9 days in Mammoth Lakes & South Lake Tahoe Itinerary

Mammoth Lakes is a town in Mono County, California, the county's only incorporated community. Family-friendly places like Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows will thrill your kids. Change things up with these side-trips from Mammoth Lakes: Yosemite National Park (Olmsted Point, Lembert Dome, &more). And it doesn't end there: explore the striking landscape at Devils Postpile National Monument, take some stellar pictures from Minaret Vista, contemplate the waterfront views at Convict Lake Campground, and hike along Mammoth Crest Trail.

To find photos, maps, traveler tips, and tourist information, refer to the Mammoth Lakes itinerary maker app.

Phoenix to Mammoth Lakes is an approximately 5.5-hour flight. You can also drive; or take a bus. The time zone difference moving from Mountain Standard Time (MST) to Pacific Standard Time (PST) is minus 1 hour. Prepare for much colder weather when traveling from Phoenix in October: high temperatures in Mammoth Lakes hover around 66°F and lows are around 28°F. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 12th (Wed) so you can go by car to South Lake Tahoe.

High in the Sierra Nevada mountains on the shore of one of America’s most scenic lakes, South Lake Tahoe captures the spirit of the outdoors and serves as a hub for tourism activities surrounding the lake.

Attractions like Boat Tours & Water Sports and Emerald Bay State Park make great kid-friendly stops. Explore the numerous day-trip ideas around South Lake Tahoe: Gatekeeper's Museum (in Tahoe City) and Reno (Room Escape Games, National Automobile Museum, &more). Next up on the itinerary: trek along Mt. Tallac Trail, tour the pleasant surroundings at Rubicon Trail, cruise along Inspiration Point Vista, and explore the historical opulence of Vikingsholm.

To find out how to plan a trip to South Lake Tahoe, use our trip itinerary maker.

Getting from Mammoth Lakes to South Lake Tahoe by car takes about 3 hours. Other options: do a combination of bus and taxi. In October, daily temperatures in South Lake Tahoe can reach 64°F, while at night they dip to 31°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sun) to allow enough time to fly back home.