Camping in Alabama Hills checks all the boxes. The views are epic, there are no reservations to worry about, the area is easy to access, and it’s not too hard to find an isolated spot just to yourself. Whether you want hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, or to relax in camp and soak up the views, this is the place.  

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WHAT ARE THE ALABAMA HILLS?

Alabama Hills Recreation Area is a geologically fascinating region of rocks and hills nestled at the Eastern side of the Sierra Nevada. This rugged landscape feels far from civilization, however most campsites are conveniently located a few miles west from the city of Lone Pine, CA.

The area offers impressive views of the desert colliding with jagged mountain peaks, which has made this region a popular choice for Hollywood films. Alabama Hills is a destination in and of itself, but it is also a great place to stop for the night if you are traveling the U.S. 395 or heading into the mountains. Get ready to settle into camp among alien boulder formations and gaze at unobstructed views of Mount Whitney.

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THE BEST CAMPING IN ALABAMA HILLS

There are two main options for camping in Alabama Hills.

The first is to grab a first-come, first-served established campsite at Tuttle Creek Campground. If you cannot get a spot, do not worry.

The second option is dispersed camping on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. When dispersed camping on BLM land there are no set campsites. Instead, you look for a clear spot where you can avoid damaging plants and set up camp. There will be no facilities, just you and the land.

Personally, I prefer dispersed camping. I love the solitude and space gained by getting out of established campgrounds. Best of all it’s free!

Tuttle Creek Campground 

Reservations: No (First come, first served)
Campsites: 83 sites with tent and pull through trailer spaces
Cost: $8/night per site
Toilets: Yes, vaulted
Site Amenities: Fire rings, picnic tables
Water: Yes (Unavailable due to cold weather between October and March)
Dump station: Yes (Unavailable due to cold weather between October and March)
Pets: Welcome
Cell Service: Yes

Dispersed Camping on BLM Land 

Reservations: None needed
Campsites: Camp wherever there is space. Look for sites that have already been established. Camping is allowed for up to 14 days.
Cost: Free
Toilets: There are no toilets. Bury human waste in catholes 4-6 inches deep and 200 feet from water, trails, and campsites. Pack out toilet paper.
Site Amenities: None
Water: None
Dump station: No
Pets: Welcome
Cell Service: No
Fire:  A free fire permit is required for the use of fire rings or portable gas stoves

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GETTING THERE

Alabama Hills is located just 3 miles from the small town of Lone Pine, CA. Its location makes it convenient to pop into town for anything you need. The nearest major hubs are Los Angeles (3.5 hours away) and Las Vegas (4 hours away).

Click here for turn by turn directions to Tuttle Creek Campground
Click here for turn by turn directions to the start of dispersed BLM camping

Before heading out to find a campsite, I highly recommend stopping by the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center to pick up a free map and guide of the Alabama Hills Recreation Area. This will allow you to familiarize yourself with the roads, as well as where BLM land starts, so you can tell where dispersed camping in Alabama Hills is allowed.

It is also important to note that Movie Road (the main road through Alabama Hills) is a groomed dirt road. Movie road is suitable for passenger cars and allows access to many fine campsites. Once off the main road, however, a high clearance 4WD vehicle may be necessary. 

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WHEN TO VISIT

Spring and Fall are the best seasons for camping in Alabama Hills as temperatures are moderate.

Summer temperatures can be as high as 100 degrees, and Winter temperatures can dip to 20 degrees. However, you can camp here year-round as long as you are prepared.

My favorite time is fall, the mountains look great with a dusting of snow and the colors are fantastic.

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THINGS TO DO WHILE CAMPING
IN ALABAMA HILLS

1) HIKE THE MOBIUS ARCH TRAIL

This short and easy hike takes you along a single-track loop past Mobius Arch. The arch itself is just tall enough to stand inside without hitting your head. When viewed from the east, it perfectly frames Mount Whitney in the distance.

Trailhead: Arch Loop Trailhead
Distance: 0.7 miles
Time: The hike itself takes 20 minutes, but allow 30-60 minutes to explore and take pictures.
Starting Elevation: 4604 feet
Vertical Ascent: 63 feet
Route Type: Loop
Difficulty: Easy, however this trail does include walking on sand and uneven surfaces.
Good for kids: Yes
Dogs: Yes

2) RIDE THE ALABAMA HILLS MOUNTAIN BIKE LOOP

This loop includes some fun rolling single-track, open 4WD roads, and a paved ascent up Whitney Portal Road. The best part of the ride is the epic view.

Distance: 15.5 Miles
Time: 1.5-3 hours
Starting Elevation: 4516 feet
Vertical Ascent: 1720 feet
Route type: Loop (option to shuttle from top of Whitney Portal Road)
Technical level: 2/5 (there are several deep sandy sections)
Dogs: Yes
Notes: There are no trailhead names on trail markers. I used the MTB Project App from REI to navigate the route.

Trailhead A: To get to this trailhead, go west on Whitney Portal Road towards the mountains from U.S 395. Turn Right onto Movie Road. Drive along Movie Road for about 2 miles until it turns sharply left. Following this sharp turn there is an area on the left where you can park. The trailhead is on the opposite side of the road and it is marked by a small signpost about 20 yards off the road.

Trailhead B:  This is a great place to start if you want to cut out the paved climb up Whitney Portal Road and shuttle the route. The trailhead can be found on the north side of Whitney Portal road 5.15 miles from U.S. 395 (or 2.45 miles from Movie Road). It is about 20 yards off the road, so keep your eyes peeled.

Option 1- Ride the full loop: Start at trailhead A. Follow the singletrack trail for 1.3 miles until you reach an intersection with a 4WD road. Turn left and head east on this road. Follow the road through the gully until it intersects with Whitney Portal Road. Turn right on Whitney Portal Road and ride 4.5 miles uphill to trailhead B. Follow the singletrack trail about 3.5 miles until you come to a “T-intersection” with another 4WD road. Turn right and follow this road until it intersects with Movie Road. Turn right on Movie road and follow it back the start at trailhead A.

Option 2- Shuttle to the top of Whitney Portal Road: Leave a car parked here. Take your second car to trailhead B and park alongside the road. Follow the same route outlined above eliminating riding the section on Whitney Portal Road and ending at your car.

3) EXPLORE FILM LOCATIONS

The unique geography of the Alabama Hills area has made it a popular filming location since the 1920’s. The weekend we camped we saw two small film crews doing commercials. With more than 150 movies and TV shows using this area as backdrop, it is likely you have already seen the Alabama Hills before. Recent major films that have shot here include: Django Unchained, Gladiator, Iron Man, and Tremors.

If you are into old westerns, then a trip to The Museum of Western Film History in Lone Pine is a great place to start. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children. Spend some time exploring the museum’s collection of cars, props, costumes, movie posters, and other memorabilia. Afterwards, grab a free Alabama Hills Recreation map and head out to Movie Road for a self guided tour of several famous filming sites. The recreation map has 7 filming locations marked, but there are no signs, making it difficult to tell what you are looking at. But even if you don’t see the exact spot where the Long Ranger stood you will have a great time hunting for it.

4) PHOTOGRAPHY

My favorite part of Camping in Alabama Hills is simple: I wake up before dawn, brew a cup of coffee, grab my camera, and climb to the top of a pile of boulders to watch the sunrise!

Tip: If you want to capture pictures of the Sierra Nevada, early morning is the best so be sure to get up before sunrise. If you are lucky you will see Alpenglow, which is a reddish tint on the mountains when the sun is still below the horizon.  

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Thanks for checking out my guide to camping in Alabama Hills!

If you found this content helpful in planning your next trip, please like, pin, and share my post so that others can as well. As always, please be kind to others and observe Leave No Trace principles so we all can enjoy our favorite outdoor spaces.

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