Bishop, California | City Guide for Travel Healthcare Pros

Welcome to Bishop, CA

Known as the "Mule Capital of the World" and surrounded by the Sierra Nevada and White Mountains, Bishop is a small, scenic town packed with big outdoor adventure. For travel nurses, Bishop offers wide-open spaces, peaceful mountain views, and a tight-knit community while still providing access to solid healthcare facilities and year-round recreation.

💰 Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: Bishop scores 118, higher than the national average but lower than most of California’s tourist areas.🔗 BestPlaces

• Average Rent: About $1,200–$1,600/month for a one-bedroom apartment.🔗 Zillow

• Utilities: Typically around $150/month, depending on season.

🌤️ Weather by Month

Bishop has a high-desert climate with hot summers, cool winters, and tons of sunshine year-round.

Month	Avg High	Avg Low	Description
January	55°F	22°F	❄️ Cold nights, sunny days
February	59°F	26°F	🌤 Crisp and dry
March	65°F	31°F	🌷 Warming up nicely
April	72°F	37°F	🌼 Perfect spring days
May	82°F	46°F	☀️ Comfortable and dry
June	91°F	53°F	🌞 Hot but not humid
July	97°F	60°F	☀️ Peak heat, great for mountain escapes
August	96°F	59°F	🌤 Still very warm
September	89°F	51°F	🍂 Cooling evenings
October	76°F	41°F	🎃 Perfect fall weather
November	63°F	30°F	🌬 Cool and dry
December	54°F	23°F	❄️ Cold nights, sunny days

🛏️ Furnished Housing Options

🛋 1-Bedroom Options

• Quiet Private Studio Near Hospital – Fully furnished, traveler-owned🔗 Furnished Finder

• Inyo Street Guesthouse – Cozy and walkable to downtown🔗 Furnished Finder

• Airbnb Monthly Rentals – Private casitas, cabins, and small apartments🔗 Airbnb Search

🛏 2-Bedroom Options

• 2BR Townhome with Mountain Views – Great for travel nurse pairs🔗 Furnished Finder

• Zillow Rentals – Use filters for furnished 2BR homes🔗 Zillow Search

🏨 Extended Stay Hotels

• Holiday Inn Express – BishopCentrally located with great traveler reviews🔗 View Hotel

• Eastside Guesthouse & BivyBoutique, extended-stay friendly, and highly rated🔗 View Hotel

• Cielo Hotel Bishop-MammothModern, cozy, and convenient for longer stays🔗 View Hotel

🚐 RV Parks

• Bishop RV Park at Tri-County Fairgrounds – Full hookups, centrally located🔗 View Park

• Highland RV Park – Quiet, long-term friendly with beautiful views🔗 View Park

• Brown’s Town Campground – Mountain views and full amenities🔗 View Park

🎉 Fun Things to Do in Bishop

• Bishop Mule Days (May) – The town's most famous annual event

• Buttermilk Boulders – Famous rock climbing and hiking area

• Laws Railroad Museum – Step back into local pioneer history

• Owens River – Fishing, kayaking, and peaceful nature

• Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest – Home to the world’s oldest trees

• Downtown Bishop – Coffee shops, local eats, and quirky shops

🧳 Nearby Weekend Trips

• Mammoth Lakes, CA (~45 min): Skiing, hiking, and alpine lakes

• Yosemite National Park (East Entrance) (~1 hr 30 min): World-class hiking and views

• Death Valley National Park (~2 hrs): Unique desert landscapes and stargazing

• Lake Tahoe, CA (~4 hrs): Mountain adventures and lake life

  
  

🕒 Summary

Bishop is a true outdoor lover's paradise, perfect for nurses seeking tranquility, nature, and a friendly mountain community. With access to Northern Inyo Hospital and world-class scenery, it’s one of California’s best small-town assignments.

✅ Affordable (for CA standards)

✅ Walkable downtown and easy hospital access

✅ Stunning outdoor adventures year-round

✅ Quiet, safe, and welcoming for travelers

Craving mountains, open skies, and peace? Bishop is calling. 🏞️🐴🩺

Disclosure: The information provided in this guide is what I use to send my travelers and is obtained through ChatGPT, utilizing prompts I frequently use as a travel nurse recruiter. The content is designed to help travelers make informed decisions about potential destinations.