San Diego → Highway 395 → Owens River Valley → Hot Creek → Mammoth Lakes → Twin Lakes → Lake Mary
If you're looking for a California camper van trip that combines wide open landscapes, quiet dispersed camping, mountain lakes, hot springs, fishing, and easy access to some of the Eastern Sierra's best adventures, it's hard to beat the Owens River Valley.
Just a few hours from San Diego, the Eastern Sierra feels like a completely different world. Highway 395 winds north through the desert, with the massive Sierra Nevada rising dramatically to the west. And with a Sandy Vans camper van rental, you don't have to choose between roughing it and being comfortable. You can spend the day exploring remote corners of the Owens River Valley, then come back to your van, make dinner, relax, and wake up surrounded by mountains.
This trip is especially good for families, couples, and groups of friends who want a little more adventure without giving up the comforts of a camper van. It sits right off Highway 395, it's within reach of Death Valley National Park if you want to extend the trip, and it's one of the easiest introductions to light off road travel in California.
Start Your Adventure on Highway 395
The drive from San Diego to the Eastern Sierra is part of the adventure. As you make your way north on Highway 395, the landscape gradually changes from Southern California's coastal environment to the high desert of the Owens Valley.
Once you reach the Bishop area, you're entering some of the most spectacular scenery in California. Mount Whitney, the Sierra Nevada, the White Mountains, and countless high country peaks dominate the horizon.
From here, continue north toward the Owens River Valley and your first destination: the area around Brown's Owens River Campground.
And this is where having a camper van really starts to shine.
Benton Crossing Road: Dispersed Camping Along the Owens River
(Pro Tip: All of the GPS coordinates in this blog can be copied and pasted into Google Maps and then easily navigated, even the forest and dirt roads.)
One of the best parts of an Owens River Valley camper van trip is the opportunity to get away from traditional campgrounds.
There are dispersed camping areas both north and south of Brown's Owens River Campground, offering a much quieter experience than a developed campground. Instead of being surrounded by rows of campsites, picnic tables, and neighboring campers, you can find a peaceful spot in the high desert and make it your own.
(Brown's Owens River Campground is located off of Benton Crossing Road, which runs perpendicular to Highway 395.)
- Dispersed camping north of Brown's Owens River Campground (a smaller offshoot of the main Owens River, but it looks more secluded): 37°42'07.2"N 118°45'59.4"W
- Dispersed camping south of Brown's Owens River Campground: 37°41'02.9"N 118°45'28.7"W
(Pro Tip: I asked a good friend about the road conditions on Benton Crossing Road, and he said, "Even a Prius can make it there.")
The landscape here is classic Eastern Sierra: sagebrush, open desert, towering mountains, and the Owens River cutting through the valley. It's the kind of place where you can park the van, open the doors, and immediately feel like you've escaped.
Additional Dispersed Camping Options on the Owens River
There are numerous dispersed campsites along the dirt roads branching off Owens River Road, offering a great opportunity to camp in the heart of the Eastern Sierra high desert plateau.
Owens River Road itself is a paved route through the Inyo National Forest, while the smaller dirt roads and pullouts provide access to primitive camping areas where you can find a more secluded spot to set up.
The camping areas are located near Big Springs Campground, which sits close to the headwaters of the Owens River. Big Springs offers a simple, developed camping option and is a good backup if you prefer a designated campsite or don't want to spend time searching for a dispersed site.
While Owens River Road is paved, conditions on the dirt side roads can vary significantly. Some roads are smooth and easy to navigate, while others can be rough, rutted, or have washed out sections. Take your time, scout unfamiliar roads before committing, and choose a campsite that's appropriate for your Sandy Vans rental.
The GPS coordinates for the "official" dispersed camping areas along Owens River Road are: 37.74879148855849, -118.93245364663457
(Coming from the south to get to Owens River Road: if you hit Glass Creek Campground, turn around. You missed the Owens River Road turnoff by about 1.25 miles.)
Another great option is Pleasant Valley Campground, about six miles northwest of Bishop, which sits directly along the Owens River. It's more of a traditional campground than dispersed camping, but it's a good option if your trip extends south toward Bishop. Fishing is a major attraction here.
A Perfect Evening Camping on the Owens River
The beauty of camping in the Owens River Valley is that you don't need a packed itinerary.
After arriving at your campsite, set up your camp chairs, pull out the camp gear, and let the afternoon slow down. Take a walk along the river. Cook dinner outside. Play a game with the kids. Watch the mountains change color as the sun drops behind the Sierra Nevada.
Then, when the stars come out, you'll understand why the Eastern Sierra is such a special place for a camper van adventure. Far from city lights, the night sky can be spectacular.
And when temperatures drop, you have the comfort of your Sandy Vans camper van waiting just a few steps away.
That's one of the things we love about camper van travel: you can experience the wild without having to completely rough it.
O'Harrel Canyon Road Dispersed Camping
O'Harrel Canyon Road dispersed camping offers a more remote Eastern Sierra experience just east of the Owens River.
The dirt road leads into the foothills above Long Valley, where campers can find quiet, primitive spots surrounded by sagebrush, volcanic terrain, and expansive views of the Sierra Nevada. It's a great option for a camper van adventure if you're looking to get away from developed campgrounds and enjoy a little more solitude.
(Pro Tip: For this area a high clearance vehicle is recommended, and conditions can vary.)
From the dispersed camping area near Brown's Owens River Campground, head north on Forest Road 3S47A for about 2 miles and make a sharp right to stay on Forest Road 3S47A. After 1.2 miles it turns into O'Harrel Canyon Road. Then go another 1.8 miles to the proverbial end of the road.
GPS coordinates for the end of the road: 37.75711585902175, -118.74725283275265
From the Owens River Valley to Mammoth Lakes
After enjoying a morning along the Owens River, it's time to continue north toward Mammoth Lakes.
But don't rush.
One of the best things about this route is that there are several worthwhile stops between the Owens River Valley and Mammoth Lakes.
Your first stop should be Hot Creek Geological Site and Brees Lookout. From these overlooks, you can see the dramatic Hot Creek geothermal area below, where steam rises from the geothermal pools and the surrounding landscape showcases the volcanic forces that helped shape this part of the Eastern Sierra.
- Hot Creek Geological Site GPS coordinates: 37°39'37.82"N 118°49'37.63"W
- Brees Lookout: 1/5 mile north along the dirt road
It's a quick stop, but definitely worth adding to your Highway 395 itinerary.
From there, continue toward Hot Creek fly fishing. For anglers, Hot Creek is one of the area's iconic destinations. The creek is known for its trout fishing and beautiful high country setting, making it a great place to slow down and spend a little time beside the water.
Even if you're not fly fishing, the scenery makes this area worth exploring. The combination of volcanic terrain, flowing water, and surrounding mountains makes Hot Creek feel completely different from the open desert landscape around the Owens River.
Continue to Mammoth Lakes
From Hot Creek, continue toward Mammoth Lakes.
After spending the night in the quiet Owens River Valley, Mammoth provides a completely different experience. Suddenly you're surrounded by pine forests, mountain peaks, alpine lakes, hiking trails, and all the outdoor recreation that has made Mammoth Lakes one of California's best mountain destinations.
For this trip, head toward two classic Mammoth lakes: Twin Lakes and Lake Mary.
Twin Lakes
Twin Lakes is one of the most scenic and accessible lake destinations in the Mammoth Lakes area.
The lake sits beneath the dramatic backdrop of the Sierra Nevada and is surrounded by pine forest. It's a great place to stretch your legs, have lunch, take photos, or simply enjoy the mountain scenery.
There are numerous campgrounds in this area, but Twin Lakes Campground is the most highly rated.
For families, Twin Lakes is an easy place to slow down and enjoy the outdoors without turning the day into a major expedition. And after a few days of desert and river landscapes, the transition into the alpine environment is pretty incredible.
Lake Mary
From Twin Lakes, continue to Lake Mary. Head straight to Coldwater Campground or Lake Mary Campground and try to snag a spot.
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.
Depending on the season and conditions, you can spend time hiking, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply relaxing along the shoreline.
This is also where the camper van lifestyle really comes together. You can pack lunch in the van, keep drinks cold, store your outdoor gear, and have a comfortable home base while you explore the Mammoth Lakes area.
Why Do This Trip in a Camper Van?
You could make this trip in a car and stay in hotels.
But you'd miss a big part of what makes the Eastern Sierra special.
A camper van gives you the freedom to build your trip around the places you actually want to experience rather than around where the next hotel happens to be. You can spend one night dispersed camping along the Owens River, wake up with the Sierra Nevada in the distance, explore Hot Creek, and finish the day around Mammoth Lakes.
There's no need to pack up a tent every morning or drive back into town simply because you need a place to sleep. That's the advantage of a San Diego camper van rental built for adventure in a fully outfitted Mercedes Sprinter van.
At Sandy Vans, we believe a camper van should make getting outdoors easier, not more complicated. Our vans are set up to give families and groups the freedom to explore while still having the essentials that make camping comfortable.
Make the Owens River Valley Your Next Adventure
The Owens River Valley is often treated as a place you simply drive through on the way to Mammoth, Bishop, or the high Sierra.
It's an easy way to experience several completely different sides of the Eastern Sierra in one camper van trip. And that's exactly what makes this such a great California road trip. If you're looking for a camper van rental in Southern California and want to get beyond the typical campground experience, point the van north on Highway 395 in a Sandy Vans rental.
The Owens River Valley is waiting for you!
