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Alabama Hills Recreation Area permits dogs throughout its free dispersed camping sites, offering pet owners scenic camping opportunities among the distinctive rock formations. Tuttle Creek Campground also welcomes pets and provides basic facilities including toilets, trash service, and a sanitary dump station. Whitney Portal campground combines pet-friendly policies with additional amenities including drinking water, firewood sales, and a small market. Most camping areas feature fire rings at designated sites, though seasonal fire restrictions may apply based on weather conditions. Several dispersed sites along Movie Flat Road and throughout the Alabama Hills area provide excellent options for camping with pets, as rock formations create natural windbreaks for camping spots.
Campers report that high clearance vehicles navigate the Alabama Hills dispersed camping areas more easily, though careful driving can accommodate standard vehicles on many routes. The area offers numerous opportunities for hiking with dogs, with trails winding through the unique boulder formations that have featured in various films including Ironman and Star Wars. Summer temperatures can exceed 100°F, making spring and fall better seasons for camping with pets. Dogs should remain leashed in most areas to protect wildlife and prevent encounters with native animals. Alabama Hills provides excellent access to rock climbing opportunities within walking distance of many campsites, allowing climbers to bring their dogs along while enjoying the area's numerous bolted routes and bouldering problems.
"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."
"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 Availability"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 Availability"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 Availability"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 Availability"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 Availability"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 Availability"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."
"We camped at Outpost camp which is about 4-5 miles in from the entrance. No one was there when we camped. Most people camp at Trail Camp. There was a nice waterfall nearby as a great water source."
"this camp is located above the tree line with views of rugged peaks, glaciers and lakes. All waste must be packed out in special bags given to you when you pick up your permit."
"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."
GuideWe absolutely love Alabama Hills. BLM land so you can camp anywhere. So many beautiful views. You can see Mount Whitney in the distance. 4 wheel drive isn’t required but definitely recommend. No bathrooms or water around. A lot of old movies were filmed in the hills. We went off roading to a nearby mine, you can drive all the way in the mine which was rad.
TravelerAlabama 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.
“Its like this place was made for exploring and with no end in sight”
With a last minute decision to make the 2.5 hour trek from our home in Valencia, California. Makayla packed up after her early release and headed North via the I-14 and CA-395.
The prior week had heavy rainstorms, high winds and the potential for below freezing temps. The unclear conditions mixed with the reality of fast moving flash floods in the area nearly cancelled the entire trip.
The area and what we recommend Access to the area is relatively easy. The trails are mostly groomed and with a most CUV's, Soft-roaders and even some 2wd vehicles can make the most of the area. If you want to get to the more interesting bits, like up Mt. Whitney, you will need a high clearance 4wd with Low Range and purposed tires. The scenery is nearly second to none and will not disappoint.
Camping is first come - first serve. There are no fees as this is an open area so plan accordingly as I am sure holidays can get packed. No shower or restroom facilities are available, so bring the necessary kit.
Alabama Hills may look familiar to many of you due to the simple fact that it has been seen in a large amount of movies. Westerns to Iron Man, the Hills were so widely used, one of the roads is appropriately titled "Movie Road".
Photographers alike can also take advantage of very little light pollution. Meaning that the low light Milky Way shots are considerably easier.
Alabama Hills Cafe is hands down the best place to grab breakfast for an early out when heading back to civilization. After a few days in the wilderness, there is nothing wrong with letting someone else do the cook and do the dishes for you
RangerNice, out of the way campsite. 81 sites on Tuttle Creek. Clean restrooms. No showers or drinking water. Near Lone Pine, just off Whitney Portal Road, adjacent to Alabama Hills, so lots of exploring opportunities! Great dark skies for stargazing and photography.
TravelerThe Alabama Hills Recreation Area is the perfect spot for dispersed camping. The Alabama Hills have several rock formations that make finding a private spot relatively easy, especially during off-peak times. The silence, views of the hills and Mt. Whitney, and privacy make this a favorite location of ours and we will be back. It can get cold at night, so pack accordingly, but the stargazing at night is well worth it!
GuideThis 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. It’s a bit easier for families here.
RangerCamped here in Nov 2020 when it was pretty chilly and got a dusting of snow overnight. This is boondocking at its best, with tons of secluded sites off the main road (Movie Rd).
Roads are decent, there are lots of level, large and pull-through sites. Amazing scenery of the Sierra Nevadas and the unique landscape of the Alabama Hills. Lots of hiking trails, arches and movie locations.
Download the Alabama Hills Rec Area digital map from Avenza for locations of the arches, trails and movie scene locations.
No amenities, no cell service but the town of Lone Pine is 10 min away.
LegendSimple campground that was close to Alabama Hills for our group to go climbing. Clean bathrooms. Quite while we were there, nice people did pull up a few spot down.
GuideAlabama Hills is located off the beautiful Highway 395. Camping here is a great experience, no designated sites just open land and so much open space. The view of the mountains and rock formations are a must see. This should be on everyone's bucket list.
GuideLocation- ALABAMA HILLS, Lone Pine- Movie Rd. CA. Tent Dry Camping. BLM Land, for disperse camping. No reservations required, unless you choose to stay at a “campground”.
Absolutely breathtaking place, it feels like you’ve landed on another planet or as if you’ve been taken back into time, to the early dawn of mankind days. This was our first disperse/dry camping and I wouldn’t camp any other way, it was marvelous.
Directions- Once at Alabama Hills, Take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine. (it’s a proper town with restaurants/ grocery stores/ car workshops). Turn west at the stoplight onto Whitney Portal Road, drive 2.5 miles to Movie Road, turn right & the road turns into a “well groomed dirt path” from that point onwards “The world is your oyster! You can basically set up camp anywhere. As you drive down the groomed dirt path, there are multiple exits to various dirt paths leading inwards, where you can pick your spot to set up camp.
One very important thing is you MUST come here in a GOOD condition 4WD! There’s NO other way. You don’t want to get WHEELS stuck on the dirt path. We had rented a 4WD for the weekend.
We camped about 3miles in Movie Rd. Another good thing is if you run out of any supplies or have car trouble “Lone Pine” town is nearby you can drive over in minutes or call for any help. Phone service & wifi is available only on the groomed dirt path, also a bit unstable, however manageable for a call or text. So you’ll have to walk out of your campsite back to main rd.
It’s wonderful to go on hikes and explore during the day, that’s what we did. Evenings we’d sit around fire and cook dinner. Then at night time S’mores time! (we have a camp fire permit) you get it online.
Another important item to have around is a sturdy SHOVEL, as it’s very sandy here and the shovel is very multi-purpose, well at any camp for that matter. Bring Plenty of WATER, it’s very dry out here. As there are no water taps around, unless you head back to Lone Pine. Also you MUST clean up after, bring along a few trash bags or a bin, to clear up before you leave. LEAVE no Trace. Keep nature clean.
This is purely disperse camping. You’ll have to bring everything of your own. Our camp was a 3days/ 2nights. Arrived on Friday and left on Sunday morning. Waking up every morning to this spectacular view, is pure bliss! We’d definitely be coming back here a few more times! If you haven’t already then hop on a 4WD and head over to Alabama Hills!
Camping opportunities near Alabama Hills are concentrated around the 4,000-foot elevation zone where desert landscape meets mountain terrain. The area experiences dramatic temperature fluctuations, dropping over 30 degrees from day to night during spring and fall. Most campgrounds in the Alabama Hills region offer fire rings at designated sites, but permits are required for campfires when they aren't prohibited due to seasonal conditions.
Rock climbing access: Many campsites at Alabama Hills Recreation Area provide direct access to climbing routes. "This is the place where you can camp, wake up in the morning drink coffee, walk less than 100 yards and go climbing," notes Frederick S., highlighting the convenience for climbers.
Photography at sunrise: The early morning light creates dramatic shadows across the rock formations. "Sunrise view of Whitney is breathtaking," says Jennifer D., describing the morning views that attract photographers throughout the year.
Mountain hiking: Whitney Portal serves as the gateway to numerous alpine trails. "I'd camp here to hike Meysan Lakes and the start of the Whitney trail to Lone Pine Lake, neither of which require permits for day hikes," explains Jeff V., pointing out accessible day hikes from the campground.
Creekside camping: The sound of flowing water enhances many camping experiences in the area. At Tuttle Creek Campground, "I loved hearing the creek just 30 feet away from my campsite. The views were fantastic and the CG was near the rock formations and trails," shares B B., describing the natural soundtrack.
Stargazing conditions: The remote location creates excellent night sky viewing. "The stars and the Milky Way are insane! So many constellations and shooting stars and satellites," Rachel W. explains about the astronomical visibility in the region.
Shade availability: In an area known for intense heat, tree cover is valuable. At Portagee Joe Campground, "Sites are generous width, some shade potential," notes Neil T., referring to the protection from sun during hot days.
Reservation timing: Securing campsites requires planning, especially during peak season. "Definitely a place you'd want to show up 4-5 hours early to find a spot," advises Kai K. about the competition for remaining dispersed sites.
Seasonal restrictions: Rules change throughout the year regarding where camping is permitted. "The only places you can camp are designated now. Tuttle creek. Everywhere else there are signs for no camping and only day use," Emily D. reports about recent management changes.
Wildlife concerns: Local fauna can be problematic at certain campsites. At Lone Pine Campground, one camper noted, "We were invaded by deer mice. They got in our campervan. We killed more than 10 of them," warns Deb H. about potential wildlife interactions.
Wind conditions: The valley geography creates significant wind events. "We had a lot of wind that came blowing up the valley from the south. There is very little protection for the tent campsites. Almost killed the tent," explains Andrew M., describing how wind funnels through the camping areas.
Bouldering for children: Natural rock features provide recreational opportunities. "There are a couple big boulders the kids can climb on and around," suggests Mark G., describing family-friendly activities available directly at campsites.
Wildlife watching: Smaller animals provide entertainment for young campers. "There are tons of mountain squirrels running around the campground frequently, and they are so cute and entertaining to watch," Elise F. shares about the natural distractions for children.
Heat preparation: Summer temperatures require specific planning for younger campers. "It was above 100 degrees so pulled in at 5 and left by 9:30 next morning," eli R. explains about adapting camping schedules to accommodate extreme heat when camping with families.
Access considerations: Vehicle clearance affects campsite selection throughout the region. "It is worth driving around and exploring before settling in if you are new here. I ended up packing up and moving a few times after poking around a bit," John M. advises about finding the right spot for your vehicle at Alabama Hills on Movie Flat Road.
Designated RV spaces: Purpose-built sites make larger vehicle camping easier. "Just a couple miles from the Alabama Hills. $10 a night BLM campground. Vault toilets. Both water and dump station are closed 80+ sites and all have great views," Rick L. describes at Tuttle Creek Campground.
Route planning: Navigating narrow roads requires caution with larger vehicles. "Squeezed a 5th Wheel into one of the spots. Would not advise crossing bridge at back of campground to loop around very low clearance and very small width," warns Kerry L. about potential obstacles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Alabama Hills, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Alabama Hills, CA is Alabama Hills Recreation Area with a 4.7-star rating from 88 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Alabama Hills, CA?
TheDyrt.com has all 110 dog-friendly camping locations near Alabama Hills, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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