Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground
Located in the "Ravine" on the east side of the overflow parking lot at Whitney Portal, all campsites are walk-in. Camping is not allowed in the parking lot. Sites have flat tent pads and bear proof food lockers. Restrooms are located at the parking lot. No water. One night stay limit.
More like this: first-come in California · tent only in California
Amenities & rules
| Equipment | Tents |
| Fees | $22.00 per night. |
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Inyo National Forest |
| Booking | No reservations. Self-register at campground sign in hiker parking lot. |
| Fees | $22.00 per night. |
| Rules | One night stay limit. Active bear area, bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36") |
Weather by month
Getting there
| Coordinates | 36.5869° N, 118.2394° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- PrescribedGrant Grove Fall Rx
42 mi from the campground · 466 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 6.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Big Willi Mountaineering Company ↗ | 9.9 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Worth a stop
- 10.9 miBlock 14 ↗Visitor center
- 11 miManzanar Visitor Center ↗Visitor center
Trails nearby
- under 0.1 miMount Whitney ↗8.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miWhitney Portal NRT ↗4.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike · national_recreation_or_other
- 0.3 miNorth Fork Lone Pine Creek3.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.6 miMeysan Lakes ↗5.6 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 3.7 miTuttle Creek Ashram1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- under 0.1 miMt. Whitney Trailhead Campground ↗Inyo National Forest
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness begins about 2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 2 miSequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness ↗Wilderness · National Park Service · 768,222 acres
- 2.9 miAlabama Hills National Scenic Area ↗National Scenic Area · Bureau of Land Management · 18,831 acres
- 7.2 miGolden Trout Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 303,713 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Guidebooks for Inyo National Forest and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground?
No. Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground is first-come, first-served. No reservations. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.
Source: Forest Service
How much does it cost to camp at Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground?
$22.00 per night.
Source: Forest Service
Is Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 26, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground have?
25 sites.
Source: Forest Service
Can I bring an RV to Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground?
Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Forest Service
What if Mt. Whitney Trailhead Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Whitney Portal (0.6 mi), Lone Pine (3.1 mi), and Tuttle Creek Campground (6.4 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby