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ScoutConvict Flat Campground
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Camping near Alabama Hills, CA
183 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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Alabama Hills, California provides dispersed and established camping opportunities throughout Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The Alabama Hills Recreation Area offers free dispersed camping with sites scattered among unique rock formations, while developed options include Tuttle Creek Campground and Whitney Portal with more amenities. Tent camping, RV sites, and cabin rentals are available within the broader region, with options ranging from primitive dispersed sites to full-hookup campgrounds like Boulder Creek RV Resort in Lone Pine.
Road access varies significantly between campgrounds in the Alabama Hills area, with some requiring high-clearance vehicles. Movie Road provides the main access point for dispersed camping in Alabama Hills, with numerous unmarked pullouts suitable for overnight stays. Most dispersed sites lack amenities like water, toilets, or trash service, though established campgrounds offer varying levels of facilities. Fire restrictions frequently apply, especially during dry summer months. A visitor noted: "The BLM page for Alabama Hills gives perfect directions: take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine, turn west at the stoplight onto Whitney Portal Road, drive 2.5 miles to Movie Road, turn right."
Campers consistently praise the dramatic landscape of the Alabama Hills area, which features distinctive weathered granite boulders with Sierra Nevada mountain views. Many reviews highlight the privacy and spaciousness of dispersed camping areas despite their proximity to Lone Pine. According to one visitor, "This spot was an absolute gem nestled in some amazingly beautiful rock formations. The spot was right off the main road and didn't take much effort to get to." Developed campgrounds like Diaz Lake provide lake access, though reviews indicate they can become crowded and noisy during peak season. Sites near water sources tend to have more abundant insects than the drier dispersed locations in the rocky terrain. The Alabama Hills camping area has gained popularity due to its use as a filming location for numerous movies and commercials, which has increased visitation in recent years.
Best Campgrounds near Alabama Hills (183)
1. Alabama Hills Recreation Area
"We absolutely love Alabama Hills. BLM land so you can camp anywhere. So many beautiful views."
"Alabama Hills California presents a varied landscape. From the picture above you can plainly see the desert floor to MT. Whitney, snow capped in March of 2018."
2. Tuttle Creek Campground — Alabama Hills
"Near Lone Pine, just off Whitney Portal Road, adjacent to Alabama Hills, so lots of exploring opportunities! Great dark skies for stargazing and photography."
"This spot is great if you want easy access to Alabama Hills but don’t want to deal with having no toilets and no reservations. Still beautiful views throughout the campgrounds."
from $10 / night
Check Availability3. Whitney Portal
"There are hiking trails from the campground itself, a gorgeous river flowing through it and the camp sites are spacious."
"It is close to Whitney portal, alabama hills, onion valley, and many other hiking/backpacking destinations. We took out 7 and 9 year old boys and they had a blast."
from $34 - $95 / night
Check Availability4. Boulder Creek RV Resort
"The Dyrt listing shows they have a dump station but when we stopped in after a trip to Alabama Hills we were informed their dump station was no longer 'operational'."
"It's on the outskirts of downtown Lone Pine, but the views are beautiful of the mountains and the RV park is spacious with plenty of room to get your steps in. "
from $38 - $75 / night
Check Availability5. Lone Pine
"All around a killer spot. If it weren’t for the Alabama hills being even better, even cheaper, even more private, it would be a no brainer. But if you want any facilities...."
"While visiting Alabama Hills Recreation Area (AHRA) we made Lone Pine on our next stop for our second campsite and to relax for my 44th birthday 🎂 Since the terrain is a little different it was a nice"
from $34 - $81 / night
Check Availability6. Diaz Lake Campground
"This is a small lake and they limit the number of motorboats to 25, which is about 20 too many in my estimation. "
"This is a great driving reprieve from traveling along the 395! A lovely little lake surrounded by giant oak trees that offer lots of nice shade to spend time resting."
from $14 - $35 / night
Check Availability7. Portuguese Joe Campground
"Big points for being close to a great little town - highly recommend Alabama Hills bakery. Cell service good enough for streaming."
"Not the dispersed camping I was looking for but at least I found something because Alabama Hills and Tuttle Creek were packed on a Friday afternoon."
from $14 / night
Check Availability8. Alabama Hills Side Trail Dispersed Campsite
"The BLM page for Alabama Hills gives perfect directions the coordinates below took us out of town east. Take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine."
"walk less than 100 yards and go climbing."
9. Alabama Hills on Movie Flat Road
"This is my third or fourth time camping in the Alabama Hills area, this time I had no cell reception at my campsite, but could walk to get some of the road."
10. Cottonwood Pass Walk in Campground
"Sierras backpacking trip. restrooms and bear lockers are provided. use them as there is a lot of bear activity. cover any odorous items in your vehicle. pretty campground with tons and tons of trees. steps"
"The trail head camp ground was very nice and well maintained. Vault toilets and fresh water with plenty of access to bear boxes to properly store your food."
Drive Time
- 2 hrs 43 min from Bakersfield, CA
- 3 hrs 45 min from Visalia, CA
- 3 hrs 53 min from Hanford, CA
- 4 hrs 15 min from Fresno, CA
Recent Camping Photos near Alabama Hills, CA
355 Photos of 183 Alabama Hills Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Recent Reviews near Alabama Hills, CA
962 Reviews of 183 Alabama Hills Campgrounds
- AAbby S.
TravelerMinietta Road
Great spot with epic views. Quiet besides the occasional vehicle on the road before the turn off. Stayed in the first spot but saw a few other rigs farther back. Lovely place.
Jules D.
GuideAlabama Hills Dispersed Camping #2
My favorite spot at Alabama Hills. Very low traffic. There are only three campsites on this dead end road. It looks like 4 from Google Maps, but they are rehabbing one area. Most of the stuff people want to see at Alabama Hills is over a mile away. There Is a lot of broken glass and dog poo in the site. I stayed in site #2. It is huge. 3 has nice view; 4 is practically private-but very unlevel. The mountains are gorgeous. I will definitely camp here again.
- aashlyn M.Scout
Forest Road 14S11 North Camp
Paved forest service road with many sites along the road. We found a pull through site big enough for our 43ft fifth wheel.
- HHope H.Guide
Potwisha Campground — Sequoia National Park
Noisy Large Groups and Hot
I liked my site, which was just to the left of the entrance and was large and shaded. However, a large group had reserved several sites nearby which they treated as a group site, converging centrally in the evening and being pretty noisy with loud music until 11. They set up a very bright LED beacon on a pole which was obnoxious and thoughtless toward tenting neighbors and wildlife. I have stayed in other SEKI campgrounds many times without these issues. I won't be coming back to Potwisha.
Matt G.
RangerMinietta Road
Good for what it is. Nice place for a stop over. No cell an no amenities. Road wasn't bad getting there. An no one was around.
Nick B.GuideBig Meadows Road
One of many dispersed sites along Big Meadows Rd. There are a few that can accommodate larger rigs, like this one. Plenty of solar and enough room for multiple rigs (we stayed here with 2 rigs, one 33' and the other 27'). Very quiet road and close to both parks!
Danielle V.ScoutCartago Springs
Honestly, I'm not entirely sure why this is on the map at all. It is literally just a dead-end road with a blank spot of dirt and a picnic table at the far edge. I can't see that there's really any good. I don't know. It just doesn't even seem like a place to be.
Perhaps there is some generosity of spirit that somebody would allow someone to be here for free, but it doesn't seem like this is intended to be a camping spot at all. The only reason that I'm including two stars instead of one star is because it does exist, and that is all right. It's possible that if you needed a place to stay, this would be an acceptable one, but I would not pitch a tent here. It's quite close to the highway, so you're getting quite a lot of road noise.
Jake L.ScoutLodgepole Campground — Sequoia National Park
Not bad
Easy to access, sites are a little close together, but the drive is scenic and there’s lots of good stuff to go do close by.
Guide to Alabama Hills
Alabama Hills camping area sits at approximately 4,000-5,000 feet elevation at the eastern base of California's Sierra Nevada range, creating a dramatic transition zone between alpine mountains and high desert. The region experiences extreme temperature variations with summer days often exceeding 90°F while winter nights can drop well below freezing. Seasonal wind patterns through nearby Owens Valley can create sudden gusts that impact tent camping, particularly during spring and fall transition periods.
What to Do
Sunrise photography at Mobius Arch: Located a short hike from Movie Road, this natural stone arch perfectly frames Mount Whitney. "The moon rise was quite the experience. Then sunrise... it was all just so beautiful," notes a visitor to Alabama Hills Recreation Area.
Fishing at Diaz Lake: This accessible spot near Lone Pine offers trout fishing opportunities throughout the year. "There was a nice stream you could fish with some trout," reports a camper at Lone Pine Campground.
Explore filming locations: The area has been featured in numerous films including Iron Man and Star Wars. "Very nice view. Some clips of the film Ironman and Star Wars took place," mentions a visitor to Alabama Hills Side Trail.
Acclimatize before Whitney hikes: Use lower elevation campgrounds to adjust before attempting higher altitudes. "This campground is right at the trailhead for Mt. Whitney! Because of this the campgrounds do fill up insanely quick! Be sure to book at least 2-3 months out," advises a camper at Whitney Portal.
What Campers Like
Spacing between sites: Many dispersed camping areas provide privacy despite popularity. "All with amazing views. SUV would probably be best for navigating the roads or at least 4x4. They're all pretty far apart so they're private," explains a camper at Alabama Hills Recreation Area.
Creek sounds: Several campgrounds feature flowing water that creates soothing background noise. "The campground was nice, quiet. There's a pretty little creek that splits the campground that gives off soothing sounds," notes a visitor at Portuguese Joe Campground.
Dark skies for astronomy: The area's limited light pollution makes it ideal for stargazing. "It's so quiet at night you could hear a pin drop. The stars and the Milky Way are insane! So many constellations and shooting stars and satellites," shares an Alabama Hills Recreation Area visitor.
Winter camping value: Off-season camping offers both solitude and savings. "Perfect... $5 winter camping. Water is at Portuguese Joe's county campground," reports a camper at Tuttle Creek Campground.
What You Should Know
Campsite restrictions changing: Recent management changes have limited dispersed camping areas. "The only places you can camp are designated now. Tuttle creek. Everywhere else there are signs for no camping and only day use," cautions a 2025 visitor to Alabama Hills Recreation Area.
Arrival timing matters: Popular campgrounds fill quickly, especially during peak seasons. "Definitely a place you'd want to show up 4-5 hours early to find a spot. Otherwise, the roads were not too bad," advises an Alabama Hills camper.
Elevation temperature differences: Expect significant temperature changes between valley and mountain campsites. "Gets pretty toast in the summer though," warns a camper about Alabama Hills, while another notes "Below freezing temps were well worth the stunning views."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Alabama Hills, CA?
What camping is available near Alabama Hills, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Alabama Hills, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 183 campgrounds and RV parks near Alabama Hills, CA and 58 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Alabama Hills, CA?
Which is the most popular campground near Alabama Hills, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Alabama Hills, CA is Alabama Hills Recreation Area with a 4.7-star rating from 87 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Alabama Hills, CA?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Alabama Hills, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 58 free dispersed camping spots near Alabama Hills, CA.
What parks are near Alabama Hills, CA?
What parks are near Alabama Hills, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 16 parks near Alabama Hills, CA that allow camping, notably Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
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