Small-Town Dining Along Highway 395
Independence is not a major food destination, and that is part of its character.
Located along Highway 395 between Lone Pine and Bishop, the small Owens Valley town offers a handful of casual cafes, taco trucks, roadside stops, and simple local dining options serving hikers, road trippers, anglers, and travelers exploring the Eastern Sierra.
Most visitors are here for the mountains, history, desert landscapes, and slower pace of the Owens Valley. The food scene reflects that: practical, local, unfussy, and built around life along Highway 395.
Still Life Cafe
Still Life Cafe has become one of Independence’s best-known local gathering spots.
Known for coffee, breakfast, sandwiches, baked goods, and a relaxed atmosphere, the cafe attracts a mix of locals, hikers, and Highway 395 travelers passing through town.
If you can catch it open, it remains one of the more “interesting “quirkier” stops along the 395 highway.
Taco Trucks
The taco trucks in Independence are solid and often become the easiest and most reliable meal option in town.
Visitors can usually find tacos, burritos, quesadillas, carne asada, and other casual street food throughout the area, especially during busier travel periods along Highway 395.
For many road trippers, grabbing tacos before heading back into the mountains or down the highway is simply part of the Eastern Sierra experience.
Indy Place Ice Cream
During warmer months, Eastern Sierra Ice Cream has become a classic Highway 395 stop for travelers looking to cool off after long days exploring the desert and mountains.
The roadside atmosphere and small-town summer energy fit naturally into the Owens Valley road trip experience.
Baxter Honey Stand
Visitors driving through town can often spot Baxter’s Honey Stand at 353 S Edwards Street in Independence, where locally harvested Owens Valley honey has become a longtime Highway 395 roadside tradition.
Cowboy Coffee
Cowboy Coffee has also become a favorite roadside stop for travelers heading to or from Mammoth Lakes. Known for friendly service, breakfast burritos, and quality coffee often made by Jeff himself, the small coffee stand reflects the kind of personal, small-town experience that still defines stretches of Highway 395.
Nearby Dining
Because Independence remains a smaller community, many visitors also choose to grab meals in nearby Lone Pine or Big Pine, both of which offer a larger variety of restaurants and dining options along Highway 395.
Fortunately, everything in the Owens Valley is relatively close, and the drive itself is part of the experience.
Plan Ahead for Dining in Independence
Restaurant hours in Independence can vary depending on season, staffing, and tourism traffic.
Some businesses close earlier than visitors from larger cities may expect, especially during slower travel periods or winter months. Travelers heading through town later in the evening should avoid assuming all dining options will remain open.
Recreate Responsibly
Help support Independence’s small business community by respecting staff, driving carefully through town, packing out trash, and helping preserve the quieter pace that makes the Owens Valley unique
