recommend bringing christmas lights to set up because it really does add a great ambiance and vibe to your site and looks so cute at night! The bear lockers are large and can fit a lot. We brought 2 coolers and our camp chef and a few large bins of dry goods and had no issues shoving everything in there (we also brought pad locks just in case of theft). The wood at the store is expensive - we scavenged the site for wood leftover at vacant campsites and we also had a wood cutting permit to use outside the park to chop wood for $10. The site filled up on Friday night and to our surprise we were supposed to have neighbors - but they did not like the site and were ABLE TO MOVE TO A DIFFERENT SITE. This really irritated us as we asked to move the previous day. Then, we received a new set of neighbors who had a DOG. Apparently no dogs are allowed, but if you just say your dog is a service dog there is nothing they can do and no questions asked. From what we were told a lot of people use the service dog line and it allows them to bring their dog to housekeeping camp. The camp host is really strict about the fire times (even though the front desk said the fire time was not enforced that weekend) and they are really strict about leaving your bear lockers open. SHOWERS - the showers get busy and there is a line unless you go at off hours. I heard there was no warm water but when I went to shower there was always warm, hot water so I guess that must depend on the time of day. We are campers - we love camping - I love sleeping in a tent - this place is great because of the electricity and campfires, but overall the price of almost $100 per night is a little steep in my opinion. I definitely will come back here sometime soon - and I will be sure to call in ADVANCE to request the camp site of my choosing.

Each campsite has picnic table, fire ring and sleeping for 4. You can rent bedding for $10 a night per bed. We stopped and bought a sleeping and pillow at Walmart for $13 on our way in. The campground can get noisy but at 1000 pm you won't hear much of anything. We stay early august. We were not cold at all at night. Towels are at showers free of charge. They do rent camp chairs $4,extra bedding $3 for a blanket,cooking stoves $10all are per night. Showers were clean, with soap and shampoo provided. They are not renting out tubes (Covid) you can tube around on the river at the campground. Fire wood is $12 for a few pieces. No store at campground or laundry may open after Covid. We enjoyed this place. It's a great experience if you enjoy camping! Campstore and hot food just a mile or 2 down the road, burgers and pizza for the most part due to Covid.

Idk what these people giving it a 1 star were thinking or expecting but this place is great! My second time staying here and i love this campground ! The showers are clean and enough space to scrub comfortably the people who work there are nice and friendly and you have a great mountain view and Yosemite fall view i highly recommend this place

This is the only place that I stay at whenever we come to Yosemite. It sits right on the river and you can grab crawfish for dinner, there are showers and bathrooms on site and you don't have to set up a tent because they have beds with a half covered Loft for protection. They are fire pits at every single cat campsite and there is a bridge that will take you right over to a path where you can go into town if you'd like. This place is truly a gem and I can't wait to come back

I have been here many times before over the last 20+ years and never really had any issues, but this place has gone to crap. The showers are a joke. There are only 10 stalls in both the women's and men's shower for the entire campground. Anybody staying outside of the campground is charged $5 per shower. You'll be lucky to get a shower that flows the stated 1.5 gallons per minute and the shower stalls are about 2 ft x 2 ft. The floors are dirty & wet, and people leave their dirty towels all over the floor. Just because the people that work here don't shower, doesn't mean the guest don't need to shower as well. There are bathrooms all over the campground, but those are dirtier than a gas station that allows the neighborhood homeless people to shower in them. I don't think they cleaned them more than once during the 5 days we were here this trip. People that just leave a toilet clogged with their crap and TP and leave it to sit all day long. The cabins are obviously old, which wouldn't be so bad if they got cleaned between visitors. The beds would be considered comfortable if they were in a prison. Our 2" memory foam mat made it tolerable but by no means restful. The canvas doors do not keep our bugs or squirrels. As previous reviewers have said, quiet hours rules of 10pm-6am are not enforced. Kids scream that idiotic "Elmer" at the top of their lungs for no reason, and this visit we had people dressed as unicorns having a rave, complete with lasers. I am writing this review currently at 10:17 pm in our cabin and can hear 3 types of music and conversations. Don't let this review deter you from visiting the valley, because it is a beautiful place. My advice would be to stay somewhere else. For the amount of money it costs to stay here, you would think they would upgrade things from the 1950s original amenities.

What a fun, very different experience for camping! I've tent camped all my life, since I was a little girl and have never seen anything like these little cabins with cots in them. It's convenient because you don't even have to pitch a tent ! You get your fireplace and little patio with a picnic table, electricity and all. Plenty of clean bathrooms, shower and laundry room! Say whattt .. Not that I'd ever need it but that's pretty cool! Best of all- views in Yosemite are just gorgeous so it's a perfect relaxing spot to wake up to under the tall trees! We rented bikes all day for $30 per person- hiked around mirror lake, Happy isles, etc. Although mirror lake was completely dry, and the bike incline was a little rough at times, we still had a lot of fun. I'll definitely be back w/the family in he future!

I've stayed in Yosemite about every which way you can except at the Awahnee (yet) over many years. Pretty much every campground, the lodge, backpacking, Tuolomne, etc.... Trying to get a campsite these days is pretty much impossible. The tent cabins are more expensive than Housekeeping. Here's what I like about Housekeeping: You can usually get a spot if you try in advance versus trying to get a campsite. HOWEVER they are only open April-October. Any month but the summer months, you can usually get one a few months ahead. You have electricity. Read: Coffee maker and lights. There's outlets inside the "cabin" and on the counter on the patio. You can also bring festive lights to put up so you can easily spot your site at night and just for fun. You have a fire ring so you can have campfires. Can't do that with a tent cabin. You don't need to bring a tent or air mattresses. Bunk beds and a double bed. Not the most comfortable so bring cushioning if you got 'em. Otherwise, it's not all that bad for camping, yeah? The only real "camping gear" you'll need is something to cook on and a cooler. Bedding can be rented as can cots if you need extra beds. You have a bit of privacy. Tent cabins are right next to each other, feet away. You can bring tarps or other things to give yourself more privacy but I never bother. There's fencing around most of your "living" space. There's some great places to swim with a nice little beach. You're by the river and can even get sites by the river. There's a nice little general store where you can get ice cream. Housekeeping is pretty central and there's a bus stop right across the street from it.

2nd trip to Housekeeping camp at Yosemite. We stayed 7/11/17-7/15/17. Again great location! Love the electricity in the tent cabin and kitchen area. Brought 30 cup coffee maker and rice cooker for 4 families. Due to the heavy snow/rain this year the waterfalls were raging and the river was higher than last year. We floated 2x from the Housekeeping beach till the end where they make you stop. There are markers and staff from the rental place that guide you to stop. Took about 1 hour to float about 3 miles or so.... last year the water was lower and it took about 2 hours to float the same distance. Tip: if you're floating and taking the FREE bus, as you exit facing the street, go LEFT. The kids doing the tube rental told us RIGHT and we walked for 2 miles to the next bus stop. Had we gone LEFT, it's just a little ways. We don't pay for the rentals. We bring up tubes, deflate them and hop on the free bus. You'll need to transfer buses at Yosemite Village visitor center and Housekeeping is bus stop #12. The bus drivers will guide you. Had a lot of fun with our 4 families. Bring bikes for the littles. Campfire time is 5pm - 10pm and they are strict. Make sure to measure your coolers and put food in bear lockers. We forgot some popcorn and left it out. We got a warning ticket. Ranger came by at 1am. Saw neighbors that had coolers that were to big. Drama! We figured you could fit 4 of the rolling coolers you find at Costco with the team logos on them in the bottom bear locker. Also pay attention to speed limits. Got pulled over for 38 in a 25 and got a warning. So weird getting pulled over by a Park Ranger. When you stay at Housekeeping camp you have access to Half Dome/ Curry Village pool. We used the pool and bar area. We didn't want to cook on our last night so we ate over there. We plan on going back!

It is difficult for me to give anything in Yosemite less than a 5 star rating, but Housekeeping Camp just didn't do it for me. Call me a camping snob, but I'd rather throw down my tent in any of the campgrounds than stay in the sprawling Shantytown of Yosemite Valley. First of all, I must say that we probably had the best site in the whole place. It was just above the river, a few steps away from a lovely beach, and it had a great view of Yosemite Falls. We were there on a Thursday night so we didn't have too many neighbors. But if it were a weekend, we would have had people all over us. The campfire rings are just a few feet apart & the "cabins" are right next to each other. The neighbors we did have were enjoying a boisterous game of cards. You better get to know your neighbors cuz you'll be seeing an awful lot of them. I saw some sites whose only view was the bathroom. I felt sorry for those folks. If you decide to stay here, definitely pay a few extra bucks for the riverside sites. I can see how some non-campers might like the convenience of a ready-made tent cabin with beds, lights, outlets, & a table. For me, it kinda felt like I was back in summer camp. It is quaint, in a way, but I wasn't too keen on the "drapes" that provide privacy for your enclosure. Luckily we were past mosquito season, but I can only imagine how many of those buggers would be buzzing around my head & biting me at night. Not to mention all the critters (squirrels, raccoons, bears) that could easily slip right in to your bed at night. Eek! I think I'll stick to the overcrowded Upper, Lower, or North Pines campgrounds when I come to Yosemite, and be sure to come in the off season.

I asked for hardcore camping but I guess that was just my wild imagination of me making my own fire out of two sticks or stones rubbed against each other. I thought, fishing and hunting for my meal and hiding in the woods whenever I have to pee sounded so exciting and very adventurous. We were going to camp in Toulumne Meadows to get the experience I aspired above. But then we came across Yosemite Housekeeping camp while searching for other possible camping areas. When I found out that this campsite has electrical outlet, all those adveturous imagination I had in my mind vanished like bubbles in the air. All I could think of was, I could bring my hair dryer! Yay! When my boyfriend was about to reserve a tent in Toulumne Area I told him about this place and that I wanted to stay here instead. Not only that the place has what I wanted, it's also cheaper than Toulumne Area, $106/night tax inlcuded and Tuolumne was $150 something I believe. Housekeeping camp is also located in Yosemite Valley which pretty much is the center of attraction and where all the services like clinic, hotels, bike rentals, small stores and other things that you might need while in Yosemite are at. Being a good boyfriend that he is, the only question asked was if I was sure its what I really like. With a very delighted face, I said yes. Then he booked it. The campsite has its own laundry and shower area. Hot shower! Yeah! For something that is publicly used, the shower rooms are clean and they give you clean towel to use too. Ice maker in the same bulding where you check in but I wouldn't rely on it cuz it was out of service the following day. Our tent which we were lucky to have is way less disgusting compared to other tents. The fences of ours are new too and we are located near the creek and the water faucet for everyone to use. Each tent has its own beds, firepit, table and seats. Two outlets and lights (switches are above the outlets, REMEMBER THIS TIP). We brought rice cooker I wish I brought a coffee maker! I am not a fan of the bed but better than sleeping on the ground. Or I don't know, maybe sleeping on the ground would have been better. We decided to go camping amidst Hantavirus alert. Athough there was no stopping us from going, I did some precautionary measures. I wiped our matresses with disinfectants before we used them, also the shelves and table especially every morning before preparing our food. Dogs or pets are not allowed, they are considered as bear's meal and could attract them in the campsite. Also be prepared to be frequently visited by all kinds of wild animals, like squirrels, racoons and yellow jackets. We liked this place and we really had a great time camping here.

This is camping. No, they don't have a staff that will clean your "tent". It's a tent! The wind came up each afternoon causing dust to covering everything so it would not do any good to have staff clean. Its an uphill battle. We cleaned when we got there. Sprayed bug spray around the paramiter to discourage spiders, swept the floor, wiped down the shelves. At least we knew it was clean.. We brought a tarp and zip tied and bungeed it over the canvas flaps to help keep the dust out plus it gave us more privacy as the flaps don't completely seal. Our tent stayed fairly dust free even with the wind. Our "tent" had new Sealy mattresses, plastic coverings. They were extremely comfortable. We placed a blanket on top of the mattress then used bedding as normal (sheets) with a sleeping bag as our blanket. We brought a $20 5 x 7 carpet from Walmart for our floor between the beds making it clean and cozy inside. We also brought a coffee maker (electric inside the tent and one on the patio). We had a fan that helped with air movement and added white noise to assist with keeping outside noises as a minimum. The tents are close to one another. We brought a propane Coleman grill plus an electric griddle. Wow, the griddle made everything so much easier. Be sure to bring big plastic covered boxes to use to place your cooking and dining items in to keep them clean while not in use. You can't keep any smaller items out since the squirrels are everywhere and are quite the opportunist. Bring or rent bikes. The one shower facility was a bit of a walk from our location so the bikes made it much easier not to mention it was the only way to see the valley. The showers are showers! Lots of hot water, they keep them as clean as they can, but it's a public shower, bring shower shoes (sandals). Bathrooms are kept as clean as possible too and were much closer and plentiful to where your tent is located. They have hot water in the bathrooms which was a nice surprise. The reason you would ever stay here is to experience the location up close and personal and you can't swing the cost of the hotels in the valley. So, remember to look around and enjoy nature. That is the reason for the visit. If you wanted clean or room service, cough up the dough to stay at the Ahwanee. The staff when we checked in were wonderful and helpful. We did not experience any problems. This experience is NOT for anyone that does not like other people (close cabins). It would not work well if you have a breathing problem (the smoke from the fires at night make it harder to breath). If you are looking to be as close to the valley as possible, can shower and fix your hair, coffee etc. (they have electric), can make your own meals and are on a budget, can learn to live with a little dust and dirt and want an front row seat to the valley, this is the place to come.

Awesome place!!!! The beds are comfy and 10 times better than a tent, where you have to battle the mosquitoes. Ack. Not here. This actually has WALLS and beds plus A POWER CORD. THANK YOU!!!! Also they have a light inside so you don't have to bring a lantern, bring flashlight though. THEY EVEN HAVE A GROCERY STORE!!! So if u forgot ur marshmallows NO WORRIES!!! Yay!!! I had a great time here. Awesome.