Car Camping the Alabama Hills

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Car camping the Alabama Hills first came on my radar by happy accident. With all the changes to the travel industry in 2020, road trips have seen a boom. The new trend in travel is luxury campervans with perfectly aesthetic interiors. In addition to being expensive, the campervan craze is nearly sold out in California for the foreseeable future. Enter car camping. Instead of renting a van to sleep in, why not lower the seats and sleep in my own vehicle? Albeit less stylish than a hipster campervan, car camping is a fun and affordable way to experience van life. Here is everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip.

Alabama Hills Car Camping

The Alabama Hills are the perfect spot for car camping because the area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Overnight parking on BLM land and National Forest land is free, so reservations and permits are not required. While this will save you some money it also means that spots are on a first-come-first-serve basis and there are no facilities like bathrooms and water hookups. The Alabama Hills are a popular photography spot during the day, but there are extensive roadways and plenty of previously established dispersed camping sites to find. I used the iOverlander App to find this parking area. Definitely arrive early to find a parking spot and explore the beautiful desert.

Popular Alabama Hills Spots: Mobius Arch | Nightmare Rock | Movie Road | Eye of Alabama

Tips for Sleeping in Your Car

The biggest advantage of car camping is the flexibility it provides. While you aren’t locked into a specific hotel or to checking in at a certain time, you should still have a good idea of where you are going to park ahead of time. As I mentioned before, the iOverlander App was crucial to getting a good idea of where I was headed. Plus, it provided several backup plans in case my ideal spot was already occupied.

Getting to your spot as early as possible also makes setting up your sleeping space much easier. Our first night we arrived after dark and had to feel around with our headlamps to set everything up. When you park, make sure your head will rest uphill. We parked “sideways” to ensure this. Additionally, make sure you are a responsible visitor. It is best practice to use previously established roads, trails, and campsites. Above all, always pack out everything you pack in, including trash.

The biggest concern we had going into our trip was using the restroom. We knew our BLM campsite wouldn’t have facilities so we made the most of gas stations. Beyond that, I didn’t often need to use the great outdoors. When I did, I followed REI’s Guide to Going to the Bathroom Outdoors. The biggest thing to remember is not to go near bodies of water or trails. To make it easier, I made a bathroom baggie with hand sanitizer, nature safe wipes, a trowel, and sealable bags.

Read Next: Hiking Big Pine Lakes California

Car Camping Checklist

After my eastern Sierra road trip, I narrowed down the following essentials for car camping. I organized most everything into two plastic storage bins that fit perfectly between the back and front seat and they also doubled as a headrest. I stored everything else in backpacks to keep organized. It was tempting to just empty all the bins to set up camp, but the car is such a small area that I tried to only unpack what I needed as I needed it.

Camping Bin

Inflatable Sleeping Pads: Sleeping in the car is not the most comfortable, but a little padding goes a long way.
Car-Sized Mosquito Net: As soon as the sun went down we draped this over the car so the bugs would not swarm the light every time we opened the door. It’s crucial to get this up before the sun goes down or it will be impossible to keep the bugs out.
Mosquito Clip: We hung this in the car for extra defense.
Headlamps: Instead of wasting the car battery I wore this when the sun went down.
Camping Chairs: I doubted my husband when he packed these but it was nice to be able to sit somewhere other than the car.
Portable Shower: When I’m camping I don’t shower everyday but this was a nice way to feel refreshed after a long hike, clean dusty feet, and it was very easy to use.
Pillows and Bedsheets
First-Aid Camping Kit

Food & Cookware Bin

Jetboil: The ability to boil water made ramen for dinner and oatmeal for breakfast possible everyday.
Food: We stuck to portable nonperishables like ramen, oatmeal, granola bars, chips and muffins.
Paper Towel Roll
Silverware: Only bring what you need and reuse!
Mugs: We brought one mug each and rinsed it to fit all our needs.
Lighter: essential backup for the Jetboil.
Trash Bag: It is imperative to pack out everything you pack in, including trash.

Miscellaneous

Windshield Shade: Important to keep your car cool and to provide privacy.
Collapsible Water Jugs: We brought two 5 gallon jugs for drinking and washing.
Portable Charger: I invested in the Halo Bolt which can also jumpstart a car if needed.
Portable Fan: This was a lifesaver since you can’t run the AC all night and the windows could only remain slightly cracked for safety.

Toiletries

Spray Bottle: This was especially useful for washing my face and cooling off.
Towels and Rags: I always bring more than I think I will need.
Nature Safe Soap: Make sure the soap that might runoff from your shower is nature safe, and never shower in or near small bodies of water.
Nature Safe Wipes
Latrine Trowel
Sealable Baggies
Hand Sanitizer

Read Next: Hiking Red Rock Canyon State Park

Overall, car camping in the Alabama Hills was an incredible introduction to this lifestyle. I can’t wait to go on more road trips with the money we save on accommodation. I also look forward to longer road trips with the freedom to adventure further. For even more pictures check out my Instagram. And if you ever have a question you can always DM me @cassiescompass or drop it in the comments below. What do you think, would you ever give car camping a try?