Travel, Accommodations and Details

Information and suggstions for travel and accommodations are provided below. If you need any help or have a question, don't hesitate to contact us.

We recommend that our guests stay in the town of Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes is about ten minutes' drive just north of Convict Lake and all the wedding-day festivities. Mammoth is a small town but provides ample lodging options, grocery stores, coffee shops, internet, ice cream shops, and restaurants.

By Plane and Car

Mammoth Lakes is located in the heart of the Eastern Sierra, and, for those of you coming from out of state, there are several options for getting there.

 

By Plane

Option 1: Fly directly to Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH). MMH is an easy 15-minute drive from the town of Mammoth Lakes. It is a small airport with limited service from Los Angeles International Airport. Rental cars are available at MMH, or you can grab a shuttle to town and utilize the free transit system. More information can be found here. If you choose to say at Convict Lake, the resort will provide transportation to and from the airport.

Option 2: Fly to Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Reno, Nevada. From RNO, you will need to rent a car and drive approximately 3 hours to Mammoth Lakes via I-395. The drive from Reno to Mammoth during the fall is easy and very scenic. Be sure to stop at Mono Cone in Lee Vining, CA for ice cream or a shake.

Option 3: Fly to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and drive approximately 6 hours to Mammoth Lakes. See directions below from Los Angeles.

Option 4: Fly to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and drive approximately 6 hours to Mammoth Lakes. See directions below from San Francisco.
 

By Car

From Los Angeles: The drive from Southern California is approximately 300 miles, or about 6 hours. Take the 405N to the 5N to Highway 14N to Highway 395N. Stop at the world-renowned Schat's Bakkery in the town of Bishop (and buy Allison a chocolate chip cookie or an apple pullaway :)). Continue on Highway 395 and exit on Highway 203 to Mammoth Lakes.

From San Francisco: Driving from San Francisco will also take approximately 6 hours. We recommend driving through Yosemite and over Tioga Pass on highway 120E. This is the most scenic route and runs through our favorite place on earth. Although unlikely, Tioga Pass may be closed during the fall if there is an early snow (if this occurs, alternate driving routes from SF are available). Please check with Caltrans and/or the Yosemite National Park website for road conditions. There is a $20 park entrance fee per vehicle to drive through Yosemite. From San Francisco, take 580E to 205E to 5N to 120E to 99N back to 120E. Proceed on highway 120 through Yosemite. Stop at Lake Tenaya (where we got engaged!) and dip your feet in the lake for Allison. Continue on highway 120E to highway 395. Head south on 395 and exit on Highway 203 to Mammoth Lakes.

There are many lodging options in Mammoth Lakes, ranging from 4-star hotels to campgrounds. We are planning to stay in Mammoth Lakes. Below are some recommendations for our guests who may not be familar with the area.

Hotel: We are recommending the Westin Monache Resort Mammoth. The Westin Monache is an upscale hotel conviently located to Mammoth Village, and wedding guests will receive a slight discount off of normal rates.

Condominiums: There are numerous condo options within Mammoth Lakes. We have personally stayed at Snowcreek, Chateau Sans Nom, Snowflower and Juniper Springs. There are a few agencies that can assist with making reservations: Mammoth Reservations, Mammoth Lakes Vacation Rentals, 101 Great Escapes and VRBO. If you are interested in staying with friends or family, a condo is likely the most economical opion. If you have any questions about a specific location or condomimium complex, please don't hestiate to contact us.

Campgrounds: Yes, we had to list this for our friends who live like us! There are a number of campgrounds around Mammoth Lakes, including some of the most scenic and well-maintained in the Sierra. However, due to the timing of our wedding, it would be wise to check and make sure the campground is not closed for the season. Visit Mammoth has more information and the locations of campgrounds.

Convict Lake: There are also lodging options available at Convict Lake Resort. The cabins here are very quaint and a short walk from the ceremony and reception.

What to Wear

The average high and low temperatures in Mammoth Lakes are 60°F and 29°F during the month of October, with warm days and chilly nights. This is the High Sierra, so come prepared with some sunscreen, shorts/short-sleeves for the daytime, and a warm jacket for the nighttime. While the reception venue will be heated, it will be chilly outside after the sun sets behind the mountains. Our hope is that you will be outside as much as possible to enjoy the beautiful scenery and breathe the fresh mountain air.

 

Wedding Wear

The dress code for the wedding will be semi-formal, a classy mountain affair. The ceremony site will be on uneven rocky ground, so leave the stilhetto heels at home :).

 

What to Bring

The reason we chose to have our wedding at Convict Lake is our love for the mountains and exploration. We hope that you will also take part in exploring the areas around Mammoth and Convict Lake. So, don't forget to bring clothes appropriate for hiking, swimming, climbing, or otherwise adventuring. We recommend bringing warm-weather clothes for the daytime as well as some cold weather clothes (down jacket, beanie and gloves) for the early morning and evenings. Mountain weather can change quickly and go from one extreme to the opposite before you know it! You should also bring a water bottle, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

 

Notes on Altitude

Mammoth and Convict Lakes are at high elevation - 7000' to 8000' above sea level! In the High Sierra, you will exhale and perspire twice as much moisture as you do at sea level, so be sure to drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrdated and to prevent altitude sickness. The sun intensity is 40-50% greater than at sea level, so make sure to pack the sunscreen and sunglasses.