Tuttle Creek Campground

With Mount Whitney, Lone Pine Peak, and Mount Langley in the background, Tuttle Creek Campground boasts spectacular scenery with views of the Sierra Nevada in the high-desert landscape east of the mountain range.

The best time to visit this campground is in the shoulder season as it can get pretty hot during the summer. With more than 80 sites spread across three loops alongside Tuttle Creek. Sites are spacious, and while some offer shade, the majority are exposed—part of the cost of those expansive views. Each campsite is big and level, perfect for groups or RVs, which is in part responsible for the business of the campground. The campground is open year round, and sites are available by reservation at Recreation.gov. In addition to tent and RV campsites, there are two horse corrals available, but make sure to call ahead to make sure they are still available.

Tuttle Creek Campground is a great base camp for exploring scenic Highway 395, world-class bouldering on the east side of the Sierra, Mount Whitney, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. While Tuttle Creek Campground is tucked away from the town of Lone Pine, it's only a 5- to 10-minute drive if you need to get anything from the town.