Hey everybody, use to ski Mammoth quite a bit and am familiar with the drive from LA to Mammoth. Have to drive to Reno for the holidays and am considering taking US 395 instead of I-5/80. Never drove further north than June Lake. Anything I should know about the drive of that part of 395? Will be driving through on Thursday, Dec 22. Plan to get out of LA early in the morning. Don't want to get caught on an unfamiliar road as the sun goes down. Weather looks clear for that day. Thanks!

It's a nice road pretty easy drive IF the weather is good. I wouldn't die it unless it stays sunny between now and then. I'd also get an early enough start to ensure there's no ice forming from melting snow.

Unless there is a big snow storm while you are going to travel, definitely take that route. I've done it about 5 times and it is a beautiful drive. Much more pleasant and interesting than taking the 5. Even if it is snowing it is usually ok if you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle, but much more slow going. Many years ago my wife and I planned a trip over New Year's to Tahoe and it was pouring rain when we got there. All of the resorts were going to be shut down for the bulk of our trip, so instead of sitting around being angry that our trip got ruined, we cut our losses and headed out of Tahoe just as they were shutting down a bunch of roads. We got ourselves down the mountain to the 395 and drove to Mammoth. For about half of the ride it was pouring rain. As we got closer to Mammoth, it was a blizzard. I had a 4 wheel drive Yukon at the time so we were ok, but had to drive really slow. It ended up taking close to 8 hours to get from Tahoe to Mammoth, but when Tahoe got rain, Mammoth was getting dumped on, so it was worth it. It was one of those crazy adventures my wife and I will never forget. That said, I wouldn't recommend taking that route if there's a blizzard in the forecast. If the weather is decent, definitely do it.

^ sick screen name, bruh

How long is the stretch from Mammoth north on 395 are you actually in the mountains? When does it finally decline onto the valley floor?

I've got a 4WD SUV that can handle anything and the plan is to leave early enough from LA so that it's still daylight as we drive through that part of the trip. Most of 395 to Mammoth is now 4 lanes which is great but I imagine most of the road between Mammoth and Nevada is two lane with an occasional passing lane.

Right now weather looks clear for the next few days, at least thru Thursday night. Will be passing through that area around Thursday Noon. Thanks for all the replies.

It is all high desert the entire way. Grades are generally slight and easy. Out of Bishop there is one grade that is fairly steep for about 7 miles.
You won't hit the mountains until you arive in the Town of Mammoth. The only mountainous driving is from town up to main lodge. Even then it is not what I would call "Mountainous".

Edit - I think you meant driving to Mammoth from the north. I am a little confused here. From Reno to Mammoth there are stretches that might be considered Mountainous but nothing all that bad. The drive is easy in good weather.

I wish that I was young enough to say that I had never driven that route .

Reno issued a Winter Storm Watch.

MONO COUNTY-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF BRIDGEPORT AND MAMMOTH LAKES
847 AM PST TUE DEC 20 2016

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN RENO HAS ISSUED A WINTER Storm WATCH, WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH Saturday AFTERNOON.

* TIMING: SNOW WILL MOVE INTO MONO COUNTY BY MIDDAY FRIDAY WITH A PERIOD OF HEAVY SNOW FRIDAY EVENING INTO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 1 TO 2 FEET ABOVE 7000 FEET WITH UP TO A FOOT FOR COMMUNITIES ALONG HIGHWAY 395.

* WINDS: SOUTHWEST 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 50 MPH. SIERRA RIDGE GUSTS UP TO 100 MPH.

* SNOW LEVELS: STARTING AT 6000 TO 7000 FEET ON FRIDAY, Then LOWERING TO VALLEY FLOORS FRIDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS: VERY POOR VISIBILITY WITH WHITEOUT CONDITIONS LIKELY. DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR BACK COUNTRY ACTIVITIES AND Travel ALONG HIGHWAY 395.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE AN EMERGENCY KIT FOR YOUR HOME And CAR. IF TRAVELING CONSIDER SHIFTING YOUR PLANS TO BEFORE The STORM ARRIVES ON THURSDAY OR WAITING UNTIL THE STORM PASSES. REMEMBER TO CARRY TIRE CHAINS, EXTRA FOOD, WATER AND CLOTHING. ONCE THE STORM ARRIVES, TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE For AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

I'm headed through on Thursday so I should be ahead of the storm. Last thing I want is to go up I-80 from Sacto to Reno on Thursday late. Looks like 395 is the way to go. I guess one way to figure out how desolate everything is, is to check the T-Mobile coverage map. Looks like no coverage from Lee Vining to Walker which is about 60 miles.

FWIW - On occasion when going on new road trips I'll do a Google Map street view thing. It sure helps having a bit of familiarity prior to the turn offs on some of these small roads; especially when its dark and adverse conditions. It's been rather helpful...Nothing like going down some forested roads with street signs covered or missing.. Deja Vu.

I have driven that route many times in all conditions. During the strongest storms, that route can get closed but there is a good alternative or two to the east. Watch for black ice in Walker Canyon, especially on the sharper turns at each end of the canyon. From Bishop to Carson City is one of the prettiest drives in the country. The most likely closures would be around Mono Lake between Lee Vining and Mammoth. Definitely do it in the day for both the scenery and better road visibility of icy conditions. There is a lot of moisture draining across due to the varying temps and recent storms. Walker Canyon is after the Sonora Pass turn off and the Marine base.

Many of the trucks take Highway 6 out of Bishop which I believe hooks up with 95, the route from Las Vegas to Reno. Another alternative if the weather turns rough would be to head towards Yerington at the south end of Bridgeport and then back to 395 further north. I haven't taken those routes and you likely won't need them in the way up as long as the storm doesn't speed up. Best advice is just to go and return in between storms. Also, if 395 gets closed by a storm, 80 and 50 are likely to close first. I hate taking 80 because of the Semis

Update: Drove the route on Dec 22 the day before the storm hit and Dec 27 four days after the storm hit. Great drive but wouldn't want to do it in inclement weather or at night. Traffic was relatively light and only ran into one semi on the way back. But there were plenty of passing lanes so I know we made really good time. I'd imagine this drive is not so fast during the summer when tourism is at its height. On the way back, there was snow that was still melting and the roads were a bit wet in some places but not slick. But the cars in front were kicking it up so the car was pretty dirty by the time I got home. My window washer fluid froze up til after we got past Bishop.

Scenery was much better North to South than the other way as Mono Lake looks so much better coming from the North. On the way back we did stop at the Topaz casino for breakfast which wasn't too shabby.

I guess we missed the earthquake by 14 hours or so. I'd like to visit Bodie someday now that I know where the turnoff is.

Thanks for all the replies.