Your Mammoth Mountain Parking Guide
You don’t get to have hundreds of days of sunshine, storms that dump snow in feet instead of inches, and a season that reaches well into spring and beyond without attracting attention, but if you’re reading this while planning a trip here then chances are you already know how great Mammoth Mountain is.
What you may not know is how much demand there is for parking at the mountain. Mammoth has enough terrain to allow for a large amount of skiers and snowboarders, which results in crowded parking lots and heavy competition for parking spots. To help you get on the snow as quickly and painlessly as possible, the Mammoth Bound team has listed what you need to know about parking at Mammoth Mountain below. Read all about it before you visit Mammoth Mountain!
Parking at the Base of the Mountain
The best parking spots are those near the lodges. Of course, that means they’re also the hardest to get.
Parking near the base of the mountain will take some planning and determination. The lifts open at 8:30 am, and if you want to park at the base then you’ll need to be there close to then or before, especially if you’re visiting on the weekend. If all the visitor parking is full by the time you arrive, then you’ll have the option of parking along the roads leading to the lodges. However, parking on these roads depends on the date and conditions. Between November 1st and April 30th, no street parking is allowed in Mammoth Lakes unless noted to allow for snow plows to clear the roads. There are spots on the roads near the lodges, but they’re limited and must be marked for parking.
If you don’t want to deal with the rush for parking near the base of the mountain but still want easy access to the slopes, then look into the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority and Mammoth Mountain’s free Shuttle Service. Both are accessible options to avoid fighting over parking!
Overnight Parking and Car Camping
Everyone dreams of being able to wake up, put on their gear, and walk out their front door to a lift, and car camping makes it possible without the heavy price tag of on mountain lodging.
However, there is no overnight parking in the Mammoth Mountain lots. If you’re car camping in or around town but don’t want to lose your spot, then the Mammoth Mountain shuttle is a great option to access the mountain. In terms of where you can actually car camp in Mammoth Lakes, your safest bet is a SNO-PARK permit. Finding overnight parking in Mammoth Lakes is tricky, especially when heavy snow falls and lots need to be plowed. SNO-PARK permits give holders access to lots that are snow-plowed daily for the price of $5.00 a day or $25 a day for the months of November to May. Although the closest SNO-PARK site is about 30 miles away, if you don’t mind a drive or using one of the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority’s lines then you can save money and time on parking! Don’t forget, SNO-PARK works on a first-come, first-serve basis and you cannot camp outside of your vehicle in their lots.
You can also pay to park overnight at the Mammoth Mountain RV Park or Mammoth Yosemite Airport. If you’re lodging in Mammoth Lakes, then ask your provider about their parking and shuttle options. Some offer shuttles to the mountain and other options to get their guests on the snow.