The Tahoe National Forest region provides a mix of established campgrounds and dispersed camping options along the eastern Sierra Nevada. Brown's Owens River Campground offers fishing access along the Owens River with stunning mountain views, while Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs provides free dispersed camping with natural thermal pools. Several sites accommodate both tent and RV camping, with varying levels of amenities from primitive to developed facilities. The volcanic landscape and high desert terrain create a distinctive camping experience with opportunities for stargazing, wildlife viewing, and access to natural hot springs throughout the area.
Road conditions vary significantly across camping areas, with some sites requiring navigation on washboarded dirt roads or rough terrain. "The dirt road getting in was pretty washboarded and I have a larger truck so I just had to take it slow," notes one camper about accessing Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs. Many dispersed sites lack drinking water, requiring visitors to pack in their supplies. Weather patterns change rapidly due to elevation variations, with cool nights even during summer months. Established campgrounds like Convict Lake and June Lake typically operate from late April through October, while dispersed sites on BLM land often permit year-round access. Cell service varies greatly throughout the region, with some areas offering surprisingly strong connections while others remain completely off-grid.
Campers consistently highlight the unique hot springs as a major draw throughout the area. The thermal features range from developed pools to natural springs, with Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs described as "super clean, beautiful and remote" with "several concentric pools coming out... each cooler in temperature." Brown's Owens River Campground receives praise for fishing opportunities directly from campsites. Several visitors mention the exceptional night sky visibility, with one camper noting "there is absolutely no light pollution here, so the skies when clear are awesome." Wildlife sightings are common, particularly near water sources, with many reviews mentioning encounters with birds, fish, and occasionally free-range cattle wandering through camp areas. Though some sites can become crowded during peak times, particularly hot springs, the region offers enough dispersed options for those seeking solitude.
"It is in the historic town of Benton hot springs and is adjacent to the Inn."
"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!"
"We were driving from Las Vegas to Yosemite gt; It’s a nice spot to spend the night, it’s almost halfway."
"Plenty of parking right next to the springs, but if you want a little more space you can take a dirt path right off of that parking lot up the hill a ways and have plenty of privacy."
$33 / night
"As I walked in to the head office, that situated in the entry of the camping grounds. I Lady greeted me with the biggest smile. I paid $36 for the cover. I got to choose wherever I wanted to camp."
"If you enjoy beautiful views, a campsite near the Owens river and fishing then this will be a paradise for you."
"Visited the Hot Springs in late October and was pleasantly surprised with the location, warm in the daytime and cool at night. Surrounded by beautiful mountains and views."
"Views on the other are rolling fields / foothills with lots of cutie vocal Moo Moos and Alkali Lake! You can see other hot springs in the distance. No shade. Lots of flies and red ants."
"Access to trails. Wonderful views. Sites are spaced apart to where it feels like you’re the only one in the area."
"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!"
$35 / night
"It’s just a short drive from the highway and Mammoth Airport. The campground is very popular with a mix of reserved and non reserved sites."
"We recently stayed for 3 nights in July at convict lake. The lake is gorgeous and offers fishing, no wake boating sports, mountain biking and hiking trails."
"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."
"Nice view of Mono Lake and Mountains, lots of shady spots under pines, main entry road hard pack gravel, soft sand gravel mix off road. Mostly sloped some level spots."
"We stayed here for a single night while on a road trip, the drive in along CA-120 was beautiful."
GuideCrab Cooker seems to be empty or cold about as often as it’s functioning. While I was camping nearby, I often went on to Shepard due to Crab Cooker conditions.
The parking lot is City of LA, no overnight parking. But just before you pass the property of LA sign there’s a stellar camping loop to the right.
GuideThe Rock is a small hot tub, and not as hot as some of the others. It has shade much the day because of the way it’s situated on a sort of hill.
Any damage mentioned in the 2025 reviews has been repaired.
There are two camping areas besides the main parking area. One is past the spring and partially flooded with the drain off. The other is a little pull out on the way down to the spring. Both are lovely as long as you don’t expect any privacy in the space.
There is quite a bit of traffic, tho most people seem to leave without even getting in the tub.
I’m confused about the cover photo on this listing, because this location is nowhere near pavement.
GuideI stayed here for a couple of nights in mid-September. The days were pleasant, and the nights cooled down nicely.
I camped in site 108 as I wanted the most solar I could get. However there are plenty of nice shady spots to chose from when available.
Unfortunately, my first night was so windy that I couldn’t sleep, though that is typical anywhere along the 395.
It serves as a great base for hiking, fishing, and general exploration.
I would certainly return, but the adjacent road is quite busy and loud; it isn’t a deal breaker, yet it is worth noting.
The grounds and facilities were very clean, and the staff were exceptionally helpful and kind.
I am giving only 4 stars because of the noisy road; otherwise, it is a great place to stay for a few nights.
ScoutFound this place just to stay for the night on my way North, the park was mostly full and the amenities are decent. But I left in a bad mood because someone on the staff was using a leaf blower to blow litter around the parking lot at 8:00 a.m. and made it impossible to sleep. Technically quiet time was over, but there was just no need to have a leaf blower going because there were no leaves, it's like the owner is a neat freak and can't tolerate even a small amount of debris on the ground.
GuideHad three bars with t-mobile. Very quiet and reasonably busy for a Sunday night. Well maintained and gorgeous.
GuideSo many spots! The road just keeps going back! Lots are pretty far off the road, so very quiet and dark.
GuideNot far off the highway, but quiet. Designates sites that seemed to fill up fast, but I was able to snag one! Had two bars with t-mobile and had no issues in my 2WD rav-4
RangerWe drove around with our 18ft popup trailer on tiny roads with some nice pullouts, but most were too small for us and resulted in quite some pinstriping. In the end we found a big spot close to the main road almost where this pin is in the map. Nice view of the craters, lake and mountains. After unhitching we saw bigger and easier spots along 1N32 (from our spot towards the crater)
RangerNice in the woods, closed to small twin lakes that have rowing boat rental. Clean restrooms. Quite well spaced but 2-in-1 pads. No showers (normally there is one at the shop, but closed). Free shuttle up/down the mountain is a big plus.
The high elevation Tahoe National Forest region combines volcanic terrain with alpine environments at elevations ranging from 6,000 to 9,000 feet. Seasonal temperature extremes create a wide range of camping conditions throughout the year, with frost possible even during summer months. Many dispersed camping locations feature proximity to geothermal hot springs with temperatures requiring regulation to prevent scalding.
Fishing access: Brown's Owens River Campground provides direct fishing opportunities. "Whether you're into fishing, hiking, or simply relaxing by the river, there's something for everyone. The attention to detail and the friendly atmosphere made our stay truly memorable," notes a recent camper at Brown's Owens River Campground.
Star viewing sessions: The minimal light pollution creates exceptional astronomy opportunities. One camper at Volcanic Tableland BLM Dispersed Camping described the night sky as "Pure stillness. Good sun for solar charging. Can't wait to come back here." The dispersed nature of sites allows for unobstructed celestial observation.
Ancient tree exploration: The nearby Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest contains some of the oldest trees on Earth. A visitor to Grandview Campground mentioned, "We spent a few nights and days here while getting acclimated to decreased oxygen content at higher altitudes. The scenery is beautiful and the campground was very quiet."
Thermal soaking options: The region contains multiple developed and natural hot springs of varying temperatures. At The Inn at Benton Hot Springs, visitors appreciate the private thermal experiences: "This campground is a hidden gem. It is in the historic town of Benton hot springs and is adjacent to the Inn. There is a hot spring creek that runs through the campground and each of the 15 campsites have a personal hot tub filled with circulating water from the hot spring."
Alpine lake proximity: The area features multiple high-altitude lakes for recreation. "Hiking spots all around the lake. Fishing spots all around the lake. Will def be back again soon," reported one visitor to Convict Lake Campground.
Desert isolation: Many sites provide significant separation between camping areas. A camper at Mono Lake South Dispersed enjoyed "Very private. There were quite a few people out but it was also labor day weekend, I still had no issue finding a spot and there were more sites available. Amazing stars and great hot spring."
Generator restrictions: Many campgrounds enforce quiet hours and limit generator usage. At Brown's Owens River Campground, "Most campers have a generator for power but it has to be turned off at 10pm."
Road condition challenges: Access to dispersed sites often requires navigating unpaved surfaces. At Crab Cooker Hotsprings - Dispersed Camping, a visitor noted "4x4 or high clearance coming in. Long dirt road with dips and rocks. Water only flowing in winter months. Lots of tent camping spots along with 8 back in spots. Really amazing views 360 degrees."
Altitude acclimation: The high elevation requires physical adjustment. "Remember, you will be at approximately 8000 feet above sea level and the air is thinner up here. Plan your activities accordingly," advised one camper at Grandview Campground.
Wildlife encounters: Free-range cattle frequently move through camping areas. "We had a problem with free ranging cattle. First night they were on the opposite bank, lots of mooing in the early AM. But the next night, a calf got separated from the herd across the river and they were noisy and agitated and in our campsite," explained a visitor at Brown's Owens River Campground.
Temperature preparation: Pack for significant day-night temperature swings. A camper at Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs advises: "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! Be prepared for quick changes in weather and mosquitoes as this is near water!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many sites offer direct wildlife observation. "A lot of animals near the water (frogs, ducks, birds, cows, fishes)," noted a camper at Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs.
Shade limitations: Many sites lack natural coverage from sun. At Crab Cooker Hotsprings, campers reported "No shade. Lots of flies and red ants. Found this spot just driving side roads off of Benton Crossing Rd which is off the 395. Amazing sunsets and sunrises."
Leveling challenges: Finding flat parking requires preparation at some dispersed sites. "We are full-timers and have a 36 ft Class A with a Cherokee Trailhawk tow. We stayed for two nights here in mid May to enjoy the spring," explained an RV camper at Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs.
Water management: Most dispersed sites require full water tank preparation. "We brought two additional tanks of water, allowing for refreshing showers in this arid desert environment," shared an RV camper at Mono Lake South Dispersed.
Site selection timing: Arriving early provides better options at popular areas. "We tent camped but with family who had an RV but we didn't really stay in the area during the day, which is why this campground gets the stars for location," noted a camper at Brown's Owens River Campground who secured a good site by arriving early.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Tahoe National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, Tahoe National Forest offers a wide range of camping options, with 165 campgrounds and RV parks near Tahoe National Forest and 49 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Tahoe National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Tahoe National Forest is the Inn at Benton Hot Springs with a 5-star rating from 3 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Tahoe National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 49 free dispersed camping spots near Tahoe National Forest.
What parks are near Tahoe National Forest?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 22 parks near Tahoe National Forest that allow camping, notably Inyo National Forest and Devils Postpile National Monument.
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