Follow 395. Find your own pace.
A first-timer route with a simple rhythm: handle supplies in town, arrive at camp before dark, and choose one landscape to explore each day. The mileage starts in Lone Pine and ends in Lee Vining. It does not include getting to the region or returning home.
Desk-researched September 9, 2026. Not field-tested. Distances are approximate local driving budgets, not calculated routes. Your drive to and from the region is extra.
Your itinerary.
01DAY 1 / About 20 local milesLone Pine and the Alabama Hills
Gather supplies in Lone Pine and take a short Movie Road outing if conditions allow. Make your first overnight at Tuttle Creek. Keep a backup campground plan rather than arriving late and hoping.
- SUPPLY STOP
Lone Pine supply stop
Town-center planning pin, not a particular business. Buy groceries, drinking water and fuel before leaving US 395; confirm store hours and a suitable forecourt.
- OPTIONAL OUTING
Movie Road scenery
A scenery stop, not a camping permission or an off-road track. Use marked parking, never block the road, and skip rough or wet sections.
- OVERNIGHT
Tuttle Creek Campground
First-come sites; no reservation is included. Seasonal drinking water and dump station. Arrive supplied and confirm service before relying on it.
02DAY 2 / About 80 local milesNorth through the Owens Valley
Make Bishop your main resupply stop before continuing to Horton Creek. Today is intentionally light on detours: settle in, check tomorrow's weather, and enjoy an unhurried evening.
- SUPPLY STOP
Bishop supply stop
Town-center planning pin. Choose an accessible fuel station and grocery store in town. Carry drinking water; no particular bulk-fill service is verified.
- OVERNIGHT
Horton Creek Campground
Approximate campground pin: follow BLM directions via South Round Valley Road. Seasonal, first come. Do not count on a drinking-water refill; bring your own.
03DAY 3 / About 55 local milesA lake beneath the peaks
Continue north, stop at Convict Lake if parking and weather suit, then head to the west-side BLM campground at Crowley Lake. Confirm water service and set up for another cool night.
- OPTIONAL OUTING
Convict Lake day-use area
Approximate day-use parking pin. Take a shoreline walk within your ability; use signed parking and return before dark. This is not an overnight stop.
- OVERNIGHT
Crowley Lake Campground
BLM campground on the west side, not the Fish Camp or east-shore columns. First come; seasonal. Drinking water is listed, but ask the host about tank-filling permission.
- WATER CHECK
Crowley campground drinking water
Campground-level pin, not a located spigot. Confirm potable signage and that service is on. Drinking-water access does not guarantee a hose connection or RV tank fill.
04DAY 4 / About 50 local milesTrade highway time for June Lake
Resupply in Mammoth Lakes if needed, then continue to June Lake. Today's fixed point is a separately reserved Oh Ridge site; keep sightseeing simple and stay close to the shore.
- SUPPLY STOP
Mammoth Lakes supply stop
Town-center planning pin. Top up groceries, fuel and purchased drinking water. Pick a business with suitable parking for your rig and verify hours.
- SUPPLY STOP
June Lake village
Village planning pin. Shop for a picnic and supplies; park only in signed spaces that fit your vehicle. Do not assume a public RV water fill.
- OVERNIGHT
Oh Ridge Campground
Reserve a vehicle-compatible site separately on Recreation.gov. Check its individual driveway length. Seasonal drinking water and food-storage lockers are listed.
- WATER CHECK
Oh Ridge drinking-water check
Ask the host for the approved potable tap; this pin marks the campground, not a spigot. Confirm service and permission. No bulk tank-fill connection is promised.
05DAY 5 / About 30 local milesFinish with the tufa towers
Visit South Tufa during posted hours if current conditions permit, then end in Lee Vining. The trip stops here; add your onward journey separately rather than trying to squeeze in Tioga Pass.
- OPTIONAL OUTING
Mono Lake South Tufa
Approximate day-use parking pin. Stay on designated paths, leave tufa untouched, and leave by posted closing time. No overnight stop at this location.
- SUPPLY STOP
Lee Vining supply stop
Town-center planning pin. Choose an open fuel station and buy drinking water before visiting the lake. Fuel type, hours and rig access need confirmation.
Where to call it a night.
Tuttle Creek / night 1
First come. Seasonal water. Confirm the site fits your rig.
Check camping detailsHorton Creek / night 2
Seasonal and first come. Arrive with your own drinking water.
Check camping detailsCrowley Lake BLM / night 3
Seasonal and first come. Check water service with the host.
Check camping detailsOh Ridge / night 4
Reserve a compatible site separately before committing to dates.
Check camping detailsFuel, food & fresh water.
Lone Pine, Bishop, Mammoth, Lee Vining
Use towns for fuel, groceries and purchased water. Select exact businesses that fit your rig; town pins are not verified forecourts.
Refill checks / Crowley and Oh Ridge
Drinking water is listed in season. Ask about permission and connections for a tank fill; carry a reserve in case services are off.
Check service detailsBefore you point the rig north.
- The smallest published recommendation on the BLM overnight stops is 30 feet. Individual sites may be tighter; measure your complete rig.
- US 395 is the backbone, not an off-road route. Do not accept unverified dirt-road shortcuts from a navigation app.
- High-country weather, smoke and wind can change the itinerary. No Tioga crossing, east-shore columns road or remote water source is required.
Know what the plan is built on.
Land-manager information is linked below. These are planning suggestions, not reservations or a live report of road, campsite, water or fire conditions. Recheck before departure. If a stop is closed, omit it rather than finding an unverified shortcut.
- BLM: Alabama Hills access, permits and camping
- BLM: Tuttle Creek facilities and vehicle length
- BLM: Horton Creek season and services
- BLM: Crowley Lake campground and water
- Recreation.gov: Oh Ridge reservations and facilities
- Recreation.gov: Convict Lake and nearby recreation
- California State Parks: Mono Lake rules and alerts
- Caltrans: live highway conditions
