Where to Stay Near Mammoth Lakes Along Highway 395
When Mammoth Lakes is booked, Big Pine is one of the most practical places to stay along Highway 395. It sits 58 miles south of Mammoth on the same highway, a drive of about 1 hour and 5 minutes, and Palisades Lodge in Big Pine offers fully furnished apartments with kitchens directly on Main Street. Often has availability when Mammoth has none, with no detour.
How Far Is Big Pine from Mammoth Lakes?
Big Pine is 58 miles south of Mammoth Lakes on Highway 395, a drive of roughly one hour and five minutes in good conditions. It is 15 miles south of Bishop, the largest town in the area. Palisades Lodge sits at 110 N Main Street, which is Highway 395 as it runs through town.
The route is a single highway with no turns. Anyone driving toward Mammoth from Los Angeles, Bakersfield, or the Inland Empire already passes through Big Pine on the way up.
What Happens When Mammoth Books Out
Mammoth Lakes is a popular destination, and availability can tighten quickly on peak dates. Holiday weekends, storm cycles, and the stretch from late December through early April all put pressure on rooms. When that happens, travelers start looking at what is in the corridor.
Big Pine is not a detour. It is on the route. Travelers who plan ahead often choose Big Pine for the same reason, using the lodge as a multi-day base to reach Mammoth, Bishop, Big Pine Lakes, and the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest without having to pack and unpack twice.
Why Big Pine
Big Pine has real reasons to stop beyond proximity to Mammoth. Three places in particular put the town on the map for travelers who know the corridor.
Copper Top BBQ
Copper Top BBQ sits on Main Street, steps from the lodge. It is one of the best-known food stops on Highway 395, regularly featured in road trip guides for its tri-tip, ribs, and smoked pulled pork. A short walk from every apartment.
Big Pine Lakes Trail
Ten miles from town via Glacier Lodge Road, climbing into the John Muir Wilderness. The trail leads to a chain of turquoise glacial lakes fed by the Palisade Glacier. No permit is required for day hikes. The trailhead parking lot fills early in summer, which is an advantage if you are staying 10 miles away rather than driving up from Bishop or Mammoth. See the Inyo National Forest page for trail conditions and updates.
Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
East of town via Highway 168, climbing into the White Mountains. The grove contains the oldest living trees on earth, including specimens over 4,000 years old. A unique draw that brings visitors specifically to Big Pine.
Who This Stay Works For
The apartments at Palisades Lodge suit a specific kind of traveler. Not everyone needs a full kitchen or two separate bedrooms, but when those matter, the format makes a real difference.
The family on a ski weekend. A two-bedroom apartment means separate sleeping areas and a kitchen for dinner after a long day on the mountain. Families with kids on different schedules get their own spaces.
The couple or group who planned late. Mammoth properties fill fast on holiday weekends. Big Pine often has availability when Mammoth does not. A full apartment with a kitchen makes the hour-long drive to the lifts worthwhile.
The hiker targeting Big Pine Lakes. The trailhead parking lot fills by mid-morning in summer. Staying 10 miles from the trailhead saves real time on a big day.
The road tripper on a multi-day Eastern Sierra trip. A full apartment with a kitchen means cooking meals instead of eating out every night. Big Pine can be a strong value for travelers looking for apartment-style lodging on the corridor.
What the Apartments Include
Every apartment at Palisades Lodge includes:
Full kitchen with stovetop, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, cookware, and dishware (not a kitchenette)
Dedicated workspace with desk and wired Ethernet
Large TVs and fast Wi-Fi
Heating and air conditioning
Fresh linens and luxury mattresses
Private bathroom with a large walk-in shower
Easy contactless check-in starting at 4:00 PM or anytime after
Free on-site parking
Studio, two-bedroom, and deluxe apartments are available. Weekly and monthly rates apply to stays of seven nights or longer. The property opened in January 2026. View all full-kitchen apartments.
Adventures Near Big Pine
Big Pine works as a hub for the Eastern Sierra. These are the trips worth planning around a multi-day stay.
Ancient Bristlecone Pines: 23 miles
High-elevation grove of the world's oldest trees, some over 4,000 years old.Big Pine Lakes Trail: 10 miles
Turquoise alpine lakes below Temple Crag and the Palisade Glacier.Owens Valley Radio Observatory: 12 miles
Working radio astronomy site in the high desert north of town.Death Valley National Park: 110 miles
Badwater Basin, dune fields, and painted canyons via SR 190.Manzanar Historic Site: 35 miles
Preserved WWII Japanese American incarceration camp near Independence.The Alabama Hills: 40 miles
Weathered granite formations and natural arches below Mount Whitney.
Travelers searching for extended-stay lodging in the Eastern Sierra or furnished rentals near Bishop often find Big Pine a useful midpoint along the corridor.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Big Pine is 58 miles south of Mammoth Lakes on Highway 395, a drive of roughly one hour and five minutes in normal conditions.e
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Yes. Every apartment includes a full kitchen with a stovetop, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, cookware, and dishware. Not a kitchenette.
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Yes, especially when Mammoth is booked or when the drive up is running long. The drive to the lifts is about an hour and five minutes, and a full apartment with a kitchen gives families and groups more space than a standard ski town hotel room. Stopping in Big Pine the night before shortens your morning drive by an hour. The grocery store across the street from the lodge is a one stop shop for coffee, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, groceries, snacks, and drinks for the day on the mountain.
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Yes. Weekly and monthly rates apply to stays of seven nights or longer. See the accommodations page for current availability.
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Yes. Free on-site parking is included with every stay.
Book Direct at Palisades Lodge
Studio, two-bedroom, and deluxe apartments are available now. Weekly and monthly rates apply to stays of seven nights or longer. Book directly at palisadesbigpine.com/accommodations for the best rates and availability.
AT A GLANCE
Distance to Mammoth: 58 miles south on Highway 395 (about 1 hour 5 minutes)
Unit types: Studio, two-bedroom, and deluxe apartments with full kitchens
Key amenities: Free on-site parking, fast Wi-Fi, wired ethernet, contactless check-in at 4:00 PM
“The apartment was spotless, and check-in and check-out were straightforward. Perfect for a stop on the way to Mammoth.”
– Gina, Los Angeles · April 2026
“Fantastic. Clean, right off the main road, and had everything we needed and more.”
– Tarun, Los Altos · April 2026
