planning bishop trip in jan/feb. is it possible to stay in mammoth lakes?

I'm planning a bishop trip this winter with a small group of folks, but for various reasons would potentially end up staying in mammoth instead. is this advisable? if there are snowy conditions, is it possible that we would get stranded in mammoth/roads would close to bishop?

They’re calling for a pretty light precipitation winter. But yes, this definitely is something that is possible and has happened. Don’t forget your tire chains

Just make your hotel reservations as early as possible.  It is very likely you may need chains for the Sherwin Grade if it snows.

For right now, let’s forget about if there’s a lot of snow and the road is closed. If you are wanting to climb at either of the milks or happys, driving down from mammoth every day and back is pretty long drive, it’s got to be a 1 hour drive one way to the milks, maybe 50 minutes to the harpy’s.  If you are wanting to climb at Owens then it’s closer but still 30-40 minutes.

I’d stay closer to bishop. If it does snow, it be better to turn your climbing trip into a skiing trip. 

It’s a 50 min trip “up the hill” to “winter wonderland” but yea you can normally drive it with out chains. The county makes a mighty effort to keep the skiers happy. If the weather is nice and sunny- and it can be- you can climb at the “warming wall” in Mammoth.
Have fun. 

to be clear, we are planning to be at bishop/mammoth early-mid feb. is the snow/conditions then especially bad? chains are actually what i'm worried about the most, since it'd make a normally manageable 1hr drive to buttermilks into a 2+ hour ordeal. the prices for airbnbs in mammoth vs bishop actually don't seem all that different to me at the moment based on what i'm looking at. 

Mammoth is a nicer (and pricier) town than Bishop. They do try to keep 395 open when it snows, but there's no guarantee you won't have to use chains. You must have them with you, if you are going to Mammoth. I'd say it's a relatively small chance that 395 would be closed (and probably not for long), but it's a possibility.

Ultimately, there is some risk and you're going to have to make a decision without certainty. The pressure's on...

All this to say - no one can give you a definitive answer.

January is usually our heaviest snow month, but it can be February. The drive up & down in the winter is beautiful but can be brutal if snowing. I have chains but never use them. On real snowy days, I'll normally see a couple of cars & or trucks upside down off side of road. First snow absolutely cars upside down. This year may have very little snow??? 

If you want to climb get a place close to bishop, if you want to ski get a place a place close to Mamoth. Like others said Mamoth is a resort town, so if you’re into that stay there. That’s my final 2 cents. Personally I like drive the least amount that I can when on vacay. 

You should absolutely stay in Bishop unless you really value staying in a resort town.  Driving down and up the hill each day even if there is no snow will suck valuable time.  You would also be closer to Alabama Hills which is a good alternative to ORG. Be aware that the buttermilks can get snowed out as well.  

Snow at the Milks -- Never