Mammoth mountain is arguably California’s best ski resort.
There’s just one problem. Mammoth isn’t easy to get to.
The mountain’s far away location does have some benefits – mainly quiet slopes (during the week… weekends are another story!) and a true feeling of skiing a “destination” ski resort.
But that same far away location often causes first time visitors some serious travel-logistics induced headaches.
Fear not! And put away that aspirin. Because SlopeLab’s Mammoth Travel Guide has got you covered!
Contents
Where is Mammoth Mountain?
Mammoth Mountain sits in Central California, on the eastern side of the mountains close to the Nevada border.
In good weather*, drive times are as follows:
- Reno, Nevada to Mammoth Mountain: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Sacramento, California to Mammoth Mountain: 4 hours, 40 minutes
- Los Angeles, California to Mammoth Mountain: 5 hours
- San Francisco, California to Mammoth Mountain: 5 hours, 30 minutes
- San Jose, California to Mammoth Mountain: 5 hours, 40 minutes
- Las Vegas, Nevada to Mammoth Mountain: 5 hours, 15 minutes
*However, winter driving times are often very different! Read on to find out why…
Flying Directly Into Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)
Mammoth Mountain’s airport (MMH) is conveniently located just 15 minutes to the mountain. United Airlines runs daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles, Denver, and San Francisco. You can also find affordable connecting flights from most major cities.
To make the convenience even more… convenient… all the official Mammoth Lodging Properties run free shuttles from the airport to the hotel. This includes the Mammoth Mountain Inn, Juniper Springs Resort, The Village Lodge, and Tamarack Lodge.
For those staying in other locations, several taxi and shuttle services run from MMH to anywhere in town or around the mountain. These all-weather shuttles and cabs include MAWS, Mammoth Taxi Service, and Mammoth Lakes Cab Service. (I priced out a 7-seater private SUV service with MAWS for just ~$9 a person.)
This incredible convenience does come at a notable risk though. Mammoth’s airport is prone to significant snow and wind delays and closures.
In fact, this data from the department of transportation shows that since 2010, 30% of flights into MMH were delayed, and flights were cancelled roughly 15% of the time. In especially snowy years, like 2016, 30% of all flights into Mammoth Yosemite Airport were cancelled!
Pros:
- Most convenient.
- Rental car is totally unnecessary.
Cons:
- Weather can be a risk, with up to 30% flight cancellations and even more delays.
Driving to Mammoth? Beware of chain restrictions.
If you’re worried about MMH’s delays/cancellations and instead decide to drive yourself to Mammoth, keep in mind that in poor weather, California and Nevada enforce pretty strict traction control laws.
Depending on the storm, California imposes three levels of tire chain requirements:
- R1 – chains required on all vehicles without snow tires. (They count any tires marked with an “M+S” designation as snow tires. Usually this covers any all-season tire.)
- R2 – chains required on all vehicles except AWD/4WD that have snow tires.
- R3 – chains required on all vehicles, no exceptions.
So, how often are those restrictions in place?
To know for sure, you should check the Caltran website. But in general:
- R1 – if it’s snowed in the last day or so and the road isn’t completely cleared.
- R2 – if it’s currently snowing.
- R3 – Extremely rare and the road will most likely be closed anyway.
Nonetheless, anyone driving during California winters should be prepared for the possibility of needing chains, especially if you’re in a two wheel drive rental car or even a 4WD vehicle with cheap rental tires.
The Trap Option – Driving from the Bay Area (Bad idea!)
Based on Mammoth’s location, many would-be travelers to Mammoth make the common mistake of planning their winter trip starting in San Francisco, San Jose, or Sacramento. After all, Mammoth looks close enough to these areas to make the drive appear reasonable.
Wrong answer!
In order to get to Mammoth Mountain from either of these three airports, travelers would have to drive through the Yosemite area. This main route (Tioga Pass) is CLOSED DURING WINTER. (Here’s a good link to the historical openings of Tioga Pass… it usually opens in May or June.)
Because of this, you’d have to drive from the Bay Area up to Carson City/Reno. Total drive time? 6.5-7+ hours.
Pros:
- None, really.
Cons:
- Longest, most difficult drive.
Driving from Reno, Nevada (RNO):
At just over 3 hours, Reno to Mammoth is the shortest drive. (Aside from flying directly into Mammoth.)
The road begins as a 4 lane interstate before turning into a 2 lane highway for the last two hours of driving. The highway (395) is heavily traveled and well-maintained. However, it does snow frequently in this part of the country, and those snowstorms tend to be of the California “feast of famine” variety – either dry as a bone or huge dumps in excess of 1 foot an hour.
Anyone making this drive should be prepared for winter weather, because things can get a little hairy on stormy days.
On those days, California Transportation will enforce tire chain checks along the route. High wind is also a possibility – tipped over semi trucks can and do happen, which usually shuts down the only route for the rest of us. There’s also a few sharp turns throughout the drive, and at least one mountain summit to be aware of.
Pros:
- The shortest drive.
- Scenic drive through the mountains.
Cons:
- Definitely “mountain driving.”
- High elevation with the greatest chance of snow.
- Things can get white-knuckle in poor weather.
Driving from Los Angeles (LAX):
Mammoth Mountain is the preferred playground for Los Angeles skiers, who frequently make the relatively easy 5 hour drive on weekends.
Although long, this drive is pretty straightforward overall. Almost the entire route is flat desert, with only the last 25 miles or so hitting an elevation that might have snow. (You should still be prepared for chain restrictions.)
Pros:
- Goes through some scenic rural California towns.
- 90% of the drive is easy, flat desert.
Cons:
- 5 hours long.
- Can run into L.A. traffic when leaving the city.
Driving from Las Vegas (LAS):
One often overlooked option is to fly into Las Vegas, then approaching Mammoth from the East.
This drive is a little over 5 hours, but relatively easy and mostly through flat, dry desert.
This road (US-95) is mostly a wide 4 lane interstate with a divider. Much of this route is stereotypical desert driving, meaning it’s boring and you won’t have much to see. Keep an eye on that gas tank!
Similar to the Los Angeles route, you’re only likely to encounter snow during the last 25 miles or so.
Pros:
- Las Vegas usually has the cheapest flights.
- 90% of the drive is easy, flat desert.
Cons:
- The longest option. (5 hours and 15 minutes)
So, what’s the best way to get to Mammoth?
As you can see, no route is perfect, and getting to Mammoth is mostly a game of trade offs.
For the most convenient option, flying directly into the Mammoth airport (MMH) is hard to beat. You won’t even need a rental car! That said, you do run a much higher risk of delayed or cancelled flights.
For the shortest drive, Reno is your best bet. However, this route is the most likely to encounter difficult weather.
For the easiest (but longest) drive, look into flying into either Los Angeles or Las Vegas.
No matter which route you choose, fantastic skiing awaits you in Mammoth! Safe travels!
What about Bishop Airport in CA? It is reportedly 45 min. Fro Mammoth.
TL:DR- dont take NV266, take Route-6
So. i just recently used this article as the basis to make my trip from Las Vegas to Mammoth. There are a few things I think you should add to this article as its so highly ranked in search results and many people could find and use the info.
Specific to Just LAS – Mammoth. The route you show NV – 95 north and turn off at NV-266. It should be pointed out that if it has snowed AT ALL in the previous 2-3 days 266 should be avoided and you should take the northern route into California via route 6 through Tonopah.
Personal experience. 266 is a mountain pass that takes you over Lida pass. Its not very well maintained in snow storms. I follow a set of pickup tracks the entire way in 4-6 inches of snow on the road. Now granted i passed a plow truck on the nevada side, but once you get into california its two more mountain passes that are just as sketchy including a canyon that reduces down to a single lane for both oncoming and outgoing traffic.
That said, on the way out, in similar conditions, i took route 6 out of Bishop over to Tonopah and down to NV-95. Longer yes, but clear roads as its a state highway.