Fishing along Horton Creek and taking in open sightlines toward the snow-capped eastern Sierra Nevada are two reasons campers return to this BLM campground in the Alabama Hills area. Sites are spread across exposed, open terrain with no shade to speak of, which matters in summer when temperatures climb and dust settles over the area. The campground draws a notable number of RV campers, and all sites are first-come, first-served.
Facilities are straightforward. Vault toilets are on-site, and potable water is available from March 1 through October 31. A dump station is also provided. Amy sums up the layout well: "room between campsites, no shade, clean vault toilets." T-Mobile users have reported solid cell coverage here. Wind can be a real factor, so checking the forecast before committing to dates is worth doing. A camp host is sometimes present.
The access road is rough, so lower-clearance vehicles should approach with caution. The $10 nightly fee is paid on-site. For campers planning a longer stay in the region, Buttermilk Country Road and Pleasant Valley Pit Campground are among the nearby alternatives worth considering. Those arriving from the north can explore campgrounds near Swall Meadows to compare options before settling in. If waking up to views of the Sierra crest sounds like enough reason to make the drive, this campground delivers on that front.
Description
Overview
$12.00 per site per night. No reservations. Open May - October.Horton Creek Campground offers 49 RV/tent sites, with four pull-through trailer spaces, maximum recommended RV length is 30 feet. All sites include a fire pit, picnic table and a lantern holder. No hook-up. Potable water is available. Dump station fee is $12.00, no passes accepted. Closest amenities are 12 miles south in Bishop.Camping for a period longer than 14 days at any one campground, not to exceed 28 days per calendar year for all Bishop Field Office campgrounds, is prohibited without the written permission from the Field Office Manager.A California Campfire Permit is not required for fires within established fire rings in developed campgrounds. Seasonal fire restrictions may prohibit campfires during periods of high fire danger. Please check the BLMs website for information on current fire restrictions or call the Bishop Field Office at (760) 872-5000.DIRECTIONS: Travel 8.5 miles north on U.S. Highway 395 from Bishop to Sawmill Road and turn left, take an immediate right onto South Round Valley Road and travel 3 miles, campground is on the left.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsHorton Creek Campground is located in California near Swall Meadows
Coordinates
37.38 N
118.578 W
Connectivity
T-MobileLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/14/26- VerizonLTESome Coverage
AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 12/11/25
Connectivity
- T-MobileLTESome CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/14/26
- VerizonLTESome Coverage
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 12/11/25
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
Features
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
Drive Time
- 5 hrs 34 min from Visalia, CA
- 5 hrs 41 min from Hanford, CA
- 6 hrs 3 min from Fresno, CA
- 6 hrs 4 min from Merced, CA
