Your Guide to Skiing in Mammoth Lakes, CA with Kids

Editor's Note: Mammoth just received an unprecedented snowfall thanks to the recent storm—they got 2+ feet of snow as of publishing—and are opening two weeks earlier than planned so if you are thinking about a ski trip this season with the kids, here's everything you need to know to plan your getaway to Mammoth with babies, toddlers and big kids. 

Mammoth Lakes, which sits at close to 8,000 feet (if you’re keeping track that’s about 1,600 feet higher than Lake Tahoe), has a long ski season (it goes well into the spring!), thanks to its legendary dumps and an awesome base, Mammoth Mountain is a snow sport paradise that is close enough to drive to. But planning a ski trip can be stressful so we've checked out the best places to learn how to ski, what else there is to do off the slopes, which restaurants are kid-friendly and of course, where to stay with kids in Mammoth Lakes for a winter-filled adventure everyone will enjoy. 

Things to Do in Mammoth with Kids

Mammoth isn't the sleepy little town you remember (loads of hotel and restaurant options) and a drive you can handle (it's about a two-movie drive, with a break in between for a potty break!), it just might become your new go-to. 

Go Skiing
Whether you are a seasoned skier or snowboarder (or have kids that have never stepped in snow), The Mammoth Ski and Snowboard School is a stellar program, with patient pros who help the little ones become future shredders—they also offer adaptive lessons so those that may have a disability can still enjoy the rush and excitement of heading down the mountain. 

Spring in Mammoth means mild conditions, a sunny apres scene and the chance to take advantage of the season’s massive snow fall. The mountain itself is huge and spread out, which means even on busy days, the crowds disperse throughout the mountain so you never feel too cramped when on the slopes. Kids group lessons start at three-years old and continue up through adult.

Good to Know: The mountain opens Oct. 29! That's two weeks earlier than planned! And kids 4 and under ski free at Mammoth Mountain (and after May 28 ALL kids ski or ride for free!), and with dozens of beginner slopes that are wide and groomed, this mountain is great for beginners. 

Go Tubing
Bomb down the slick snow lanes at Woolly’s Tube Park for a thrilling good time. For those 42” and smaller who aren’t yet tall enough to enjoy the ride, Woolly’s has a fun snow park area and heated deck serving up hot cocoa and adult beverages. Access to the snow park is easy—simply take the red bus line here and you’ll be dropped off right at the entrance.

Good to Know: Wooly's opens on Dec. 12 for the winter season.

Go Snowshoeing or Cross Country Skiing
Take the orange line to Tamarack Cross Country Ski Center (it’s only 10 minutes from the Village) for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or hiking. When we visited the snowshoe trail was packed down, so we ended up hiking the trail with kiddos in the Baby Tula front pack and a hiking backpack. There are 19 miles of trails to explore with lessons, rentals and guided tours available. Trails are dog-friendly and fairly flat so if you have a child who can trek it, this is a good spot for a beginner hike or snowshoe.

Good to Know: Tamarack opens Nov. 21 for the winter season. 

Where to Eat in Mammoth with Kids

From fine dining to grab-and-go eats, Mammoth’s dining options are much more diverse than you’d expect from such a small town. Most spots have high chairs and kids menu (or dishes pleasing to a kiddo palate) at the ready, lots have table-side crayons and all won’t bat an eyelash if you walk in at prime dinner hour with a gaggle of children. Expect a warm welcome from restaurants eager to serve families. Below are family-friendly places to eat in Mammoth:

On-Mountain Dining, Eats & Treats:

Eleven53 Cafe
Take the scenic gondola to the top to a take-your-breath-away 11,053 feet. Stunning views coupled with a grab-and-go meal make Eleven53 Cafe worth the trip. Bonus: Kids will love the free interpretive center where they can touch and feel animal pelts and learn about the area’s geography and history.

Broadway Marketplace & McCoy Marketplace
When the fun just can’t stop but you need to grab a bite, visit Broadway Marketplace at the Main Lodge or McCoy Marketplace mid-mountain for pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads and more.

Off-Mountain Dining, Eats & Treats:

Old New York Deli
One of our favorite spots in the Village is Old New York Deli—and, judging by the packed house we aren’t the only fans of this classic bagelry. From sandwiches to traditional bagels and cream cheese to baked goods galore, Old New York Deli is a prime spot to fuel up before a day of adventuring. 6201 Minaret Rd. #105, Mammoth Lakes, CA. Online: oldnewyork.com

Gomez Restaurant
Nosh on burritos, sizzling fajita plates and delicious enchiladas at this welcoming Mexican restaurant in the Village. Portions are incredibly generous and for those 21+ Gomez offers up 600+ different types of tequila. The restaurant sits at the base near the gondola and on a nice day grab a table outside near one of the fire pits. 100 Canyon Blvd., Mammoth Lakes, CA. Online: gomezs.com

Mammoth Coffee Roasting Company
If you need your coffee (and a baked good or two), head to this newcomer coffee spot. Expect delicious coffee and amazing pastries and donuts at its new storefront in the heart of downtown Mammoth Lakes. 436 Old Mammoth Rd., Mammoth Lakes, CA. Online: mammothcoffeeroastingco.com

Burgers Restaurant
The name of this restaurant sums up its specialty: burgers! Across from the Village, Burgers dishes out generous portions of their comfort food. Not into the traditional burger? You’ll also find a variety of equally filling eats like veggie burgers, buffalo burgers, pork baby back ribs and more. 6118 Minaret Rd., Mammoth Lakes, CA. Online: burgersrestaurant.com

Toomey’s
Delicious food and a laid-back atmosphere makes Toomey’s an ideal spot to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner. Located in the Village, you’ll find dishes like their coconut mascarpone pancakes, fish tacos and a kids menu that includes chicken fingers, mini burger and fries and more.
6085 Minaret Rd., Mammoth Lakes, CA. Online: toomeysmammoth.com

Yodler Restaurant and Bar
Located at the Main Lodge adjacent to Mammoth Mountain Inn is this old-school European restaurant serving up an authentic Bavarian menu (think brats, schnitzel and pretzels). The festive interior and super welcoming staff make for a memorable meal. 10001 Minaret Rd., Mammoth Lakes, CA. Online: theyodlermammoth.com

Mammoth Rock ‘N’ Bowl
Take the red line or the town’s trolley to Mammoth Rock ‘N’ Bowl for a laid-back evening of bowling and eats from pizza to salads to poutine and tacos. Sit at a booth or have your food delivered to your bowling lane. You’ll also find a full bar and arcade, as well as a more upscale Brasserie upstairs for a date night-style dining experience. 3029 Chateau Rd. Mammoth Lakes, CA. Online: mammothrocknbowl.com

Where to Stay in Mammoth with Kids

Condos and hotels abound in Mammoth Lakes, and with the town’s free public bus system you really can’t go wrong with your accommodation choice. Still, traveling with kids means convenience—and proximity to shops, dining and activities—can mean the difference between a happy tear-free afternoon and an epic toddler meltdown. Here are family-friendly places to stay in Mammoth:

The Village Lodge Mammoth
Best for: Ultimate convenience to shops and dining
For accommodations that feel more like home book a condo at The Village Lodge Mammoth. Options range from studio condos to three-bedroom deluxe condos. Condos come equipped with kitchens or kitchenettes stocked with coffee, tea, pots, pans, dishware, a full-size fridge, stove and more, which is a huge perk if you want to whip up food for your child or store leftovers. A swimming pool is open daily (even in winter!) with cribs available upon request.

The Village Lodge offers a free shuttle service anywhere within a 5-mile radius in Mammoth and you’re steps from dining, shopping, most of the major bus lines and the Canyon Village gondola. For those kiddos obsessed with things that go, ask for a room that looks out to the gondola—your child will love watching them come and go all day long.

Online: thevillagelodgemammoth.com

Mammoth Mountain Inn
Best for: Ski in and out
If being slopeside is your jam, stay at Mammoth Mountain Inn. Located just a few steps from the lifts at the Main Lodge, the Inn offers both hotel-style rooms and condos, with the latter featuring kitchenettes. Nearby you’ll find the Yoddler Restaurant and Bar, Sierra General Store and Mountainside Bar and Grill. Because the Inn is slopeside, this area does get a bit quieter once the lifts close and the apres crowds have dispersed.

Online: themammothmountaininn.com

Westin Monache Resort Mammoth
Best for: Great views
Located in the Village, Westin Monache Resort Mammoth boasts mountain views from every room. Each room is equipped with a kitchenette, small fridge and microwave. Step out of the hotel and walk down the steps to the gondola. The Westin offers a ski valet so you don’t have to schlep your ski equipment back and forth every night. Like The Village Lodge Mammoth, the Westin offers a free shuttle bus service, which is built into the resort fee cost.

Online: westin-monache-resort-mammoth.mammoth-lakes-hotels.com

Ski-In/Ski-Out Condo
This gorgeous condo is right across the street from Eagle Lodge while Mammoth Village is 1.5 miles away and has plenty of family-friendly dining options and a bowling alley. Even better, there’s a hot tub to warm up in after a long day on the slopes. 

Sleeps: 10
Cost: $468/night
Online: airbnb.com

What to Do with Babies & Toddlers in Mammoth

If your kids are too young for ski school or you have babe you’re not ready to hand over to the slope-side childcare, here are some tips and things to do with young kids in Mammoth:

• Ride the Canyon gondola. Bonus: It’s free and if it’s not crowded, you can easily wheel your stroller on and off it for an easy ride.

• Ride the town’s buses. Mammoth is only four miles across, which means you won’t be lost for hours on the different routes. Bonus: This is also free and we found makes for great white noise if you have a baby who loves naps in the front pack. Download the transit app in advance so you know exactly what time the bus will arrive and where it’s taking you.

• Take a walk around the Village. Peruse Mammoth gear, load up on coffee at Starbucks or grab a happy hour drink at one of the many kid- and dog-friendly patios (see above on great places to eat). The area is all paved and perfect for a leisurely stroller walk.

• If you need a place to set up camp slope-side, we found that the level at the Main Lodge behind Broadway Marketplace is emptier than most and is used as a base camp for other families whose parents are trading off hitting the slopes.

• Keep an eye out for Woolly in the Village! You might catch him on the slopes or in one of the lodges handing out high-fives and hugs to his pint-sized fans. Also check Mammoth's events calendar for more happenings.

How to Get to Mammoth

New this year: United will service California’s Eastern Sierra with flights into Bishop Airport (not Mammoth Yosemite Airport) with daily service from LAX and SFO. The move to Bishop will allow for bigger and more comfortable airplanes to fly into the Eastern Sierra, and will make service much more reliable (neighboring Bishop sits about 4,000 feet lower than Mammoth).  

Advanced Air will offer regional service to and from Burbank (BUR), Hawthorne (HHR) and Carlsbad (CLD) airports. Service will start November 24 and runs through April 4, with a scaled back schedule until December 16. 

How to get to Mammoth from Los Angeles: There are daily flights from LAX that operate year-round and will have you to Mammoth from LAX in under an hour. Of course, flying is optional—and you can absolutely drive to Mammoth from Los Angeles. If you opt to drive, it's 5 hours from DTLA (without traffic of course).

How to get to Mammoth from the Bay Area: Families who flock to Tahoe know the headaches associated with I-80 traffic, especially when chain control is in effect. Flying from SFO to Mammoth? The flight time is a cool 35 minutes. If you decide to drive to Mammoth, it’s about 5-6 hours from the Bay Area.

The Best Time to Go to Mammoth

Unlike some ski towns you might have visited, there isn’t just one central lodge or downtown area. Mammoth is fairly spread out in the sense that there is the Village, Main Lodge, Old Mammoth and Main Street. The free buses or your hotel’s shuttle will get you anywhere you need to go. And, the fact that it’s a bit more spread out means areas won’t be jam-packed and overwhelming for the littles.

The Best Time to Go to Mammoth:
There is never a bad time to visit Mammoth. Thanks to the recent, unexpected snow, the season is kicking off early and will be open at least through July 4 (yep, you read that right!).

To Bring (or Not to Bring) the Car Seat:
If you’re flying in, you may not need a car or even car seat. Check with the accommodations you booked to see what their shuttle service is like. For instance, The Village Lodge Mammoth offers a courtesy shuttle anywhere within Mammoth Lakes, as well as a courtesy shuttle to and from the airport. If you do drive, park and take advantage of the convenient and free bus transport system.

Learn more about Mammoth and everything this skiing destination has to offer by clicking here.

—Erin Lem

This trip was paid for by Mammoth Mountain but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer.