Best Glamping near Alabama Hills, CA

Recent Glamping Reviews near Alabama Hills, California

160 Reviews of 19 Alabama Hills Campgrounds

• 

  Kathryn C.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 15, 2018

  Whitney Portal

  The campground at the base ofba great mountain.

  This camp ground is at the base of a very magestic mountain. Because Whitney is the tallest peak in the lower 48, this is a busy area. But it is still very relaxing and beautiful. And the camp host, Bill, is amazing. Very friendly, helpful and patient. The camp ground,itself has a beautiful stream running,through it, which ia stocked periodically with trout. 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.

  I have two issues with the camp ground is the site are small. It took some creativity to get out tent to fit.

• D

  Dave M.

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 9, 2017

  Whitney Portal

  Whitney Portal great way to beat the valley heat

  Had a wonderful time exploring the area of the Alabama Hills below and was a wonderful campsite to beat the heat of the valley, at that time was over 100 degrees. The stream was flowing and had just been load with fish, the campground was open and as well as the store/restaurant. The Burger and Beer was a welcome site after a week in the sierras, the big surprise was breakfast, the single pancake was big enough to feed three people. Do not order the short stack unless you have an army of people to feed. The campsite was kept very clean and well organized, firewood for campfires and an abundance of information about the hike to the top and surrounding areas.

• 

  Marissa B.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 17, 2018

  Whitney Portal

  Peaceful retreat at the base of the beast

  This is a great place to stay a couple of nights if your looking to acclimate a bit before going Mt. Whitney. It's also just a beautiful campground in general. There are hiking trails from the campground itself, a gorgeous river flowing through it and the camp sites are spacious. It is a short drive from the Whitney Portal Store which has the biggest pancakes I've ever seen and if you go the other way, you can easily get to the Alabama Hills or the cute town of Lone Pine. The sites are shaded and there are pit toilets. It's a terrific campground for families or people just looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city!

• 

  Lili R.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 11, 2019

  Redwood Meadow

  Amazing even in the rain!

  We stayed here in October after the yurts had been taken down which was no bother to us when you’re surrounded by the most magnificent trees in the world! This also meant there were no crowds and we had practically the entire campground to ourselves. Highly recommend going later in the year. The trail of 100 Giants is right across the street!

• 

  Hayley K.

  Legend

  

  Jul. 26, 2016

  Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground

  Beautiful Green Meadows and Big Trees!

  This is a stunning campground. It is just a short (very steep) hike from The Wheel Meadow Grove of Giant Sequoias. It is great for large groups of students and lots of opportunities for wildlife viewing. The trail going from the campground down to the trees is a great Mtn Biking trail. Loads of turns and beautiful views. The bathrooms sometimes have black widows so be careful! But the sites are great and there are even yurts if you are interested in that.

• E

  Emily

  Scout

  

  Sep. 6, 2022

  Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground

  Quiet and beautiful

  It was a very peaceful and calm campground on the I stayed in one of the yurts. It was very clean and there is a bunkbed with two full size beds and another separate full size bed. The bathrooms were also kept very clean. I didn’t get a chance to go hiking in the area, but there are trails nearby. There is no service but it is about a 5 minute drive from a cafe/store/lodge that has Wi-Fi. I was in site 28. Sites 6-10 looked amazing for tent camping.

• 

  Stan H.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 4, 2023

  Sequoia National Forest Quaking Aspen Campground

  Solid place but no bear locker

  Relatively small campground. Camp host was nonexistent. Lots of trees in most campsites. The non yurt sites didn’t have bear lockers. Fire ring was in rough shape. Loud neighbors first night. Second had techno from group site until late. Ponderosa general store was going to be my go to for firewood but it had burned down. So foraged for wood and picked up some at the campground at trail of 100 giants. Vault toilets were clean and stocked. Water spigot scattered around campground. No cell service on Verizon or wifi. Would come back here.

• 

  Mister Linh

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 1, 2023

  Redwood Meadow

  Host was exceptional

  We arrived very late at night so no one was working but was able to grab a spot by booking at the front drop off pillar - u just fill out the paperwork and add cash in it and drop it in the pillar.

  Sadly there werent any only tent sites left so we just took a site with a yurt but only used the tent we had. The host was okay with it the next morning and was very kind explaining and giving us some info on the area.

  They had a little gift shop which had medicine which was a life saver. I was coming up with something the day after arrival but the med from gift shop cleared it up in a few hrs. Definitely made the rest of the stay much more enjoyable.

  When we were about to leave we found out our car died from using the portable alternator but host was kind enough to help out with a jumpstart and even helped cleaned the battery leak with a bottle of coke he took from the gift shop. He cleans the sites in the morning and does what he can with the restrooms.

  Definitely recommend.

• 

  Ryan W.

  Legend

  

  May. 31, 2017

  Redwood Meadow

  Big Trees. Big Crowds.

  IMPORTANT recreation.gov and reserveamerica.com both list this campground as having water. That is NOT TRUE. There are no water fill up sites. There are also NO BEAR BOXES despite claims otherwise and the requirement that food be kept in them. Bears do frequent the area and are know to be numerous within a mile of camp.

  **

  Do you like shopping at REI’s parking lot sale? You might love Redwood Meadow Campground in Sequoia National Park. At 6500 feet of elevation and 40 miles from the nearest convenience store it should be far enough out there to minimize the crowds. However, it is located directly across from the trailhead to the Trail of 100 Giants, a 1/2 mile walking tour of some of the biggest trees Sequoia has to offer. Let me be clear, this is not a hiking trail. This is a tourist stop. You’ve been warned. And with a name as cool as “Trail of 100 Giants” plenty of people who are outdoorsy just enough will make the trip. I know what you’re thinking, “Why all this trail talk? Isn’t this a campground review?”

  Yes, it is. But the campground and the trail’s proximity have intertwined their destinies. If you are lucky enough to get one of the 13 camp sites, a combination of tent, van or yurt, you’ll be able to step across the road and have your morning coffee on a bench looking up at a maze of overturned sequoia roots shading a gurgling brook, or up at a tree so tall and so wide it is hard to fathom. You’ll also be dealing with the literally, 1000s of tourists who have come to see the trail over a three day weekend (strong recommend for a middle of the week site. Those tourists will have cars that overflow the parking lot, they will use your camp’s vault toilets, and they will continually be stepping out at random into the road or stopping abruptly on the the trail. They will impact your campsite experience. In fact, the camp is currently constructing a yurt general store to provide additional amenities to trail and camp visitors.

  The campground consists of an outer and inner ring. The inner ring sites ate all decent size but lack any semblance of privacy. They are pretty much open to each other, but with plenty of tall ass trees providing some shad and blocking a bit of line of sight. Sorry neighbor trying to see around that tree while we tested our new camp shower. The effects of recent forest fire are evident everywhere. In our site (005) There where large piles of ash and charred stumps remain. A year ago fire ravaged areas nearby and this location was only nicked by blaze but the effects are lasting. It makes for a dusty overall camp. Prep for a good vehicle wash afterwards.

  The outer ring is where it’s at. Particularly, along the West side of the camp where the river runs behind the sites, and the tree cover is a little thicker. The sites here (particularly 004, 006, 008) are far away and down hill from the roadway. They looked pretty idyllic and we were a bit envious that we didn’t have access to the river.

  In the evenings the trail visitors had gone back to where they came from and our small park was left with a smattering of campfires, the sounds of the river and the dark shadows of towering trees between which stars sparkled and parts of constellations teased. Those evening fires were aided by the plentiful amount of dry wood on the ground with a hatchet, like the kick-ass one from CRTK we excited to try out for the first time, you could easily put together enough wood for your visit. We had brought some but took advantage of the dry brush for starter and to keep things going when we were running low. 

  This summer Nick and Katylyn from Jersey are the hosts. They are only a few days on the job but handling the crowds like pros. They have plenty of helpful tips (Nick has been here before) and were more than helpful. Even with the crowds they were on the ball with the pit toilets, site maintaining etc.

  At the Trail of Giants the Sequoia’s all seem to have faces, and histories so long you can feel the a dignified weight settle in the stiller moments of the early morning when the masses have not yet awoken from their slumbers or the evening when their whiskeys are being poured. Those moments make a visit to this camp more than worthwhile. And during the day when they trail is filled past capacity you merely need to head a few miles in any direction and pull off at a forest road or trailhead that is completely free of visitors on even the busiest days to experience the park as a wilder, free place than we can find most of the time in our day to day lives.

  Pro-Tip 1: There are two sets of toilets. The one to the rear of the camp is hidden from the entry and not used by trail visitors. It is also shaded making for a better experience than the one closer to the front of camp.

  Pro-Tip 2: Kern River Brewing Company. Have lunch there, and beer. Then go to the general store across the street for everything from meat and cheese to hiking boots and rifles. Campfire wood is only $5/bundle and includes more than most bundles we’ve seen anywhere.

• 

  Brad C.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 23, 2021

  Sentinel Campground — Kings Canyon National Park

  Fun with beautiful views

  Great place to stay. With clean sites and plentiful amenities, you can camp comfortably while seeing the sites that California has to offer.

• 

  Margo A.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 9, 2020

  Sentinel Campground — Kings Canyon National Park

  Kings Canyon Campgrounds

  Of all the places we took our kids on their first camping road trip (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone etc)it was right here in California that they found their favorite here at Kings; big trees ( and fallen giants you could walk through) cave tours, hikes, rivers .. they loved it. So much to cover its best to go to Recreation.gov and choose your camp area. Highly recommended by this family !

• 

  Sam M.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 30, 2018

  Buckeye Flat Campground — Sequoia National Park

  trees trees trees

  This is a really cool little campground near the entrance of Sequoia National Park. The sites are tent only, so no hookups or anything like that. Pretty nice sites though, a lot of space. I think there can be fire restrictions in the summer since it can get so dry, so just be aware of that. As far as places go, it wasn't too pricey. I think we paid about $20 a night. There are bathrooms with running water, and the sites have picnic tables and fire rings. Each site also has storage lockers for your food, so be sure to lock it up in order to keep the bears from getting into it.

  As for stuff to do around here, you obviously have to check out the trees. Go look at General Sherman and all the other Sequoia trees. They're so amazing and honestly it humbles you a little. Also check out Moro Rock Trail. The view from the top is amazing. You'll also probably see a fair amount of wildlife while you're hiking around, so be careful of the bears. Out of all my trips to California, I've seen the most bears here in Sequoia. They are super cool creatures, just keep a respectful distance and of course don't feed them.

• K

  Kalai L.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 18, 2016

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Exposed but convenient for a quick stop

  Diaz Lake Campground is right off HWY 395, has a small lake, picnic table, bathroom, and parking. Pros: easy to access, more like and in and out area. Accept pets. Flat surface. Lake can be a nice spot to hang out and watch the surroundings. Cons: too exposed to the highway an cars. Can be crowded and noisy. Relatively more expensive compare to other campgrounds in the area but not too much. In summary, this is a great place to go and sleep and then continue with your trip.

• 

  Katie K.

  Ranger

  

  Sep. 12, 2016

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Nice stopping point

  At this point, we had finished the John Muir Trail and just needed a cheap place to stay. Diaz lake fit the ticket - had outdoor showers and everything. Was really loud at night, lots of drunk folks. People seemed to use this place for power boating and partying, which isn't really my cup of tea. Otherwise, the amenities were nice, and there were plenty of nice camp sites to choose from. Layout was a little confusing, so grab a map ;)

• 

  Cade H.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 23, 2017

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Early Campsite Check

  Wanting to camp here in late July I took a drive to check out the campground prior to the trip. I did find that most of the campground is on dirt driveway. The sites that aren't on the shoreline don't have grass like those on the shore. They are mostly weeds and dirt. The campground itself seems to have almost everything except showers to make it comfortable. Pit toilets are on site. There are a couple areas with a hydrant for fresh water. The sites closest to the beach swimming area seem to be the absolute best overall. Bring a camp shower for a better experience.

  When i made the visit in mid June it was very very hot. I think the temperature was around 108F. I checked the farmers almanac for late July and the temperature averages from 96 to 110. Not my cup of tea. Although the lake was very nice and I'm sure the water will feel great in the summer, sleeping during those high temps wouldn't be as great.

• 

  Sandy M.

  Traveler

  

  May. 18, 2021

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Nice midweek stop

  Only a few people here on Tuesday. Pretty stop on the 395. Already 90 degrees in May but some trees so nice in the shade.

• 

  erin T.

  Guide

  

  Jun. 12, 2021

  Diaz Lake Campground

  nice views

  $14 a night, right by a lake! super pretty. mountain view’s as well. the only bad part is i think this is a local hot spot, and there was loud trucks coming in and out in the late hours blasting music. also 4 wheelers going crazy!! did not sleep good at all.

• 

  kathleen K.

  Guide

  

  Jul. 2, 2021

  Diaz Lake Campground

  BUGS!!!!

  Road through here on a road trip one hot afternoon when I needed to get off the road. I saw that there was a lake so I thought it would be a great place to camp. I travel in a Toyota Yaris and sleep in my car. This is a very big Campground with a lot of campsites; car camping, tent sites, RV sites and boat sites also. They all come with a fire ring and a picnic bench. The trees are very sparse. My mistake was parking under trees thinking that I could utilize the shade to sleep. I got eaten alive I have so many bites all over me that it seems like I have a rash. The ants are both black and red in the sand outside and they bite. There are also sand flies that bite and spiders that bite and the birds are relentless. This lake is amazing the water is clear and the perfect temperature too bad the campground sucks! There are no flush toilets and no running water. The price is cheap but I probably won't be back maybe for a dip on my way out of town. But this place is way too buggy for me

• 

  eli R.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 12, 2021

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Hot and beautiful

  Stayed day after Labor Day. First come first serve and not many people there. Was able to find spot next to lake in tent only section. Looks like place was full for Labor Day with reservations but was still pretty clean. It was above 100 degrees so pulled in at 5 and left by 9:30 next morning but great spot with beautiful views for only $14. A goofy ranger stopped by to say “hello” in morning around 9 and checked our pass.

• L

  Laurie S.

  Traveler

  

  May. 9, 2022

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Decent campground with a gorgeous view

  I stayed 2 nights due to high winds in the area that were bouncing my little RV all over the hwy. Campground was a great place to use as a base to check out the area. I drove up and checked out the Mt Whitney trailhead and the view was incredible. Small little lake but quite a few campsites and they all looked to be relatively level. Also a designated tent area. Camped here in mid- May and it was pretty deserted. Had the place mostly to myself. 👍

• 

  Shanna P.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 20, 2022

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Beautiful stop on the way

  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. Haven’t used this as a camping destination personally, but there are so many friendly people that vacation here whether it’s for group camp parties or family adventures. Amenities are slim, but I don’t mind the rugged camping. At only $14 a night, it’s perfect for those that just need to sleep a couple hours in peace and move on, or stay and walk around to take in the scenic surroundings. For what it is, it’s a great spot!

• Y

  Yves B.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 7, 2022

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Nice view but lots of bugs

  It was ok, but lots of bugs!

• 

  Lauren K.

  Scout

  

  Apr. 30, 2023

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Nice and easily accessible spot on the lake

  We only stayed here for a night, enjoyed the water access and incredible sunrise views, did not enjoy the close quarters with other campers who were blasting music until the early hours of the morning. The site itself was clean and very easily accessible. Us and our dog enjoyed our time for the most part, though I would not stay here again and would recommend against staying here long. Unless you’re spending all of your time on the water, there’s little else to do. Even then, people were continually fishing in the designated swimming area, so you might get very little time to splash around and cool off depending on the courtesy of your fellow campers.

• A

  Andrew

  Scout

  

  Jun. 1, 2023

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Noisy

  If you’re looking for a place to take your jet skis, dirt bikes, and screaming children all while running your generator 14 hours a day, this is the place for you!

  Diaz lake is literally perfect for that sort of activity. If you’re looking to kick your feet up and read a book while enjoying nature you might want to look elsewhere.

• P

  Parry H.

  Scout

  

  May. 28, 2024

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Great little place

  This place was great and well organized, the restrooms were clean and the location was tranquil with the sounds of Bullfrogs serenading you at night.

• 

  Federico C.

  Traveler

  

  May. 28, 2022

  Diaz Lake Campground

  Underrated

  Very nice scenery, with a lot of space. It is nice not to be on top of each other. Nice off road and water sports opportunities.

• 

  DEREK B.

  Ranger

  

  Jul. 31, 2015

  Whitney Portal

  Mt. Whitney - 12,000' Camp

  Note: This review is for climbing Mt. Whitney and camping at the Outpost Camp @ 12,000' Getting there: From any real city getting to Whitney Portal will take hours and hours on the longest most boring roads in the world. And you better not forget your permit before you get there, because you wont make it through Whitney Portal without it - permits are required to camp or climb Mount Whitney.

  Campsites: There are no campsite at the Outpost Camp @ 12,000', you simply pick a spot and set up your tent. Try to find someplace that will be sheltered from the wind and don't set up too close to the water. Have a pre determined place picked out where you want to poop (you MUST have a WAG Bag with you on Whitney - be sure to pick them up before your hike, and carry extra) for going to the bathroom as it is quite rocky and exposed. You don't want to be searching for a spot with a turtle head poking out. Thirsty? Great! The stream has cold delicious water flowing through it, but unless you want to get giardia you better have a filter or iodine tablets. Enjoy!

  The Park: It's beautiful, it's treacherous.

  What to do: Hike forever and summit Mount Whitney! Try not to die. Look at ALL THE STARS! Try not to freeze to death. Enjoy the view! Try not get Altitude Sickness.