Lake Mary Campground
Lake Mary is the star of the Mammoth Lakes region. Of the 11 lakes in the area, Mary is the largest and most developed. Lake Mary Campground is a large facility with plenty of amenities in and around it. The lake provides a great base for activities like fishing, viewing waterfalls, hiking and backpacking.
More like this: reservable in California · pets allowed in California
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 48 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 21 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
48 sites. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | People / vehicles | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | Back-in | 17 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 002 | Back-in | 17 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 003 | Back-in | 17 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 004 | Back-in | 17 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 005 | 21 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 006 | 18 | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes | ||
| 007 | Back-in | 19 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 008 | Back-in | 19 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 009 | Back-in | 19 | Paved | Partial | 6 / 1 | Yes |
| 010 | Back-in | 19 | Paved | Partial | 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 12:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 21 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
The campground straddles the road at the northwest end of Lake Mary, and offers four loops of closely-spaced campsites. The campground is within walking distance of the lake, and some sites have a view of the water.
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 | This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 606-515-6777 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at www.recreation.gov OPERATED BY: RRM-CLM Services, DBA Inyo Recreation… |
| Fees | $32.00 per night per site |
| Rules | Active bear area, bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36"). |
Weather by month
Getting there
Take U.S. 395 to Mammoth Junction and Highway 203. Turn west on Highway 203 and drive through the town of Mammoth Lakes to the junction of Minaret Road/Highway 203 and Lake Mary Road. Continue straight through the intersection and drive 3.6 miles to Lake Mary Loop Drive. Turn right and drive 0.5 miles to the campground entrance.
| Nearest town | Palo Alto, California |
| Coordinates | 37.6073° N, 119.0064° W · Directions ↗ |
Charges and cancellations
Any location or activity requiring a permit or lottery will have unique requirements and policies. Please check individual facility pages for pertinent information for those sites. Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees Overnight and Day Use Facilities: To ensure fairness, reservation arrival or departure dates may not be changed beyond the booking window until 18 days after booking the reservation. Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.). The $10.00 service fee will be deducted from the refund amount.
Fire nearby
- WildfireDome
34 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 ↗ | 3.6 mi |
| Outdoor gear | Mountain Shop & Mountaineering School ↗ | 32.2 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Lake Mary Campground Review | Amazing Lake Views
Trails nearby
- 0.2 miBarrett Lake to Lake Mary1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miMammoth Lks Pack-Mammoth Pass1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miMammoth Lakes Pack Station1.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miPanorama Dome Pack1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miColdwater Cg to Lake George2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.4 miMammoth Crest2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trailheads within three miles
- 0.6 miT.J. Lake Trailhead ↗Inyo National Forest
- 0.9 miMammoth Pass Trailhead ↗Inyo National Forest
- 0.9 miPanorama Dome Trailhead ↗Inyo National Forest
- 1.1 miMammoth Rock Trailhead ↗Inyo National Forest
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
This campground sits inside Ansel Adams Wilderness, which overlaps Sierra National Forest.
- inAnsel Adams Wilderness ↗Wilderness · FS/NPS · 231,619 acres
- inSierra National Forest ↗National Forest · Forest Service · 1,418,790 acres
- 5.7 miOwens River Headwaters Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 14,698 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
On the National Register nearby
- Devils Postpile National Monument Ranger CabinBuilding · Mammoth Lakes · 4.6 mi
Natural features
The campground lies among lodgepole pine trees at an elevation of 8,900 feet. Some campsites have views of the breathtaking scenery surrounding the campground, including Lake Mary and some of the 9,000 and 10,000' peaks in the John Muir Wilderness. The Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains are abundant with wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds.
Recreation
Lake Mary receives the highest number of trout stocks in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, and is well-known to anglers for its rainbow, brook and brown trout fishing. No swimming or wading is allowed in the lake. Though no hiking trails begin in the campground, several interesting trails offer a variety of hikes nearby, including day hiking and backpacking trails into the rustic John Muir Wilderness.
Nearby
Mammoth Lakes Basin contains several additional popular lakes to explore for fishing and boating. Visitors can also access the magnificent John Muir Wilderness nearby, which stretches 100 miles along the crest of the Sierra Nevadas, a land of lofty snow-capped mountains, deep canyons and vast expanses of glacially-carved terrain. Hiking and horseback riding trails are abundant.
Guidebooks for Inyo National Forest and California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Lake Mary Campground?
Sites at Lake Mary Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. This site can be reserved by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 606-515-6777 or TDD 877-833-6777) or on-line at www.recreation.gov OPERATED BY: RRM-CLM Services, DBA Inyo Recreation… Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Lake Mary Campground?
$32.00 per night per site
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Lake Mary Campground?
Check-in 2:00 PM, checkout 12:00 PM.
Source: Recreation.gov
What does it cost to cancel a reservation at Lake Mary Campground?
Camping / Day Use: A $10.00 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation (including campsites, cabins, lookouts, group facilities, etc.).
Source: Charges and cancellations
Is Lake Mary Campground open right now?
Closed for the season as of Oct 16, 2026.
Source: Forest Service status
How many sites does Lake Mary Campground have?
48 sites, including 48 standard sites without power.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Lake Mary Campground?
The longest site here provides 21 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 Lake Mary Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Lake Mary Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Lake Mary Campground?
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. Active bear area, bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36").
Source: Fire nearby
Is there cell service at Lake Mary Campground?
FCC coverage maps show AT&T 4G LTE and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Lake Mary Campground?
Lake Mary receives the highest number of trout stocks in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, and is well-known to anglers for its rainbow, brook and brown trout fishing. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Lake Mary Campground?
Palo Alto, California. Mammoth Lakes Basin contains several additional popular lakes to explore for fishing and boating.
Source: Getting there