Campgrounds and RV parks near Mammoth Lakes, CA

The Mammoth Lakes Basin holds five alpine lakes with paved access, a boat ramp at Lake Mary, and trailheads into the John Muir Wilderness. Reds Meadow Valley contains Devils Postpile National Monument and Rainbow Falls; access during summer is generally by mandatory shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Adventure Center. Rock Creek and nearby Rock Creek Lake and Crowley Lake are hot spots for trout fishing. The June Lake Loop offers four lakes with boat ramps and easy shoreline fishing. Mountain bikers can ride the lift-served Mammoth Bike Park in summer. Hot Creek Geological Site, Convict Lake, and Mono Lake's tufa towers are short drives. Yosemite's Tuolumne Meadows is reachable via Tioga Pass when the road is open, typically late spring through fall.

Most Forest Service campgrounds in the Mammoth Lakes Basin sit between 7,500 and 9,000 feet and are seasonal. Opening and closing dates are approximate, and a heavy snowpack can delay the opening. Lake Mary Campground, for example, is typically not clear of snow until late May or early June. Lower-elevation sites along U.S. 395, such as those near Rock Creek at around 7,000 feet, often open earlier; several typically open in late April to coincide with the traditional California trout opener on the last Saturday of April. July and August are the busiest months, with weekends booked far in advance. September brings cooler nights, thinner crowds, and aspen color along the June Lake Loop and McGee Creek. Early closure can occur to protect water systems from freezing and to schedule seasonal shutdown. In winter, most Forest Service campgrounds close, while a limited set of private RV parks in town stay open for ski-season visitors. Tioga Pass and Reds Meadow Road close with the first heavy snow and reopen once plowed.

Mammoth Lakes is high country. Campgrounds in the basin sit between roughly 7,500 and 9,000 feet, and travelers arriving from sea level should plan for thinner air and cool nights even in midsummer. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August. Forest Service sites generally provide vault or flush toilets, picnic tables, fire rings, and bear-proof food storage lockers; full hookups are limited to private parks. Bears are active across the area, and campers are required to keep all food, coolers, and scented items secured in approved containers or locked inside a hard-sided vehicle. Fire restrictions may be imposed during hot, dry conditions, and visitors are asked to buy firewood locally and burn it on-site to limit the spread of tree pests.