Mammoth Lakes to Laguna is 240.5 miles and takes about 5h 17m via US 395, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive begins in California's Pacific Coast region and concludes in the same region. Expect primarily highway driving for the majority of this trip, making it a straightforward, albeit lengthy, single-day excursion. It's a good option if you need to get from the Eastern Sierra to Southern California efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
120.3 miles from Mammoth Lakes, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 50
89 mi
1h 52m
US 395
50.5 mi
1h
Route 395
39.8 mi
51m
CA 89
28.8 mi
41m
Luther Pass Road
11.1 mi
15m
Power Inn Road
6.5 mi
11m
CA 88
5.8 mi
7m
Main Street
3.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 50
— 89 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mammoth Lakes, CA and Laguna, CA.
1
Start on this road
296 ft·27 sec·this road
2
Turn left
229 ft·21 sec
3
Turn left onto CA 203
3.3 mi·5 min·Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·20 sec
5
Merge onto US 395
50 mi·1 hr·US 395
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto Sinclair Street
0.1 mi·12 sec·Sinclair Street
7
Turn left onto Emigrant Street
0.5 mi·40 sec·Emigrant Street
8
Continue on US 395
40 mi·51 min·Route 395
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto CA 89
18 mi·25 min·CA 89
10
At end of road, turn right onto CA 89
11 mi·16 min·CA 89
11
Turn left onto CA 88; CA 89
5.8 mi·7 min·CA 88; CA 89
12
Turn right onto CA 89
11 mi·15 min·Luther Pass Road
13
Enter roundabout onto US 50
217 ft·9 sec·US 50
14
Continue on US 50
89 mi·1 hr 52 min·US 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 9Toward CA 16 East: Power Inn Road, Howe AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn left onto CA 16
0.4 mi·49 sec·Howe Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on Power Inn Road
6.5 mi·11 min·Power Inn Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto Calvine Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·Calvine Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on Cosumnes River Boulevard
0.5 mi·54 sec·Cosumnes River Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto Bruceville Road
2.7 mi·5 min·Bruceville Road
Use the left / uturn / straight lanes.
21
Turn right onto Seasons Drive
0.3 mi·50 sec·Seasons Drive
22
Turn right onto November Drive
0.1 mi·29 sec·November Drive
23
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
155 ft·12 sec·Mapleview Way
24
Turn left onto Fall Breeze Court
183 ft·8 sec·Fall Breeze Court
25
Arrive at destination
Fall Breeze Court
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 17m estimated drive time, leaving Mammoth Lakes in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. The route is mostly highway, so plan for refueling before you leave Mammoth Lakes, as services can be spaced out. While there's only one recommended stop, you can adjust your pacing as needed since it's a feasible one-day drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 89-mile stretch on US 50, as services might be limited in that section.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 120.3 miles from Mammoth Lakes, CA, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 89 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 53 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.3 miles or 2h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Laguna, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mammoth Lakes, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mammoth Lakes, CA
This is one driving day of about 240.5 miles and 5h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Mammoth Lakes, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 50 for about 89 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 240.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in|US 395
Merge onto US 395
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
229.5 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward CA 16 East: Power Inn Road, Howe Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 9
Toward CA 16 East: Power Inn Road, Howe Avenue
6
236.7 mi into trip|~5h 9m in|Calvine Road
Turn right onto Calvine Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
240.5 mi into trip|~5h 17m in|Mapleview Way
At end of road, turn left onto Mapleview Way
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.32 one way
$100.63 round trip
$5.31/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$5.52
$52.26
$104.51
premium
$5.67
$53.64
$107.28
diesel
$4.80
$45.41
$90.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.2
0
$25.25
$11.54
Efficient EV
60.1
0
$21.04
$9.62
EV Truck/SUV
96.2
1
$33.67
$15.39
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Late night
in Mammoth Lakes on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 1:24AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Destination
Laguna, CA
Late night
in Laguna on Tuesday
Local time
3:47 AM
PDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 1:24AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Devils Postpile National Monument
National Monument
Established in 1911 by presidential proclamation, Devils Postpile National Monument protects and preserves the Devils Postpile formation, the 101-foot high Rainbow Falls, and pristine mountain scenery...
Not just a great valley, but a shrine to human foresight, the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, the persistence of life, and the tranquility of the High Sierra. First protected in 1864, Yose...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
$35
near mile 33.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway, with 89% of the 240.5 miles spent on major routes like US 395. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway driving for 89 miles on US 50. As you approach your destination, expect the highway exits to become more frequent, signaling a transition from rural cruising to more developed areas.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 89 mi on US 50.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 50 and US 395. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 17m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 395): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
Mammoth Lakes is a resort town next to Mammoth Mountain which is a popular skiing destination. Mammoth Lakes is in the Eastern Sierra region of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. In 2020, it had a permanent population of 7,200 people.
The longest stretch is about 89 miles on US 50. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 1 rest area along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 395): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Devils Postpile National Monument and Yosemite National Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Laguna, CA before the return drive.
