Mammoth Lakes in Winter
Ski school in the morning and snow tubing in the afternoon. A big snowy mountain with lessons from age 3.
6.5–7.5 hrs drive · 4 days · Best for little kids to teens · Dec–Mar
Day 1: Drive the east side
- 7:00 Leave the Bay Area on US-50 or I-80, then take Hwy 395 south
- 11:30 Lunch near Carson City or Minden
- 2:00 Stretch break at Bridgeport or Lee Vining
- 4:00 Check in at Mammoth Lakes and pick up rentals
Day 2: Ski school day
- 8:15 Check in kids at the Mammoth Kids area at Main or Canyon Lodge
- 8:45 Group lessons with lunch for ages 5–7 and 8–14
- 3:30 Pick up kids and get a hot chocolate
Day 3: Tubing and snow play
- 9:00 Morning ski as a family on beginner runs
- 1:00 Booked session at Woolly's Tube Park
- 4:00 Rest and dinner in the Village
Day 4: Home
- 8:00 Check road and chain conditions, then head north on 395
- 12:00 Lunch near Minden or Carson City
- 3:30 Home
From parents who have been
- Woolly's Tube Park is open until 5 pm, but ticket sales stop around 3:45 pm. Ask the attendant for a spin on the way down, or link tubes with a sibling. A heated deck with hot cocoa lets adults warm up while kids keep riding. Weekend Sherpa
- Kids 42 inches and under get their own snow play area at Woolly's. You can reach it on the free red bus instead of fighting for parking. Tinybeans
- Kids 4 and under ski free, but they still need a ticket to load lifts. Get it at a ticket window and bring proof of age. Tinybeans
- Eagle Lodge has only one beginner lift, so it gets crowded. For ski school, 3 and 4 year olds meet at Mammoth Kids on the second floor of Canyon Lodge and must be potty trained. Tinybeans
- Restaurants in town are busiest from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, so eat earlier or later with kids. Main and Canyon Lodges have gear lockers. Tinybeans
- For free sledding, Smokey Bear Flat is just off Hwy 395 north of the Mammoth turnoff. Families with their own sleds also find spots along the Scenic Loop Road. Travel for Kids
Good to know
- Kids need to be at least 3 and potty trained for ski school. Canyon Lodge offers a lesson plus child care package for ages 3–4. Kids 3–14 must wear a helmet and goggles or sunglasses. Book early, because spots fill.
- Woolly's Tube Park needs riders to be at least 42 in. tall, one per tube. It runs daily Dec 11, 2026 to Apr 11, 2027, with limited days in Nov and Apr. Book ahead and sign the waiver online.
- In 2026–27, Main Lodge was set to open Nov 13, Canyon Nov 21 and Eagle Dec 11, all weather permitting.
- Tioga Pass is closed in winter, so you have to come in via Hwy 395. Carry chains and check conditions before you leave.
Sources: Mammoth Mountain ski & snowboard school · Mammoth Mountain Tube Park · NPS Yosemite winter roads · South Tahoe Now: Sierra passes close for winter (2022)