Alabama Hills Camping | A Complete Guide

You've seen the jaw dropping photos looking down Movie Road with the Sierra Nevada in the background. Now, you're dying to do some Alabama Hills camping.

And we can't blame you one bit.

This rugged and cinematic landscape in eastern California is home to some of the best and most scenic free camping experiences in the West - but since its designation as a National Scenic Area in March of 2019, a few things have changed.

Increasing popularity and new BLM regulations mean that camping in Alabama Hills now requires a bit more planning.

Dispersed camping is only allowed in designated sites, and while a free permit is all that’s required, it doesn't guarantee you’ll snag a spot, especially on busy weekends. There are other options as well, but if you're not prepared, it can be frustrating to show up and struggle to find a spot.

We know, because we spent three nights here during our recent time in California. We tried out a different campsite each night and really got a feel for the area.

With a little flexibility and a solid game plan, we had no problem finding quiet, scenic places to stay, and honestly, it was one of the most memorable stops during our time in The Golden State. From sunrise on Movie Road to exploring the rock formations on foot, Alabama Hills delivered every single day.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know: where to camp, how to get a permit, and how to enjoy this surreal landscape responsibly. Whether you’re in a campervan, RV, or tent, here’s how to make the most of your time in the Alabama Hills.

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Where can you camp?

While visiting the Alabama Hills, you have two main options for where to camp: find an available, first-come, first-served dispersed campsite, or stay at one of the established campgrounds in the area.

The campgrounds range in price from $10 to $34 per night and some require reservations. We'll get into details on each of those below.

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Designated Dispersed Campsites

Since the Alabama Hills' designation as an NSA, the Bureau of Land Management has implemented some regulations on dispersed camping to reduce impact on the area.

That includes a limit on dispersed camping, or 'boondocking', to only designated sites.

How do you know where those are? Well, the BLM has made it really easy by marking each site with a sign. They've even marked places where you're not allowed to camp with a different sign. When you see a brown sign with a tent symbol, you're good to go.

Where you see a sign with a tent and a red line, you cannot camp there, even if it looks like a campsite.

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There are 48 designated campsites in the Alabama Hills. They're spread throughout the area, but tend to be clustered into a few groups.

We made the custom Google Map above to help you see not only where all the dispersed campsites are, but also other points of interest, like paid campgrounds, rock formations, trails, and toilets. The BLM has published a helpful PDF map as well, but we made this one for folks like ourselves, who prefer an interactive/navigable map!

You can save it to your device by clicking the star next to the name. Either way, we recommend saving a copy of one or both maps to your phone before heading into the area.

On that note, make sure you also download offline Google Maps for navigation, since signal here can be spotty and unreliable.

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Roughly half of all the campsites are located along Movie Road, within the first 2 miles north of Whitney Portal Road. Those sites will usually fill up first, so if it seems crowded, you're not necessarily out of luck - just keep driving and check the more remote sites.

Twenty of the dispersed campsites are only accessible by 4x4 vehicles, and you'll see those marked by a different color on the maps.

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Paid Campgrounds

If you can't find a free camping site or would prefer to stay in an established campground, there are still several options nearby that have fantastic views and a few more amenities.

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Tuttle Creek Campground

Tuttle Creek is a BLM-managed campground that's just 3 miles south of the main entry point to the Alabama Hills area.

There are 83 individual sites, with 10 pull-throughs that can accommodate vehicles up to 30 feet long.

All sites cost $10 per night and are first-come, first-served. The campground is open year-round.

Sites are primitive, with a fire pit, picnic table, and lantern holder, but potable water is available outside of the winter months and there are several vault toilets spread throughout. There's also a dump station with a $10 fee.

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Portuguese Joe Campground

The Portuguese Joe Campground is managed by Inyo County and is located minutes away from Lone Pine and Movie Road. It has 20 primitive sites, some reservable and some first-come, first-served.

Sites are $14 per night and include a fire pit, picnic table, and grill. There are vault toilets and potable water is available. You can reserve a site on Reserve America.

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Diaz Lake Campground

Another Inyo County managed campground, Diaz Lake is a few miles south of Lone Pine and about 12 minutes away from Alabama Hills. It has 100 sites spread around an 80 acre lake.

The primitive sites have a grill, fire ring, and picnic table for $14 per night. You can also swim, fish, and boat here. There are vault toilets and potable water available. Reservations can be made on Reserve America.

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Lone Pine Campground

The Lone Pine Campground in Inyo National Forest has 42 individual campsites and boasts that it's located near the base of Mount Whitney. It's right up against the Sierra Nevada Mountains and about 15 minutes from the town of Lone Pine.

Some sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but you can also make reservations on Recreation.gov. Each site is $34 per night and includes a picnic table, fire ring, and bear locker. There are vault toilets at the campground and potable water.

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Whitney Portal Campground

If you'd like to venture into the mountains even further, Whitney Portal Campground is only a few minutes from the Mount Whitney trailhead, straddling the creek, but still just 15 minutes from the main entry point for Alabama Hills.

Tent and RV sites are $34 and include a grill, fire pit, picnic table, and bear locker. There are vault toilets and potable water.

Sites can be reserved on Recreation.gov, but some may also be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Walk-in tent camping can also be found above and below the Whitney Trailhead overflow parking. They're self-register sites with a $24 per night fee.

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Camping Rules in the Alabama Hills

There are some basic regulations you need to follow to legally camp within the Alabama Hills. Honestly, they're just common sense principles to minimize impact that should apply no matter where you're dispersed camping.

One regulation specific to this area, though, is that you'll need a free camping permit. This permit helps educate everyone on the rules, but also assists the BLM in tracking visitor use. You can fill it out online, or pick it up in person at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center.

It's important to note that getting the permit does not guarantee you a site.

So, what are the rules?

// Only camp in a designated site or established campground, like we discussed above. Don't create new campsites or move boulders to make them bigger and 'don't crush the brush!' Park and set up camp on a bare, durable surface and not vegetation. Keep that in mind while you're out hiking the hills as well.

// Leave no trace. Minimize impact on the environment by packing out all your trash, including human/pet waste (and toilet paper!). There are six porta potties in the Alabama Hills, but otherwise you must use your own toilet or a WAG bag. Digging a cathole to bury waste isn't allowed here.

You can find free dumpsters to use at the Tuttle Creek Campground.

We've got to say: one of the most disappointing things we see on a regular basis in the wild is people leaving toilet paper and wipes laying around on the ground. Gross. Please, just please.. don't be that person.

But, while we're on it, another pet peeve is seeing food waste. You know, orange or banana peels, sunflower seeds, that kind of thing. Did you know that in a dry desert climate it can take months or years for an orange peel to decompose? Besides turning our public campsites into mini-landfills, that behavior also attracts unwanted animals.

// Only use existing fire rings in designated campsites, and be aware of any seasonal fire restrictions. Alabama Hills is within the BLM Bishop Field Office jurisdiction, so you can check that here. If you're staying in Inyo National Forest, you can check alerts here.

Even when fires aren't restricted, you'll still need a free campfire permit for a wood fire, propane stove, or grill. You can easily get one online. Again, this is about public education, rather than generating revenue - it's free, after all.

On the other hand, you could face steep fines if you violate these permit regulations.

// Lastly, the stay limit is 14 days, which is pretty standard for dispersed camping on public land.

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What to Expect

What should you expect from your Alabama Hills camping experience? Some really, really beautiful views.

This is one of the most impressive places we've ever boondocked and, honestly, we're amazed every time we get to camp for free in a place like this. It feels like we've unlocked some kind of cheat code in life.

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So, yeah, the mountain views are amazing and all the large boulders are really fun to explore. But this rugged landscape is so impressive because there isn't much else here.

Don't expect any amenities unless you're staying at one of the paid campgrounds. Even then, it's still primitive camping.

There's no water, so you'll need to pack it all in. The only toilets are porta potties within 1.5 miles from Whitney Portal Road. You can use the dumpsters at Tuttle Creek, but you'll need to pack out all trash.

In other words, expect to be pretty self-sufficient out here.

However, the town of Lone Pine is just a few minutes away and has plenty of restaurants, a few gas stations, and a small grocery store. If you're looking to escape civilization for a little while, there are better places.

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Campsites are pretty private even when they're close together, because the boulders are so large you typically can't see your neighbors.

We tried out a few different sites during our stay and there's a lot of variety between them because of the nature of the landscape.

A friendly reminder that 4x4 is needed for some campsites.

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Also, some sites are accessible with 2WD, but may still be very tight spaces with no options for turning around. We drove a bit further into the rocks one night and just barely squeaked our Ford Transit campervan through a narrow gap.

Fortunately, we'd scouted that spot out on foot beforehand and knew we could make it, and also knew there'd be space to turn our van around and get out. We'd recommend you do that before taking a large van or trailer into the tighter spaces.

It's totally possible to bring RVs or larger rigs in. We saw some Airstreams, schoolies, and trailers. You'll just be somewhat limited on your options.

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The Best Time to Camp in Alabama Hills

The best time to visit Alabama Hills is during the spring or fall, when the weather is most comfortable. These are also the busiest times of the year, especially on weekends.

Keep in mind there can sometimes be temporary closures of certain areas (such as Lone Ranger Canyon). You can check the BLM website for up-to-date notices.

Between February and April you can expect highs in the 60s or 70s (15-22C), with nighttime lows just above freezing.

The temps will be warmer, on average, from late September through November.

The winter can also be a great time to go, if you're prepared for some lows right around or below freezing. Crowds will likely be much thinner this time of year.

There's very little rain or snowfall in the area, but the Sierra Nevada peaks will be covered with snow most of the year.

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Summers can be quite brutal here, with highs rising to 100 as early as May and lasting into late September, even October.

A quick note on safety, especially if you're venturing out to Alabama Hills during the hottest time of year:

// Travel with a group or, if you're out alone, be sure to leave details of where you'll be with a family or friend.

// Have a back-up form of communication. We carry a Garmin inReach with us when cell signal is spotty or unreliable.

// Carry and drink plenty of water. The recommended minimum for extreme environments is 1 gallon per person, per day, or 1 liter per hour of activity, like hiking.

// Protect yourself from the harsh desert sun. Put on sunscreen, and wear a hat and breathable layers, such as a sun hoodie.

// If you'll be out hiking, carry the ten essentials and know the trail. Have a printed map or download a copy of one before going. It's easy to get turned around and disoriented among all the large rocks and boulders in Alabama Hills.

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Things to Do in Alabama Hills

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Hike Mobius Arch Loop Trail

The Arch Loop Trail is only 0.6 miles long and almost totally flat. It takes you out to Mobius Arch, an impressive rock formation that frames a view of the Eastern Sierra peaks. Along with the view looking down Movie Road, it's probably the most iconic spot in Alabama Hills.

The Mobius Arch trailhead parking is located 1.5 miles up Movie Road from Whitney Portal Road, and is marked on our custom Google Map above.

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Drive Movie Road

Our favorite view in Alabama Hills is one you've almost certainly seen before. If you drive 2.8 miles up Movie Road, you'll come to a steep hill and then a parking area.

Looking back toward the Sierra Nevada is this picture-perfect view.

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Just a dirt road, leading straight toward the mountains, with Alabama Hills' unique boulders sprinkled all around. For us, it symbolizes everything we love about being on the road, and traveling to these incredible places, in one view.

It's best to take this scene in precisely at sunrise. The light will hit the high peaks first, turning them shades of pink and gold, with the lower elevations left in cooler tones.

And the light moves fast. Before you know it, everything will be in harsh sunlight. So, make sure you're there well before dawn.

But don't camp at the pull off. It's marked with a no camping sign. So that would be cheating.

Movie Road is more than just this one view, though. It actually winds its way all throughout the hills, offering a scenic and historic drive.

There's a rich film history here. Hundreds of movies, TV show episodes, and commercials have been filmed in the Alabama Hills since the early 1900s.

You can stand in the same place where the Jericho missile test scene was shot for Iron Man, or walk through Lone Ranger Canyon, where the first episode's ambush scene was filmed back in 1938.

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Do Some Rock Climbing

We're just starting out in the world of rock climbing, so we won't pretend to be experts here. But, what we do know is that Alabama Hills is a popular site for climbing, especially for beginner to moderately experienced sport climbers.

More than 500 routes have been documented, some of them being just a few feet or a short scramble away from parking, leading some to call this a 'lazy man's crag.'

The rocks here are often compared to their southern neighbors down in Joshua Tree, but the scenery is especially beautiful, and competition is considered lower for quality routes.

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Watch Sunrise and Sunset

Our favorite thing to do in Alabama Hills is to simply take in the views. And there's no better time for that than first thing in the morning, or when the sun drops low and long shadows are cast across the rock formations, creating all sorts of visual interest..

Sunrise will cast a beautiful golden glow on the peaks of the Sierra Nevada.

This is a photographer's paradise, with seemingly endless compositions. We spent multiple days here, every morning and evening scrambling around on the boulders looking for the next shot.

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