Ultimate Guide To Alabama Hills Camping: What You Need To Know
Looking for a scenic car camping adventure in California where you’re surrounded by mountains? Alabama Hills has been on my bucket list and we finally went camping for 2 nights over the holidays.
Located just off Highway 395 at the base of the Eastern Sierra mountains, Alabama Hills is known for being a filming site for several notable movies. You might have even heard about Movie Road. However, it can be tricky planning a camping trip to Alabama Hills because many of the designated campsites have been converted to day-use only.
Hence, we’ll be talking about how to find a great campsite and preparations you need before going. We’ll also share some of the fun things to do in Alabama Hills to make the most of your time there.
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California Camping Workbook
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Where can you camp in Alabama Hills
Over the years as Alabama Hills became more popular, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has reduced the number of designated campsites. It could’ve been to allow restoration to some of the plants, or to manage the crowd that sometimes is unaware of how to disperse camp responsibly.
Currently, you can either camp in an established campground or in one of the designated dispersed campsites. Most of these are first-come, first-served.
Designated dispersed campsites
Can you camp anywhere in Alabama Hills? Unfortunately, no – you can only camp in designated campsites marked with a tent symbol.
Many of the sites people used to camp in have become day-use only, so that leaves us with only 47 sites to choose from. The easiest campsites to access are in the Movie Flat area which has 16 sites availably.
Some sites are accessible only by 4WD, while others are in slightly tighter spots which may not be ideal for RVs. I recommend using this map to get a sense of where the designated campsites are.
We camped at the Lone Ranger Canyon and enjoyed an expansive view of the Mount Whitney mountain range which was especially beautiful at sunrise.
Tips for choosing a good campsite
Arrive early: We got to Alabama Hills at around 3:30pm in December (off-peak), and managed to get the last available campsite in the Lone Ranger Canyon. While I’ve never been there in summer, I’m guessing it’ll be good to arrive before lunch during busy months. Set aside some time to drive around and find a site you like.
Find sheltered sites: The huge rocks serve as protection against the strong Eastern Sierra winds which can be hard to predict. We enjoyed a light breeze on the first day, but had huge gusts of wind in the afternoon the next day which made it hard to start a fire, cook outdoors, and even keep our portable toilet shelter up.
Download offline maps: Even if you don’t know exactly where the campsites are, you can still use Google Maps offline to navigate around the rocks. You can also put a “star” on places you want to come back to if you’re taking your time to circle around various sites.
Established campgrounds
If you don’t manage to find a dispersed campsite, head over to some of these campgrounds. Potable water is available in Portuguese Joe Campground and seasonally in Tuttle Creek Campground. You’ll also have access to vault toilets.
- Cost: $10/night
- Number of sites: 83
- Distance from Alabama Hills: 3.6 miles
Lone Pine Campground (reservations possible)
- Cost: $37/night
- Number of sites: 42
- Distance from Alabama Hills: 4.8 miles
Portugese Joe Campground (reservations possible)
- Cost: $14/night
- Number of sites: 20
- Distance from Alabama Hills: 7 miles
Camping regulations and permits
Camping permit required
Since October 1 in 2024, you’re required to apply for and print out a camping permit. It’s free and will be valid for one year, just so that they can ensure you’ve been educated on ways to protect the site.
When we were there, no one came around to check on our permits – but it’s still nice to have it for ease of mind.
Get a fire permit
If you’re thinking of starting a fire, make sure to apply for a campfire permit. They are free as well, and you just need to print it out and bring it along. This also applies in other BLM land like Trona Pinnacles nearby. You’ll also need to for your portable camp stoves, so just get it anyway.
Make sure you’re not starting a fire near the rock structures as the burn marks last for years.
Dealing with waste and trash
Unfortunately there are no trash bins available in Alabama Hills, so you’ll need to take it out with you when you leave.
I know what you’re thinking – where can I use the toilet? If you’re located near the Shark Fin parking area or Mobius Arch trailhead, you can use the restroom there. Otherwise, the most convenient way (also my favorite), is to bring a portable toilet along.
My go-to set up for a portable toilet when dispersed camping:
- Eco gel to solidy liquids and reduce odor
- Foldable and compact camping toilet seat
- Double lined waste bags with leak-proof seal
- Pop-up changing tent
Don’t forget to bring toilet paper and some hand sanitizer too.
Best things to do in Alabama Hills
My favorite thing about Alabama Hills is the views, and you don’t have to drive far to see some really cool rock structures and old movie sites.
We hung out near our campsite for a full day since we didn’t want to lose our campsite, and ventured further with our car before leaving the area. There’s plenty to do here whether you’re just at your campsite, or if you plan to drive around. Here are some ideas from our trip.
Arch Loop Trail
Everyone talks about how cool the rocks are, but I didn’t realise it would be such a scenic trail. The Arch Loop Trail is great for seeing both the Heart Arch and the Mobius Arch, and also splits into the Alabama Hills trail which is popular for biking.
It’s only 0.6 mile (1 km) long if you complete the loop, though you can also make it an out-and-back trip. The easier route is in the clockwise direction, but the more scenic view will be from the opposite direction (on the right side of the trailhead).
If you’re into astrophotography, the Mobius Arch rock provides a really interested foreground object for night sky photos. Summer is the best time for capturing the Milky Way, and you might even bump into fellow photography enthusiasts then.
Visit old movie filming sites
I’m not really an old movie type of person, but at least I’ve watched Django Unchained. It’s pretty cool that we got to camp in that filming location in Lone Ranger Canyon. If you’re interested to know more about the movie history of Alabama Hills, make sure to check out the Film History Museum in Lone Pine.
Over 400 movies have been filed here, including some of these famous classics:
- Man of Steel
- Iron Man
- Django Unchained
- Gunga Din
- Star Trek Generations
- Gladiator
Take pictures along Movie Road
You get great views all along Movie Road, though there’s one part of it that goes uphill and then flattens out – I think that’s the ideal spot for photos.
You can even take a video capturing the road and you walking towards the mountain backdrop. Mount Whitney is unmissable, and it’s stunning to look at it from Movie Road.
Climb rocks and explore corridors
There aren’t many defined trails here, and it’s fun to climb some of the rocks to see how much of Alabama Hills you can see. You can also explore various “corridors” of rocks, and see where you end up.
Watch sunrise and sunset
We slept in our rooftop tent and positioned our car to face the Mount Whitney mountain range. It gets the first rays of the day, and glows with a pink hue before the sun actually rises. We really loved this view and made sure to wake up to watch the sunrise on both mornings.
Sunset will be on the Owen Valley side, which has its own charm as it’s flanked by another mountain range.
FAQ about camping in Alabama Hills
I had a few questions while planning my trip there, so hopefully these answers help you too.
What to bring for camping in Alabama Hills?
You’ve come to the right place – find my camping packing list here.
For more inspiration, my favorite pieces of car camping gear are:
- Snow Peak Takibi portable firepit
- Wolfwise pop-up changing tent
- Reliance portable toilet
- Solar rechargeable string lights
- Subaru rooftop tent set up
- Jackery portable power station
Can you fly a drone in Alabama Hills?
You can fly a drone if you obtain a permit by emailing (BLM_CA_BLM_BI@blm.gov), and costs add up to more than $300. Although it would’ve been amazing to get drone shots here, it was expensive to get a permit and you’d need insurance too. I’m quite the rule follower though, but do as you see fit.
How’s the weather in Alabama Hills in winter?
When we went in December over the holidays, it was comfortably warm in the afternoon and daytime temperatures were around 50 to 60 F. The lows hovered just below 40 F at night, perhaps because there were storms nearby in the mountains.
Overall, it felt very comfortable and we just brought lots of warm clothing and kept a fire going. It also helps if you have cold weather camping gear.
However, it does get really windy and we had to pack up some of our things in the evening so that they wouldn’t get blown away. We also couldn’t start a fire on our second night because the wind was causing the sparks to fly dangerously close to the dry brush.
Sleeping on top of our car helped us feel safe though, and I highly recommend getting a rooftop tent for car camping.
What if you can’t find a dispersed campsite?
You’ll need to check for space at nearby campgrounds. I recommend Tuttle Creek Campground as it’s still within the Alabama Hills area, is fairly cheap at $10/night, has drinking water and restrooms.
It’s also nice to have Tuttle Creek running through the campground, while also having the view of Mount Whitney in the distance.
Can RVs camp in Alabama Hills?
It’s definitely possible. However, there’s been talk about RVs not being able to find suitable spaces in Alabama Hills due to tight spots and fewer campsites available. While you can still RV camp there, it might not be easy to find a good spot especially during the busy season.
You’ll most likely want to check out Tuttle Creek Campground as the sites there have plenty of space for longer vehicles.
Conclusion
Camping in Alabama Hills felt like a dream, and I love that the mountains were snow-dusted when we were there. If Alabama Hills has been on your bucket list, this is your sign to go ahead with the trip. Here’s the BLM brochure for more information.
The next time you’re traveling from Los Angeles to Lake Tahoe on Highway 395, don’t forget to check out Alabama Hills. It’s a great road trip with other cool spots along the way like Death Valley National Park, Trona Pinnacles, and Mammoth Lake.
