Alabama Hills Recreation Area allows pets at all dispersed camping locations, with free sites scattered throughout the unique rock formations. Several pet-friendly campgrounds cluster near Lone Pine, providing options for tent campers and RV owners traveling with dogs. Whitney Portal Campground accepts pets on-leash and provides drinking water, firewood, and reservable sites with access to market facilities. Campers with pets note that Alabama Hills feels like an adult playground with rock formations ideal for hiking and climbing with dogs. Tuttle Creek Campground offers spacious sites with pets allowed, vault toilets, and trash disposal for $8 per night. Boulder Creek RV Resort provides full hookups and amenities for RVers traveling with pets, including water, electric, sewer connections, and shower facilities.
Dog owners benefit from proximity to multiple hiking trails in the Eastern Sierra, with the Whitney Portal area offering access to the National Recreation Trail and Lone Pine Lake trails where pets are permitted for day hikes. Reviews indicate bears frequent the Whitney Portal area, so proper food storage is essential when camping with pets. The town of Lone Pine sits minutes away from most campgrounds, providing pet owners with restaurants, grocery stores, and supplies including firewood and camping gear. Trail access varies seasonally, with Whitney Portal typically open from April to October. Temperature considerations are important when camping with pets in the area, as summer days can be extremely hot in Alabama Hills with limited shade, while Whitney Portal's 8,600-foot elevation brings cooler temperatures and occasional snow flurries in spring.
"Pull off the road right up the hill from Lone Pine. Great place to camp at the end of a long drive. Wake up to breakfast in Lone Pine at the Alabama Hills Cafe (yum!)"
"Travel west on Whitney Portal Rd from Lone Pine, then turn right onto Movie Rd. Dispersed campsites are plentiful and easily accessible along Movie Rd. Hardest challenge is choosing a spot!"
$10 / night
"Right in the middle of many trails and sites to see, not to mention a quick skip away from Lone Pine."
"No service here, no store or place to buy firewood at the campground but you’re a stones throw away from Lone Pine a Western town nearby for fishing, food and any other camping needs."
$34 - $95 / night
"We parked our rig and looked around and were speechless. Whitney Creek runs through the campground, and the Sierra Nevada mountains rise up all around it."
"Great access to Mt Whitney trailhead. Hiked to Lone Pine Lake with my pup (no permits needed and dogs allowed up to here). Lots of snow, spikes were handy."
$38 - $75 / night
"Awesome RV park and amenities if you're going to be in Lone Pine for a while."
"Just thought this might be useful information for those coming out of the BLM areas close to Lone Pine. Other than that we drove through the park and it looked really nice."
$14 - $35 / night
"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."
$34 - $81 / night
"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"
"I took a chance and drove to the Lone Pine Campground just below Mt. Whitney on Memorial Day weekend of 2017."
$14 / night
"Last minute decision to camp near Lone Pine. The site has a machine that takes cards now - super convenient. The breeze helped cool the temperature quickly, and the creek sounds great!"
"Great views close by. Several geocaches locally. Plus a short distance to town."
"Exploring Alabama Hills on Movie Flat Road is like stepping onto a film set straight out of a Western movie."
"I was able to find a pretty dope spot surrounded by rocks, and nowhere near any other campers. I was legit, alone. Great place to pull off and sit on a rock to watch the sun set over the mountains."
"Take Hwy 395 to Lone Pine. Turn west at the stoplight onto Whitney Portal Road, drive 2.5 miles to Movie Road, turn right."
"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."
ScoutLast minute decision to camp near Lone Pine. The site has a machine that takes cards now - super convenient. The breeze helped cool the temperature quickly, and the creek sounds great! Mostly quiet tonight, maybe a third full.
LegendPortagee Joe is a small campground with round 20 camping spots. It's located 1 mile from Lone Pine on Mt Wilson Portal Rd. It's a good little campground if you are traveling thru or need a easy place to stay while exploring Mt. Whitney or the Alabama Hills. It cost $14 per night + $5 extra vehicle. There's a pretty little stream that splits the campground that gives off soothing sounds. There's two restrooms and water.
Since it's only 1 mile from lone pine there are plenty of restaurant to choose from for lunch and dinner. Lone Pine Pizza is really good.
GuidePull off the road right up the hill from Lone Pine. Great place to camp at the end of a long drive. Wake up to breakfast in Lone Pine at the Alabama Hills Cafe (yum!) and then drive up to Eastern Sierras for an early morning start.
TravelerBreathtaking views! Spacious first come first serve sites. Arrived shortly after noon and was able to snatch the last two sites available. Will definitely be back(earlier in the day) restrooms are vault toilets, very clean with disinfectant foam available. Beautiful Mount Whitney in the background. Right in the middle of many trails and sites to see, not to mention a quick skip away from Lone Pine.
GuideTravel west on Whitney Portal Rd from Lone Pine, then turn right onto Movie Rd. Dispersed campsites are plentiful and easily accessible along Movie Rd. Hardest challenge is choosing a spot! Two-wheel drive vehicles are okay to access most sites.
Otherworldly panoramic views on Mt Whitney and the surrounding Sierras. Camped here in December with comfortable overnight lows in the 30’s. Served as a tremendous stop on the way to Death Valley, less than 2-Hrs to the Park’s Panamint Entrance.
Tip: Take time to visit the local outfitters shops in Lone Pine for fire wood and other camping, hiking, mountaineering gear needs...or just drop in to show your support and talk story 😊🤙🏼🏔
TravelerWe parked our rig and looked around and were speechless. Whitney Creek runs through the campground, and the Sierra Nevada mountains rise up all around it. For those hardy souls who want to hike up Mount Whitney, the highest point in the Sierra Nevada range, this is the place to start. For the rest of us, it was just an amazingly beautiful place to spend a couple of nights, do a little fishing and a little hiking. One caveat is that it is at 8,600 feet and the road up from Lone Pine is pretty scary.
RangerFor just $8 a night you can enjoy the Eastern Sierras with plenty of room to spare between you and your camping neighbors. This place is a favorite for us, with fishing, snow capped mountains, and the cutest little kangaroo mice I have ever seen! It’s a fun get away and recommended for friends and family. No service here, no store or place to buy firewood at the campground but you’re a stones throw away from Lone Pine a Western town nearby for fishing, food and any other camping needs. Restrooms are available here and are kept clean, just bring a flashlight at night as it is pitch black. In the Summer this place can get pretty toasty and the sun is incredibly strong, I’d recommend taking a canopy with your camping supplies, with little to no trees for shade in this area.
GuideAbsolutely love this spot! Very cool rock formations all around you. Nice short trail nearby that takes you by a stream.
Nearby to lone pine where I had one of the best patty melts ever. And internet is great if you need to work.
Keep an eye out for the 4x4 roads as the other spots get filled up. Don’t go in summer with pets unless you have an AC
GuideAwesome RV park and amenities if you're going to be in Lone Pine for a while. 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. Complimentary muffins and coffee from 7-9a daily which was very hospitable and kind.
We spent a few days in the Alabama Hills and then came here for full hookups during the week. It was a great combo.
The internet worked pretty well for the most part for work emails and video and live stream. AT&T service was 2 out of 4 bars and worked just fine for us.
The grounds and amenities are very clean and the staff is friendly. The week was quiet, but as the weekend rolled around almost every site was full. It would be even better if we had more space between neighbors, but I'm still giving it a 5 star because it was perfect for the area.
We will definitely be back.
Lone Pine sits at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range at an elevation of 3,727 feet, where the arid Owens Valley meets the dramatic eastern slopes of Mount Whitney. The area experiences extreme temperature variations with summer highs often exceeding 100°F while winter nights can drop below freezing. Dispersed camping options near Lone Pine range from established campgrounds with amenities to primitive sites with no facilities but spectacular mountain views.
Hike Mount Whitney trails: The highest peak in the contiguous United States is accessible from Whitney Portal, with multiple camping options along the trail. "We recently backpacked to the summit of MT Whitney. On the way to the summit there are several options for overnight camping. Lone Pine Lake is your first option, about 2.8 miles from the trailhead at Whitney Portal," shares Amanda B.
Explore movie filming locations: The Alabama Hills area has been featured in numerous films. At Alabama Hills Recreation Area, you can camp among iconic rock formations. "There is a reason tons of movies have been filmed here, because it's like you are on another planet. The landscape is like no other and the views are amazing," notes Kristil C. Movie Road is especially popular, as Michael H. points out: "Famous movie locations."
Fishing opportunities: Several campgrounds offer fishing access in season. At Whitney Portal, one camper recalls, "When my brothers and I were little, we went to Whitney Portal every summer to camp and fish. My father used to get us all set up with hooks and poles early in the morning, just at the perfect time to meet the stock truck."
Mountain views from camp: The Sierra Nevada backdrop creates a dramatic setting. At Tuttle Creek Campground, campers appreciate the scenery: "Amazing First Come First Serve campground. Amazing views of the Eastern Sierras including Lone Pine Peak. Town is a 10min drive in case you forgot something at home," says Malinda K.
Affordable camping options: Many sites offer inexpensive or free camping. Mack S. notes of Tuttle Creek: "For only $8 you get picnic table, fire pit, vault toilet, and access to water and waste dumping. And view of Eastern Sierra that has been seen in movies such as Iron Man."
Creek access and sounds: Several campgrounds feature streams running through them. At Portagee Joe Campground, "There's a pretty little stream that splits the campground that gives off soothing sounds," according to Berton M. Another camper adds, "The little stream is great for cooling off."
Limited facilities at dispersed sites: The most scenic locations often lack amenities. Amanda P. explains about Alabama Hills: "Great dispersed camping among the rock formations in the Alabama Hills. No facilities but no fee - a great area to visit!"
Weather challenges: Extreme temperatures and winds affect camping comfort. Jenna K. warns about Alabama Hills: "The wind picks up in the afternoon so the tent was put to the test. We wrapped our sleeping bags up so the dust wouldn't accumulate on/inside them."
Reservation requirements vary: Some campgrounds require advance planning while others are first-come, first-served. At Lone Pine Campground, Cade H. advises: "Be doubly sure to book your campground ahead of time as I doubt there will be any sites if you show up after 3 or 4 without a reservation."
Frequently Asked Questions
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lone Pine, CA is Alabama Hills Recreation Area with a 4.7-star rating from 87 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 104 dog-friendly camping locations near Lone Pine, CA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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