Day Trippin' › California › From Mammoth Lakes
From Mammoth Lakes, Devils Postpile is under an hour away, Bodie State Historic Park under an hour and a half, and Manzanar National Historic Site under two hours. The best day trips from Mammoth Lakes, by drive time.
56 places within a 3-hour drive, by real roads.
Hike · 47 min west
A wall of basalt columns formed by lava. A short walk reaches the columns from the road shuttle.
Landmark · 38 min north
Walk among odd limestone towers rising from a salty desert lake. Sunset is the best time.
Small town · 39 min southeast
A relaxed Eastern Sierra town with bakeries, outfitters and shops. Good base for the Owens Valley.
Scenic drive · 26 min northwest
A short mountain loop with four lakes, waterfalls and aspen color in fall.
Waterfall · 48 min west
A 101-foot fall on the San Joaquin River, often with a rainbow in the mist.
Lake · 54 min southeast
A high alpine lake above Bishop with a reservoir, trails and fall color.
Museum · 42 min southeast
A historic depot and old narrow gauge train cars near Bishop.
Small town · 33 min northwest
A tiny town at Mono Lake with a famous diner stop and a visitor center.
Historic site · 1 hr 17 min north
A well-kept Gold Rush ghost town frozen in time, with homes, a church and a stamp mill.
Historic site · 1 hr 32 min southeast
A moving museum and a driving tour at a World War II Japanese American incarceration camp.
Landmark · 1 hr 38 min southeast
Rounded rock formations with arch views framed by Mount Whitney. Many movies were filmed here.
Hike · 1 hr 37 min east
Walk among some of the oldest living trees on Earth in the White Mountains.
Lake · 1 hr 9 min northwest
A big, clear alpine lake with a sandy beach and granite shores. Cold but lovely for a quick dip.
Viewpoint · 1 hr 13 min west
A roadside stop on Tioga Road with a rare view of Half Dome from behind and smooth glacial granite.
Small town · 1 hr 36 min southeast
A small desert town with Whitney views, a film museum and diners.
Scenic drive · 1 hr 55 min southeast
A steep mountain road climbing to the trailhead for Mt Whitney with a waterfall and picnic area.
Viewpoint · 2 hr 17 min west
The classic first look at Yosemite Valley, with El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome in one frame. Pull off right on the way in.
Landmark · 2 hr 18 min west
Pull over and watch climbers on the granite face with binoculars. A flat walk by the Merced River.
Waterfall · 2 hr 25 min west
The tallest waterfall in the park, with an easy paved walk to the base of the lower fall. Spring flow is biggest; it can run dry by late summer.
Viewpoint · 2 hr 58 min west
A big overlook 3,200 feet above the valley, facing Half Dome and Yosemite Falls. One of the best views in the Sierra.
Hike · 2 hr 58 min west
Walk among huge sequoias including the Grizzly Giant. A shuttle or short hike runs from the welcome plaza.
State park · 2 hr 47 min northwest
Tahoe's most photographed view: a deep green bay with tiny Fannette Island, seen from the roadside overlooks on Highway 89.
Small town · 2 hr 55 min west
The Gold Country hub with old brick streets, shops and eateries. Good for a slow afternoon.
Family fun · 2 hr 59 min west
A steam train ride through the pines near Fish Camp, in the style of an old logging line.
Drive times are by road on a typical day from ZIP 93546 (OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM route planner). Facts checked against official sites; passes and hours change, so check before you go.