Mammoth Lakes Best Areas To Stay: Plan Your Visit

Clock Icon 7 minutes read
Update Icon Mar 07, 2022

Mammoth Lakes is a stunning area in California that offers plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy. Things to do include hiking, biking, snowboarding, skiing, and so much more! Mammoth Lakes has many different places to stay, depending on your preferences. So, whether you’re looking for a short-term rental or a place to stay for an extended vacation, there’s something here for you.

If you want to be close to The Village and all the action, The Village is your best bet. If you’re looking for a more serene experience, Old Mammoth might be right for you. If fishing or being close to Twin Lakes is important to you, that’s an easy choice.

We’ve put together this list of the best areas to stay in Mammoth Lakes so that you can plan your next visit accordingly!

Mammoth Lakes Best Areas to Stay

  • The Village
  • Old Mammoth
  • Lake Mary and Lake Mamie
  • Twin Lakes
  • The Mammoth Lakes Base Area
  • June Lake
  • Lee Vining
  • Minaret Road
  • Crestview

The Village

Photo Credit: Patricia Elaine Thomas

The Village is one of the most popular places to stay. It is a bustling town with a variety of restaurants, shops, and bars. Suppose you are looking for a place to eat out at night or some souvenirs from your trip. In that case, this is an excellent location as it has many different options available.

Additionally, lodging in The Village is convenient to local skiing on Mammoth Mountain. If you are looking to plan a fun weekend skiing at the local favorite Badger Pass, you’re in luck! Not only is the resort nearby, but there are also tons of options for great restaurants in the area. It’s easy to slip out during the day to go snowboarding and head back to your rental so you don’t lose time with your fellow travelers that might not be avid snow bunnies.

Old Mammoth

Photo Credit: PradaBrown

Old Mammoth is another excellent place to stay if you’re looking for convenience and proximity to restaurants and shopping. Here you’ll find all the amenities you need, including grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, etc. This is a great option for large families and long stays, so you can still get everything done in your day-to-day, giving you peace of mind.

In addition, Old Mammoth has more commercial buildings, so it’s also not as busy or loud at night as the livelier neighborhoods with more of a party scene. This fact makes the area ideal if your goal during vacation involves having plenty of quiet solitude while staying centrally near all the fun activities.

Lake Mary and Lake Mamie

Photo Credit: NatalieJean

Mammoth Lakes is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year. However, if you want to experience its beauty during a warm summer day, staying near Lake Mary or Lake Mamie might be your best option. You’ll be able to enjoy tons of beautiful scenery on walking paths, taking in the natural sights all around you.

These beautiful bodies of water give visitors many chances for swimming and boating during the warmer months, as well as hiking and mountain biking when the weather turns cooler again. These locations allow visitors to enjoy all four seasons without needing to stay somewhere else. Seeing the same place in multiple seasons can be a really cool way to experience an area, so see about booking the same cabin for a winter getaway and summer excursion!

Twin Lakes

Photo Credit: Kit Leong

Twin Lakes is an excellent location for those who enjoy fishing. Surrounded by hotels, restaurants, shops, and other attractions, Twin Lakes is the best spot for you if you want to be right in the middle of it all. You’ll be able to find plenty of short-term rentals in this area. You can enjoy many activities at Twin Lakes Lake, including fishing, swimming, and boating.

The golf course at Twin Lakes is an excellent facility that offers some of the best courses in all directions. In addition, there’s another one just outside June Mountain Ski Area with pristine views for your perfect round! If you’re not into golfing, you can use your time to swim or go hiking instead. There are tons of great activities in the Twin Lakes area.

The Mammoth Lakes Base Area

Photo Credit: Robert Patton

The Mammoth Lakes Base Area offers skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. According to the official tourism website for Mammoth Lakes, the area features 3,500 acres of skiable terrain accessible by twenty-eight lifts.

The lifts include three gondolas, twenty-three chairs (two high-speed six-packs, nine high-speed quads, one quad, six triple, four double), and two platter lifts. In addition to the twenty-eight ski lifts, visitors can use the several other lifts to hike up to Tamarack Peak or access trails off of Sierra Point Road.

June Lake

Photo Credit: Tsuguliev

If you’re looking for nature and recreational activities, then June Lake may be a good place for you to stay. The area is perfect for those who want to get away from it all. The nearby Inyo National Forest has plenty of hiking trails, so you’ll never run out of options!

In addition, June Lake is known for the best fishing of Rainbow trout, Cutthroat trout, and large Brown Trout and is open for fishing all year round. And if you want to take a break from the outdoors, both of these areas have a few restaurants and stores where you can get everything you need.

Lee Vining

Photo Credit: Ben Churchill via Flickr CC2.0

Hiking, biking, and horseback riding are just some of the many activities visitors can enjoy while in Lee Vining. Fishing on one’s own time or with an expert guide is also possible; there is plenty for those looking to explore nature at its finest!

Lee Vining is well known for the Upside Down House, which silent film actress Nellie Bly O’Bryan built. The strange-looking building has an Upside Down roof and sits on a reversed letter “U”.

Minaret Road

Photo Credit: Alexey Olenchenko

The Minaret Road Area is one of the best areas to stay in Mammoth Lakes due to its proximity to many recreational activities. This area offers great opportunities for hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and mountain bike riding. Biking opportunities include off-road trails and paved roads in the Yosemite-like scenery surrounding this area.

Bicyclists can also enjoy a ride through Minaret Vista Park or on one of many paved trails in the area. The Minaret Vista Trail provides stunning views over Lake Mary and Owens Valley.

Crestview

This charming town is just a short distance away from some of the most stunning scenery in the country. In addition, it offers plenty of recreational activities to keep you busy during your stay. So whether you’re looking to go fishing, hiking, or simply relax by the river, Crestview, California, is the perfect place to spend your next vacation!

The Takeaway

Mammoth Lakes is a destination that offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, or something in between, this lakeside gem has everything you need to make your visit truly memorable.

To help plan your stay at Mammoth Lakes, we’ve put together some helpful information about what to expect during your visit. We hope these tips are useful!

Book one of our many beautiful short-term vacation rentals today!