Drives California The Eastern Sierra
Highway 120: Mono Lake to Benton
Mono Mills Road, CA 120 · Highway 395 near Mono Lake → Benton
The drive
East of Highway 395, Highway 120 turns into Mono Mills Road and heads off alone into the high desert. It skirts the south end of Mono Lake, past the turnoff for the South Tufa area, then climbs into the forest to the site of Mono Mills, a lumber camp whose first sawmill was built in 1880 to supply Bodie and Aurora. Little of it is left, but a roadside kiosk tells the story.
From there the road crests Sagehen Summit and drops into the Adobe Valley, a long, open stretch with the Granite Mountain Wilderness to the north. The straights here aren't flat: the road rises and falls over the land rather than cutting through it, which Caltrans warns about with signs for trucks and high-profile vehicles. It passes Benton Hot Springs and ends in Benton, a small town at about 5,400 feet, just short of US 6.
Along the way
- Highway 395 near Mono Lake
- Mono Mills
- Benton Hot Springs
- Benton (Highway 6)
Good to know
- Caltrans closes Mono Mills Road every winter and reopens it in spring; the reopening date changes from year to year.
- Watch the crests in the Adobe Valley: the road rises and dips with the ground, and you can't always see what's over the next rise.
- Caltrans posts cautions for trucks and high-profile vehicles because of the road's winding, undulating profile.
Closed for winter, usually from about December to April. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Caltrans: Highway 120 conditions.
Questions about this drive
How long does Highway 120 from Mono Lake to Benton take?
Highway 120 from Highway 395 near Mono Lake to Benton is 45 miles and takes about an hour without stops.
Is Highway 120 east of Mono Lake open in winter?
No. Caltrans closes Highway 120 east of Mono Lake, Mono Mills Road, for winter and reopens it in spring, with the date depending on the snow. Check Caltrans road conditions before going in late fall or spring.
What is Mono Mills on Highway 120?
Mono Mills is the site of a lumber camp beside Highway 120 whose first sawmill was built in 1880 to supply Bodie and Aurora. Little remains, but there's an interpretive kiosk, and the site is free to visit when the road is open.
Is Highway 120 from Mono Lake to Benton a twisty road?
No. Highway 120 east of Mono Lake is mostly gentle curves and long straights; what makes it lively is the way the road rises and falls across the Adobe Valley.
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More drives near here
Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.