Onion Valley in CA -- Campground & RV Camping in California

Onion Valley Campground sits at 9,200 feet elevation approximately 15 miles west of Independence, California via Market Street in Inyo National Forest. The road operates May through November depending on snow conditions. The campground offers 29 sites accommodating vehicles up to 25 feet long, with vault toilets, picnic tables, and firewood available for purchase; potable water is unavailable. Bear-proof lockers at each site are required due to significant historical bear activity. Overnight rates are $31 per single site or $10 per additional vehicle. Reservations open through September 15 via Recreation.gov or 877-444-6777; afterward, camping operates first-come, first-served. Nearby trails include Kearsarge Pass, Golden Trout Lakes, and Robinson Lake.

Getting there: The campground is 13 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. Follow Onion Valley Road for 13 miles to the campground.

• Limited separation from through roads or other sites here, a 30-site campground with the nearest through road 0.4 miles off.
• Flat ground is scarce: under a tenth of the terrain within a few hundred yards is level.
• Kearsarge Peak stands 3,042 ft above the map pin, 1.3 miles north.
• Little Pothole Lake lies 0.4 mi off.

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