Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Shuttle Options from Lone Pine to LAX

We did the JMT a few years ago and took Eastern Sierra Transit to Reno from Lone Pine. This year we need to find a shuttle service to LAX. Does anyone have any ideas? The only one I have found so far is Road Runner Shuttle but they are very expensive. We will have a group of 6-8 backpackers. Any help would be appreciated.

Check Eastern Sierra Transit Authority: Mammoth to Lancaster

Their drop off point in Lancaster is a MetroLink station. They run Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

ESTA: Lone Pine 9:40 AM -- Lancaster 12:45 PM

Thanks Steve,

The issue with that is we want to get to the airport around noon in LA. It is so hard to believe that Reno has such good service and LA doesn't. Guess not many folks want to go there.

You would be hard pressed to get to LAX by noon from Lone Pine even driving yourself, without leaving super early. And you would need to add an hour or more in case of traffic congestion. I think Reno is the preferred choice since it has that direct bus service and no traffic jams.

With public transportation heading south, there are so many different places for people to go, that you get dropped at a hub, and then have to take a new mode to the next.

If cost weren't a factor, renting and driving yourself would be the easiest.

The traffic can be wonderful or horrible. I picked wifey up at LAX one afternoon, it took me close to 3 hours from Rancho Cucamonga but taking her back it took but 90 minutes. I usually plan for 2:15 for this 66 mile drive.

BTW, American Airlines has more doubled their fares out of ONT recently. You can fly RT to DFW from ONT for $560 vs. $260 into LAX. In February, I had a $240 RT from ONT. Me thinks days of cheap fares out of the LA satellite airports are done...at least for a while.

Burbank Airport is another choice but the price is usually more than flying out of LAX though not like Ontario in my experience. You can get to the Burbank Airport quicker though from Lone Pine but it's still going to be about a 3pm arrival time. LAX would be a 5pm arrival time. This is using the Crest bus to Lancaster, Metrolink from Lancaster to Burbank or Union Station, Airport Flyaway bus from Union Station to LAX arriving at 5pm.
Frankly, with traffic issues it might be the quickest way. I think the nearest one-way car rental is in Inyokern/Ridgecrest where the Crest bus stops.
There are daily flights out of the Mammoth Airport also. Going to LAX and other airports. Few people seem to consider this as an option. I know when I checked into awhile back it seemed like a great option for getting to LAX.

> There are daily flights out of the Mammoth Airport also. Going to LAX and other airports. Few people seem to consider this as an option. I know when I checked into awhile back it seemed like a great option for getting to LAX.

Just checking out of curiosity...

There is one flight, on Sunday July 8, 2012:   $91.00

6:00 pm Depart Mammoth Lakes (MMH)   Arrive Los Angeles (LAX) 7:10 pm

The Inyokern airport has 3 flights a day to/from LAX.

Good suggestion. We often use the United Express flights to LAX, when travelling to Europe. We've had no problems with luggage transfers from Inyokern to our final destinations.

The two hour drive from Bishop to Inyokern is much less stressful than the run by car to LAX.

You can leave your car at Inyokern airport for weeks at a time - for free.