Alabama Hills Camping: Everything to know in 2026

Last updated on December 11th, 2025

Planning on camping in the Alabama Hills? We’re sharing all of the important rules and information to know before you go!

The Alabama Hills was one of our dream van life campsites for many years. With jaw dropping views of the rugged Sierra Nevada Mountains, plus unique, rocky, desert scenery, it’s not hard to understand why!

After over 5 years of van life, we finally got to check it off the bucket list during our big road trip around California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains in 2024. And it did not disappoint! We spent a few nights camped among the region’s large boulders, just steps from iconic movie filming spots, and with the towering Sierras outside of our window. THIS is the kind of van life we dream about!

However, camping in the Alabama Hills is not as easy as it used to be. With new rules, less campsites, and increasing popularity, finding a spot can be tough. But we’re here to help! In this guide we’re covering everything you need to know to both camp for free in the Alabama Hills, plus your options for nearby paid, established campgrounds.

Where can you camp in the Alabama Hills?

In 2019, the Alabama Hills were designated a National Scenic Area and with that, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was tasked with implementing a management plan to help minimize impact on the land.

As a result of this, the BLM cracked down on free, dispersed camping. Before, you could camp just about anywhere amongst the rocks along Movie Road. With their changes, you can now only camp in designated sites marked by a sign with a tent symbol.

This has limited the amount of campsites in the area from almost unlimited, to about 50 designated sites. The majority of the campsites are located between Whitney Portal Road and the Mobius Arch Trail on the east side of Movie Road. Camping on the west side of Movie Road is not allowed.

This map details where all the sites are. Almost half the sites (23) are found in the first 1.5 miles of Movie Road, when coming from Whitney Portal Road. And as you’ll see on the map, not all sites are accessible by 2WD vehicles. Some require 4×4 to get to and with tight roads and limited turn around spots, we suggest scouting out spots that are more tucked away to ensure your vehicle can make it.

Where can you NOT camp in the Alabama Hills? 

The main rule for camping in the Alabama Hills is that you cannot camp where signs indicate that it is day use only. They have made this pretty obvious, by placing “day use only” signs, plus signs that have a tent with a line through it.

You also cannot camp on the west side of Movie Road. Since camping used to be allowed in so many areas, you may see the remains of fire pits or an area that looks like a good camping spot. But if you do not see the sign with a tent on it, you cannot camp there.

Rangers do patrol the Alabama Hills and one even stopped by our area to say hi and make sure we knew the rules. So please obey them!

Rules for camping in the Alabama Hills

What are the campsites like at the Alabama Hills?

The campsites in the Alabama Hills vary. Some are tucked into rocks, while some are in more open spaces. For the most part, the sites are not huge, with the majority being best for cars, SUVs, or truck campers, plus smaller campervans. There are only a handful of sites that we saw that would work well for a large RV or trailer.

The campsites themselves are extremely basic, primitive sites. You will not find a picnic table or metal fire ring. They are simply just a patch of land that the BLM has decided to allow people to camp on. Many will have rock fire rings that you can use, assuming there are no burn bans and you have your campfire permit.

How hard is it to find a camping spot in the Alabama Hills?

Camping at the Alabama Hills is first-come, first-served. So we suggest arriving early in the day to find a spot.

We had heard a lot of horror stories about how difficult it can be to find a campsite in the Alabama Hills, especially since they reduced the number of camping spots. But during our visit on a weekday in mid-May, we didn’t find it to be too busy at all. We were actually shocked by how quiet the whole area was.

However, it was still a bit tough to find a camping spot. Not because they weren’t available, but because they aren’t easily visible from Movie Road. You’ll need to turn onto some of the side roads and scout out a spot amongst the rocks. Having this map handy was helpful. Although without named side roads, it was tricky at times to know where we were. 

Ultimately, we ended up camping at this spot near Lone Ranger Canyon. It was a more open space, which was great for our van. And while there were two other campsites nearby, we still had some privacy. 

When we rode our bikes around Movie Road, we discovered this spot near Cyclops Arch and wished we would’ve camped here instead! It had unobstructed mountain views and cell service on Verizon, plus was in a much more remote area.

We’ve now camped in hundreds of free campsites in 49 states. Check out this guide to how we find free camping all across the US!

Alabama Hills camping amenities

Toilets

There are only 6 porta potties in the Alabama Hills. There are some at the Mobius Arch trailhead and in this small parking area. You’ll need to either go in these, use your own self contained toilet, or take your waste with you in a WAG bag. In some places you can dig a cathole and bury your waste, but not in the desert! 

Trash cans

There are no trash cans in the Alabama Hills. Make sure you pack out everything you bring in, including all trash. There is a free dumpster at the Tuttle Creek Campground. 

Water

There is no drinking water in the Alabama Hills. So make sure to bring in any water you’ll need to drink (and bring lots!). The town of Lone Pine is just a few minutes away, so you can stop by to get any food, drinks, or grab a meal. 

When is the best time to camp in the Alabama Hills?

The Alabama Hills are open to camping year round, but different times of the year will provide a different experience. 

The best (and busiest) times to visit the Alabama Hills are the spring and fall when temperatures are comfortable. In May, the weather begins to warm up and visitation numbers start to dip. We visited in mid May and like we mentioned, it wasn’t nearly as busy as we feared. And the weather was still tolerable, with warmer days in the low 80s and cooler evenings.

During the summer, the temperature can rise over 100º F and be very uncomfortable with the intense sun and lack of shade. If you have a camper (with a heater), winter could be a great time to visit for less crowds. During the day the average highs are in the 50s and 60s, but lows can get into the 20s. So we would mostly suggest camping in the winter for those with campers that have heaters. Or if you have warm camping gear! 

Alabama Hills Paid Campgrounds

If you don’t snag one of the free, dispersed campsites in the Alabama Hills or if you have a large RV that may not fit, you’re not totally out of luck. There are quite a few campgrounds nearby, which still have amazing views!

Tuttle Creek Campground

The most popular developed campground in the area is the Tuttle Creek Campground. For $10 per night you’ll get a site with a fire pit, picnic table, and lantern holder. There are no hookups, but sites are large enough for RVs up to 30 feet. 

The campground is open year round and sites are first-come, first-served. Fresh water is available, except in the winter, and the dump station has a fee of $10. 

Portuguese Joe Campground

Another popular campground in the Alabama Hills is the Portuguese Joe Campground. This campground has both first-come, first-served as well as reservable sites. Sites cost $14 per night, but do not have hookups. Each site comes with a fire pit and picnic table.  

Lone Pine Campground

The Lone Pine Campground is located along Whitney Portal Road, 6 miles west of Lone Pine. Although sites can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet, they do not have hookups and there is no water in the campground. Sites are first-come, first-served and cost $37 per night.

Other campgrounds in the area

Diaz Lake Campground ($14/night, no hookups)
Whitney Portal Campground ($40/night, only open in the summer)
Independence Creek ($14/night, no hookups)
Grays Meadows ($40/night, no hookups)

How to camp responsibly in the Alabama Hills

The Alabama Hills are a magical place that has been enjoyed by millions of people over the years. And we all need to do our part to keep this place special. Here are the steps you can take to make sure that it remains accessible and in good shape for years to come.

Campfires

If you’d like to have a campfire during your time at the Alabama Hills, or use a propane stove or grill outdoors, you will need a campfire permit. You also will need to check to ensure there are no fire restrictions in the area.

If campfires are allowed, make sure to build your campfire in an already built fire pit. Collecting brush, sticks, or vegetation (live or dead) for firewood is prohibited. There is firewood for purchase in Lone Pine. 

Leave No Trace

If you haven’t camped in awhile, be sure to refresh your memory on the 7 Leave No Trace principles. These include packing out ALL of your trash, planning ahead and being prepared, traveling and camping on durable surfaces, disposing of waste properly, minimizing your campfire impacts, and being considerate of others.

Don’t crush the brush

Do your best to travel on established roads and trails and be especially careful not to step on vegetation. The plants in the desert keep the soil healthy and provide homes and food for wildlife. It takes only a second to destroy the vegetation, but much longer for it to recover.  

Things to do while camping in the Alabama Hills

Once you get your campsite, it’s time to explore! There are tons of things to see in the Alabama Hills, including Mobius Arch, Lone Ranger Canyon, countless movie filming sites, a uniquely painted rock, mountain views, and more! We are sharing all of the best things to do in the Alabama Hills in this guide!

Keep in mind that if you have a van like us, you will lose your campsite if you leave it, since it will be empty. So we suggest exploring by foot or bike, in order to not lose your site. You could also set up a tent to hold your spot or if you’re traveling in a group, keep a vehicle at the site.

Ready to Camp in the Alabama Hills?

Pin this guide to plan your Alabama Hills camping trip!