Los Angeles → Mono Lake Road Trip Guide

Highway 395 is California's other great drive — less famous than the Pacific Coast Highway, far less crowded, and arguably more dramatic. It runs along the spine of the Eastern Sierra Nevada, with 14,000-foot peaks on one side and the high desert on the other. This route from Los Angeles to Mono Lake is the definitive way to drive it.

Alabama Hills: Hollywood's Backyard

Just outside Lone Pine, the Alabama Hills look like a film set — because they are one. More than 400 movies have been shot here, from old Westerns to Iron Man. Rounded granite boulders rise from the desert floor, framed by the snow-capped Sierra crest behind them. The arch formations are easily accessible on short walking trails, and the whole area glows warm orange at sunset.

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The Mobius Arch frames Mount Whitney perfectly — it's a 1-mile roundtrip walk from the Whitney Portal Road turnoff. Go at sunrise for golden light on the granite.

Did you know?

Mono Lake is one of the oldest lakes in North America — approximately 760,000 years old, predating the Sierra Nevada mountains that now surround it. Its water is three times saltier than the ocean and highly alkaline, supporting a unique ecosystem of brine shrimp and alkali flies that feed millions of migratory birds each year.

Mammoth Lakes: The Mountain Town

Mammoth Lakes sits at 8,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada and operates as a full mountain resort year-round. In winter it's one of California's top ski destinations. In summer, the trails around the lakes basin are some of the most accessible alpine hiking in the state. The town itself is well-stocked — good coffee, solid restaurants, and an REI if you need gear.

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Even in summer, Devils Postpile National Monument is worth the detour — hexagonal basalt columns formed by ancient lava flows, accessible by shuttle from the Mammoth Mountain Inn.

Route Summary

Full journey at a glance

🚗 Los Angeles

Cajon Pass Summit

Gateway to the Mojave — sweeping high desert views and historic Route 66 corridor

⏲ 20 min

Alabama Hills

Otherworldly rounded boulders and movie-set arches with Mt. Whitney backdrop

⏲ 1.5 hrs

Lone Pine

Small mountain town, film history museum, and the best diner before the climb

⏲ 45 min

Mammoth Lakes

Mountain resort town year-round — ski runs, Devils Postpile, and volcanic hot springs

⏲ 2 hrs

Mono Lake

Ancient alkaline lake with surreal tufa towers rising from still water

⏲ 1 hr

🏁 Mono Lake

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