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Best Campgrounds near Bishop, CA

840 Reviews

The Bishop, California area encompasses a variety of camping options across different elevations and landscapes. Volcanic Tableland BLM Dispersed Camping offers free primitive sites north of town, while established facilities like Brown's Town and Highlands RV Park provide more developed experiences with hookups and amenities. The region includes both tent and RV sites, with several campgrounds offering mixed accommodation types. Most developed campgrounds are situated within 15 miles of Bishop's city center, providing convenient access to services while still offering mountain views.

Campgrounds in the Bishop area typically operate year-round at lower elevations, while higher elevation sites may close during winter months. Many established campgrounds provide water and electric hookups, with varying levels of amenity access. Several locations like Brown's Town and Highlands RV Park maintain shower facilities and toilets, though some require additional fees for these services. Public lands permit dispersed camping with fewer amenities but greater privacy. Cellular coverage varies significantly by location, with stronger signals near town and spotty reception in outlying areas. A visitor commented that Highland RV Park offers "full hookups, very well maintained sites with dirt sections and a concrete slab with picnic table."

Campers report that proximity to Bishop's amenities is a key advantage for many sites, with several campgrounds placing visitors within walking distance or a short drive to restaurants, shops and services. Mixed-use campgrounds like Brown's Town feature grassy sites with picnic tables and fire pits, offering a balance between developed amenities and natural surroundings. According to reviews, many campgrounds provide mountain views with "beautiful 360-degree Mountain Views" visible from some locations. Several visitors noted clean facilities as a consistent positive feature across the developed campgrounds in the area. While some campgrounds can be noisy due to proximity to highways, others offer quieter settings with natural barriers or greater distance from major roads.

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Best Camping Sites Near Bishop, California (233)

    1. Grandview Campground

    24 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 873-2500

    "Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest is close by or take a drive down to the old mining area, but I would suggest a four wheel drive, mountain bike or good hiking shoes drive for this."

    "With amazing views of the Sierra Nevadas, and lots of exploration potential in the Inyos, this is a wonderfully situated campground."

    2. Pleasant Valley Campground

    15 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 873-5577

    $14 - $108 / night

    "There is Pleasant Valley Campground, and if you cross the street and drive a little bit in you can get to Pleasant Valley Pit. This place has no shade, no trees, but amazing view of the Sierras."

    "Very quiet night for sleeping with the sound of a creek running behind our camper."

    3. Volcanic Tableland BLM Dispersed Camping

    13 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 872-5000

    "Was stoked to find this gem a short drive from Bishop. I drove in at night and the Milky Way was shining bright. Got some decent star shots."

    "We wanted something near Bishop. Hardly anyone around, but other vans helped us know we were in the right place. A bit windy and cold though!"

    4. Highlands RV Park

    7 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    1 mile
    Website
    +1 (760) 873-7616

    $41 - $45 / night

    "This location is very clean, close to town with full hook ups. Staff was very friendly! It is right next to a pretty noisy road but I think it's a good stop for the night 👍"

    "They offer many pull through spots and the back-in ones are located along the permitter of the park. A nice green area for your kids or dogs to explore. They even have a small pond out front."

    5. Pleasant Valley Pit Campground

    8 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    6 miles
    Website

    $5 / night

    "Straight forward camp sites right outside of bishop, easy access for climbing at Owens river gorge, or saying for skiing at mammoth below the snow line. Only $5 a night"

    "Everytime I go to Bishop, I stay here!"

    6. Brown’s Town

    6 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 873-8522

    $27 - $32 / night

    "Close To town(Bishop). Close to lots of lakes and tons to do and see. Very clean,"

    "Number 2, Bishop is a nice little town with AMAZING food spots, so you will want a little time to check those out."

    7. Big Pine Creek Campground

    17 Reviews
    Big Pine, CA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 935-4339

    $26 / night

    "However, next to Big Pine Creek Campground is Glacier Lodge (they share the same entrance road and is privately owned)…and they will rent you a shower for $5/5 minutes."

    "Wood was about $1-2 per bundle more expensive than other National Forest sites we've been in & the nearby town."

    8. McGee Creek

    6 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    7 miles

    "We camped right next to the stream and stayed one night and it was peaceful and far away from any highway."

    "Road was closed so we walked the half mile or so in. Beautiful spot!"

    9. Brown's Millpond Campground

    5 Reviews
    Bishop, CA
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 873-5342

    "The Browns Millpond campsite was a last minute trip to Bishop. The campsite was small for tent campers and had hookups for RV's. The camp had showers, toilets and even a fish cleaning station."

    "The campground is near a county park with a small lake . This is a great home base to explore the area, Toms place,Rock creek,Convict Lake, Mammoth and the June Lake loop are within 45 min."

    10. Keoughs Hot Springs and Campground

    6 Reviews
    Big Pine, CA
    8 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 872-4670

    "If you want hot springs with peace and quiet just walking out the entrance to the free pools. The pool in the campground also has a snack bar. Very friendly folks here."

    "Camp sites are pretty close together but all places seem to be around here."

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Recent Camping Photos near Bishop, CA

294 Photos of 233 Bishop Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Bishop, CA

840 Reviews of 233 Bishop Campgrounds

  • LThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Mono Lake South Dispersed

    Magical place!

    Easy to drive in but don’t pass that sign that says “4 wheeled only” with an RV. We have a 24ft and had a perfectly leveled spot underneath a large tree. You can see the lake from there. We took a bicycle ride in to the “south Tufa” which is only 2 miles away. Watched the sunset there, magical!

  • Soggy Bottoms Camper G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 1, 2025

    Lake George Campground

    Love Lake George!

    Lake George was the perfect camp spot for our 4 night stay. It is first come first serve. We stayed in site 14 - the mountain side or tree side is better because it’s not windy at all! All the spots with lake view are very windy and it can be cold even in the summer! The bathrooms are super clean and have real toilets. No showers though! There is lots to do in the area and Lake George isn’t nearly as busy as Lake Mary/ Pine City camp. Although there is day use areas and it can be busy with fishing. Lots of wildlife in the area, so use the Bear box and keep food in containers. Even the chipmunks, birds, and mice will get into your stuff. I saw chipmunks trying to break into tents. This site is small RV/Trailer friendly - we stayed in our truck camper. This is NOT for big rigs or class A RVs. Also no hookups but they have a water spyket. Beware of elevation if you are not used to it - it’s at a whopping 9,250 feet and I was sick for 2 days. It’s $34 a night and quiet hours are 10pm-6am. Generators are aloud just not during quiet hours. Bring your paddle board or kayak and hit the water! It’s so beautiful here.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Mono Lake South Dispersed

    Remote, dispersed campsite offers solitude, lake views, and wildlife.

    I spent a week here, making it worthwhile to unload the electric pop-up camper (w/ electric jacks) from my truck.  My canopy @rear (facing west) was very welcome, as the dead scrub offers absolutely NO shade.  It was charred from a recent burn, making for excellent campfires!  The cab-over cantilever @front (facing east) also gave shade in the late afternoon heat!  I brought two additional tanks of water, allowing for refreshing showers in this arid desert environment.  

    From Navy Beach Rd, I drove 3/4 miles east on FS-1N54, until I crossed into Inyo NF territory, @ a juncture.  After another 1/2 mile on E Shore Rd, I found a clearing suitable for my camper, @1/2 mile from the shore.  In another 3 miles, there is a very nice cul-de-sac turn-around, which, @50' x 100', looks large enough to accommodate a half-dozen vehicles.  In another 5 miles, you cross from USFS into a local tract of land.  While BLM territory surrounds the entire lake, it is more than 1 mile away from shore.  Beware of very soft sand I encountered beyond my campsite.  Some sections were like 'quicksand', forcing me to air-down to 15 PSI.  It challenged my 'Limited Slip' Tundra, so an AWD car could get in serious trouble.  The only people I saw were in two jeeps that passed-by my camp, backtracking out 1/2 hour later.  From my bed, I heard (but did not see - new moon) several animal visitors.  They only come out at night...  

    In spite of the seclusion, my camp was actually quite close to main roads, so I spent a lot of time out sight-seeing.  I was also close enough to Navy Beach to launch my kayak @sunrise, when the water is dead-calm.  Ocean-type squalls can flare up with no warning, because of the wide-open desert terrain.  I got a permit to camp on Phoe Island from a Ranger @Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center.  However, after he showed me photos of squalls & told of numerous drowned kayakers, I thought better of it...

  • Kate S.
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Princess

    one of my all time favorites

    pitch your tent in a beautiful grove of sequoias - including the massive stumps left over from fallen giants - on the edge of a meadow filled with lupine, aspen, and a sweet little creek. took a chance on the rare possibility of a cancellation and it somehow paid off. hosts keep the facilities super clean, it's quiet at night even with a full campground, and the stargazing is incredible. smells amazing, too. definitely the princess of all campgrounds. in close range to hume lake for swimming and general grant village for phone service, food, and supplies.

  • J
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Rock Tub Hot Springs

    Cattle

    Cattle have been in the springs, fresh cow pies all over. They have trampled the pipe that fills the rock tub. Don’t camp here expecting a hot springs.

  • J
    Aug. 27, 2025

    Hot Creek Dispersed

    Near hot spring, secluded

    Great location near all the hot springs but private enough. Only small group would fit here. I would not bring a trailer not this road, no real turn around point. Road to get here is short and easy. Great views into Hot Creek. You can walk to Sheep hot spring from here. Amazing views to wake up to. Some left several rolls of carpet and padding here :( otherwise pretty clean.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    the Inn at Benton Hot Springs

    Relaxing Hot Tubs

    This place is beautiful and yes a hidden gem! Very quiet and peaceful! Must bring everything you need, there are no stores or food about an hour away! Generator can be ran 2 hours 8-10 pm and 5-7 pm! Be prepared for quick changes in weather and mosquitoes as this is near water! Will absolutely be back! Super neat to walk back in time at this historic tiny town!

Guide to Bishop

Camping spots near Bishop, California range from high-elevation alpine sites to desert terrain options. Located in the Owens Valley between the White Mountains and Eastern Sierra Nevada, Bishop area camping sits at elevations between 4,000-8,000 feet, creating significant temperature variations between day and night. Seasonal campers should note that wind patterns can be significant, particularly in spring months when gusts frequently exceed 30 mph across open tableland areas.

What to do

Bouldering and climbing access: Pleasant Valley Pit Campground offers affordable access to popular climbing areas. "Great for meeting other climbers and super cheap, but be prepared for people driving around late at night, and a line to use the bathroom," notes M H. The area provides a base for climbers at only $5 per night.

High-altitude hiking options: From Big Pine Creek Campground, you can access spectacular alpine lakes. One camper shares: "The North Trail was incredible. We started late and only went to the first and second of seven alpine glacier lakes. The water is so emerald green, it's surreal." The trailhead starts directly from the campground for convenience.

Hot springs exploration: While staying at Keoughs Hot Springs and Campground, visitors can enjoy both developed and undeveloped hot springs. "We rode our bikes down the dirt road, looked for the overhead electrical lines and found some open hot springs. We had the place to ourselves and it was deep enough to sit in and get a good warm soak," reports one camper.

What campers like

Dark skies for stargazing: Grandview Campground at 8,000 feet elevation offers exceptional night viewing. "We slung up the hammock and fell asleep under the INSANE stars. Like the angels kicked over multiple bottles of glitter," writes Kiley S. The high elevation and distance from urban areas creates optimal conditions for astronomy enthusiasts.

Creek-side camping: Several campsites feature running water nearby. A McGee Creek visitor notes, "Spots closer to the creek create a nice white noise. Beautiful view of the mountains in the morning." The sound of flowing water helps mask other campground noise.

Winter access: Unlike many Sierra locations, Pleasant Valley Campground remains accessible year-round. "Went up and camped here for 3 nights before thanksgiving to snowboard. It was a great experience the campground was one of the most quite I've been in besides blm land... The temps dropped to about 19°F at night but the days there got up to around 65°F," reports Ben G.

What you should know

Mosquito populations: Be prepared for significant insect activity, especially near water. "This is a nice spot along the river if you're set up for dry camping. The sites are spacious and most of them are right along the river. It is for this reason the mosquitos are so out of hand," warns James about Pleasant Valley Campground.

High elevation effects: Camping at higher elevations requires acclimatization. A Grandview Campground visitor advises: "Remember, you will be at approximately 8000 feet above sea level and the air is thinner up here. Plan your activities accordingly."

Cell reception variations: Coverage can be sporadic but isn't entirely absent. At Volcanic Tableland BLM Dispersed Camping, "There is ok Verizon service, better ATT service, and T-Mobile alternated between roaming and no service," according to Laura M. Most campgrounds near town offer workable connectivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best campgrounds near Bishop, CA?

Bishop offers diverse camping options for all preferences. Forks Campground (Inyo) is perfectly situated along Bishop Creek with easy access to both north and south forks, clean facilities, and sites for both trailers and tents. Sabrina Campground provides a serene experience away from tourist crowds while still being moments from Lake Sabrina, North Lake, and a short drive to South Lake. For those seeking free camping, Volcanic Tableland BLM offers dispersed sites with stunning Sierra views and stargazing opportunities. Pleasant Valley Campground provides affordable camping ($2) with bathroom facilities and proximity to other attractions, while Willow Campground offers a beautiful creekside setting among aspens for those willing to compete for first-come, first-served spots.

What amenities are available at Bishop, CA campgrounds?

Campground amenities vary widely around Bishop. For those seeking more comforts, Creekside RV Park offers waterfront sites along Bishop Creek with toilets, showers, a fish cleaning station, and WiFi. Horton Creek Campground provides basic amenities including tables, fire pits with grates, lantern hooks, and clean vault toilets, though there's limited shade. Many public campgrounds in the area offer vault toilets and fire rings but limited water access. For those needing showers, some campgrounds like Mountain Glen mention paid shower facilities at nearby resorts ($8 at Parcher's). Most campgrounds in the mountains feature picnic tables and fire rings, while dispersed camping areas typically have minimal to no amenities. Facilities generally improve at private campgrounds and RV parks compared to forest service and BLM sites.

Is tent camping available in Bishop, CA?

Tent camping is widely available throughout the Bishop area. Mountain Glen Campground offers five tent-only sites hidden just off South Lake Road with Bishop Creek running nearby, providing easy access to John Muir Wilderness hiking and fishing. Sites 1 and 5 feature walk-in access and are surrounded by natural beauty. North Lake Campground is another excellent tent camping option in the mountains above Bishop, operating on a first-come, first-served basis with spacious sites and beautiful surroundings. The final approach involves a narrow mountain road, but many campers find the spectacular setting worth the drive. Throughout the Bishop area, you'll find numerous other options for tent camping at both developed campgrounds and dispersed locations.

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