The Keeler, California area provides access to multiple camping destinations in the scenic Eastern Sierra region. Alabama Hills Recreation Area offers free dispersed camping on BLM land approximately 15 miles west of Keeler, with both drive-in and walk-in primitive sites suitable for tents and smaller RVs. More developed options include Boulder Creek RV Resort in nearby Lone Pine, featuring full hookups, showers, and cabin accommodations. Whitney Portal Campground, situated at higher elevation in Inyo National Forest, provides a cooler alternative during summer months with amenities like drinking water, toilets, and trash service available during its operating season from April to October.
Permits and regulations vary significantly throughout the region, with dispersed camping in Alabama Hills allowing fires but requiring visitors to pack out all waste due to lack of facilities. "It was ok, but lots of bugs!" noted one camper about waterfront sites at Diaz Lake, highlighting the importance of considering seasonal conditions. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 100°F in lower elevation sites like Diaz Lake Campground, while higher elevation campgrounds such as Whitney Portal offer relief from heat but have shorter operating seasons due to winter closures. Cell service is limited throughout the area, particularly in canyon locations and remote dispersed sites, making advance planning essential.
Campers consistently praise the dramatic mountain views available from most camping areas near Keeler. The Alabama Hills dispersed camping areas receive particularly high ratings for scenery, with several visitors noting the spectacular Sierra Nevada backdrop and unique boulder formations as primary attractions. Proximity to Mount Whitney trailheads makes Whitney Portal Campground popular despite its shorter season. According to one visitor reviewing Diaz Lake, "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." Noise levels vary considerably, with highway-adjacent sites like Diaz Lake experiencing more traffic sounds, while dispersed camping in Alabama Hills provides greater solitude despite having fewer amenities.
"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."
"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."
$10 / night
"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. Vault toilets clean, no 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."
$38 - $75 / night
"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. "
"Very close to Owens lake(within view). 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."
$14 - $35 / night
"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."
"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."
$34 - $95 / night
"Really secluded surrounded by trees, close to bathroom and water faucet. The bathrooms are clean and have toilet paper. Right next to a river, where the sound relaxes you."
"Lone Pine Lake is your first option, about 2.8 miles from the trailhead at Whitney Portal. This is a beautiful little lake, surrounded by pines and imposing granite walls."
$14 / night
"Great views close by. Several geocaches locally. Plus a short distance to town."
"I don’t think it’s a spot to spend extended time at unless you are venturing out to the surrounding area or for Mt. Whitney. But it was cool."
$34 - $81 / night
"It is also very close to the town of Lone Pine, which has a little market and several restaurants in case you accidentally forget anything or don’t bring enough food. The views of Mt."
"We camped at one of the walk-in sites. Enough space for the 4 of us, 2 tents, and the family pup. The parking spots are only 50 yds away and next to the restrooms."
"walk less than 100 yards and go climbing."
"Very cold around March."
$49 - $69 / night
"No laundry or café on-site, but the restrooms were clean and the location felt safe. The wind can pick up in the evenings, so secure your awning."
"The small lake was ideal for a bit of casual kayaking and nature watching - mostly birds and dragonflies. Charming and spacious, the informality of the site was a refreshing change."
"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."
GuideThis 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. Thankfully, not too much trash, I picked up a bit of waist tissue and broken bottles, but nothing excessive. Let’s help to keep such beautiful sacred places clean, it’s an absolute blessing to be able to come and camp here for free.
TravelerHad used dyrt to plan a roadtrip, when we arrived to the site we could access the gravel parking lot but all the sections beyond that had day use only signs every 5 meters.
The area is covered in state park camping spots however. The main issue is that there is no network coverage so you would need cash to use the paid spots next door.
TravelerLone Pine Campground is just below Whitney Portal and Mt Whitney. It has a creek full of trout running along side it. Small sites, with vault toilets, but beautiful and full of wildlife.
GuideCame from Mono Lake. The road was very curvy lots of ups and downs and lots and lots of wind. It was so windy. I lost the awning from the side of my RV. Panamint Springs is a nice oasis. There is a gas station a nice restaurant with good food and there looks like they’re plenty of places to camp. At this time of year with the weather so hot we chose to get electrical hook up. We ran the air conditioner all night. Dry camping was free electrical hookups water and sewer were 60 per night. We enjoy enjoyed our short day.
RangerPlenty of great spots with amazing views of Mt Whitney and the sierras. Not much shade in camp spots but each of them are roomy and have a fire pit/grill. There’s also a lantern hook. Our site had a nice tree for welcome shade on the afternoon heat. Adult toilets and trash containers. Also a dump station. 10$ honor system. You can pay cash or with a CC through the recreation.gov app. Scam the QR code from the app when you get here. 5 minute drive fe Alabama hills (movie road). Great quiet spot. We loved it. We can hear the Tuttle creek from our site but cannot access it.
Travelerwent on day picnic back in the 90s, very peaceful, salmon creek near by,
TravelerWent past the 3 dispersed sites that were listed, and found a site on the right hand side right before the bridge. There are two sites, the one to the left is much more level
GuideShouldn’t surprise you but hot during the day and warm during the night. Didn’t even need a sleeping bag during my stay. The stars and sunset & sunrise are just stunning out here. Must’ve gone during a bad time because winds were so high they were shaking my truck as I tried to sleep. Very dusty so be prepared with a face mask. Showers are available for purchase at the nearby inn. One bathroom facility available with the potable water spigots right by it. Sucks if you camp far since you’ll have to walk a bit to use the toilet or fill up your water bottle. Camp host was on site.
TravelerThis is a great spot, unfortunately most of the entire area is DAY USE ONLY. Beautiful place to hike in the rocks. Very few overnight spots and difficult to reach with a trailer.
The Keeler, California camping area sits within the Owens Valley at approximately 3,600 feet elevation, positioned between the Sierra Nevada and Inyo Mountains. The area experiences extreme seasonal temperature variations with summer highs regularly exceeding 100°F and winter lows dropping below freezing. Camping options near Keeler range from designated BLM sites with minimal amenities to developed campgrounds with full hookups, situated between 10-15 miles from Keeler proper.
Bouldering opportunities: The unique rock formations at Alabama Hills Recreation Area provide excellent climbing for all skill levels. "Lots of premade fire pits to use. Sites are pretty spread out so you won't really see/hear your neighbors. Roads are flat and my small sedan had no problem navigating," notes Megan S., highlighting the accessibility for climbers without specialized vehicles.
Fishing at nearby lakes: Diaz Lake offers fishing opportunities within a short drive. As Federico C. mentions, "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." The lake supports various fish species and provides shore fishing access points.
Photography at sunrise/sunset: The dramatic lighting on the Sierra Nevada makes Alabama Hills on Movie Flat Road particularly popular with photographers. "Great place to pull off and sit on a rock to watch the sun set over the mountains. Shade was minimal, but if you hide between the rocks like they do in that scene on the fire planet in Riddick you'll be alright til it cools off," advises Andrew P.
Mountain views: Campers consistently rate the Sierra Nevada backdrop as a primary attraction. At Whitney Portal, Jeff V. explains: "The bears and popularity of the Portal limit my enthusiasm for it a bit, but the positives of a store and restaurant, showers, and great hikes make camping here worth the effort for a few days. It's certainly a great way to get used to the thinner air if you're then headed for the back country."
Creek access for cooling off: Several campgrounds feature creek access that provides relief during hot periods. Regarding Portuguese Joe Campground, Amanda R. notes: "The little stream is great for cooling off. Bathrooms stunk! Great area for exploring. Great views close by. Several geocaches locally. Plus a short distance to town."
Stargazing conditions: The limited light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing. "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," reports Rachel W. about Alabama Hills Recreation Area, highlighting the astronomical viewing conditions in this region.
Designated camping restrictions: Recent management changes have limited dispersed camping in popular areas. Emily D. warns about Alabama Hills Recreation Area: "The only places you can camp are designated now. Tuttle creek. Everywhere else there are signs for no camping and only day use."
Wildlife concerns: Both insects and larger wildlife can impact camping experiences. At Tuttle Creek Campground, Deb H. cautions: "Beautiful campground. We were in site 28. Clean pit toilets. Stunning views. But we were invaded by deer mice. They got in our campervan. We killed more than 10 of them... There was a poster on the vault toilets warning about hantavirus in the area."
Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly in quality across camping areas. Regarding Alabama Hills Side Trail, Katie T. advises: "The BLM page for Alabama Hills gives perfect directions... There's changes in 2022 more 'day use only signs' at the front. Keep heading towards the back and it opens up."
Consider noise levels: Some campgrounds experience significant noise issues. At Diaz Lake, Lauren K. reports: "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."
Educational opportunities: The region offers multiple learning experiences for children. Andrew notes about Boulder Creek RV Resort: "This was stop to be able to visit Manzanar Internment camp... Hosts were very helpful in getting us situated despite the need to switch sites(too many people). Free muffins and coffee in the morning! Nice pool and hot tub, as well as bathrooms and laundry facilities."
Basic camping with children: Madeline B. shares about Lone Pine Campground: "A friend and I camped here - I as a first time real camper... and she as a first time camper as an adult - at the end of June, and it was great for us! The camp grounds also have some large boulders to climb on if you are a boulderer."
Limited hookup availability: Many camping spots near Keeler, California have restricted services for RVs. Jake N. reports about 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'."
Site leveling requirements: Several dispersed camping areas require preparation for RVs. Kent G. notes about Alabama Hills Dispersed Site: "This site is on Horseshoe Meadow Road about 1/2 mile north of the Tuttle Creek site. There are 3 legal spots with camping signs. First two are level. Third will need leveling blocks."
Bridge clearance concerns: Some campground roads have limitations for larger rigs. Kerry L. cautions about Portuguese Joe Campground: "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."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Keeler, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, Keeler, CA offers a wide range of camping options, with 123 campgrounds and RV parks near Keeler, CA and 41 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Keeler, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Keeler, CA is Alabama Hills Recreation Area with a 4.7-star rating from 88 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Keeler, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 41 free dispersed camping spots near Keeler, CA.
What parks are near Keeler, CA?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 18 parks near Keeler, CA that allow camping, notably Death Valley National Park and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.
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