Driving the sensational road to Conway Summit in California

Conway Summit is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.482m (8,143ft) above the sea level, located in Mono County, in the US state of California.

Conway Summit

Is the road to Conway Summit in California paved?

Set high in the Eastern Sierras, the road to the summit is fully paved with a few steep spots. It’s called U.S. Highway 395. At this elevation, it’s the highest point on the highway. The pass is named after John Andrew Conway, a settler in the area in 1880.

How long is Conway Summit in California?

The pass is 31.38km (19.5 miles) long running north-south from Willow Springs to Lee Vining, on the southwest shore of Mono Lake. The pass is typically open all year round, but short-term closures are common in winter due to dangerous weather conditions. The drive offers spectacular views of Mono Lake and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

If you want to drive higher…

East of the pass (38.08768, -119.18218), a minor gravel road climbs up to a few communication facilities, at an elevation of 2.565m (8,415ft) above the sea level. The road is steep, hitting an 8% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. 4x4 vehicle required.