The Dyrt App Came Out With its 2022 Best Camping Spots in America List and The Eastern Sierra Stands on Top.
PORTLAND, Ore., June 9, 2022/OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping with the most active online camping community, has announced the 2022 Best Places To Camp in nine US regions based on reviews and ratings from its vast community of campers. The winners represent some of the most unique, rustic, luxurious and sought-after camping destinations in the country.
What stood out to us was that two of the Eastern sierra Favorites were #1 and #3 on the list for Best of the west. Alabama Hills and the Whitney Portal.
“For almost a decade we’ve been making it easier and easier for campers to find the information they need to make the most of their outdoor experiences,” says Kevin Long, The Dyrt CEO. “Our community has contributed and shared over 4 million reviews, photos and tips for fellow campers to use when planning their trips in all 50 states. Using this data, we created these regional top 10 lists of unbelievable camping spots so that, no matter where you are, you can find an awesome place to camp nearby.”
Alabama Hills
Sandwiched in a deep valley between the Inyo Mountains and Sierra Nevada, this high desert landscape is scattered with huge boulders and rock formations that create a maze of gravel roads leading to picture-perfect campsites — literally. Many movies and commercials are produced here to take advantage of the dramatic scenery, capped off by incredible views of Mount Whitney. If you wake up early enough, you can watch the sun peek above the Inyo Mountains and bathe the eastern slope of the Sierra Crest in rosey-orange alpenglow. Climbing opportunities abound, with several popular routes bolted into the rocks. There are a few short hiking trails, including a loop trail that’ll lead you to Mobius Arch, one of the most famous and photographed of the Alabama Hills’ many natural arches. But more than anything, this is a spot where it’s perfectly acceptable to relax by the fire and take it all in.
Please note that times have changed and the Alabama Hills are no longer the free-for-all they once were. Camping is now banned in several areas, including west of Movie Road. Today, you can only camp in marked sites or previously established sites, and soon special permits will be required.
Campground Details:
- Price: free
- Number of sites: dispersed
- RV sites: yes
- Fires allowed: yes
- Pets allowed: yes
Mount Whitney Portal
Sitting at 8,000 feet in the Eastern Sierra in the shadow of Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the Lower 48, Whitney Portal is the gateway to some of the most dramatic high country in California. Stay here a night or two to acclimate before beginning the John Muir Trail or trekking up Mount Whitney (keep in mind both of those adventures require permits). Whitney Portal also makes a great base camp for day hikes into the adjacent John Muir Wilderness and day trips to the Alabama Hills below. You could spend an entire summer at this campground in the Inyo National Forest and find a new adventure to go on every day you’re there.
The campground itself offers spacious sites, some streamside, in a pine forest, with the High Sierra’s jagged spires of granite looming in the distance. The bears are no joke here. Remember to stash all your scented items in the bear lockers at each site. This campground is as popular as they come, so book as far in advance as you can to reserve a night in this special place.
Campground Details:
- Price: $26-80
- Number of sites: 47
- RV sites: yes
- Fires allowed: yes
- Pets allowed: yes
For the purpose of these rankings, the country was split up into nine regions:
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: Great Plains
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: Mid-Atlantic
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: Midwest
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: Mountain West
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: New England
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: Northwest
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: Southeast
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: South/Southwest
- 2022 Best Places To Camp: West
The 90 highly rated campsites contained in these lists are located on both public lands and private property. They are within national, state and county parks. They include campgrounds, RV parks, dispersed camping areas and more adjacent to rivers and lakes, up in the mountains and out on an island. There’s something for everyone, everywhere.
“The camping community has grown so much over the years and is becoming more representative of our country as a whole,” says Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt. “Campers come in all shapes and sizes with different wants and needs and these top 10 lists reflect that. There are luxurious camping resorts, family-friendly spots, some sites that are near cities and others out in the middle of nowhere. Amenities range from Olympic-size pools and dog parks to nothing but a flat piece of ground with a view. There’s something special about each place.”
About The Dyrt
The Dyrt’s mission is to expand the camping community and help more people enjoy the outdoors. With over 30 million annual camper visits and 4 million user-generated reviews, photos, and tips for US campgrounds, The Dyrt is the No. 1 app for camping and the largest source of camping information. The Dyrt PRO enables campers to find free camping areas on public lands, search for campgrounds with cell service coverage, use the app offline, get discounts on camping and more. www.thedyrt.com
