Hotels in Mammoth Lakes

Mammoth Lakes: Sierra Nevada Ski Town at 7,953 Feet

Mammoth Lakes sits in the Eastern Sierra Nevada of California, 163 miles north of Los Angeles via US-395. The town centers on Mammoth Mountain, a 11,053-foot volcano that receives an average 400 inches of snow annually — one of the deepest snowpacks in North America. The ski and snowboard resort operates lifts from November through June in most years. Summer draws hikers, mountain bikers, and anglers to Devils Postpile National Monument, a basalt column formation 13 miles southwest of town, and to Mammoth Lakes Basin, a cluster of five glacial lakes within 5 miles of the village.

Where to Stay

Accommodation clusters along Old Mammoth Road and around The Village at Mammoth, a pedestrian plaza at the base of the gondola. Canyon Lodge and Main Lodge areas offer ski-in access. Budget motels line Main Street (Hwy 203); condo-style properties dominate the mid-range and upper tiers.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Eastern Sierra Regional Airport (MMH) has seasonal flights; most visitors drive US-395.
• Snow chains: California law requires carrying tire chains October–June on Hwy 203.
• Altitude: At nearly 8,000 feet, allow 24 hours to acclimatize before strenuous activity.
• Season: Ski season peaks January–March; summer hiking runs July–September.