Mcgee Creek
McGee Campground provides a pleasant, sunny location for family camping between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains. The campground's proximity to U.S. Highway 395 and the adjacent John Muir Wilderness make it a hot spot for hiking, rock climbing, fishing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, hunting, photography and geology study.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 28 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
28 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 22 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 002 | Back-in | 22 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 22 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 20 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 005 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 006 | Back-in | 20 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 007 | Back-in | 20 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 21 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 24 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 20 | Paved | 6 / 1 | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 35 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
McGee offers about 28 reservable, open and sunny campsites. Each site has a picnic shelter. Roads and camping spurs are paved. Bear-proof lockers are provided for food storage and firewood is for sale on-site.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Status | Closed for the season. Forest Service sites close for the season; check the official page for the reopening date. |
| Forest | Inyo National Forest |
| Booking | Some sites may be reserved at McGee Creek Campground on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. |
| Fees | $32.00 per night. |
| Rules | Dogs on leash only. Maximum stay 14 days. Active bear area. All food must be secured overnight and when not attended, bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36"). Always keep a clean camp and do not feed wildlife. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From U.S. Highway 395 in California, take the McGee Creek exit, located 8 miles south of Mammoth Lakes and 37 miles north of Bishop. Proceed 2 miles south up the paved McGee Creek Road. The campground is on the left.
| Coordinates | 37.5644° N, 118.7847° W · Directions ↗ |
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
46 mi from the campground · 6,788 acres · 95% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Call the managing office before you drive.
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Dump station ↗ | 1.4 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mac's Sporting Goods ↗ | 25.4 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Tour & Info McGee Creek Campground
Trails nearby
- 0.6 miMcGee Creek to Hilton Creek2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1 miMcGee Pack Station1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.3 miMcGee Pass ↗9.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.5 miHilton Creek ↗8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.7 miMcGee Creek Spur0.4 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.8 miMcGee Mountain0.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Inyo National Forest begins about 3.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 3.2 miInyo National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 2,097,006 acres
- 4.5 miSierra National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,418,790 acres
- 11.1 miAnsel Adams Wilderness ↗Wilderness · FS/NPS · 231,619 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Natural features
The campground is situated in an expanse of silvery white sagebrush and near a meadow lined with aspens. It sits at an elevation of 7,600 feet and offers outstanding views of high mountain peaks in the John Muir Wilderness. McGee Creek runs alongside it, with some sites sitting along the banks of the water.
Recreation
Majestic scenery and challenging trails draw in hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian enthusiasts. The McGee Creek Trailhead, a popular trail for hiking and horseback riding into the McGee Canyon area of the John Muir Wilderness, lies just two miles from the campground. The eastern Sierras are known for exceptional trout fishing. McGee Creek and nearby Crowley Lake have some of the best fishing in the area. The area's interesting geology also makes it popular for rock hounding.
Nearby
For campers interested in local events, Mule Days are held in Bishop over Memorial Day weekend, and the Mammoth Jazz Jubilee is hosted in Mammoth in mid-July. Visitors can explore the magnificent John Muir Wilderness, which stretches for 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain, and offers extensive hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails.
Guidebooks for Inyo National Forest and California
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Mcgee Creek?
Sites at Mcgee Creek are reservable on Recreation.gov. Some sites may be reserved at McGee Creek Campground on Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Mcgee Creek?
$32.00 per night.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Mcgee Creek?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is Mcgee Creek open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Mcgee Creek have?
28 sites, including 28 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Mcgee Creek?
The longest site here provides 35 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Mcgee Creek?
Yes, pets are allowed at Mcgee Creek. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Mcgee Creek?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. As of 2026-10-16, there is 1 active fire within 50 miles, so check current restrictions before you light one. Dogs on leash only.
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Mcgee Creek?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Mcgee Creek?
Majestic scenery and challenging trails draw in hikers, mountain bikers and equestrian enthusiasts. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What if Mcgee Creek is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Crowley Lake Campground (1 mi), Convict Lake Campground (4.3 mi, partly first-come), and Aspen Group (Inyo) (4.9 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby