RV Camping Near Mammoth Lakes: Full Hookups, Forest Sites, and Free Boondocking
Quick Answer
RV camping near Mammoth Lakes falls into three tiers. For full hookups, book a private park like Mammoth Mountain RV Park in town, or look toward Bishop and June Lake. For a more rustic stay, the Inyo National Forest runs many seasonal campgrounds in the Mammoth Lakes Basin and on the June Lake Loop, though most have no hookups and open only after the snow clears. For free camping, dispersed sites along Glass Creek, Hartley Springs, and Owens River Road let you boondock with a 14 day limit. Because thin mountain air reduces gasoline generator output at this elevation, a trailer that leans on battery and solar makes off grid nights far easier.
Key Terms, Defined
- Full hookups: A site with water, sewer, and electric (often 30 amp and 50 amp) connections so you can stay plugged in.
- Dry camping: Camping with no hookups at all. You run on your own water, battery, and waste tanks.
- Boondocking: Self contained camping off grid with no services, usually on public land for free.
- Dispersed camping: Camping outside a developed campground on national forest or BLM land, with no facilities and no fee.
- FCFS vs reservation: First come first served sites are claimed in person on arrival. Reservation sites are booked ahead, usually through Recreation.gov.
Tier 1: Full Hookup RV Parks and Resorts
If you want to plug in, run the air conditioning, and skip the tank math, a private park is the way to go. These fill early in summer, so reserve well ahead.
Mammoth Mountain RV Park (In Town)
Right at the Highway 203 entrance to town, across from the Welcome Center, this park offers full hookup sites with 30 amp and 50 amp service, plus a dump station, laundry, and an indoor pool and spa. It is open year round, though some amenities run in summer only, which makes it one of the few options for a cold weather base. Reservations are smart for peak season. See Mammoth Mountain RV Park or call 760 934 3822.
McGee Creek RV Park (Toward Crowley Lake)
About 10 miles south of Mammoth, this creekside park offers full and partial hookups along with showers and a dog park. Some premium sites sit right on McGee Creek. Details at McGee Creek RV Park.
Bishop Options (About 40 Miles South)
Bishop sits lower and warmer, which extends the season on both ends. Highlands RV Park on Highway 395 just north of downtown is open year round with full hookup sites. Brown's Town Campground, just south of town by the golf course, offers many sites with water and electric. Bishop makes a good shoulder season base when higher elevations are still under snow. Start at Visit Bishop camping.
June Lake Loop
The June Lake Loop, north of Mammoth off Highway 158, leans heavily on forest campgrounds rather than full hookup resorts, so confirm services directly before you count on plugging in. The scenery and lake access are the draw here.
Tier 2: Inyo National Forest and Area Campgrounds
The U.S. Forest Service runs a deep bench of campgrounds around Mammoth. The trade off is real: most have no hookups, sites have length limits, and the season is short and snow dependent. Treat every open date below as approximate, since a heavy snowpack can push openings into late June or beyond. Confirm current dates and book through Recreation.gov or the Inyo National Forest site.
Mammoth Lakes Basin
Just above town off Lake Mary Road, the Basin campgrounds sit near 8,600 to 8,900 feet among lodgepole pines. None offer hookups, and nights stay cold even in summer.
- [Lake Mary Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233404): About 48 sites at roughly 8,900 feet, near the water.
- [Coldwater Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234290): About 77 sites at roughly 8,900 feet, a popular trailhead base.
- [Twin Lakes Campground](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234329): About 92 sites near 8,600 feet, with a one RV with tow per site limit on many spots.
- Pine City Campground: A small campground of about 10 sites that registers on site rather than by reservation. See the Inyo Pine City page.
New Shady Rest and Old Shady Rest
These two larger campgrounds sit close to town near the Welcome Center, which makes them convenient and a bit more sheltered than the high Basin. They are dry camping with no hookups. They tend to accommodate a range of RV sizes, but confirm length limits per site on Recreation.gov.
Convict Lake
About 34 miles north of Bishop off Highway 395, Convict Lake Campground has roughly 85 sites with a bear locker at each one. Many sites are flat and work for RVs, but there are no hookups. A dump station sits about a quarter mile from the campground, and showers are available for a fee at the nearby resort. See the Inyo Convict Lake page.
June Lake Loop Campgrounds
On the loop, Oh Ridge Campground near June Lake sits around 7,600 feet with over 100 sites, drinking water, and flush toilets, but it is dry camping only. It typically opens late May through early October depending on weather. Reserve through Oh Ridge on Recreation.gov.
Tier 3: Free Dispersed Camping and Boondocking
This is where a capable trailer shines. The Inyo National Forest and nearby BLM land offer abundant free dispersed camping, and the open country toward Bishop adds even more. You give up facilities, but you gain quiet, space, and zero nightly fees.
The standard rules apply across the forest. You may camp up to 14 consecutive days in one spot and up to 28 days per calendar year on the Inyo, and after 14 days you must move at least 10 miles away. Camp on durable surfaces that already show use, stay on established roads, and keep your site at least 200 feet from water. All of this is detailed on the Inyo camping and cabins page.
Where to Go
- Glass Creek: A large, popular FCFS area in pine forest north of town, with dozens of sites and a rough open window of roughly May through October depending on snow. See the Glass Creek page.
- Hartley Springs: A quiet, free, self register area between June Mountain and Obsidian Dome with a 14 day limit, opening later in spring. See the Hartley Springs page.
- Owens River Road: Reached off Highway 395 north of Mammoth, this corridor follows the upper Owens River and opens to dozens of dispersed pullouts where the pavement gives way to dirt. Standard 14 day dispersed rules apply.
- BLM land toward Bishop: Lower and warmer public land south of Mammoth extends the boondocking season when the high country is still snowed in. Confirm current access and any local rules with the managing office at BLM.
Boondocking Realities at Altitude
Free camping here is rewarding, but the elevation sets the terms. Plan around these:
- Elevation and cold nights: Most of this country sits well above 7,000 feet. Even in July, nights can drop sharply, so pack for cold and size your heating plan accordingly.
- Afternoon storms: Summer thunderstorms build fast over the Sierra. Watch the sky, secure awnings, and avoid exposed ridges and dry washes.
- Bear food storage: This is bear country. Store food, trash, and anything scented in a hard sided vehicle or a bear resistant container. Dispersed sites have no bear boxes, so come prepared.
- Generator output at altitude: Thin air at high elevation reduces the power a gasoline generator can make, so a setup that carries the load on a large battery bank and solar matters more here than almost anywhere. The Evotrex-PG5, a power generating travel trailer now available to preorder, is built around that idea, pairing a big lithium battery bank and solar with an onboard generator so the engine is a backup rather than the whole plan. It is one trailer worth considering if quiet high elevation nights off grid are your goal.
Comparison Table
| Option | Tier | Hookups | Season | Reserve or FCFS | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Mountain RV Park | Full hookup park | Yes (30 and 50 amp) | Year round | Reserve | Higher |
| McGee Creek RV Park | Full hookup park | Full and partial | Seasonal | Reserve | Moderate to higher |
| Highlands RV Park (Bishop) | Full hookup park | Yes | Year round | Reserve | Moderate to higher |
| Mammoth Lakes Basin (Lake Mary, Coldwater, Twin Lakes, Pine City) | Forest campground | No | Roughly late June to September | Mostly reserve | Low to moderate |
| New and Old Shady Rest | Forest campground | No | Seasonal | Reserve | Low to moderate |
| Convict Lake | Forest campground | No | Roughly mid April to early October | Reserve | Low to moderate |
| Oh Ridge (June Lake) | Forest campground | No | Roughly late May to early October | Reserve | Low to moderate |
| Glass Creek, Hartley Springs, Owens River Road | Dispersed and boondocking | No | Snow dependent | FCFS | Free |
All seasons, fees, and limits are approximate. Confirm current details before you book or roll.
Check Before You Roll
- Reservations: Summer fills fast. Book private parks and popular forest sites well ahead through their sites or Recreation.gov.
- Length limits: Many forest sites cap RV length. Check the per site limit before you commit, especially in the high Basin.
- Seasonal openings and snow: Open dates are approximate, and snow can linger into June at higher elevations. Verify the gate is actually open.
- Altitude: Most camping here sits above 7,000 feet. Expect cold nights, thinner air, and reduced generator output.
- Bear storage: Use bear lockers where provided and a hard sided vehicle or bear resistant container in dispersed areas. Never leave scented items out.
- Fire restrictions: Get a California Fire Permit and check current fire restrictions before you go, since rules tighten quickly in dry months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you boondock near Mammoth Lakes?
Yes. The Inyo National Forest and nearby BLM land offer abundant free dispersed camping at spots like Glass Creek, Hartley Springs, and along Owens River Road, with a 14 day limit and snow dependent access.
When do the campgrounds open?
It varies by elevation and snowpack. Higher Basin campgrounds often open around late June, while lower sites near town and toward Bishop open earlier. Always treat posted dates as approximate.
Are there full hookup RV parks right in Mammoth Lakes?
Yes. Mammoth Mountain RV Park in town offers full hookups year round. For more options, look to McGee Creek toward Crowley Lake and to parks in Bishop.
Do the Forest Service campgrounds have hookups?
Generally no. The Mammoth Lakes Basin campgrounds, Shady Rest, Convict Lake, and Oh Ridge are dry camping. Plan to run on your own water, battery, and tanks, and use dump stations in the area.
Is there a fee for dispersed camping?
No. Dispersed camping on national forest and BLM land is free, but it comes with no facilities, a 14 day limit, and your own pack in pack out responsibility.
How cold does it get at night in summer?
Even in midsummer, nights at these elevations can drop into the 30s and 40s. Pack warm layers and plan your heating around cold high country nights.