Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks offer established campgrounds spread throughout the parks' diverse terrain, from higher elevations to deep canyon floors. Notable options include Lodgepole Campground in Sequoia National Park and Sentinel Campground in Kings Canyon, both supporting tent, RV, and cabin camping. The Alabama Hills Recreation Area provides free dispersed camping opportunities outside the parks' boundaries near Lone Pine, while more developed sites like Whitney Portal and Potwisha Campgrounds provide amenities such as picnic tables, drinking water, and bear-resistant food storage.
Seasonal factors significantly impact campground availability and access throughout the region. Most campgrounds operate from late spring through early fall, with specific seasons varying by elevation and weather conditions. As one camper noted, "The drive to the camp ground is beautiful and scenic. You will be entering the Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Park, so you have to pay the park fee when entering." Higher elevation sites like Dorst Creek Campground typically open later (mid-June) and close earlier (early September) due to snow conditions. Bear precautions are strictly enforced at all park campgrounds, with food storage regulations requiring the use of provided bear boxes. Campground roads vary in quality, with some visitors reporting significant potholes and challenging access conditions.
Riverside camping locations receive consistently positive reviews across both national parks. Sentinel Campground earns particularly high ratings, with campers praising its proximity to the Kings River. "Huge campsites, ours was right on the river. Gorgeous place! Surrounded by trees and wildflowers," reported one visitor. Sites near water features tend to fill quickly during peak season. Campgrounds deeper in Kings Canyon provide access to hiking trails, waterfalls, and scenic meadows, though the drive involves navigating winding mountain roads. Visitors frequently mention wildlife sightings, particularly bears, reinforcing the importance of proper food storage. Several campgrounds are positioned near general stores and ranger stations, providing convenient access to supplies and ranger programs, though services are limited after dark due to the remote locations.
$32 / night
"Amazing views all around the campgrounds. If you want to get of away from the city this is the place to be...Love it."
"We went to the Lodgepole Campground-Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park and stayed for 3 nights at Site: 130. Check-in Time is 12:00 PM and Check-out Time was also 12:00 PM."
$32 / night
"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"
"Wonderful mostly shaded spots next to the Kings river. Spaces next to the meadow are especially nice. Lots of bird watching opportunities. Amenities are the usual for a national park campground."
"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."
$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."
$32 / night
"Far away from neighbors to feel privacy and great hikes in every direction that go up in the mountains. A lot of mule deer very close by as well."
"We were right next to the entrance of a hiking trail (#14) so there was a lot of foot traffic & cars early in the morning and throughout the day."
$32 / night
"Clean bathrooms (flush toilet) and an outside sink for dishes. Bear lockers are provided. A short walk around the campsite and you can find a path by a river."
"There are a lot of camping options in Sequoia and Kings Canyon, especially if you are willing to be a little further away from the big trees."
$32 - $80 / night
"Center point for touring sequoia and kings canyon national parks. Free shuttle to take you all over the park. Great stream running through campgrounds upper and lower sections."
"The only thing negative I could say about this campground is that a lot of the campsites are very close to each other. But if you choose wisely, as my friend and I did, then I have no complaints."
$31 / night
"Onion Valley is a beautiful spot tucked into the eastern Sierra above Independence. It’s a windy but not long drive back down to town. The sites were comfortable."
"There are pull in sites and walk in sites. All pull in sites seem to be surround by low growing shrubs and they have so many mosquitoes. The walk in site are under the conifers and are gorgeous."
$36 - $38 / night
"So I chose this one because it has a nice stream nearby, it's so nice to camp near water. It was sparsely crowded, very quiet."
"We were able to tuck our tent back by some shaded trees and directly behind our site was Stoney Creek. There were lots of areas to swim and wade which was helpful with the warm weather."
$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."
TravelerGood amenities and friendly staff! We took the shuttle into Sequoia NP and used the internal shuttles to get around up there. It was nice not to have to drive but still get to enjoy a good portion of the park. We stayed at site 24. It was nice because it was on the end and enjoyed our view in the mornings. We have group sites that are next to us but were unoccupied while we stayed.
GuideGreat spot to camp for the night! Private, safe
GuideLodgepole, Site 199. Late June. Nice warm days, cold nights. The river and scenery make this campground special. There are lots of birds and rodents (Squirrels and chipmunks of varying sizes and colors).
If you can get a site near the river, or on the outside if a loop, the views and sounds are wonderful. Great location for Sherman Tree Trails, Moro Rock.
The loop restrooms are old and not well cared for. There are only two small restrooms at the visitors center. So Dirty and too few for too many people. (The situation at Grant Grove VC is much better for restrooms, but no showers or laundry.) I used both showers and laundry. My shower was cold and dirty despite having just been cleaned (I waited 50 minutes). (Lowest Bidder). Laundry was adequate and I was thankful to have it.
GuideSites 100, 33, 41. Late June. A beautiful HILLY campground with dirty to very dirty flush bathrooms and no hosts. NPS does a terrible job with janitor service all over the country in my experience.
Site 100 parking pad has a 4 degree grade. It is a very lovely site for smaller tent camping with view of sunset. In a quiet hilly part of the campground, but I had few neighbors even though the sites showed up as completely booked on rec.gov.
Site 33 has a 3 degree grade and *abuts several sites* and the water spigot. Short pad could accommodate a van, but the pad adjacent is *very* close.
Site 41 is at the top of the hill and has a beautiful view and but little shade.
Big Stump trailhead can be reached by footpath from the campground. (Or you can drive back toward the gate and park there).
Visitor's Center with WiFi and a store and decent flush toilets near the restaurant is almost just across the street.
Beware of tiny chipmunks in the most crowded areas. At site 33 I saw two jump onto people's cars/campers. One was trying to get into an open car door.
GuideRun by concessionaire, this is a hosted campground with some Saturday night events in the amphitheater. Warm days and cold nights(40) refreshing respite from the valley heat. The fragrance of the forest in Sequoia is like no other. Best for tents and small RVs.
Abuts the beautiful Princess Meadow, at the turn off to Hume Lake. Site 90 has Open space behind and on one side. Large site, dirt parking pad. Slight grade. Pit toilet close. (Did not use). Walk to trailhead. 1 mile easy hike partially paved is drop dead gorgeous in the early evening light.
Lively Hume(a youth camp) has a snack shop with fast food and gigantic milkshakes. They also have canoes, rowboats, paddle boards, etc for rent, as well as a gift shop, mini mart, and gas station. The campground is near to Grant Grove and Grant Tree and several trailheads.
GuideEvening sun, super secluded, loved the spot. Nice birdwatching
GuideWe drive up here most every week every season. Scenic mtn drive. It’s usually really crowded. You should try to reserve a site ahead of time if camping. You need to buy supplies in Lone Pine or town of Bishop. Only small gas station stores in Independence. Lower & Upper Grey’s are optional nice camp sites with camp host at Upper Grey’s who is very helpful; these sites have nice stream fishing & are also very clean. There is water, no electric hook ups. There are horseback riding stables at the top for hire. There can be mosquitoes & even bees at certain times of the year.
ScoutVery pretty view and easy Access. Steep streets Leasing up to the Campground, but i think not really a problem for most folks. The view onto the Lake is very nice. Got here end of june and its pretty hot, so maybe getting here earlier and blasting the ac for awhile is worth it(Allowed until 10). It cools down decent overnight tho.
GuideWe were the only people camping at the lake. It was beautiful. We brought a jet boil and water filter, both very helpful. There are a lot of mosquitoes by the lake, although, they weren’t as bad where we camped 100 ft up. WAG bags a required and provided at the trailhead and we packed them back out with us.
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks campgrounds sit between 2,000 and 7,500 feet elevation, creating distinct camping experiences at different altitudes. Most campgrounds feature bear-resistant food storage boxes due to active black bear populations in the area. Water access varies significantly by location, with higher elevation sites typically having more limited facilities during shoulder seasons.
Hiking to alpine lakes: 6.3-mile round trip to Kearsarge Pass from Onion Valley provides access to stunning alpine scenery. "Even if you are just going to day hike, it provides access to incredible country. The sites are pretty private (sort of walled in by bushes, trees and rocks), with well-maintained fire pits, tables and bear lockers," notes camper Matt P.
Granite slides exploration: Upper Stony Creek Campground offers unique geological features for adventurous visitors. "The granite slides and pools don't have a clear path to get to. You kind of have to slip through other sites farther towards the hike-in sites to get to, which was uncomfortable... there's some scrambling, so be prepared," explains camper Veronica S.
Movie filming location tours: The Alabama Hills Recreation Area contains numerous sites where Western films were shot. "From the moment you drive down Whitney Portal Rd to Movie Rd, it has uniquely amazing views. Movie Rd has the best dispersed camp spots. All with amazing views," shares Rachel W.
Night sky observation: The dark skies at Whitney Portal provide exceptional stargazing opportunities. "Look at ALL THE STARS! Try not to freeze to death. Enjoy the view!" advises camper Derek B. The high elevation (8,300 feet) creates particularly clear viewing conditions away from light pollution.
Creek access for cooling off: Several campgrounds feature refreshing water access. At Upper Stony Creek Campground, "We most enjoyed having morning coffee and walking along the stream over the large boulders. It was summer so we appreciated this site at higher elevation with the chilled air at night," notes Laura H.
Private campsites: Many campers appreciate the spacious layout at Sheep Creek Campground. "We tent camped here. It is beautiful! Spots are very private. Lots of trees for shade, close to the creek, short walk to the village where there is a store, restaurant, gift shop, showers," reports Elise P.
Vault toilet cleanliness: Unlike many wilderness areas, several campgrounds maintain exceptionally clean facilities. At Onion Valley, Sarah R. found "the cleanest pit toilets I've ever experienced. The scenery is sublime. We stayed here as a first night before a several day backpacking trip in the Sierras."
Trail access directly from camp: Campers value not having to drive to trailheads. "There are several great hiking trails that are very near the campground, and the sites are scenic and fairly separate. We saw a lot of deer during our stay," notes Warren K. about Dorst Creek Campground.
Rapidly changing conditions: Weather shifts quickly at high elevations. "It gets cold at night so make sure you come prepared. I've been trying to convince my friends to come with me forever but they don't believe me when I tell them it's worth the drive," advises Megan S. about Onion Valley.
Limited water availability: Many campgrounds restrict water access seasonally. At Tuttle Creek Campground, campers report "water faucets are locked, and dump station is closed. We specifically chose this campground for the convenience of water and dump station. Otherwise, the sites are spread apart and the scenery is beautiful," notes camper K L.
Pest management: Some campgrounds experience rodent issues. At Tuttle Creek, one camper noted, "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," reports Deb H.
Dispersed camping restrictions: The Alabama Hills area has significantly reduced overnight camping options. "The only places you can camp are designated now. Tuttle creek. Everywhere else there are signs for no camping and only day use," warns Emily D. about recent policy changes.
Ranger programs: Educational opportunities enhance family camping. At Sheep Creek Campground, "The park rangers host many programs. There is also a small store and informational center with the rangers station. They also operate an outdoor ampitheather," says robherr.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many families enjoy animal sightings from camp. "We saw a lot of deer during our stay," reports Warren K. about Dorst Creek, while another camper noted, "We were visited by deer and entertained by a family of quails as we sat around our fire."
Family-friendly trails: Multiple campgrounds offer accessible hiking options. "The hike to the waterfall is easy for kids and the trailhead is in the campground," explains Elise P. about Upper Stony Creek. Another option is the "Zumwalt Meadow loops which is a super easy trail (more of a walk) and well worth traveling a few more miles down the road," according to Kelsey M.
Spacious sites for multi-family camping: Sentinel Campground offers ample room for larger groups. "Huge campsites, ours was right on the river. Gorgeous place! Surrounded by trees and wildflowers. The bathrooms were well maintained. Friendly staff," reports Katherine M.
Site selection matters: At Lodgepole Campground, certain sites work better for RVs. "Spot 198 is the best for RV's in my opinion, but it only accommodates up to 22ft. If you can fit, it's amazing. It's the closest spot to the river and there is no one around you," advises Alma L.
Generator restrictions: Engine noise regulations are strictly enforced. "Generator hours are thankfully enforced," notes one Lodgepole camper, while another at Dorst Creek mentioned, "We were allowed to run the generator certain hours in our loop."
Leveling challenges: Many mountain campsites require technical setup skills. At Dorst Creek, "We barely fit on the site and had to use some crazy leveling techniques to get us set up," explains Christy C. Another camper noted, "Also no real level flat ground for tent camping. Sites are smallish & close together."
Dump station access: Services vary widely between campgrounds. "The dump station is very nice and free to use," reports a Lodgepole camper, while others note seasonal closures like at Tuttle Creek where the "dump station is closed until May."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?
According to TheDyrt.com, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks offers a wide range of camping options, with 267 campgrounds and RV parks near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks and 69 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks is Lodgepole Campground — Sequoia National Park with a 4.6-star rating from 45 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 69 free dispersed camping spots near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks.
What parks are near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 parks near Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks that allow camping, notably Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Kaweah Lake.
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