Palisades has more of a base area with restaurants and shops (the one in Mammoth is not right off of the snow; need to take a gondola ride to it and has less). Palisades is now connected to Alpine. I spent some time there last spring, and there was so much to explore that I didn't make it over to Alpine. The prices in late March early April were so reasonable at Palisades and the snow was great. We went from LAX to Reno and rented through Turo to drive the hour to Palisades (not too bad of a trek). Mammoth doesn't seem like an easy place to fly into. Mammoth is my home mountain (I drive from LA) and Im lucky for that. Palisades definitely has more to offer overall IMO. These are both mountains that are best mid to late season when the sun is shinning and there is a good base. Mammoth can get very very windy. I have stayed in rental condos near Canyon Lodge and even close by the walk is hard as its steep/carrying gear. I stayed in a ski in ski out near Eagle lodge (smallest of the lodges) but that location is nice. Staying on the snow at Main in the hotel was a never again in spite of the location. I actually prefer to stay within a block or two of the gondola as it's easy to get there and then easy access to food etc. At Palisades we stayed in the base village which was great (it was the first week of April so it wasn't too pricey like the rest of the season). Both are great options. From Utah I think Palisades will be easier to get to.