I am planning a trip to Mammoth to take my family skiing/snowboarding.

From Reno, which is the closest airport, it is a 3 hour drive to Mammoth. Has anyone done this? How is the drive? What if there is a snowstorm, how would the driving be? We are planning the trip for early March.

Any suggestions on lodging? affordable family dining?

I drove from LA about a month ago. It was about 5 hours. Reno is closer. It was after a big storm but I was fine in an SUV. I would rent an SUV to drive there or you may get stuck buying chains to put on the car. When I was there 2 wheel drives had to have chains.

PS. Watch out for your gear! I had my snowboard stolen there! Never seen that happen here in Colorado, but everyone there seemed to bring their boards into places even when marked (no skis or snowboards). I left mine out side the cafeteria for 15 mins and it was gone. $700 setup.

Sections of US395 can be closed during heavy snowstorms but generally it isn't too bad a drive from Reno. It's really unnecessary to go to Mammoth if you are flying from Reno -- unless you have free accomodation at Mammoth, pick a Tahoe area instead. Lots closer and lots more choice if you want to try other areas.

I have heard that Mammoth is the ultimate place to go. I would like to take my family there for a great Life experience Next year we can do Tahoe

I have skied both Mammoth and several sites around Tahoe (Heavenly, Squaw, Alpine). There is not a significant difference if there is a good base of snow at both places. Mammoth tends to get more snow. Heavenly touts the largest ski-able area in the US.
It did always seem colder in Tahoe though.
Are you going on a weekend? Everyone from LA goes to Mammoth on the weekends. It can be packed. During the week used to be empty there, not sure I have not been in a few years.

Have fun. You will love whatever you choose.

This year, in particular, the base is very good at most of the Tahoe resorts, as well as Mammoth. The snow from late December/early January left a base of 10 feet or more at the top. And the weather hasn't been so warm as of late to make too much of a dent into that.

(Heavenly Valley's base, for example, is right around 10 feet. And Squaw Valley has a 13 foot base at 8200 feet. For comparison, Mammoth's base is between 12 and 14 feet.)

Making the trek down from Reno, though, is a crapshoot (pun intended, I think) in March. If the weather is clear, then 3-4 hours isn't a bad time. US395 is 2 lanes for much of the trip (especially as you get south of Minden and Gardnerville, towards the NV/CA border), and the speed limits reflect that.

If the weather is bad, though, then anything is possible. Once you get into California, you start climbing into the mountains. From that point, it could take four or five hours to get through to Mammoth Lakes - or longer, if the weather is bad enough to close the road.

Mind you, I'm not a skier. I just live here. But the odds are significantly better of getting to Mammoth (without weather hassles) if you come later in the year. With the amount of snow up there, they'll likely be open well into May, and likely into June. Otherwise, anticipate a travel time of six hours each way, just in case the weather is poor.

That, or save two hours of driving each way and go up to Tahoe.

Mike