Hi all, helping a friend plan her first trip to the States.
Her traveling companion has suggest a night or two in Mammoth Lake on the way from Vegas to Yosemite. We've done the drive in reverse, Yosemite to Vegas but haven't stopped off. Is it really worth a night or two,it will be in October? Its not about the length of the drive its more about is it worth losing a night somewhere else to see the Lake. And if so, can you suggest a lovely spot to stay 4* or better?
Thanks as always.
Vegas to Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes or not?
Recent Activity
View all United States activity »
- 1
A Visit to Charleston
- 2 2 Brits Travelling USA July-Aug 2013
- 3 3 Week Roadtrip Starting in Nashville - Where to Go?!
- 4
Boston, my 2 hour food shopping spree to satiate my man's needs
- 5 1st time in Boston --need advice
- 6 NYC Newbie Needs Advice Re JFK Transportation
- 7 New Orleans trip (plus road trip) Help Pls!
- 8 How similar are the San Juan Islands and the Tofino area of B.C.?
- 9 Florida to Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore-Sept 2013
- 10 Oregon & Washington: What are we missing, as we're big fans already?
- 11 Pine or Deckers as a place to meet (Lost Creek Wilderness)
- 12 Finally, seeing the Outer Banks
- 13
DC with Kids Trip Report
- 14 Using public transit in San Diego
- 15 Luggage stolen from locked rental car in Orlando
- 16
1st time to Kauai! Will not be the last!
- 17 Seattle Hotel Choice and Other Questions
- 18 Erie Canal - Finger Lakes Region - Day Trip?
- 19 Wisconsin Dells with teenagers
- 20 Best places to stop New Orleans to Los Angeles
- 21 10 days after cruise - Fort Lauderdale Fly out from LA?????
- 22 Lake Tahoe
- 23 Baseball Road Trip
- 24
First-time to NYC Trip Report as promised!
- 25
Moab and Bluff
Travel is always a question of trade-offs. The Mammoth Lakes area is very pretty - certainly worth taking the tour of the lakes drive - and I/we love staying at the Heidelberg Inn - by June Lake. More of an older/condo type place, but with a lot of Hollywood history - and there are good restaurants within walking distance - or easy driving distance.
see: http://junelakeloop.org/heidelberg_inn
Depending on how late in October there could be snow in the Tioga Pass which would complicate your route from LV to Yosemite.
I know of no 4* lodging in Mammoth Lakes.
If you don't want to drive through Death Valley, consider flying from LV to Fresno (FAT) and driving into Yosemite via the south entrance seeing Mariposa Grove first.
Not a lot of '4 star or better' places in the eastern Sierra - It is rural, mountainous, gorgeous -- and more rustic motel country than 4-5 star posh. Mammoth Lakes does have a few posh/posh-ish places, but I personally wouldn't stay there.
A one night stop enroute makes sense - longer depends on whether they are hiking or not. But I'd stay in one of the neat little mountain towns instead- not Mammoth. But they'd have to 'rough it' a bit more.
Last year would not have been a problem at all -- but there is no way of knowing what the snow situation will be this Fall. If we get early snow --they won't be able to do it.
Thanks I shall pass all info on. It will be early Oct, I would hate them to miss out. We did once, ended up going to SanFran via Reno & missing out on Yosemite all together!!
By the time you get to Vegas you should have a pretty good idea if the Tioga Pass is open - and if not - you can just drive the southern route through California (Bakersfield?) and then up via Fresno and into Yo. October would be a nice time to visit Yo - and while the waterfalls may not be fully gushing - it would probably be much less crowded.
Check this page for the various driving routes. I think the estimate going via Bakersfield is around 10 hours. Suggest you start as early as you can - Oh Dark Thirty- and then get to Yo in time to enjoy dinner.
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/driving.htm
Well there is more than one lake in Mammoth. Mary, George, Twin, Horseshoe - all together. There is an abundance of fabulous scenery. The Monache (mo natch e)is a Westin property and I believe it should qualify for a 4 star. It's quite nice.
http://www.westinmammoth.com/