Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent coverageVerified by 0 campers
- VerizonLTEGood coverageVerified by 15 campers · May 17, 2026
Community-reported service can change with terrain, weather, congestion, and carrier coverage.
Campground
Whitney Portal
Inyo National Forest, California
About this campground
The campground is adjacent to Whitney Creek and just down the road from Trailhead Campground.
Numerous campsites are arranged on either side of the creek, including three group camping areas and several tent-only sites.
Whitney Portal Campground is in a prime location within the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains - at the base of Mt.
Map
Loading map
- Latitude
- 36.589861° N
- Longitude
- 118.229778° W
Know before you arrive
Access, sites & campground features
Official facility and campsite inventory, supplemented by clearly marked community reports when the official listing does not publish the detail.
Access
- Drive-in
- Boat-inCommunity report
- Hike-inCommunity report
- Walk-inCommunity report
Site types
- Tent sites
- RV / trailer sites
- Standard campsites
- Group sites
- CabinsCommunity report
- Equestrian sitesCommunity report
- YurtsCommunity report
Features
For campers
- Toilets
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Food storage
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Fires
- Alcohol allowedCommunity report
- Firewood availableCommunity report
- Phone serviceCommunity report
- Pets allowedDogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
- Reservable
For vehicles
- Sanitary dump
- Big rig friendlyCommunity report
- Back-in sitesCommunity report
Official campground guide
Plan with the full campground details
Facility information, site rules, booking windows, and published rates. Source snapshot checked Oct 18, 2026.
Overview
Whitney Portal Campground is in a prime location within the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains - at the base of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States.
With hiking trails to Mt. Whitney and the John Muir Wilderness less than a mile away, the campground is a popular home base for hikers, as well as family, RV and tent campers who wish to explore the area's activities and enjoy unparalleled scenery.
Facilities
The campground is adjacent to Whitney Creek and just down the road from Trailhead Campground. Numerous campsites are arranged on either side of the creek, including three group camping areas and several tent-only sites. Paved roads, vault toilets and drinking water are provided.
Bears frequent the area, and campers are required to use the bear-proof food storage lockers provided in the facility (all supplies must fit; dimensions are 18 inches high, 18 inches deep and 50 inches long). Firewood is available for purchase on-site, and a small convenience store with showers is nearby.
Recreation
Hikers are drawn to the majestic scenery and challenging trails of the Whitney Portal recreation area. Nearby trails lead into the John Muir Wilderness and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park.
The campground is only 0.5 miles from trailheads to Mt. Whitney, Meysan Lake and other popular destinations. Visitors should be aware that hiking in this area may require a permit.
Visitors can also hike, fish and picnic in the area around the campground. There are numerous lakes, streams and a small pond in the area for trout fishing.
Natural Features
The facility is situated in a thick pine forest at an elevation of 8,000 ft. Campers can see striking views of the rugged granite peaks surrounding it.
The area is home to abundant wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine martin, pika and many species of fish and birds. This campground is especially prone to bear activity.
Nearby Attractions
Campers can enter the John Muir Wilderness, a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially carved terrain, via nearby trails. Mt. Whitney is within the wilderness area and entry is available by lottery for experienced hikers.
John Muir Wilderness
Activities & amenities
What Recreation.gov or the campground’s official source specifically lists.
Available activities
- Hiking
- Fishing
- Camping
Amenities and facility features
- Vault or pit toilets
- Showers
- Potable water
- Wildlife-resistant food storage
- Trash serviceVerify whether the assigned site is pack-in/pack-out
- Dump station
Recreation sites
Published inventory grouped by site type. Individual sites can have stricter limits.
Tent Only Non-Electric
16 sites- Reservation type
- Non Site-Specific, Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 16 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Standard Non-Electric
26 sites- Reservation type
- Non Site-Specific, Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 35 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Management
2 sites- Reservation type
- Non Site-Specific
- Equipment
- RV, Tent, Trailer
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 16 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric
3 sites- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 15
- Maximum vehicles
- 2
- Maximum vehicle length
- 0 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Walk To
1 site- Reservation type
- Site-Specific
- Equipment
- Tent
- Maximum people
- 6
- Maximum vehicles
- 1
- Maximum vehicle length
- 0 ft
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Accessible sites
- None flagged in site inventory
Site rules, inventory & rates
Facility rules, inventory procedures, and price seasons published by the official source.
Site rules
- Maximum stay
- 14 nights
- Minimum stay
- 1 consecutive nights
- Holiday-weekend minimum
- 0 days
- Weekend minimum
- 0 days
- Reservation cutoff
- 4 days before arrival
- Maximum published occupancy
- 15 people per site
- Maximum published vehicles
- 2 vehicles per site
- Check-in
- 2:00 PM
- Check-out
- 11:00 AM
- Food storage
- Whitney Portal's official facility record states: Bears frequent the area, and campers are required to use the bear-proof food storage lockers provided in the facility (all supplies must fit; dimensions are 18 inches high, 18 inches deep and 50 inches long).
- Fire and stove use
- Whitney Portal's official facility record states: Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.
- Pets
- Dogs are allowed in developed Forest Service recreation sites when restrained, crated or caged, or on a leash no longer than six feet. Posted site restrictions still apply.
Inventory window
Recreation.gov publishes a rolling booking window. The dates below are the official snapshot captured for this catalog build.
- Currently bookable through
- Oct 24, 2026
- Next release
- Oct 23, 2026, 7:00 AM PDT
- Next book-through date
- Apr 23, 2027
- Group sites bookable through
- Oct 18, 2027
Published seasons & rates
| Season | Site type | Nightly rate | Additional person | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak SeasonApr 24, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026 | Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric | $95 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 24, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026 | Management | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 24, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026 | Standard Non-Electric | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 24, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 24, 2026 – Oct 24, 2026 | Walk To | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 23, 2027 – Oct 23, 2027 | Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric | $95 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 23, 2027 – Oct 23, 2027 | Management | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 23, 2027 – Oct 23, 2027 | Standard Non-Electric | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 23, 2027 – Oct 23, 2027 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 23, 2027 – Oct 23, 2027 | Walk To | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 21, 2028 – Oct 21, 2028 | Group Tent Only Area Non-Electric | $95 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 21, 2028 – Oct 21, 2028 | Management | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 21, 2028 – Oct 21, 2028 | Standard Non-Electric | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 21, 2028 – Oct 21, 2028 | Tent Only Non-Electric | $34 | — | — |
| Peak SeasonApr 21, 2028 – Oct 21, 2028 | Walk To | $34 | — | — |
Important facility notices
Read these with current closure and fire notices before departure.
- This campground will only accommodate small trailers and RV's.
- Be bear aware; keep all food out of sight in approved containers; fine up to $150 for campers who do not comply; remove all food from area after eating; do not leave food, trash or scented items in car; always keep a clean camp and do not feed any wild animals
- No RV dump station; no filling of holding tanks from water hydrants
- No motor homes, trailers, buses or campers permitted in the parking lot
- Two pets per site and leashed at all times.
- Please Note: One RV with tow vehicle per single site or one vehicle per tent site. One vehicle per single site is included with your reservation. Most sites can accommodate 1 extra vehicle that is not included with the reservation fee. Extra vehicle will be charged a per night fee and collected at the campground if you did not pay for an Extra Vehicle Add On. Extra vehicles must fit on the parking spur at the site.
- Fire Restrictions: Fire restrictions may be imposed at any time due to hot, dry weather conditions, at which time campfires and charcoal fires may not be allowed.
- Reserved Sites will be held until check out time (NOON) the day following your arrival date. Sites must be occupied by the checkout time of that following day to hold a reservation or the site will be forfeited and released to other guests. Once your reservation start date has begun, neither the Recreation.gov Contact Center nor the campground manager will be able to modify your reservation.
- Don't Move Firewood: Protect California's forests from tree-killing pests by buying your firewood locally and burning it on-site. For more information visit firewood.ca.gov.
- Click here for more information about Inyo National Forest
Getting there & contact
Official directions
From U.S. Highway 395 in California, travel to the town of Lone Pine. The campground is 13 miles west of Lone Pine on Whitney Portal Road.
Facility contact
760-937-6070