We arrived at Housekeeping Camp late on an October weekend. Check-in was at the campgrounds, and was quick and easy. Since we flew in from the East Coast, we spent the extra money to rent bedding rather than carry it on the airplane. It was $2.50 a night for a double bed pack (fitted and flat sheet for a double bed, 2 pillowcases, and 2 blankets) - well worth it in my opinion. We walked across the parking lot to pick up the bedding and went to our 'tent.' It is actually a concrete floor with 3 concrete walls and the front and roof are canvas. I found the canvas to have an odd smell the first night, but didn't notice it the second night.

The view was incredible. Our tent was right on the riverfront and the trees and granite cliffs in the background - I don't have the words for how beautiful it was.

There is a metal box at the camp to put foods and toiletries into to keep them away from any bears in the area. There is also a small picnic table and a fire pit. There are 2 electrical outlets - one inside the tent; one in the covered patio outside.

Bathrooms with flush toilets and sinks were a short walk away; the showers were in a different building a little further away - we didn't use them, so I can't review them.

We would absolutely stay here again. The price was a little on the high side (I think we paid $80 a night) but the convenience (shuttle stops right across the road) and the beauty was worth it to us.

We stayed at housekeeping Camp for 3 nights in late September 2012.
Check-in was friendly & efficient but it was all down hill from there.

Our stay coincided with the Hantavirus problems & we had been assured that extra cleaning had been done to minimise the risk of Deer Mouse faeces & urine being present. It was apparent that the only work done to reduce the risk of Hantavirus was to put up warning signs.

Our "tent" was disgusting. There was a thick layer of dirt & grit on the floor & when i dropped a torch under the bed I discovered a detritus of old tissues, napkins & opened condom packets. The wooden shelves in the tent were broken because somebody had used them as a step to get into the top bunk (no ladder supplied) & had the sharp points of fasteners exposed. The walls were dirty & the canvas was dusty & mouldy.
The "tent" flaps were secured by two ties & did not secure the door properly. There was no way this "tent" was secure from Deer Mice, in fact, during the night my daughter had to shoo a racoon out of the room that was trying to get into her bed.
The picnic tables outside were dirty as well, not just dusty but in-ground dirt & it's obvious they hadn't been wiped over for a long time.
The toilet block was in poor condition & was superficially clean but needed a deep clean & renovation.
The shower block was dirty. My daughter claimed that her feet came out of the shower cubicle dirtier than when she went in. Also, the drainage was poor so you were standing in several inches of water while showering.
During our stay at Housekeeping Camp we did not see a single maintenance or cleaning person. The only signs of employment were the college kids that studiously sat behind the counters of the shower block & the equipment rental block doing as little as possible.

Housekeeping Camp has one thing going for it, the location in the Yosemite Valley. Apart from that I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

If you tent camp then this is for you. The space is more private. Some sites real close to the merced river. Any needed ammenties are within walking distance. Showers very clean, restrooms above average clean. Free shuttle around valley. All that and your in yosemite. Rent bikes, kayaks. Bone up a little as some of the hikes are strenuous. Bring good binoculars to watch the mountaineering folks climb el capitain. Going again in late Spring as there will more water in the falls. Side note...... very few bugs.

Only having spent one night here and it being my first experience of 'camping' in North America, I can only compare to the many European campsites I have stayed at.
Firstly, Yosemite is an absolutely stunning place and I cannot think of anywhere better to be under canvas.
Staff at check-in were curteous and thorough.
We easily found our 'tent'; which is actually concrete walls on three sides and a canvas front, with a walled in seating area and a fire-pit.
The tents have a double bed and bunk beds with a metal shelving unit and a pole for hanging clothes from; as well as a fixed electric light inside and out, and socket for charging etc.
Also there is a picnic bench and bear-proof food locker (which MUST be used to store all items of food, drink and toiletries to prevent nosey bears from entering your tent area or car! We also placed everything into airtight Ziploc bags)
Toilet blocks were clean and close by, however the single shower block did get busy very early on.
In comparison to European sites costing a similar amount for fixed camping, this is very far behind on the standard of equipment and services provided; which are basic.
You do get the feeling that because they have the monopoly on this area it is very much take it or leave it. I am aware that being a national park they wish to keep it as untouched as possible, but it is expensive for what's provided.
That said, the setting is fabulous; tranquil and beautiful. Also met several interesting people on our short stay as we star gazed on the bridge. Fortunately, no bears.

Note:
One thing which was surprising was that with all the ongoing concern about the Hansa virus outbreak including being handed out information leaflets on arrival, the tents themselves were not clean at all. All surfaces were covered in dirt and dust an appeared not to have been wiped down for some time.