Top Mammoth Lakes Campgrounds for Summer Camping

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One of our favorite summer traditions is camping on a lake. And California has some great lakes to choose from. Some of our favorites are camping at Pinecrest Lake, June Lake and Lake Tahoe. But this year we decided to venture into the beautiful options of Mammoth Lakes California Camping. There are many great Mammoth Lakes campgrounds, and here is what to know about each one.

Mammoth is home to some of the state’s best skiing and snowboarding. But even in the summer months, the town has a lot of offer. In fact, it’s one of the top 10 U.S. mountain towns for a family vacation. Check out my list of the best things to do in Mammoth, California.

There are many popular hiking trails in the area, as well as various lake activities like boating and fishing. Most Mammoth lakes are closed to swimming, but you can kayak or canoe on them. And you can drive over to Horseshoe Lake to find a popular beach and swimming area.

The Mammoth Lakes campgrounds are situated near the various Mammoth Lakes in Mono County, California, just off the 395, and just north of the cute town of Bishop, Ca.

None of the campgrounds have RV hookups, and all are able to be reserved six months in advance. They also each offer running water, bear storage lockers, restrooms, fire rings and a scenic setting. But there are some differences that might make one more or less appealing to you.

To make a reservation at any of these Mammoth Lakes California Camping spots, click here.

Twin Lakes Campground – Mammoth Lakes California Camping on the Lake

Campground Season	Late May – Mid October
Number of Campsites	93
Hook ups?	No
Cost	$32/night

The Twin Lakes Campground in Mammoth is one of the largest campgrounds in the area. It’s located on the shore of Twin Lakes and is a great campground for families, RV campers and tent campers alike. This campground has sites that can accommodate vehicles as long as 40 feet.

One of the biggest draws to this campground is the fishing and the access to hot showers (for a fee). Plus the location is great for viewing waterfalls and accessing hiking trails.

All sites are an easy walk to the lakeshore, general store, Lakefront Restaurant and paved bike path. And amenities for fishers include boat rentals and fish cleaning stations.

Lake Mary Campground

Campground Season	Late May – Early Sept.
Number of Campsites	48
Hook ups?	No
Cost	$32/night

Lake Mary Campground is probably the most popular Mammoth Lakes California camping destination. It’s next to Lake Mary, which is the largest of the Mammoth Lakes. Some of the campsites even have spectacular lake views with the mountain peaks behind it.

It’s important to note that the maximum vehicle length at this campground is 21 feet, so it’s a popular campground for tent campers and small RVs.

Coldwater Campground

Campground Season	Late May – Early Sept.
Number of Campsites	77
Hook ups?	No
Cost	$32/night

The Coldwater Campground in Mammoth is located just upstream from Lake Mary. This campground offers convenient access to many popular trails, as well as to Lake Mary for those looking to fish.

RVs and trailers can fit nicely in this campground, as some of the sites can hold up to 40-foot rigs. Tent camping is also allowed.

Pine Glen Campground – Mammoth Lakes California Camping Group Sites

Campground Season	Late May – Mid Sept.
Number of Campsites	17
Hook ups?	No
Cost	$30 – $143/ night

Of the 17 Pine Glen Campground campsites, about half of them are group sites that can accommodate up to 30 people. Campsites in this campground can fit tents, trailers and RVs–some up to 65 feet long.

There are no showers in this campground, but you can access showers and a dump station just a few miles away.

The Pine Glen area is a popular destination for off-road vehicle enthusiasts and has a motocross track and trails. This campground isn’t located on any of the Mammoth Lakes, but it is close to the main village.

Old Shady Rest Campground

Campground Season	Early May – Late October
Number of Campsites	47
Hook ups?	No
Cost	$30/ night

Also not located directly on a lake, the Old Shady Rest Campground is just down the road from all the shops and restaurants in Mammoth. This campground has large campsites, most that can accommodate RVs up to 45 feet, and even some that can accommodate RVs up to 58 feet. You can also tent camp here.

New Shady Rest Campground

Campground Season	Late May – Early Sept.
Number of Campsites	97
Hook ups?	No
Cost	$30/night

The New Shady Rest Campground is in walking distance to the village in Mammoth, and all the shops and restaurants you’ll find there. You’ll find larger campsites here, accommodating vehicles up to 38 feet. And there is an RV dump station in the campground, but no showers.

Sherwin Creek Campground

Campground Season	Mid May – Early Sept.
Number of Campsites	87
Hook ups?	No
Cost	$30

The Sherwin Creek Campground has a little bit of everything as far as size of campsites go. About 15 of the sites are walk-to tent-only sites, however, some sites can accommodate rigs up to 60 feet.

This campground has vault toilets and drinking water available. It is a popular spot for off-road enthusiasts who can enjoy easy access to the nearby trails.

How to Book Your Mammoth Lakes California Camping Trip

Once you know which campground you want to camp at, you can make reservations online at recreation.gov. Reservations can be made up to six months in advance, and campgrounds often fill up during the summer months. Wondering what to do once you’re there? Check out my blog post titled What to Do When Camping.

Note that the opening and closing dates of the campgrounds are subject to change depending on the weather and the amount of snowfall from the previous season.

Interested in more lake campgrounds? Check out these top Lake Tahoe campgrounds along with these amazing Big Bear Lake campgrounds. I’ve also compiled a list of the best Northern California campgrounds–while not all on a lake, they are all gorgeous!