Campgrounds and RV parks near Lone Pine, CA

Day trips fan out in every direction. Whitney Portal Road climbs from town to the Mount Whitney trailhead, a popular spot for short hikes, fishing, and photography even without a summit permit. The Alabama Hills draw visitors for film-location tours, Mobius Arch, bouldering, and night-sky viewing. The Museum of Western Film History sits on the main highway in town. Further afield, Manzanar National Historic Site is a short drive north. Death Valley National Park lies east via SR-136 and SR-190. From Glacier Lodge near Big Pine, the North Fork Big Pine Creek trail reaches the Palisade lakes and the largest glacier in the Sierra. Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park, with the General Sherman Tree and other giant sequoia groves, require a multi-hour drive around the range.

Lone Pine sits at about 3,700 feet and is accessible by RV year-round, but conditions vary sharply with elevation. Summer in the valley is hot and dry, with afternoon temperatures often climbing into the 90s and cool nights. Higher trailheads such as Whitney Portal and Glacier Lodge stay comfortable, and Sierra wildflower and lake hiking peaks from July into early September. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible in the high country. Spring and fall are the most pleasant seasons in the valley itself. Alabama Hills wildflower bloom typically follows wet winters, and mid-September through November is a busy weekend period for the Hills. Roads into Sequoia and Kings Canyon, including the Generals Highway, can require chains in winter, and Lodgepole Campground - Sequoia National Park has some sites available in late April and is fully open from late May to late September, with some sites remaining open until mid-October depending on weather. Whitney Portal Road closes above the campground in winter, and high passes such as Tioga and Sonora are closed by snow.

Expect a desert valley floor with sparse shade and strong sun, framed by 14,000-foot peaks. Daytime and nighttime temperatures can swing by 30 to 40 degrees, so pack layers even in summer. Cell service is reliable in town and patchy in the canyons. Fuel, groceries, propane, and dump stations are available in Lone Pine, but services thin out quickly once travelers leave US-395. In-park campgrounds in Sequoia and Kings Canyon provide bear food storage boxes at each site, and Lodgepole Campground - Sequoia National Park has no hookups. Lodgepole Campground - Sequoia National Park has sites for RVs up to 42 feet long. Mountain roads to Whitney Portal, Glacier Lodge, and the Generals Highway include steep grades and tight curves, so long rigs should check length limits before committing. Campfire permits are required on BLM and Forest Service land, are free of charge, and can be obtained online or at BLM, Forest Service, and Cal Fire offices, and fire restrictions are common in summer.