Old Shady Rest Campground

Campground · California · 45 bookable sites ·

Managed by the USDA Forest Service

Inyo National Forest (NF) · Open Access

45
Bookable sites
58 ft
Max rig length
up to 6
People per site
7,804 ft
Elevation
Old Shady Rest Campground
Photo: CLM · Recreation.gov

Overview

Old Shady Rest Campground is a large facility convenient to numerous outdoor activities and attractions in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, and within walking distance of the full-service community of Mammoth Lakes. The campground is popular for hiking, mountain biking, sightseeing and hitting the town for shopping and dining. The facility best accommodates tents and small to medium-sized RVs.

Recreation

The Mammoth Lakes area has much to keep campers busy. The majestic scenery and challenging trails are an obvious draw for hikers, mountain bikers and off-road vehicle enthusiasts. Skiing is a major winter pastime in this area.

The eastern Sierras are known for their exceptional trout fishing, and several creeks and lakes are within a short drive from the campground.

Families enjoy learning more at the visitor center down the street, or taking a paved walking and biking trail to two nearby campgrounds, a town park with a playing field and skate park, or Mammoth Lakes.

Facilities

The campground is organized into one large loop, adjacent to New Shady Rest and Pine Glen Campgrounds and a short walk to Mammoth Lakes. Several amenities are provided, including restrooms with flush toilets, campfire rings and picnic tables, and many more are within a few miles. Showers are not located in the campground but are nearby.

Bear-proof lockers are available for food storage, and firewood can be purchased on-site.

Natural Features

The campsites are located under the shady canopy of a mature Jeffery pine forest at an elevation of 7,800 feet.

Many species of wildlife call the mountains home, such as black bear, mountain lions, mule deer, pine marten, pika and numerous fish and birds.

Nearby Attractions

For campers interested in local events, the Mammoth Jazz Jubilee is hosted in Mammoth in mid-July. Several other events and amenities are available in town.

Many great day trips for sightseers are available in the area, such as Yosemite National Park, Mono Basin and Devils Postpile National Monument.

Charges & Cancellations

As you make travel plans that include reservations on Recreation.gov, there are standard policies that apply to most locations of which you should be aware. Do keep in mind, however, that there are many exceptions, so it is best to review reservation information listed on individual facility pages for those policies and procedures that pertain to your specific locations.

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.

You can cancel or change reservations through Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777.

Late Cancellations

Overnight and Day Use Facilities: Late cancellations are those cancelled between 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) on the day before arrival and check out time on the day after arrival.

Individual Campsites: If a customer cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival they will be charged a $10.00 service fee and will also forfeit the first night's use fee (not to exceed the total paid for the original reservation). Cancellations for a single night's reservation will forfeit the entire use fee but no cancellation fee will apply.

Cabins / Lookouts: Customers will be charged a $10.00 cancellation fee and forfeit the first night's use fee if a cabin or lookout reservation is cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.

Group Facility: If a customer cancels a group overnight facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date they will be charged the $10.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's use fee. Cancellations for a single night's use will not be assessed a service fee.

Group Day Use Area: If a customer cancels a group day use facility reservation within 14 days of the scheduled arrival date, they will forfeit the total day use fee with no service fee charge.

No-Shows

Camping / Day Use: A camping no-show customer is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Reserved campsites and group overnight facilities will be held until check-out time on the day following your scheduled arrival. Group day-use facilities will be held until check-in time on your scheduled arrival date.

If a customer does not arrive at the campground or group facility by check-out time the day after arrival or does not cancel the reservation by the times listed under "Late Cancellations" above, the customer may be assessed a $20.00 service fee and forfeit use fees.

Tours: A tour or ticket no-show is one who does not cancel a ticket before arrival and does not arrive for the tour. Tour no-shows are not entitled to a refund.

Refunds

Customers must request refunds no later than 14 days after the scheduled departure date. Recreation.gov will not grant refund requests after 14 days of departure.

Reservation Fee: For some facilities, tours or permits an additional reservation fee is charged. For some overnight and day-use facilities, an additional non-refundable reservation fee may apply. The non-refundable reservation fee for tours and tickets is $1.00. The non-refundable reservation fee for permits varies by location.

Refunds for Bankcard Purchases: Refunds for bank card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank card.

Refunds for Check or Cash Purchases: Refunds for Recreation.gov payments made by check or money order, and cash payments at selected campgrounds will be issued a check refund. A refund will be processed within 30 days of receipt and approval. Please Note: Refund requests made during or after departure can only be processed when approved by the facility management staff based upon local policy.

Refunds for Emergency Closures: In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team will attempt to notify users and offer alternate dates (as appropriate). If this is not possible, reservations will be cancelled and all fees paid will be refunded. Reservation fees for free tickets are non-refundable in the event of an emergency closure.

Recreation.gov Billing Information

Reservation transaction will appear on customer's credit card statements as "Recreation.gov 877-444-6777."

Changes to Policies and Procedures

Recreation.gov reserves the right, when necessary, to modify reservation policies. These policies were last updated July

The facts

  • 45 bookable sites
  • Vehicles up to 58 ft
  • Up to 6 people per site
  • Loops: AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUND

Site types

  • 45 Standard Nonelectric

Amenities

  • Campfires allowed
  • Fire pits
  • Picnic tables
  • Shade
  • Pets allowed

Not recorded upstream: electric hookups, water hookups, sewer hookups, grills.

Book on Recreation.gov

45 campsites at Old Shady Rest Campground

Check-in 2:00 PM · Check-out 12:00 PM

SiteLoopTypeEntrySurfaceGradeMax rigPeople
001AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight40 ft6 🐾
002AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight35 ft6 🐾
003AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight32 ft6 🐾
004AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight40 ft6 🐾
005AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight25 ft6 🐾
006AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight44 ft6 🐾
007AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight18 ft6 🐾
008AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight26 ft6 🐾
009AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In——45 ft6 🐾
010AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight39 ft6 🐾
011AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight32 ft6 🐾
012AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
014AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
015AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
016AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight40 ft6 🐾
017AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight45 ft6 🐾
018AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight45 ft6 🐾
019AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight45 ft6 🐾
020AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight35 ft6 🐾
021AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight32 ft6 🐾
022AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight46 ft6 🐾
023AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
024AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight35 ft6 🐾
025AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight48 ft6 🐾
026AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight47 ft6 🐾
027AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
028AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight41 ft6 🐾
029AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight30 ft6 🐾
030AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight40 ft6 🐾
031AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight20 ft6 🐾
032AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight45 ft6 🐾
033AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight45 ft6 🐾
035AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight35 ft6 🐾
036AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight25 ft6 🐾
037AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight35 ft6 🐾
038AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In——25 ft6 🐾
040AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight40 ft6 🐾
044AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight58 ft6 🐾
045AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight40 ft6 🐾
046AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Moderate40 ft6 🐾
047AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight25 ft6 🐾
048AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight44 ft6 🐾
049AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight35 ft6 🐾
050AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight25 ft6 🐾
051AREA OLD SHADY REST CAMPGROUNDStandard NonelectricBack In—Slight43 ft6 🐾

Getting there

Old Shady Rest is near Mammoth Lakes, California, 300 miles north of Los Angeles and 165 miles south of Reno, Nevada.

Take U.S. Highway 395 to State Route 203. Proceed west on 203 for 2.8 miles to Old Sawmill Road. Take a right, go 0.5 mile. The campground entrance is on the left.

37.65059, -118.96139 · 37°39'2.1"N 118°57'41.0"W

Directions (Google Maps) · Directions (Apple Maps)

Typical weather

Typically 78°F in Jul, down to 41°F in Feb.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F414146516070787771614941
Low °F171822273542494740302317
Precip in4.23.83.31.51.50.50.50.50.51.42.04.1

1991–2020 averages from the nearest NOAA station, 0.2 mi away — not measured at the facility itself, and elevation can make a real difference over that distance.

Map

More photos

Member photos

Common questions about Old Shady Rest Campground

Can you reserve a site at Old Shady Rest Campground?
Yes, Old Shady Rest Campground is reservable through Recreation.gov.
How many campsites does Old Shady Rest Campground have?
45 sites.
What is the maximum RV length at Old Shady Rest Campground?
58 ft. That is the longest vehicle the sites here are recorded as taking; individual sites may be shorter.
Are pets allowed at Old Shady Rest Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Old Shady Rest Campground.
Are campfires allowed at Old Shady Rest Campground?
Campfires are allowed at Old Shady Rest Campground. Check for a current fire restriction before you go.

Also listed by

Old Shady Rest Campground also appears in other federal recreation data. Facts below are matched by name and location, not confirmed by Old Shady Rest Campground's operator.

USDA Forest Service — data as of Aug 24, 2026

  • $30.00 per night per site

Restrictions:

  • Active bear area, bear boxes are provided and must be used (typical bear box size 48" x 30" x 36").

USDA Forest Service's own page

Camping near Old Shady Rest Campground

Comments

Contact

Recreation.gov last updated this record on 2026-05-27.

Facility information and photographs from Recreation.gov (RIDB). SpotOpened is not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.