Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes: 312 Miles, 5.5 Hours of Spectacular Desert Driving

The most direct route from Death Valley National Park (e.g., Furnace Creek) to Mammoth Lakes is ~312 miles (502 km) via CA-190 West → US-395 North. Driving time: 5.5–6.5 hours without stops.

Key Considerations:

• Seasonal Closures: CA-190 over Towne Pass (5,000 ft) and Tioga Pass (Yosemite, 9,943 ft) close in winter (Nov–May). US-395 is the year-round corridor.
• Elevation Gain: From -282 ft (Badwater) to 7,880 ft (Mammoth)—extreme temperature swings.
• Fuel/Food: Services sparse; fill up at Stovepipe Wells or Lone Pine.
• Scenery: Panamint Valley, Owens Valley, Sierra escarpment—one of America's great drives.

Check NPS and Caltrans for current road conditions before departing.