Grays Meadows
Inyo National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking
Location: Independence, CA, CA
Price: From $34 per night
Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (202 reviews)
Season: May through October
Grays Meadows Campground is situated along Independence Creek in the Onion Valley area of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Its location on the creek and proximity to the rugged John Muir Wilderness make it a popular hub for hikers, anglers, spring skiers and snowboarders. Opening and closing dates may be dependent on weather conditions.Majestic mountain scenery and challenging trails draw campers to the Onion Valley area for hiking and horseback riding.
Cell coverage (FCC estimate): strong signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas. Best carrier: T-Mobile. Verizon 4G: 100%. AT&T 4G: 100%. T-Mobile 4G: 100%.
Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Bear Boxes, Fishing, Firewood for Sale
Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/grays-meadows to be notified when sites open up.
Located along Independence Creek in the eastern Sierra Nevada with access to the John Muir Wilderness, Grays Meadows is a popular hub for hiking, fishing, and mountain recreation. Google reviews consistently praise it as one of the best dry camping spots in the area with friendly staff and creek-side sites.
Wildlife alert: Tule Elk, Mule Deer, Alpine Chipmunk, Yellow-bellied Marmot present; also Mountain Chickadee, Fox Sparrow, Great Basin Gopher Snake, and Mountain Garter Snake.
Insider tips for Grays Meadows: Book early — this is a federal campground with high demand. Bring your own water and waste management — no hookups available; suitable for self-contained RVs only. Firewood is available for purchase on-site; bring fire ring essentials.
Skip Grays Meadows if: You need RV hookups (water, sewer, electric) — not available at most sites.. You're visiting outside May-October seasonal closure.. You require full-service amenities — this is a backcountry-style federal campground..
Best time to visit Grays Meadows: May-October — Official operating season; opening and closing dates may be dependent on weather conditions..
Nearby campgrounds: Onion Valley (Independence, CA), Whitney Portal (LONE PINE, CA), Lone Pine (LONE PINE, CA), Goodale Creek Campground (Independence, CA).
Cell Phone Coverage at Grays Meadows
Cell signal at Grays Meadows (Independence, CA): strong overall signal based on FCC broadband data. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
- Verizon 4G LTE: 100% coverage
- AT&T 4G LTE: 100% coverage · AT&T 5G: 100%
- T-Mobile 4G LTE: 100% coverage · T-Mobile 5G: 100%
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.
Grays Meadows Campground is situated along Independence Creek in the Onion Valley area of the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. Its location on the creek and proximity to the rugged John Muir Wilderness make it a popular hub for hikers, anglers, spring skiers and snowboarders. Opening and closing dates may be dependent on weather conditions.Majestic mountain scenery and challenging trails draw campers to the Onion Valley area for hiking and horseback riding.
Verified facts
RIDB / Recreation.gov official databaseAmenities
RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verifiedStraight talk
CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reportsKnown issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.
Insider tips & when to go
CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entryBook early
this is a federal campground with high demand.
Bring your own water and waste management
no hookups available; suitable for self-contained RVs only.
Firewood is available for purchase on-site; bring fire ring essentials.
Official operating season; opening and closing dates may be dependent on weather conditions.
Things to do nearby
RIDB /activities /recareas + intelConditions today
LiveCell signal
FCC BDC · quarterly datasetFCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal. Best carrier: T-Mobile.
Wildlife nearby
iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 kmLocation
Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Getting there →
Grays Meadows is 6 miles west of the town of Independence, California. Take U.S. Highway 395 to Independence. Turn west on Market Street (which turns into Onion Valley Road) and follow for 6 miles. The first gate accesses sites 36-52. The second gate is 0.25 miles up the road and accesses sites 1-35. Campground manager is at site 7.
Campground entrance
Google Maps APICommunity
#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, speakableHow much does Grays Meadows cost per night?+
What season is Grays Meadows open?+
Does Grays Meadows have hookups?+
What is the maximum RV length at Grays Meadows?+
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What is the cell service like at Grays Meadows?+
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Official resources
●Data sources on this page
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