Help me plan my first Eastern Sierra trip?

[amongmany]

Heading up 395 from LA the first week of April and I could use some help putting a plan together...

We're leaving on a Saturday morning for a Sunday arrival in Tahoe (hotel here; no camping). Where should we stop/camp on Saturday night?
I'm thinking somewhere near Bishop. Funnel Lake is on my to-do list as is Coyote Flats in general. Will higher elevations be accessible in early April or still snowed in?
Is Mono Lake worth a visit? Is it work camping near?

I'm thinking that Saturday we drive up to Funnel Lake/Coyote Flats, Mono Lake, or the Buttermilk area and camp.
Sunday we hit up Bodie ghost town (anywhere worth camping near there)?
I'd love to throw a hot spring in the mix if anyone has a good recco.

From there we're spending Sunday night through Thursday night in Tahoe.

When we leave, I'd like to camp Friday and Saturday nights on the way back to LA. Originally I'd planned to hit Alabama Hills as it's on my to-do list, BUT it's also an easy-ish weekend trip from LA. I'm wondering if it makes more sense to camp somewhere further north that would be harder to get to for a quick weekend getaway.

I'd love any and all advice! Looking to keep things easy (forest service roads, etc) as we'll be a solo vehicle.

 

[Speric]

If you're going to Bodie, I'd also recommend driving out to Aurora ghost-town and cemetery. The town is pretty non-existent even though Mark Twain once lived there, but the cemetery is cool, and the drive is really cool. Once you get to Bodie, just keep taking the 1 main road east towards Nevada. It's probably a couple of hours to get there and back.

 

[genocache]

Big Horn campground at the Elbow; Walker River State Recreation Area | State Parks Nice, quiet, river.

If you go to Mono Lake and head East on 167 there are places on either side of the road to stealth camp, most once you get past the lake.

 

[Michael]

A great Coyote Flats campsite: search this in OB1 app:
Coyote Flats Trail Offshoot

 

[amongmany]

Thanks for the insights folks. Been doing some further digging today. Based on what I can find from snowpack maps, it's looking like we're going to be better off in the Hot Creek area east of 395 near Mammoth for that first night.

 

[KrelleKryl]

Coyote Flats will almost certainly be fully inaccessible - probably won't open up until ~June.

You might encounter snow at the Buttermilks, but most of that should be open and there's a lot of really nice camping once you're a little in - I'd vote for that. You could also consider Alabama Hills (*very* popular) and/or the White/Inyo Mountain side near Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest.

 

[ZombieCat]

+1 for the White Mountain/Bristlecone Pine area. There are a few sites as you ascend CA168, then not much until the park campground. Stock up on gas/supplies in Bishop, as there’s nothing even remotely nearby.
The Alabama Hills are also a good choice and it’s scenic as heck. Take the short walk to Mobius Arch for photos.
Depending on the weather and your tolerance to cold temps at night, you might check out some of the side roads off both Tioga Road/120 and Virginia Lakes Road. Both are currently closed a short way in, but I bummed around there last April and found some usable sites.
If you don’t mind paying for a campsite, Convict Lake is gorgeous. This was April 2021: