Region
Inyo County
Base in Bishop or Lone Pine on US 395; treat Death Valley as a separate 2-night stop, not a day trip.
Key facts · United States
- Currency
- US dollar (USD, $)
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- A · B · 120 V
- Time zone
- Six zones: UTC−5 to UTC−10
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Inyo County is one long highway: US 395 runs about 160 km north-south past Bishop, Big Pine, Independence, Lone Pine and Olancha, with the Eastern Sierra on one side and the desert on the other. It holds the highest and lowest points in the contiguous 48 states. Sleep in Bishop for the northern canyons and bristlecones, in Lone Pine for Mt. Whitney and the Alabama Hills; Death Valley is 2 hours east over SR-190 and needs its own nights.
Sleep
Which bed, for how many nights, and what to do from it
Where to sleep
Sleep base
- BishopPlanned
Largest town, most beds and food; gateway to Rock Creek, Bishop Pass and the Buttermilks.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Lone PinePlanned
Mt. Whitney portal, Alabama Hills film country, closest beds to Death Valley's west side.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Day trip
- Death Valley JunctionPlanned
East edge of the county on SR-190, near the park's south entrance.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Also here
- Big PinePlanned
Palisade Glacier trailheads and the road up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- IndependencePlanned
Small base for Onion Valley and Baxter Pass trailheads; very few beds.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
- Olancha-CartagoPlanned
SR-190 turn-off into Death Valley; last services before the park.
Page planned: listed so the region plan is complete.
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Bishop 2 (Rock Creek, bristlecones) + Lone Pine 1 (Alabama Hills, Whitney Portal)
- 5 nights
- Bishop 2 + Lone Pine 2 + Death Valley 1 (or reverse, entering via SR-190 from Olancha)
- 7 nights
- Bishop 3 + Lone Pine 2 + Death Valley 2, with a full day for a high-country hike
- Distances look short on the map but every canyon road adds 30-60 min each way.
- Summer heat in the desert half is dangerous: carry 4 litres of water per person per day and do not rely on phone signal.
- Winter closes the high passes and some forest roads; check conditions before driving up.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest | Big Pine | 75 min | unknown | About 45 min up CA-168 from Big Pine; the road climbs past 3,000 m and closes with snow. |
| Alabama Hills | Lone Pine | 15 min | unknown | Dirt roads are fine for a normal car in dry weather; campers fill the free sites. |
| Whitney Portal | Lone Pine | 25 min | unknown | 13 km of switchbacks; the trailhead is the start of the Mt. Whitney day hike, which needs a permit.8.1 mi of switchbacks; the trailhead is the start of the Mt. Whitney day hike, which needs a permit. |
| Death Valley National Park | Lone Pine | 120 min | unknown | Via SR-190 through Panamint Springs; too far for a comfortable day trip — sleep in the park. |
| Rock Creek Canyon | Bishop | 40 min | unknown | CA-168 northwest; the lake basin road is seasonal and snowed in from about November. |
Bags between cities
Luggage forwarding is not a service here: US 395 towns are 20–60 minutes apart by car, so keep bags in the vehicle. If you fly into Bishop (BIH), the small aircraft cabin limits oversized bags — check the carrier's allowance before booking.
When and how
Months, arrival and passes
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (country-wide) | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | ok | ok | go | go | ok | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owens Valley (Bishop, Lone Pine)US 395 corridor, about 1,200-2,100 m | cold | cold | ok | best | best | best | hot | hot | best | best | ok | cold |
| Death Valley (east half)Below sea level to about 1,500 m | best | best | ok | ok | hot | hot | hot | hot | hot | ok | best | best |
| High country (Rock Creek, Onion Valley, Bristlecones)Above about 2,500 m | cold | cold | cold | ok | ok | best | best | best | ok | ok | cold | cold |
- Owens Valley (Bishop, Lone Pine)
- Valley floor is dry year-round; July-August afternoons pass 35 °C. Spring wind is common.Valley floor is dry year-round; July-August afternoons pass 95 °F. Spring wind is common.
- Death Valley (east half)
- November to March is the usable window; June-August is dangerous heat, often above 45 °C.November to March is the usable window; June-August is dangerous heat, often above 113 °F.
- High country (Rock Creek, Onion Valley, Bristlecones)
- Snow usually blocks the highest roads from November to May or June.
Fall colour in the Eastern Sierra canyons peaks in late September to mid-October, and the aspens draw crowds on US 395 that weekend.
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Lone Pine | Drive CA-14 north to US 395 | ~3 h 30 | The standard approach from the south; no train or bus on this corridor. |
| Las Vegas | Death Valley / Lone Pine | Drive via Pahrump or via SR-190 | ~2 h to Death Valley, ~4 h 30 to Lone Pine | The usual entry for the desert half of the county. |
| Reno | Bishop | Drive US 395 south | ~3 h 30 | The northern approach, past Mono Lake and Mammoth Lakes. |
| San Francisco | Bishop | Fly to Bishop (BIH) or drive via Yosemite in summer | ~1 h 20 flight; ~6 h drive | Bishop has one daily flight to San Francisco and one to Denver; schedules change, check. |
Regional passes
America the Beautiful annual pass
checkPays if you enter Death Valley plus two or more other federal parks on the same trip; otherwise buy the single-park entry.
Death Valley entry fee
buyCharged per vehicle for 7 days; buy online before you drive in to skip the queue at the entrance station.
Mt. Whitney day-use permit
checkRequired for the Whitney Portal trail in the quota season; apply in the lottery months ahead.
Eat and move on
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Bakery breads and sandwiches | Bishop: Main Street | The busiest stop on US 395; queues at breakfast, so go before 08:00 on weekends.The busiest stop on US 395; queues at breakfast, so go before 8:00 AM on weekends. |
| Burger and fries | Lone Pine: US 395 strip | Most kitchens close by 21:00; the town shuts early outside summer.Most kitchens close by 9:00 PM; the town shuts early outside summer. |
| Date shakes | Olancha and the SR-190 corridor | A desert-road tradition; the stands are seasonal, check opening before you count on it. |
| Steak and ranch cooking | Independence and Big Pine | Few options; reserve or arrive before 19:00.Few options; reserve or arrive before 7:00 PM. |
Go next
Desert California
plannedSR-190 east from Olancha
The parent region for the desert half of the county.
Death Valley Junction
plannedDrive SR-190 east, ~2 h from Lone Pine
East edge of the county, near the park's south entrance.
Olancha-Cartago
plannedOn US 395 at the SR-190 junction
Last fuel and food before Death Valley.
Shoshone, California
plannedDrive via SR-190 and SR-127
Small desert town south-east of the park.
San Bernardino County
plannedDrive south on US 395 then CA-14
Mojave National Preserve and Route 66 country.
Imperial County
plannedDrive south via CA-14 and I-10
Continues the desert route toward the Mexican border.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source