Member of the Month

Biffbarf
February, 2025

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Where to park overnight in mammoth

profile picture
lluscho
Posts: 373 - Karma: 3,472
Where can I park overnight in Mammoth? First time being there with a car, need some help
a year ago
1 0
profile picture
fucintight
Posts: 288 - Karma: 786
propane tanks south of town? the cutoff N up to 395 if there aint snow? shady rest (def get more attention)? you can always poach a parking spot at one of the various vacation rental places too

when i was liftying down there a couple years ago the patrollers that lived outta vehicles were saying that the cops were getting harder on them. in my experience, over winter 20/21, just be lowkey and move every night/every other night. and be willing to have to move at 2am if a piggie shows up w a flashlight lol
a year ago
1 0
profile picture
lluscho
Posts: 373 - Karma: 3,472
fucintightpropane tanks south of town? the cutoff N up to 395 if there aint snow? shady rest (def get more attention)? you can always poach a parking spot at one of the various vacation rental places too

when i was liftying down there a couple years ago the patrollers that lived outta vehicles were saying that the cops were getting harder on them. in my experience, over winter 20/21, just be lowkey and move every night/every other night. and be willing to have to move at 2am if a piggie shows up w a flashlight lol


fuck maybe i just get a motel in bishop, that's what i did last year. didn't know the police was out like that
a year ago
0 0
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 9066 - Karma: 38,415
Mammoth is surrounded by FS and BLM land. Just go park on one of those.


The scenic loop should all be FS. If you head down and cross 395 you will find BLM land. Both are free and totally legal to sleep at.
a year ago
5 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61838 - Karma: 125,540
profa_212Mammoth is surrounded by FS and BLM land. Just go park on one of those.


The scenic loop should all be FS. If you head down and cross 395 you will find BLM land. Both are free and totally legal to sleep at.


Might be tough if there is 5 ft of snow haha
a year ago
1 0
profile picture
lluscho
Posts: 373 - Karma: 3,472
I've been scouting the hotelstonight app theres cheap af motels ~$50 a night in bishop. imo worth the price for a bed.
a year ago
1 0
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 9066 - Karma: 38,415
eheathMight be tough if there is 5 ft of snow haha


yeah. Often the FS pullouts are plowed and able to be parked on still, but could be tough.


BLM land is at a lower elevation and goes all the way down to Bishop so you can definitely find a suitable spot to pull off and sleep. Might be closer to bishop than preferrable, but at least you dont have to shell out for a motel.
a year ago
1 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61838 - Karma: 125,540
profa_212yeah. Often the FS pullouts are plowed and able to be parked on still, but could be tough.


BLM land is at a lower elevation and goes all the way down to Bishop so you can definitely find a suitable spot to pull off and sleep. Might be closer to bishop than preferrable, but at least you dont have to shell out for a motel.


Yeah idk about parking at a pullout, but down 395 it will prob be easier to find a place to park. plus then youre closer to the hot springs.
a year ago
1 0
profile picture
lluscho
Posts: 373 - Karma: 3,472
eheathYeah idk about parking at a pullout, but down 395 it will prob be easier to find a place to park. plus then youre closer to the hot springs.


Where can I look along 395? Specific area or camping ground maybe? I'm a complete noob, first time having a car anywhere to be able to ski.
a year ago
0 0
profile picture
eheath
Posts: 61838 - Karma: 125,540
lusch0Where can I look along 395? Specific area or camping ground maybe? I'm a complete noob, first time having a car anywhere to be able to ski.


Unfortunately I don't have enough info for ya, I've camped there in the spring when there was no snow. Look up a map of the BLM land and go from there.
a year ago
0 0
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 9066 - Karma: 38,415
lusch0Where can I look along 395? Specific area or camping ground maybe? I'm a complete noob, first time having a car anywhere to be able to ski.


Buy a month of OnX, put the land ownership layer on, look for BLM land.

They aren't actual campgrounds, but you can camp anywhere you want on that land. So just drive around until you find a decent spot.
a year ago
0 0
profile picture
Static
Posts: 8587 - Karma: 4,095
Just find a random business parking lot, arrive late, leave early. No one is gonna look twice at a regular car.
a year ago
2 0
profile picture
ASAPCarter
Posts: 925 - Karma: 10,485
I spent plenty of nights at the vons parking lot once the scenic loop filled in last year, there was always at least a handful of others doing the same.
a year ago
2 0
profile picture
fucintight
Posts: 288 - Karma: 786
this is facts ,, vons will get at you but gross out has been chill in my experience. i slept there prolly around 10 nights winter 20/21
StaticJust find a random business parking lot, arrive late, leave early. No one is gonna look twice at a regular car.
a year ago
0 0
profile picture
fucintight
Posts: 288 - Karma: 786
i feel like it depends upon how many ppl are ‘squatting’. if youre the only one youre generally fine.

blm/fs land is a good call, if you dont mind being outta mammoth id say down by the hot springs, off the road by the church is the best spot, only 25min outta town. you can also go further down that road past the turn off for the popular hotsprings and find more blm land where you can camp. down around that lake there. onx or another mapping app for knowing where you at is a great call too
lusch0fuck maybe i just get a motel in bishop, that's what i did last year. didn't know the police was out like that
a year ago
0 0
profile picture
RIP_leos_shack
Posts: 718 - Karma: 3,371
The BLM land in Long Valley and around the hot springs is great on low snow years such as this with plenty of spots to pull off. But if it happens to dump you'll get stranded and your car will be stuck until May. This happened to a few people last year, didn't pay attention to the weather and had to hike out for 2 days.
a year ago
1 0
All times are Eastern (-5); Currently it's 5:28PM