Overview
Mammoth Lakes is a resort town next to Mammoth Mountain which is a popular skiing destination. Mammoth Lakes is in the Eastern Sierra region of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. In 2020, it had a permanent population of 7,200 people.
2 sights · 4 things to do · 8 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 12 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Mammoth Lakes
Hot Creek Geological Area
An area of hot springs and steam in a very small canyon. Several pools are scalding hot and will result in death if you jump in. Swimming is forbidden due to increased geothermal activity.
Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
In winter, this is the main ski resort. In summer the gondola will take you to the top, and the view is amazing. Bring warm clothes for the top.
Snowshoeing
(Winter only.) Many snowshoeing trails can be found on the road to Lake Mary behind Tamarack Lodge. These trails are marked and free to all hikers.
Sierra Star Golf Course
18-hole championship golf course in the middle of town. Narrow tree-lined fairways at an elevation above 8000 feet make it a challenging course.
Backcountry Camping
(Summer only.) The nearby Reds Meadow and Devils Postpile National Monument areas provide easy access to the John Muir, Pacific Crest and many other trails allowing entry to the backcountry Ansel Adams, Inyo, Sierra, Joh…
Sightseeing
Mammoth Lakes is surrounded by several scenic views and places you shouldn't miss, Yosemite National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake, Devils Postpile National Monument, Hot Creek and Rainbow Falls. Visit the welcome ce…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 78°F; winter lows dip to about 16°F. Wettest: Jan and Dec.
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- MMH Mammoth Yosemite Airport, Mammoth Lakes — 7 mi away. Directions
- BIH Eastern Sierra Regional Airport, Bishop — 38 mi away. Directions
- FAT Fresno Yosemite International Airport, Fresno — 73 mi away (major hub). Directions
Nearby US 395 brings visitors from the south (Los Angeles and Bakersfield) and the north (Reno).
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Hot Creek Geological Area, Snowshoeing
- Lunch Breakfast Club
- Afternoon Backcountry Camping
- Dinner Good Life Cafe
- Evening Mammoth Brewing Company
Day 2
- Morning Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, Sierra Star Golf Course
- Lunch Petra's Cafe
- Afternoon Sightseeing
- Dinner Convict Lake Restaurant
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The Sierra Nevada mountains are a popular snow skiing destination. For Californians living in Los Angeles, Mammoth Mountain is the easiest resort to get to from that city.
The Town of Mammoth Lakes serves one main function: a place for these hordes of Los Angelenos to stay. Condos, motels, hotels, and restaurants fill this small town to serve the flood of winter visitors. In summer, the flood stops and rents plunge, making Mammoth an affordable base to explore the region.
Climate
At 8000 ft of elevation, the city stays naturally cool during the region's summer heat waves. Nearby Bishop routinely heats to 105 F while Mammoth tops out around 84 F.
Get in
By plane
Go Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)
United Airlines offers direct non-stop flights year-round flights between Mammoth Lakes and Los Angeles. United also operates between December and April from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Denver (DEN). JSX operates flights from Orange County Airport (SNA), and Burbank (BUR) to Mammoth Lakes.
By car
Nearby US 395 brings visitors from the south (Los Angeles and Bakersfield) and the north (Reno).
From the San Francisco Bay Area, Highway 120 (Tioga Road) from Yosemite is the quick route, but is passable only in summer and early fall. Interstate 80 and US 50 provide cross-mountain access during the winter months, subject to icy conditions and closure due to blizzards.
By bus
The Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) operates a bus to and from Lone Pine in California and the Reno Nevada Greyhound Bus Station that stops at the Mammoth Lakes McDonald's on Route 203, once northbound and once southbound each day (the bus also stops at the Reno/Tahoe Airport). The same authority operates a route to Mammoth Lakes from the Lancaster, California Greyhound Bus Station also once northbound and once southbound each day (the bus also stops near the Inyo Kern Airport).
Place Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS)
The YARTS shuttle travels on Highway 395 and 120 from Mammoth Lakes to Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley, with stops at the Mammoth Mountain Inn, The Village, the Juniper Springs Resort, the Mammoth Lakes Park & Ride, and the Shilo Inn. Ticket prices include park entry, and can be purchased from the shuttle driver.
Get around
Between the city of Mammoth Lakes and the Mammoth Mountain resort, a bike will do fine in summer. Frequent trams run between the town and the slopes during the winter, with outside racks for skis and snowboards. For everything else, you need a car.
See
See Hot Creek Geological Area
An area of hot springs and steam in a very small canyon. Several pools are scalding hot and will result in death if you jump in. Swimming is forbidden due to increased geothermal activity.
See Mammoth Mountain Ski Area
In winter, this is the main ski resort. In summer the gondola will take you to the top, and the view is amazing. Bring warm clothes for the top.
Do
- Ski & snowboard (fall, winter and spring, depending on precipitation). Most years the ski season extends until July 4th. One of the top-ranking ski and snowboarding resorts in the United States.
- Mountain biking (summer only). The ski resort will carry your bike up to the top of the mountain so you can coast down it. Rentals available.
- Fish. The many lakes in the lake basin just west of the city (and north of the mountain) are popular. Boat rentals available.
- Hike (summer only). To beautiful and amazing locations such as Rainbow Falls and Devils Postpile. An easy 3.5-hour hike.
- Horseback Ride (summer only). Various of tours through beautiful remote areas.
Do Snowshoeing
(Winter only.) Many snowshoeing trails can be found on the road to Lake Mary behind Tamarack Lodge. These trails are marked and free to all hikers.
Do Sierra Star Golf Course
18-hole championship golf course in the middle of town. Narrow tree-lined fairways at an elevation above 8000 feet make it a challenging course.
Do Backcountry Camping
(Summer only.) The nearby Reds Meadow and Devils Postpile National Monument areas provide easy access to the John Muir, Pacific Crest and many other trails allowing entry to the backcountry Ansel Adams, Inyo, Sierra, John Muir and Yosemite nationally protected areas. Permits are required and national regulations apply.
Do Sightseeing (Visitor Center)
Mammoth Lakes is surrounded by several scenic views and places you shouldn't miss, Yosemite National Park, Bodie Ghost Town, Mono Lake, Devils Postpile National Monument, Hot Creek and Rainbow Falls. Visit the welcome center on your right when you pull into town.
Eat
Eat Convict Lake Restaurant
You're always sure to dine on Mono County's famous Alpers Trout at Convict Lake, because if you don't hook one, you can always order one at the Convict Lake Restaurant. This dining room is famous for its "Country French" cooking with Beef Wellington (hey, isn't that English?), rack of lamb (New Zealand?), salmon (Alaskan?), pasta (Italian?) and "succulent steaks" (so, what's French about it? - guess you'll have to go to find out).
Eat The Lakefront Restaurant
Reservations recommended.
Eat Whitebark at the Westin
Contemporary chop house with and eclectic menu of appetizers.
Drink
Sleep
Go next
- Bodie an old ghost town from the gold digger era
- Mono Lake a natural basin in the middle of the mountains
- Yosemite National Park
- Manzanar, the site of an Internment Camp for people of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
- The White Mountains and their ancient bristlecone pines.
- Devils Postpile National Monument is a short bus ride from the Mammoth Mountain ski resort.
Nearby
Devils Postpile National Monument
Park · 5 listings · 7 mi away
Rock Creek Lake
Park · 1 listings · 19 mi away
Lee Vining
City / town · 7 listings · 23 mi away
Mono Lake
Park · 6 listings · 26 mi away
Yosemite National Park
Park · 114 listings · 32 mi away
Bishop
City / town · 19 listings · 37 mi away
Fish Camp
City / town · 8 listings · 38 mi away
White Mountains
Park · 6 listings · 39 mi away
My experience
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