Convict Lake Campground

Inyo National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: CROWLEY LAKE, CA, CA

Price: From $35 per night

Rating: 4.6 out of 5 (438 reviews)

Season: May through October

Convict Lake Campground is situated near Convict Lake amidst the beautiful scenery of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The lake and surrounding national forest provide many opportunities for family fun, outdoor recreation and relaxation. The campground and nearby resort offer many amenities for a convenient and enjoyable camping experience.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Flush Toilets, Drinking Water, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Bear Boxes, Fishing, Firewood for Sale

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/convict-lake-campground to be notified when sites open up.

Convict Lake Campground offers beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountain scenery near Convict Lake with excellent recreation opportunities including fishing, hiking, boating, and wildlife viewing. Campers praise the stunning views and less crowded atmosphere, with convenient amenities like fire rings, picnic tables, flush toilets, and drinking water.

Wildlife alert: Greater Sage-Grouse, Great Basin Rattlesnake, Great Basin Gopher Snake, Northern Rubber Boa, Mule Deer, and Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel present in area

Insider tips for Convict Lake Campground: Book early — this is a popular federal campground Bring a canopy for shade as the campground has minimal tree cover Sites near the creek (like site 27) offer water views and proximity to restrooms No showers available — plan accordingly

Skip Convict Lake Campground if: You need RV hookups — most sites have no hookups, suitable only for self-contained RVs. You require shower facilities. You visit outside May-October season.

Best time to visit Convict Lake Campground: May-October — Campground operates seasonally May through October only.

Nearby campgrounds: Mcgee Creek (Mammoth Lakes, CA), Crowley Lake Campground (Mammoth Lakes, CA), Sherwin Creek (MAMMOTH LAKES, CA), Pine Glen (Palo Alto, CA).

Cell Phone Coverage at Convict Lake Campground

Cell signal at Convict Lake Campground (CROWLEY LAKE, CA): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

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CamperWatch›CA›Convict Lake Campground
Convict Lake Campground — photo 1
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Inyo National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Convict Lake Campground

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CROWLEY LAKE, CA, CA★ 4.6 (438 reviews)From $35/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Convict Lake Campground is situated near Convict Lake amidst the beautiful scenery of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The lake and surrounding national forest provide many opportunities for family fun, outdoor recreation and relaxation. The campground and nearby resort offer many amenities for a convenient and enjoyable camping experience.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersWildlife watchersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV55 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
ADA sites8 sites
Bear boxesYes — at every site
PetsAllowed
CampfiresAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterBear Boxes
Recreation
Picnic TablesDump StationFishing
Family & Pets
Flush ToiletsElectric HookupsFirewood for Sale

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need RV hookups — most sites have no hookups, suitable only for self-contained RVs✕ You require shower facilities✕ You visit outside May-October season

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a popular federal campground

Bring a canopy for shade as the campground has minimal tree cover

Sites near the creek (like site 27) offer water views and proximity to restrooms

No showers available

plan accordingly

Best: May-October

Campground operates seasonally May through October only

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: Greater Sage-Grouse, Great Basin Rattlesnake, Great Basin Gopher Snake, Northern Rubber Boa, Mule Deer, and Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel present in area

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
760-924-5771· Inyo National Forest
Getting there →

Convict Lake Campground is about 34 miles north of Bishop, California on Highway 395. From Bishop, travel north on 395. The turnoff to the campground is across from Mammoth Yosemite Airport and is well-signed. From Mammoth Lakes, travel on Highway 395 south for 5 miles. Turn west off of Highway 395.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Inyo National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Inyo National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Convict Lake Campground cost per night?+
Convict Lake Campground costs $35 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Convict Lake Campground open?+
Convict Lake Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Convict Lake Campground have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Convict Lake Campground?+
Convict Lake Campground can accommodate RVs up to 55 feet.
How do I make reservations at Convict Lake Campground?+
Convict Lake Campground is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Convict Lake Campground?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Convict Lake Campground is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Convict Lake Campground open, and what are check-in times?+
Convict Lake Campground is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Forest Service Concessionaire
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$35 /night★ 4.6 (438)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Convict Lake Campground cost per night?+
What season is Convict Lake Campground open?+
Does Convict Lake Campground have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Mcgee Creek

Mammoth Lakes, CA

From $35/night

Crowley Lake Campground

Mammoth Lakes, CA

From $10/night

Sherwin Creek

MAMMOTH LAKES, CA

From $32/night

Pine Glen

Palo Alto, CA

From $32/night

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