GRAYS MEADOWS
Campground · Eastern Sierra corridor
Grays Meadows sits at 6,795 feet in the Eastern Sierra, a high-elevation campground exposed to afternoon wind but accessible year-round via Highway 395. Calmer in early morning and late season.
Wind accelerates through midday and peaks in afternoon; morning paddlers and fishers find the flattest water before 11 a.m. The 30-day average wind of 13 mph masks gusts that exceed 40 mph by late afternoon. Elevation means cold snaps linger into early summer and return by late August.
Over the past 30 days, Grays Meadows averaged a NoGo Score of 10.0 with temperatures around 47 degrees Fahrenheit and wind averaging 13 mph. The week ahead will show typical spring variability: watch for afternoon wind spikes and crowding that rises sharply the first weekend after Highway 120 opens to the west. Early mornings and weekday visits remain your quietest window.
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About GRAYS MEADOWS
Grays Meadows is a high-Sierra campground on the Eastern Sierra corridor, positioned at 6,795 feet elevation near the Mammoth Lakes basin. Primary access is via Highway 395 from the south (Bishop, Lone Pine) or north (Lee Vining, June Lake). The location sits in the rolling transition zone between the Sierra crest and the high desert, exposed to wind funneling down from the Bishop Pass and Mono Basin. Drive times from the valley floor are 2 to 3 hours; from Highway 395 junction towns, 30 to 90 minutes depending on direction.
Seasonal patterns here are sharp. Spring (April through May) brings warming but unpredictable wind; the 30-day average wind of 13 mph jumps to gusts exceeding 40 mph when upper-level systems pass. Summer (June through August) settles into a rhythm of calm mornings and gusty afternoons, with temperatures climbing from 47 degrees in late April to highs near 66 degrees. Fall (September through October) offers the most stable weather window: lower wind variance, cool nights, and minimal crowding until Labor Day weekend. Winter (November through March) closes vehicle access on many ancillary roads but the site itself can be passable; night lows plummet to 34 degrees and above.
Grays Meadows suits anglers and car campers seeking high-elevation water access without the crowds of Mammoth Lake basin resorts. The 6,795-foot elevation filters out heat-sensitive visitors in summer and enforces early season caution. Parking fills on holiday weekends and the first full week after Highway 120 opens to Yosemite; plan weekday or early-morning arrivals during peak season. Afternoon wind makes it marginal for paddling or sailing after 11 a.m. Snow lingers through May in most years; confirm road conditions with Inyo County or Mono County before travel if visiting before late May.
Nearby Mammoth Lakes (south-southeast, 30 to 45 minutes by road) offers resort infrastructure and higher crowds. June Lake (north, 60 to 75 minutes) provides a calmer, smaller alternative with less afternoon wind exposure. McGee Creek and Crowley Lake, also accessible via Highway 395, sit lower in elevation and warm faster in spring. For Yosemite-bound travelers, Grays Meadows serves as an Eastern Sierra waypoint with quieter camping than Highway 120 corridor options closer to the park.