Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 67–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Mostly sunny75°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny67°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Pearsonville9:30 AM PDT Sunny79°F Cartago10 AM PDT Sunny80°F Independence10:45 AM PDT Sunny77°F Bishop11:30 AM PDT Sunny80°F Mammoth Lakes12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny72°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 67–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny77°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny67°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Pearsonville9:30 AM PDT Sunny79°F Cartago10 AM PDT Sunny80°F Independence10:45 AM PDT Sunny76°F Bishop11:30 AM PDT Sunny80°F Mammoth Lakes12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny73°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 62–79°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny78°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny62°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Pearsonville9:30 AM PDT Sunny79°F Cartago10 AM PDT Sunny78°F Independence10:45 AM PDT Sunny74°F Bishop11:30 AM PDT Sunny79°F Mammoth Lakes12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny71°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 70–80°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny77°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny72°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Pearsonville9:30 AM PDT Sunny80°F Cartago10 AM PDT Sunny80°F Independence10:45 AM PDT Sunny76°F Bishop11:30 AM PDT Sunny80°F Mammoth Lakes12:15 PM PDT Sunny70°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 71–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny76°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny71°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Pearsonville9:30 AM PDT Sunny80°F Cartago10 AM PDT Sunny80°F Independence10:45 AM PDT Sunny76°F Bishop11:30 AM PDT Sunny81°F Mammoth Lakes12:15 PM PDT Sunny71°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 71–82°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Sunny76°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny72°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny75°F Pearsonville9:30 AM PDT Sunny82°F Cartago10 AM PDT Sunny82°F Independence10:45 AM PDT Sunny77°F Bishop11:30 AM PDT Sunny81°F Mammoth Lakes12:15 PM PDT Sunny71°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 68–81°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Los Angeles7 AM PDT Mostly sunny74°F Lancaster8:15 AM PDT Sunny71°F Mojave8:30 AM PDT Sunny78°F Pearsonville9:30 AM PDT Sunny80°F Cartago10 AM PDT Sunny81°F Independence10:45 AM PDT Sunny76°F Bishop11:30 AM PDT Sunny79°F Mammoth Lakes12:15 PM PDT Mostly sunny68°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Los Angeles (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Los Angeles, CAStart 284 ftelevation
- Lancaster, CAMile 70 · 1 h 11 min 2,352 ftelevation
- Mojave, CAMile 95 · 1 h 34 min 2,760 ftelevation
- Pearsonville, CAMile 152 · 2 h 30 min 2,517 ftelevation
- Cartago, CAMile 189 · 3 h 6 min 3,637 ftelevation
- Independence, CAMile 225 · 3 h 43 min 3,929 ftelevation
- Bishop, CAMile 266 · 4 h 26 min 4,145 ftelevation
- Mammoth Lakes, CAMile 308 · 5 h 11 min 7,856 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Los Angeles, Bishop and Mammoth Lakes.
| Month | Los Angeles 230 ft | Bishop 4,102 ft | Mammoth Lakes 7,804 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | High / low °F | High / low °F | |
| Jan | 68° / 49° | 56° / 24° | 41° / 17° |
| Feb | 68° / 50° | 59° / 26° | 41° / 18° |
| Mar | 70° / 52° | 67° / 31° | 46° / 22° |
| Apr | 72° / 55° | 74° / 37° | 51° / 27° |
| May | 74° / 58° | 83° / 44° | 60° / 35° |
| Jun | 77° / 61° | 94° / 51° | 70° / 42° |
| Jul | 82° / 65° | 100° / 57° | 78° / 49° |
| Aug | 84° / 65° | 98° / 54° | 77° / 47° |
| Sep | 83° / 64° | 90° / 47° | 71° / 40° |
| Oct | 79° / 60° | 78° / 37° | 61° / 30° |
| Nov | 73° / 53° | 64° / 27° | 49° / 23° |
| Dec | 67° / 48° | 55° / 22° | 41° / 17° |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS (USW00093134, 230 ft); BISHOP AP (USW00023157, 4,102 ft); MAMMOTH LAKES RS (USC00045280, 7,804 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for California rather than repeat them.
- California · CaltransQuickMap conditions and cameras
- California · winter rulesChain controls
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Los Angeles to Mammoth Lakes with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Los Angeles to Mammoth Lakes?
308 miles, about 5 hours of driving without stops, by way of CA-14 and US-395. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
Mammoth Lakes, at 7,856 ft. It comes at mile 308, about 5 h 11 min of driving after you leave Los Angeles.
How cold is Mammoth Lakes in January?
Mammoth Lakes averages a high of 41°F and a low of 17°F in January (1991–2020 normals).