7 Reasons To Drive California’s Highway 120

The sign as you turn east off Highway 395 just south of Lee Vining, California states “Narrow Winding Road Next 46 Miles,” but don’t let that discourage you from driving the span of Highway 120.  It is mostly RV friendly and full of adventure.

Eastern Sierras

The following is a list of things to see and do as you travel the route listed west to east:

1. Mono Craters

The mono craters are a series of recent volcanic cones that occurred just 650 years ago, making them the youngest mountain range in North America. Panum Crater has developed hiking trails for those who would like to get up close and personal with a volcano.

Mono Lake as seen from the highway

2. Mono Lake

Ancient and shrinking, Mono Lake is visible along the western part of the route and famous for its tufa formations.

The largest tufa groves can be found along the south side of the lake via a short gravel road to the South Tufa viewing area.

3. Mono Mills

At Mono Mills, you can view the scant remains and learn the history of the lumber industry that supplied needed building materials to the mining boomtown of Bodie over one hundred years ago.

As you descend out of the pine forests that supplied the hungry saws of Mono Mills you will enter the Adobe Valley. The road is straight and stretches for miles through the scenic valley. While there are no specific sites of interest through this portion of the highway, there are some surprises that RVers will encounter.

For example, while this section contains long straight portions of the road, the engineers must have been fans of rollercoasters as they didn’t spend much time filling the small drainages that run crosswise to the road through most of the valley.  Fair warning when you open your RV refrigerator to prepare lunch!

Rock formations

4. Wild horses

The area along Highway 120 is also home to a herd of wild horses, so be on the lookout as you travel.

5. Rock formations

Next, you will climb a small pass over the Benton Range. As you approach the summit you will encounter beautiful rock formations worthy of state or national park status.

There are no pull-outs, so instruct your co-pilot to have their camera ready and proceed with caution.

6. Benton Hot Springs

Benton Hot Springs was established in 1852 to support mining in the area. Today it clings to life catering to tourists who come by to soak in the namesake springs.

7. The buildings and relics

There are many photogenic buildings remaining along with rusty vehicles and farming equipment. The ghostliest buildings are located on private property on the southwest outskirts of town and can only be viewed from the highway.

Hot spring relics

Your journey on Highway 120 comes to an end at the town of Benton, where you can obtain fuel and a few other amenities before heading north or south on Highway 6.

The highway is closed in the winter, so plan accordingly.

Where to camp:

Sagehen Meadows Campground is the closest thing to a developed public campground and is located about halfway along the route a mile or so off the highway.

Boondocking near Panum Crater

There is a private campground at the Benton Hot Springs where each RV site contains a private hot tub!

Coordinates for places mentioned:

• Panum Crater turn off: N37° 54.844 W119° 02.797
• South Tufa turn off: N37° 55.587 W119° 01.400
• Mono Mills Interpretive Site: N37° 53.270 W118° 57.630
• Rock Formations – Vicinity of: N37° 47.300 W118° 33.670
• Benton Hot Springs: N37° 48.023 W118° 31.780

So don’t let that narrow and winding road sign keep you from enjoying Highway 120.  Other than limited shoulder width and a couple sharp turns, there is nothing for an experienced RVer to worry about.

See also: 5 Amazing Places To Camp Off Interstate 5 In California

Dave Helgeson

Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.