Overview French Camp lies in the Rock Creek area of the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountains, near Tom's Place and midway between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes, California. Its ideal location makes this campground a good stop for travelers on U.S. Highway 395 to rest overnight. Hiking opportunities are vast, and the creekside campground is convenient for fishing. The facility is large and inviting, with forest and mountain views and several amenities. Opening and closing dates for the season are dependent on weather.Recreation Rock Creek and other waterways in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains are known for their exceptional trout fishing. A catch from the creek may includ brook, brown, rainbow and stocked Alpers trout. The area's majestic scenery and challenging trails are an obvious draw for hikers and mountain bikers. Because of the region's interesting geology, rockhounding is also popular.Facilities French Camp is a large facility with a variety of settings for tents and small to medium RVs (no hookups available). A few campsites can accommodate medium to large RVs and trailers. Sites are organized in one large loop, with some along the banks of the creek. Each has a picnic table and campfire ring. Firewood is available on-site for purchase, and nearby Tom's Place offers additional supplies and fee showers.Natural Features Campers will experience the beauty of pines and fragrant junipers that have come to represent Inyo National Forest. The campground sits among aspens, pinyon and ponderosa and Jeffrey pines at an elevation of 7,500 ft. The clear, cold and cascading Rock Creek, which originates in the John Muir Wilderness, runs alongside it. Brushy landscape and ample boulders in the area are fun to explore and traverse. The area is home to abundant wildlife, including black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and many species of fish and birds. Nearby Attractions For campers interested in local events, Mule Days are held in nearby Bishop over Memorial Day weekend, and the Mammoth Jazz Jubilee is hosted in Mammoth in mid-July.
Reviews of French Camp Campground
10 people have reviewed this location
Ratings Summary
Cell Coverage
Verizon 4G/5G
Confirmed by 5 users | Last reported on June 06, 2023AT&T 4G/5G
Confirmed by 3 users | Last reported on September 20, 2023T-Mobile 4G
Confirmed by 1 users | Last reported on September 27, 2021There are a lot of options when you turn up to Toms Place off the 395 and head up Rock Creek Road. The first campground you come to is French Camp which is great if you don’t want to head up into the 8-9000 ft elevation. It’s 80-some spots with about 30 of those being walk-ups. Reserving online will ensure you get a spot big enough if you’re an RVer, but there are some walk-ups that would be suitable. This is a dusty, alpine campground with lots of granite boulders scattered about (bring your outdoor rugs!) so be prepared to find dust/sand on everything. Some sites are close enough to hear Rock Creek rushing by. Sites vary a lot with some being very private to others being good for two groups side by side. Or if you’re not friends with the neighbors, you soon will be because the fire pits are close enough to listen in on each other’s conversations. Sites 33 and 34 as well as 36 and 37 are good examples of this. Regardless, we had a great weekend here and our site 36 was plenty big for our trailer. Driving up to Rock Creek Lake or Mosquito Flats/John Muir Trail is a must do. There is an RV water fill shortly after driving past the first loop, however there are water spigots placed throughout the campground that could also be used since they’re threaded for hoses. There is a dump station just across the campground on Rock Creek Road that can actually handle two rigs at a time in opposite directions. It’s free for those who stay in any of the campgrounds in Rock Creek or $8 for those that didn’t. There is also a potable water spigot in that same area, but if you have a short hose you’ll have to maneuver over to it. Even though the photos seem old, check campsitephotos.com if you want to try and do a little recon before heading in there. The campground doesn’t appear to have changed much. We will no doubt be back!
Nightly Rate: $27.00
Days Stayed: 3
Site Number: 36
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 4G
Stayed here to meet a larger group on a longer road trip. It was the only proper campground we said in, which initially scared me as we are more boondockers but this campground we great.
Some of the sites are on top of each other but other are nice and the site we stayed at was covered with noise from the creek across the street.
This is the first campground among MANY on the same road and all the locations are great. I would stay here again.
Nightly Rate: $35.00
Days Stayed: 2
Site Number: 75
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
I wasn't as enthused as the other raters of this camp ground. It does have nice rest rooms, and water is readily available throughout the camp. That said, the road going through the camp is rough as heck and narrow. Large boulders line the roads and the site driveways so watch out backing in that you don't clip one. Sites are right on top of each other with little privacy. We ended up next to those folks who use the F word as a noun, verb and adjective, so the close quarters were slightly more aggravating. I wish we would have drive further up the creek. There are several more forest service camps that would have been more peaceful. Remember, forest service camps are half price if you have a national park pass. Day use areas are covered as well with the passes. We payed $13.50 instead of the normal $27.
Nightly Rate: $27.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 48
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
This used to be one of my favorite stops in the Eastern Sierras but they just put new dirt in all the pitches--and it is DIRT. Six- to 12" of fine, awful stuff that sticks to everything. Not loose rock, sand or gravel. And when the wind blows, the fine dirt blows along with it. Not sure why pad type says "asphalt", it has never been asphalt for a decade now. :-)
But still has a great location and a little creek running through. Pitches are well spaced but a little challenging for the bigger rigs to get into. (Sign warns you of this at the entrance.)
Nightly Rate: $29.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 4
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
Great campground right near Tom’s Place. We didn’t have reservations but were able to pick up some “first come, first serve spots”. We liked site #81 better because it was closer to the creek and more serene. Camp hosts Heather and Joe are awesome! They were so friendly and took such good care of the sites and facilities.
Nightly Rate: -
Days Stayed: 6
Site Number: #81 and #50
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 4G
AT&T 4G
This campground is quiet (in late September) and had plenty of sites to choose from. They seem spread out enough for peace and quiet.
I choose one on the side near the creek and it had a beautiful giant tree in the site as well!
I have t-mobile and service is usually horrible in most places I camp and I get great reception here! So I imagine Att and Verizon are good as well!
Nightly Rate: $29.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 73
Cell Coverage Rating
T-Mobile 4G
Originally planning to stay just a couple days on route to Lake Tahoe from LA. With the road closures due to flooding, we turned a couple of days into a full week. But we totally enjoyed the extended stay. Lots of things to explore within in an hour’s drive: Mammoth Lake, Mono Lake and abundance of hot springs to soak in.
Nightly Rate: $31.00
Days Stayed: 7
Site Number: 39
Cell Coverage Rating
Verizon 5G
Cheap, peaceful campground with flushing toilets, water faucets, dumpsters and recycling. The ground was soft and the sound of the creek nearby made a wonderful night’s sleep. Plenty of shade too. Definitely appreciated not hearing any generators in the evening.
Nightly Rate: $10.00
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 79
I a not picking on French Camp but it is an example of most all of the Inyo National Forest Campgrounds, their has been absolutely no improvement of infrastructure or amenities since the 1970”s other than maybe a storm repair or clean up. Paved roads are an embarrassment for the taxpayers of CA. Broken down picnic tables etc. Some are so bad, like East Fork up the road that they should be closed. People are too easily impressed these days regarding rating campgrounds, handing out way too many 5 stars…but maybe what they see to today is all they have to relate to.
But of course the price keeps rising and getting nothing for it.
Nightly Rate: -
Days Stayed: 1
Site Number: 8
Cell Coverage Rating
AT&T 5G
French Camp is located in the Rock Creek area of the White Mountain Ranger District midway between Bishop and Mammoth Lakes off US 395. This large campground has 86 sites; campers are permitted to stay 21 nights. French Camp has a variety of settings for tents and small to medium RV's. Some sites are along the Rock Creek. A few sites will accommodate medium to large RV's and trailers. No hook-ups available.
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French Camp Campground
Hours
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Parking
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Pets Allowed
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Restrooms
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Wifi
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
- Check In
- 0:00 AM
- Check Out
- 0:00 AM
- Max Length
- 30 ft
- Affiliation
- National forest
- Sites Count
- 84
- Last Nightly Rate
- 10.0
- Lowest Nightly Rate
- 10.0
- Longest Vehicle Length Reported
- 30.0
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Sites
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Laundry
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Propane
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Showers
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Big Rigs
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Boondock
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Firewood
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Fifty Amp
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Tent Sites
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Cabin Sites
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Full Hookup
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Paved Sites
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Dump Station
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Mobile Homes
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Public Water
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Pull Through
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Reservations
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Sewer Hookup
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Water Hookup
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Potable Water
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Age Restricted
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Rec Facilities
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Dispersed Sites
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Open Seasonally
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Permit Required
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Group Tent Sites
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Fulltime Residents
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Standard Tent Sites
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Pull Through RV Sites
Campground, Restrooms
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