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Major city · United States

Mammoth Lakes

Give Mammoth Lakes 2–3 nights: ski or ride in winter, hike Devils Postpile and the lakes in summer. A car is needed for everything outside town.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Jan–Mar (ski), Jul–Sep (hiking)
avoid Nov (thin snow, closed trails), late May–Jun (snow patches at high elevation)
Airports
MMH · RNO · LAX
Nights
2–3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

Mammoth Lakes is a resort town at about 2,400 m (8,000 ft) on the east side of the Sierra Nevada, built around Mammoth Mountain ski area and a basin of alpine lakes. Winter is snow and lifts; summer is hiking, biking and lower rents. Most visitors come by car on US-395, and the town itself is small enough to walk or shuttle between the Village and the slopes.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Mammoth Lakes, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–7
  • Sit-down mealDinner main, mid-range restaurant$22–40
  • Street or quick mealBreakfast plate$14–22
  • BeerDraught beer$7–10
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week$20–40
  • Budget bedHostel or shared bunk, a night, per personUS$55
  • Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$200
  • High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$380

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$90 · Mid US$180 · High US$350

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Mammoth Mountain ski areaDevils Postpile National Monument and Rainbow FallsHot Creek Geological AreaMono Lake and Bodie day trips
Airports
MMH Mammoth Yosemite Airport (About 10 km east of town on US-395; year-round flights from Los Angeles, seasonal winter service from other California and Denver gateways (check current schedule).) · RNO Reno-Tahoe International (About 3 h by car south on US-395; the usual gateway if MMH has no suitable flight.) · LAX Los Angeles International (About 5–6 h by car north on US-395 and CA-14; the main Southern California approach.)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Mammoth Lakes: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

5°C

−9°C

4 rd

Feb

5°C

−9°C

4 rd

Mar

8°C

−6°C

3 rd

Apr

11°C

−3°C

2 rd

May

16°C

1°C

2 rd

Jun

21°C

6°C

1 rd

Jul

25°C

9°C

1 rd

Aug

25°C

8°C

1 rd

Sep

22°C

4°C

1 rd

Oct

16°C

−1°C

1 rd

Nov

10°C

−5°C

2 rd

Dec

5°C

−8°C

4 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town core is walkable, and a winter shuttle links the Village, lodgings and the ski area. For Hot Creek, Devils Postpile, the lakes basin and Mono Lake you need a car; there is no useful public transport to those trailheads.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Devils Postpile National Monument and Rainbow Falls

go

Door to door: Half a day

Shuttle from Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge in season, then a walk

Shuttle runs in season only; check dates and last departure.

Mono Lake

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Drive north on US-395 to Lee Vining, about 45 min

South Tufa at sunrise or sunset; bring water, there is no shade.

Bodie State Historic Park

go

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Drive north on US-395 then east on CA-270, about 1 h 30 min

Gold-rush ghost town; the last stretch is unpaved but graded.

Yosemite Valley via Tioga Pass

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Drive north on US-395 then west on CA-120

Tioga Road is closed by snow roughly November to May; check before setting out.

Lee Vining

go

Door to door: About 45 min

Drive north on US-395

Base for Mono Lake and the east Yosemite entrance.

Bridgeport, California

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Drive north on US-395

Hot springs and a small historic main street; pairs with Bodie.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

The Village at Mammoth

Condos, restaurants and the gondola base; walk to lifts, no car needed in winter.

Old Mammoth Road corridor

Motels, cafés and grocery stores; 5–10 min drive to the Village, best value in summer.

Main Street (Hwy 203) strip

Highway motels and hotels on the way into town; convenient for a one-night stop.

Twin Lakes and Tamarack Lodge

Quieter lakefront lodgings about 5 km west of town; car needed.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–140 excl. bed
Mid
$150–250 excl. bed
High
$300+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel or hotel double room1 × 3 nights × US$200US$600
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × US$180US$1,080
Mammoth Mountain lift ticket, one day2 × US$200 · checkUS$400
Rental car, one day1 × US$70 · checkUS$70
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$25US$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$220
Trip total≈ US$403 per person per day, bed includedUS$2,420

2026 estimate in US dollars; lift tickets, flights and rental car excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Breakfast plate$14–22
Dinner main, mid-range restaurant$22–40
Draught beer$7–10
Gallon of petrolcheck$4.50–5.50
eSIM or data SIM, about a week$20–40

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

A safe resort town; the real risks are altitude, winter driving and hot springs. Stay out of the water at Hot Creek and carry chains in snow season.
  • Altitude: the town sits near 2,400 m — take the first day easy, drink water, and expect headaches if you fly in from sea level.
  • Hot Creek: the pools are scalding and swimming is banned; stay on the marked paths.
  • Winter storms close US-395 and the mountain passes; carry chains and check road conditions before driving.
  • Devils Postpile access is by shuttle in season, with limited hours — check dates before you plan the day.
  • Summer afternoon thunderstorms on the high trails; start hikes early.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911
Mammoth Lakes Police (non-emergency)
+1 760-934-2011
Mono County Sheriff (non-emergency)
+1 760-932-7549

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Mammoth LakesMammoth Lakes

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911
  • Mammoth Lakes Police (non-emergency)+1 760-934-2011

Embassy

No embassies in Mammoth Lakes; nearest consulates are in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Winter shuttle Village ↔ ski area: free or low-cost, check the current schedule
  • Taxi or rideshare, town centre: $15–30
  • Petrol, Mammoth Lakes: about $4.50–5.50 per gallon (check)

Say or show

  • Where is the shuttle stop? — Where is the shuttle stop?
  • Do you have a table for two? — Do you have a table for two?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Is the road open? — Is the road open?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mammoth Lakes. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jan–Mar (ski), Jul–Sep (hiking) · avoid Nov (thin snow, closed trails), late May–Jun (snow patches at high elevation) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contracts for MMH and RNO: last shuttle and rental-car desk hours, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: the Village, Old Mammoth Road, Main Street, Twin Lakes.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Mammoth Mountain, Devils Postpile, Hot Creek, Mono Lake South Tufa) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Winter storm and altitude fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources