I’ve done many roadtrips throughout my home state of California, but there’s no place that I love more than the Eastern Sierra mountains. Naturalist John Muir has called this 400 mile stretch the “Range of light” which consists of snow capped mountains, giant redwoods, and stunning blue alpine lakes.
Important Tips For Your RoadTrip
- Majority of these locations are in high elevation which means snow levels can be unpredictable. Check road conditions & closures prior to your trip. Late July-September is usually a safe bet!
- LEAVE NO TRACE: Pack out your trash & dispose them in proper garbage bins.
- Wildlife: There are black bears in these areas and proper food storage and distance is EXTREMELY important for you and the animal’s safety. For a full guide check out this post from Mammoth Lakes
- Never wait until you’re near or in Yosemite National Park to fill up on gas, it is extremely expensive there and stations are few and far between.
How Much Time Do I Need To Roadtrip the Eastern Sierra?
How much time you need depends on how much ground you want to cover & what type of activities you’re looking to do. Many CA locals go for a long weekend trip but this would only cover a small portion of the area. If you want to visit a vast variety of the towns and explore National Parks, you should expect to spend at least a week.
Eastern Sierra Towns Overview:
These are some of the towns I would recommend basing yourself along the route with services like restaurants, hotels, & campgrounds (In order from South to North)
- Lone Pine
- Bishop
- Mammoth Lakes
- Yosemite National Park
- Lake Tahoe
Where To Stay in Eastern Sierra
There are a number of hotels, campgrounds, and free camping options along the Eastern Sierra. I would recommend booking a different hotel/campground as you move through since the towns & attractions are hours apart from each other.
Lone Pine Accomodations:
Find Affordable Hotels in Lone Pine
There are few hotel options in Lone Pine like the Best Western, Quality Inn, and other simpler options so I typically prefer to camp in Alabama Hills when i’m in town.
Bishop Accomodations:
Bishop is bigger than Lone Pine and has better options for hotels. The best hotel here is the Wayfinder. It’s stylish, has a natural creek flowing through the property, and has amenities like a hot tub, sauna, and pool.
Wayfinder Hotel in Bishop (Dog Friendly)
Mammoth Lakes Accommodations
Westin Monache Resort Mammoth Lakes (Dog Friendly)
This is my favorite hotel I’ve stayed in Mammoth. It’s very modern, has a stunning view, and it’s walking distance to ski lifts, restaurants, and shopping. Check Rates
Lake Mary/Lake George Campground (Dog Friendly)
The Lake Mary Basin is one of the most popular areas to visit in Mammoth and they have everything from campgrounds to kayak rentals, and hiking trails. It is a seasonal campground and can be reserved through recreation.gov
OH Ridge Campground (Dog Friendly)
OH Ridge is located in June Lake which is a quaint mountain town 30 minutes north of Mammoth Lakes. It’s the closest campground to the swimming beach of June Lake. This is a place you’ll definitely want to visit in the summer. Reservations can be made through recreation.gov
Lake Tahoe Accommodations
Desolation Hotel (Dog Friendly)
It’s more like townhomes and studios rather than a hotel. They have a gorgeous pool & delicious restaurant on site! Check Rates
Edgewood Lake Tahoe (Not Pet Friendly)
If you want to treat yourself to some luxury on this trip, check out Edgewood! It’s right on the lake & has the most stunning view of Lake Tahoe. Check Rates
Fallen Leaf Campground (Dog Friendly)
This campground located in South Lake Tahoe can accommodate tents, RVs, and they even have glamping yurts. Make your reservation on Recreation.gov
Yosemite Accommodations
The Ahwahnee Hotel (Not Pet Friendly)
This is the best lodge to stay in Yosemite National Park. It’s located right in the valley so you’ll be steps away from some of the best trails. The decor here is very grandiose with high ceilings & tall windows.
Upper Pines Campground (Dog Friendly)
The Upper Pines Campground along with other camogrounds in the Valley are some of the most highly sought after campsites in Yosemite. If you don’t stag a reservation here 6 months in advance, you can always check recreation.gov for cancellations closer to your travel date.
The Best Hikes in the Eastern Sierra
Big Pine Lakes
We’re starting this list off with one of the most jaw dropping lakes in California. This hike can be as long or short as you want it to be. The most famous lake is lake 2 and if you want to end your trip there, it makes this hike around 10 miles round trip.
Little Lakes Valley
For a more moderate-easy trek, I’d recommend Little Lakes Valley since the elevation gain is SO gradual and you can see a lake almost every mile. If you plan on hiking to gem lake it is around 7 miles round trip.
Convict Lake Loop
If you’re looking for a bit of a nature walk that’s flat but with equally gorgeous views, check out Convict Lake Loop. This trail is 2.5 miles long round trip.
Thousand Island Lake
One of my favorites for backpacking but can be done as a long day hike. There are many routes to get to Thousand Island Lake but I personally prefer the PCT trail from Agnew Meadows. It’s much more of a gradual incline and the views were incredible throughout the hike. If you are backpacking, I would recommend adding Ediza Lake to your route 🙂
Mist Trail Yosemite
Hike to some incredible waterfalls, rivers, and viewpoints in Yosemite National Park. This is one of the best “bang for your buck” hikes in Yosemite National Park.
The Best Scenic Stops on the Eastern Sierra
Alabama Hills
Alabama Hills was on my Macbook screensaver for sooo long & it’s even better in real life. It’s truly a unique landscape to see and movies like Iron Man & Star Wars were filmed here. Some notable stops are Movie Road & Mobius Arch. Camping is also allowed here with specifically marked sites for overnight use.
Mammoth Hot Springs
There are a few areas to visit in the Mammoth Hot Springs. There’s Hot Creek Geological Site and there are natural hot springs you can soak in like Wild Willy & Hilltop Hot Springs.
June Lake Beach
This is one of my favorite places to spend a summer day lounging and swimming. The lake is quite shallow in parts so it doesn’t get AS cold as other alpine lakes. It’s also incredibly clear. Make sure to check out June Lake town for some coffee, ice cream, & brewery!
Taft & Glacier Point Yosemite National Park
Taft point is about a 2 mile hike round trip but it’s relatively flat. It’s one of the best viewpoints in Yosemite in my opinion. I highly recommend catching a sunset here but be prepared with a headlamp for your walk back. Just a short drive away is Glacier Point and this one doesn’t require any hiking.
Where To Eat in the Eastern Sierra
There’s quite a bit of great places to fuel up along this route! I’ve listed some of the places I’ve been going to on repeat whenever I find myself in these areas:
- Holy Smoke Texas BBQ in Bishop
- Dos Alas Cubarican Cafe (My personal fave!)
- Shelter Distilling in Mammoth
- Mammoth Brewing (my go to post hike burger!)
- Erick Schat’s Bakery in Bishop
- Café Crêpe in Mammoth
- Noodle-Ly in Mammoth
If you want to find more California adventures you might also like my Mendocino Guide