Is there any location where a daytrip to mammoth is possible?

[Deezus]

The closest metro of any size from Mammoth in the winter is Reno, Nevada--at least in terms of driving time(around 3 hours+) Everywhere else is going to be 5-6 hours minimum. Even when the High Sierra passes open in the late spring/early summer you're looking at a long drive to get over to the Central Valley, or the rest of Northern California though. You could make it from Sacramento in about 5 hours heading up Highway 50 to 395--but because Tahoe is so much closer(just like for Reno) hardly anyone drives to Mammoth that often from that area.

[Count David]

Ridgecrest is an emerging civilization of 30,000 people. A little less than 4 hours = cake.

[skelaki]

You can now fly out of some SoCal airports including San Diego for one direct to Mammoth. So, if you have the funds to do that, it would be possible to fly up, ski for the day, and fly back that night.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by skelaki

You can now fly out of some SoCal airports including San Diego for one direct to Mammoth. So, if you have the funds to do that, it would be possible to fly up, ski for the day, and fly back that night.

The majority of ppl who want to do it in a day want to do it on the cheap. That way they don't have to pay for a hotel. After skiing/boarding all the day, dinner and sleep is really the only enjoyable thing to do. Flying and dealing with airports to save a few hours on both ends will still make for a very long day, assuming one skies/boards all day. So if you have to be at work the next day your going to be pretty burnt out.

Derek