Welcome to Bishop — the Small Town with the Big Backyard! Tucked into the heart of the Eastern Sierra, Bishop is where your adventure begins. Surrounded by soaring peaks, desert vistas, and endless skies, it’s a place where every direction leads to something incredible.
Whether you fly in over snow-capped mountains or cruise along scenic byways, the journey to Bishop is every bit as memorable as the destination.
Your gateway to the Eastern Sierra starts at the Bishop Airport (BIH), right here in Bishop. United Airlines offers seasonal flights from San Francisco (SFO) and Denver (DEN), making it easier than ever to get here from almost anywhere.
These short flights connect visitors to Bishop’s big backyard — from Yosemite to Death Valley and everywhere in between. In under an hour, you can trade city streets for wide-open spaces, where fishing, hiking, climbing, and exploring are all just minutes from the airport.
So pack your sense of adventure — you’ll be in an Eastern Sierra state of mind before you know it.
Daily flights resume this winter, with service to/from San Francisco (SFO) starting on December 11th, and from Denver (DEN) starting on December 19th.
Additional flights may be added for holiday periods, and all schedules are subject to change. Please check in 1.5 hours prior to the flight. Gate closes 45 minutes before flight time. For your convenience, there are two United Self Check-In Kiosks.
San Francisco (SFO) → Bishop (BIH)
Denver (DEN) → Bishop (BIH)
Bishop Airport (BIH) offers convenient, traveler-friendly services to make your visit smooth from touchdown to takeoff.
The terminal opens at 8:00 a.m. and remains open until the final flight of the day departs, typically around 5:00 p.m. Individual businesses inside the terminal may keep different hours.
Whether you’re heading out for a quick weekend in the mountains or arriving for a longer stay, Bishop Airport makes travel to the Eastern Sierra easy and welcoming.
Bishop is beautiful! Love this cute little baggage claim!
Traveling from Southern California? Advanced Airlines offers a smooth and scenic way to reach the mountains. With seasonal charter service from Hawthorne (HHR) and Carlsbad (CLD) to Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) — just 45 minutes north of Bishop — you can skip the traffic and start your weekend early.
Hop on a Friday afternoon flight, relax in comfort, and arrive ready for fresh mountain air and wide-open trails. It’s the easy way to make the most of your Eastern Sierra getaway.
***Remember to BOOK ground transportation BEFORE you fly to Bishop.
We do not currently have Uber or Lyft, but don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with lots of options! Eastern Sierra Transit Authority offers door to door Dial-A-Ride service in the greater Bishop Area. They also have fixed route shuttles to communities north and south of Bishop. Enterprise Rent-A-Car is also available.
Note: Book ground transportation AHEAD OF TIME because not all services may be available on all days.
Once you arrive, it’s easy to get around Bishop and the Eastern Sierra. Choose from several options to fit your travel style:
If you love a good road trip, you’ll love the drive to Bishop. Highways here are well maintained, traffic is light, and the views are unforgettable — from granite peaks to high desert plateaus.
Want to sit back and enjoy the ride? The Eastern Sierra Transit Authority (ESTA) offers reliable, affordable bus service to Bishop and surrounding towns. Long-distance routes connect Reno, NV and Lancaster, CA, while local routes run up and down US 395, linking communities like Lone Pine, Bishop, and Mammoth Lakes.
It’s a great option for travelers who want to leave the driving (and the parking) to someone else. Check out routes and schedules at estransit.com.
Traveling with ESTA is easy and accessible:
Service animals are welcome, and other animals may ride if they’re caged or muzzled. Buses are equipped with bike racks that fit most standard bicycles (20–29 inch wheels), though recumbent and fat-tire bikes won’t fit. Passengers can reserve seats in advance with a credit card — fares are charged at booking and can be canceled up to 24 hours before departure with a small fee. Cash fares are accepted onboard (exact change, please), and credit cards are accepted on the US 395 routes.
I was an accidental tourist at the Bishop Visitor Center, but felt it was incumbent upon me to openly share the positive experience and embarrassment of riches that followed. Excited to ski a Mammoth for the first time following an epic snowstorm, I arrived with all the unchecked enthusiasm of surfer chasing a tidal wave. Sadly, I missed my ride due to a late-arriving flight, and would have been marooned at the Bishop airport but for Joe from the local Chamber of Commerce who rescued me. Upon arriving at the Bishop Visitor Center, I was warmly welcomed with sincere greetings, light hospitality, and an education about the local region that rivaled that given at visitor centers operated by the National Park Service. For example, I learned that this county boasts the highest point in the continental United States (Mount Whitney), the lowest point in the continental United States (Badwater Basin in Death Valley), and the oldest living organism in the world (Bristlecone Pine Trees, which are purportedly 5000 years old). I also got an outstanding healthy meal recommendation which I followed - The Rolling Chef 395 - where I am not exaggerating - I consumed the best burrito I have ever eaten in my life. I then walked it off by taking a safe stroll down Main Street where I observed many vibrant businesses bristling with activity like the famous Erik Schat’s Bakkery. Simply put, I could not overstate the good fortune that ensued my unexpected stopover at the Bishop Visitor Center, and my “rescuer” Joe concluded my “stay” by later dropping me at my ride. I not only am recommending a stop here for friends en route from Southern California, but also vowing to come back!
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