This was our 3rd stay at the Lake View Lodge. I am pretty sure I followed the directions for making the A/C work but it never cooled the room. So I opened the window. Luckily the smoke was not in Lee Vining that night. Also, only 1 packet regular coffee and 2 decaf (what?!) It was also the smallest room we have ever gotten staying there. For $169 for the night I expected a bit more. I guess I agree with some of the other reviewers-if you are going to charge so much, be a bit more on the ball. Working AC, more coffee. First world problems, I know, but just trying to help the hotel industry this year. Guess I'll stick to camping, especially if the smoke is not bad. read more

Great spot for me and the babe. Just outside of YNP. Right next to Mono Lake on Highway 395. Great for a stop while you continue to travel or rest from a hike or adventure. Rooms are spacious, the beds are clean and amenities are provided. Only gripe: a bigger tv. read more

Awesome spot for a few days! Lovely staff, cute cozy and clean rooms. Great garden area just to relax and breathe that wonderful fresh air. Great coffee shop attached, with killer breakfast sandwiches! Yummy!! read more

It's a old hotel and it shows by the rooms. You're paying for the convenience of being located just outside Yosemite and nothing more. Reminded me of a Motel 6 with a little bigger rooms. When we arrived we checked in and went to our room, it smelt a little musty like the room hadn't been ise in a while. We opened the window and let the fresh air in and it went away. I've stayed in Lee Vinning a few times usually down the road a bit. (1st time staying here) I'll most likely go back to the other big hotel in the area. I didn't book this place a friend did. Once again YOU ARE PAYING FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF BEING RIGHT OUTSIDE OF YOSEMITE NOT THE FANCY ROOM. read more

I inquired about getting out in a waitlist for the bear bones cabins and the front desk simply told me that they don't do that. Customerservice is nonexistent read more

This was the best hotel ever!! Front desk attendant was so nice, helpful and accommodating. Great view of Mono lake. Also free coffee included with the room, which was amazing! Almost instant hot water in the shower and great water pressure. Tons of parking close to all rooms. 10/10 recommend! read more

Later than late check-in 4:00PM is inconvenient for customers. Sewer backed up @ room number 48 where across the street of main motel building. The phone in the room is totally dead which mean no room service or any kind of service will be unavailable during your stay. I was not totally unhappy and i didn't receive the service equivalents to what I paid for. read more

Beautiful grounds, updated rooms. We have stayed several times, and had great rooms, but if you have any special requests, phone the lodge to book your room as they do not look at the special instructions online. And DO NOT let them give you room 25. It is like the leftover room, extremely small, ripped curtains, lumpy pillows, the mattress dips in the center, and the road noise is terrible. read more

We were traveling from Sparks, NV to SoCal and got caught in a snowstorm (along with many other travelers) ... this property (and Samantha in particular) bent over backwards to help every person find a room for the night. They quickly sold out and helped make arrangements for others at various shelters in town and for food as well. The property is well maintained and although our stay there was not planned, we enjoyed their hospitality and the "port in a storm". read more

I've stayed here many times, and always enjoy the location. This time i shared the two bedroom cabin and will do that again if traveling with a friend, rather than a 2 queen motel room. The cabin is spacious, beds are comfortable, it's cute and with a well-equipped kitchen. I had to change our dates around at the last minute but there was no problem and easily accommodated. The new-ish Basin Cafe (miss the Epic Cafe that moved to June Lake) had a good breakfast, did not have a chance to eat other meals there. Hope to go back in a few weeks for fall color! read more

186 usd a night ! For very dark room, weak air con ,no view despite advertising , very close to road and noise of cars and trucks very bad plus one can hear all the neighbouring rooms or anyone walking outside . Rude reception plus rusting old outside staircases... A rip of , poor, below standard place Stay away It's clean but that's about it read more

Small strip motel with decent sized and clean rooms near Mono Lake in Yosemite. We found the clerk to be really accommodating, and we also liked the ease of access to the 395. Here's a quick summary of the most noteable things that might help you in decision-making: - located right off the 395 which leads through the park. There is some truck noise - rooms are clean and have a/c and heating - wifi is available but not very strong - arrive before 8pm as shops/restaurants close - very close to hiking trails / Mono Lake read more

Lake View Lodge in Lee Vining. The "lake view" is of Mono Lake. Not front and center view, but you can see the lake in the distance. The facility is great and is basically a hotel room. It is centrally located. Very close to Navy Beach and the South Tufas on Mono Lake. Close to Bodie where the Bodie "ghost town" is located. It's a pleasant drive. It's also at the foot of Hwy 120 if you want to take a few hours to drive into the heart of Yosemite. Overall, the location is clean. The staff are friendly and it is in fact in the middle of the small town of Lee Vining. So if you wanted to be with family that are camping in Lee Vining, but wanted to have the option of going to a hotel to shower, the camp grounds are only like 10 minutes from the lodge. read more

There aren't a lot of options for staying in this town so you're stuck paying whatever price the hotels are charging, so price not being a factor, this was a great little place to stay. The people at the front desk were very courteous and the place was clean and quiet. The highlights, that inspired me to write a review, are the hotel grounds and the coffee shop. They have at least 3 outdoor barbecues for guest use, plenty of seating areas and outdoor tables overlooking Mono Lake and the valley below. We found it so nice that we decided to whip up one of our camp meals instead of waiting forever to be served at the town's only restaurant. BTW, I recommend if you are going to go out to dinner that you drive to the Chevron dining room about a mile south of town. Huge, good looking meals, in a 50s travel atmosphere and lots of (safe) people watching. In the morning, we went to redeem the voucher (we were given at check in) for a free coffee. What stood out is how much effort someone put into decorating the place. It may not have been my style, but it was nice to see someone put a lot of effort into turning this place into a pleasant spot to sit down and enjoy your coffee. There were even coffee aficionado magazines fanned out on one of the tables. We walked into the the smell of fresh baked blueberry scones (a food I only enjoy when sot and warm) and decided it was such a nice spot, we took our drinks there instead of rushing off to the car. Anyway, as I drove away from that pleasant experience, I thought, this place deserves a review! read more

My mother and i stayed here for a night before I was to depart for my solo trek on the John Muir Trail. The place is simple, if you expect things to be super fancy then you will be disappointed. The front desk warns you at the time of checking in that the WI-FI is not very good and that there is a local bear that wanders around so DON'T LEAVE FOOD OR DRINKS in your car. Bed was comfortable, but actually anything is cozy when I was mentally preparing to be on the trail for a couple of weeks. The place was clean, front desk was helpful. I did have to go outside to use my phone because I didn't have service in the room. Honestly I wasn't planning on some super fancy place just a bed, coffee maker, clean sheets and towels. Some folks expect the four seasons in a small town and those folks need a reality check. So, if you don't mind a vintage looking room which gives it character and charm then you will be content just as we were. read more

UPDATE: This hotel is no longer a Best Western. I stayed here a few years back in one of the hotel rooms -- it was your standard hotel room -- nothing fancy, but nothing gross either. This time, we stayed in one of the newer wood cabins adjacent to the hotel -- the photo on this site is not representative of the cabin and we forgot to take our own picture. The cabin was actually pretty nice. It's a small one-room cabin, but newly constructed. It was sparsely decorated, but that's ok. The one-room cabin had a bed, nightstands, a TV (and Direct TV), and lamps. Toward the back of the cabin was a kitchenette with two burners, a fridge, and a small sink. The cabinets in the kitchenette were nicely constructed, although those cabinets contained no dishes, glasses, or other cooking/eating utensils -- as is customary when you rent a cabin. Begs the question -- why install such nice cabinets, only to leave them empty? Alas, we had our own cups, plates, bowls, so no harm in our case. The bathroom was small. The shower stall was quite possibly the smallest I've ever seen. Very much constructed like an RV bathroom in size. The cabin had a nice front porch and two chairs, which we enjoyed. I would probably stay here again. read more

I have stayed here 3 times. Each for one week. It has unparalleled cleanliness, views of the desert, access to mountains and a local cafe and store that are friendly and welcoming. I did not feel like a tourist, I felt like a family member. The local cafe had "veterans only" parking. As someone who has served our nation, I was grateful for that. BTW the food is like eating at home. Recently, I had a billing issue with a new reservation with this resort. They could tell a good customer deserves first class treatment and acted accordingly. That is as rarity. They also have cabins. They rooms are clean and spacious. The resort is quiet. read more

We stayed for 3 nights in one of the 'Cozy cabins.' It was very new, clean and functional. We used it as a base camp for day hikes in the mountains. Each night we'd shop for food at the Market that's right next door to the Motel, cook a simple dinner in the cabin, and enjoy it on the porch. The place was fairly quiet until about 7am when the delivery trucks for the market unload. The porch looks out on the parking lot, so don't expect too much of a woodsy feel (but you'll get that all day on your outings). The grounds are very nicely landscaped with many, many lawn chairs, tables and lounges to enjoy the view of Mono Lake. If you're looking for a resort experience, you won't find it in Lee Vining. But, if you're looking for a clean, comfortable, convenient, reasonably priced base-camp from which to enjoy the many Eastern Sierra outdoor activities, this is a great place. read more

On a yosemite camping trip, not planned at all (oops?), we ended up in wherever this hotel is located (respectfully). We were cold, afraid, and tired after a full day of driving. We pulled into, literally, the only place in the town that was open - lake view lodge. Then we meet Taylor, our saving grace he told us about all the magical places in the town where we could camp, but nowhere was as magical as here. The rooms are hot and steamy, the beds are nice and springy the great price of rooms, the unparalleled hospitality - if we are ever lost in this city again we will be back to see our dear friend Taylor. read more

The Lakeview Lodge is on par with other Best Westerns I've stayed at and was totally comfortable. The room was probably bigger than most at other Best Westerns, and the beds were pretty comfortable. There are only a couple of other hotels to choose from in Lee Vining, and I imagine this one is pretty much the best. I'd stay here again. We stayed here for one night this past July, after spending 3 nights in Yosemite at Curry Village. After three nights in a canvas tent cabin, it was a welcome treat to sleep in a room with wooden walls and have a private bathroom. The TV with cable didn't hurt, either. read more

As expected, a little dated room, but upgraded bathroom. Staff friendly. Not a lot going on in the town in the winter but an affordable option that close to June montano and can allow you to get to Mammoth. read more

Very deceptive practices run by this shady hotel. they will take your reservation and charge you full even if they know that all the roads to their hotel are blocked. unsuspecting and new tourists can be easily fooled. if you talk to them about this, they will say we should have known ahead that the roads are closed. Well... then why did you accept the credit card inthe first place? read more

Location location. I've long wanted to visit Bodie State Historical (ghost town) Park, which is an easy drive from Lee Vining. So with that in mind I took in reviews. In researching the area a ranger/interpreter at Bodie suggested seeing the Mono Lake and area while based in Lee Vining. Good call. So plan C had me stay here, convenient to both Mono and Yosemite. Back at the motel... the room was big. Some reviews say "dark" and true, it is lightest by day with curtains open. But comfy, day and night, with a refrigerator, microwave, & A/C individual units. Great TV and Internet too. The place is right off the main road, good for breaking a long drive, and it turns out it's in a tiny little strip of town which is quite pleasant. There are several layers of parking lot, and motel landings too, with some central stairways (and no elevators). In the summer there's a breakfast cafe in the middle of the very flowery property. There's a view of Mono Lake (somewhat) but mostly views of parking, road and foliage. Pretty basic in terms of easy, low-key check-in: a small office with a few items for sale, like postcards and Yosemite caps, plus its own little display of antique-y things. Next door is a strip of 'the town' including the best general store / market I've seen yet in a small mountain town - Mono Market. They have all sorts of groceries, plus their own ice cream and Mono-ritos (including great breakfast burritos). My room had a nice desk area, though the once-lovely leather office chair had its armrests wobbling so much I was afraid to put weight on them. (A bit "worn"?) There was a separate sink area and bath/toilet room, FWIW. Lots of space for the room. Not spiffy new but pretty quiet. Early eves saw some people socializing on the shared porch along the level, or in the gardens below. And that's about all I can say. At the price it's competitive with other rooms around the lakes area (Mono and June), some may think high, but then it's really a resort town But next store is a lot of local flavor, some antiques and western Americana, a barbecue restaurant (eh), a great diner, and the wonderful Mono Market (open til 10) Life can be good here. read more

This is the best place to stay in Lee Vining. It has nice rooms, air conditioning, tv, fabulous gardens, and the Epic Cafe. The Epic Cafe is a farm-to-table establishment that seems to be very popular with the locals. The gardens attract a lot of hummingbirds, so you can sit outside and watch them. read more

We love this place! Beautiful grounds and an even better view! Lots to do in the area: fish, hike, explore ...etc. we have created many great memories with our family and love their 3 bed family unit (rm. 50 I believe). read more

Cannot say anything better about this location. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. To be honest, I wasn't really expecting much for a sub-$100/night stay during the off-season, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I was on a motorcycle ride coming from Death Valley that day and hit snow on the way in to Lee Vining. Of course I hadn't prepared for it, but the host, Taylor, offered me a tarp from his residence to cover my bike. He also moved our room to a bottom level unit for my peace of mind so I could keep an eye on the bike as well. No charge for either. Thanks again, man. The room was very clean and spacious, and once we got hot water for the shower it stayed hot. The AC/heater unit functioned very well, too. Beds and linens were very comfortable. TV had more than just local channels, so that was a plus when winding down and warming up after being frozen to the bike's seat. Wifi connection wasn't the fastest, but you can't expect business class out there. No big deal. I wasn't there to be on my phone or computer all day like some of the other reviewers were, apparently. The hotel is very nice on the outside, as well, with well kept landscaping and outdoor seating. It's close to an outdoor supply store, a diner/bar, and a small grocery/convenience store. I'm coming back on another ride next month. Would and have recommended to friends and family. read more

The cabin was OK but the promised wifi was non-existent. On other trips, I would have insisted to get a refund, but I was already settled in and it wasn't as critical a need as it usually is for me. They make a point of advertising this on the front of their building, they should deliver wifi for their entire property. read more

Sweet place, great location, guys at the reception were nice and helpful. Our room was more than good for its price - clean, well-furnished, rather spacy. All in all, love this place! read more

Very roomie and comfortable. Parking is not an issue. Reasonably priced and perfectly placed. I would recommend this to my friends.

Very cozy and affordable - hot shower, very comfortable bed, heat/AC, and neatly decorated rooms. Plus very friendly staff! Would definitely return. read more

Great local place to stay overnight(s) and be near Tuolomne Meadows entrance from Yosemite. We enjoyed staying in cottage. Recommend going down to the south end of Mono Lake near dusk to see the calcium (tuffa) formations and watch the sunset over the mountains and lake. read more

My family of seven and I stayed here after a long day of fishing. We rented one of their double wide trailers. It had 3 bedrooms (4 queen beds), 2 bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen, a deck, and a large living room with cable TV. On the coffee table in the living room is a binder with information about the area (where to eat, sights to see, etc.) which was really nice. We arrived in the evening, so it was already pretty dark out. While shuttling our bags from the car to inside of the trailer my brother fell down the deck stairs. There is a porch light, but it is on the opposite side of the porch (where there are no stairs). It is very difficult to see where you are walking, so we had to bring out the flashlights. We already reported the accident to the main office, I hope they have added some more lights since our stay. (**UPDATE** A light was added pointed at the stairs!) The inside of the trailer was very nice and homey. There is a big kitchen table where we played board games. The floors are very squeaky while you walk around. One of the bathrooms is part of a master bedroom in the back. I was overall very impressed with the appearance of the trailer and how much space there was for us. There is a BBQ outside for use as well as a dining table on the deck. There is plenty of parking for two vehicles. There is no WiFi in this area. WiFi is only available in the main lobby. You are near a few restaurants and a mini market. There are a few museums and landmarks to see. We loved our stay here and will definitely be coming back in the future. read more

The only place near Yosemite with reasonable rates and clean rooms. Bonus points for being extremely conveniently located next to a restaurant, bar, sporting/camping supply store and grocery store. All within a short walking distance. We never had to drive anywhere. What they lack (no pool, slow wifi) they make up for in quirky and cozy design elements such as the beautiful gardens they maintain with views of Mono Lake and plenty of areas to lounge and take a breather. The room had a fridge, cable tv and was a lot cleaner and nicer than I expected at just $120 a night during Yosemites peak season. We'll be back next year! The price is right the location is fantastic and the rooms won't make your OCD alarms go off! (I still wear socks no matter what hotel I'm staying at.) A GREAT place to prep for exploring Mono Lake and areas around or in Yosemite. We used it as a "Pit Stop" for our backpacking trip. I'd tell you where we backpacked but it's a local secret :) Highly recommend this hotel if you're not too picky and expect a luxury experience at a bargain rate. This is as close as you're gonna get to a nice hotel near Yosemite without breaking the bank. read more

Worst experience in lodging I have ever had and I travel for work, staying many months in hotels. Stay in June Lake which is way nicer with many restaurants and lakes to enjoy and only 15 mins away. If you are going to Yosemite you are actually not close to the valley and what is 15 mins? No charm in motel what so ever and facing a wall was no lake view. If you have pets you cant stay here. Heavy traffic noise as this is the commercial truck route and you are right on the road. Bright security lights over some windows. Company made reservation with my per diem without my knowledge on a Friday. I called Saturday morning to let them know I had paperwork for an emotional assistance dog who has traveled with me for years. I was told they do not accept dogs. I asked to cancel reservation and was told I could not and that it was a special rate for two weeks and had to be prepaid ( turns out it wasn't a deal, better in June Lake- in winter the occupancy is super low). They ended up allowing me to bring dog with large deposit, daily charge for dog, list of rules, ( which if I violated would allow them to keep deposit) and I was given a room in the corner facing a wall that was being patched. There were some minor problems with room, which under normal circumstances would be no big deal-(pipe under sink shot out water, burner had to be reconnected). Room had small kitchenette with minimal cooking items, not even salt and pepper or paper towels. Room was ok and warm, although loud. One of my colleagues at work and I decided we wanted to share a room to save per diem so i asked clerk at desk for room with two beds without facing wall- again motel mostly empty in winter and leased restaurant on site closed for season- you pretty much have to go to June lake as store was closed as well). clerk was very nice and was aware of my dog standing by my side . Moved on Sunday and was called on Wednesday night late in evening and told we had to move this was not a dog friendly room. The owner, Stephanie, who I had never met was very rude on phone. I said it was almost 8 pm and i work at 6 am. She put her husband on who gave me until Saturday to move but it would only be to my former room or another single room that was even smaller. He indicated I could no longer share a room. They said they had to deep clean the room but i said i would be leaving in a week and it did not seem like that big of a difference. I came to my room on Friday to find I was locked out. When I went to the desk the clerk put Stephanie on speaker phone. She began insulting me and being extremely rude and nasty. To be clear my dog did nothing wrong, there were no complaints, there were no damages and I worked long days with my dog. I had a credit card on file and had paid for room and deposit. I have never been treated so poorly. This was the worst customer service i have ever encountered. She told me i was lucky they would let me stay the night. I was later told by several people she is known for angry nasty outbursts and this was not the first time she had behaved this way in public. Her husbands family had apparently built the business and they had inherited it. I left the next day . I think they make all their money in summer with folks thinking Yosemite valley is actually close and they do not have to be hospitable. She claimed they went out of their way to be accommodating- Really! Bottom line-mean rude owners who should not be in the hospitality business. They do not care because there will always be guests in this area. The restaurant is not associated with them..stay someplace in June lake.. Many options of charming places. read more

Checked in for a two-day stay while I explored the area. The hotel is older but I found the room to be very clean and the grounds very well maintained. The staff was very nice and accommodating upon check-in and I also found the grounds well-lit at night which is important to me as a female Solo Traveler. Only bad thing I can say if you want to consider it bad is that the bed is very uncomfortable. I had a king size room with a kitchenette which was updated and also very clean. The rates are pricey but to be expected on this area. I would suggest that you eat prior to arriving in Lee Vining. There is only 2 small Cafes in town open this time of the year so your choices are very limited. I had read someone had commented about the truck traffic on 395 I did not notice the noise at all; maybe I am just a sound sleeper. If I were traveling through this area again I would choose this hotel. read more

Great stay. All the negative reviews for the Wi-Fi is funny since if they just read the hotels accommodations you can clearly see NO INTERNET read more

We had to cancel our stay at lakeview because of the smoke and unhealthy air. We cancelled just short of the cancelation period because of air quality. They refused to return my deposit and charged us for a night anyway. I would not suggest staying here at any time. We are in the Mammoth Lakes- June lakes area at least twice a year and thought we would try this motel while we were on our way to Lake Tahoe. Never again. read more

We stayed here in August 2017. Front desk person at check-in was very professional and sharp. The room was clean but very basic, and not as nice as you'd typically get for the price we paid. Our room was also strangely extra-wide, making it feel less cozy and romantic (which we were hoping for in a place like Lee Vining). (It was not a handicapped room, though, as there were no grip bars in the shower/bathroom). They have a zillion DirecTV channels, btw. Ironically, the room had a "Save Our Planet" placard (urging you to reuse towels etc), but 3 of the 4 main bulbs in the room were old energy-wasting incandescents. Bummer. read more

Be careful with these guys! They're unfriendly, unhelpful and mostly unavailable... My wife made a reservation to stay here and was told that there was a 72 hour cancellation policy. There was a change of plans--she was backpacking and unable to call but asked me before she left the trailhead to cancel the reservation for her. I called 5 days before she was scheduled to check in. Numerous calls when unanswered except for a recorded message to the effect that no one was available to take the call and to try again later (no option to leave a message). When I finally reached someone (again, 5 days prior to our check in date), I was told curtly that they don't accept reservations. Baffled, I called again the next day--no answer, no way to leave a message. I tried again 2 days before check in and explained the situation to the woman who answered the phone. She insisted that I was now too late to cancel the reservation and that we'd be charged full price for the room we couldn't use despite the misinformation I'd received and the difficulties in reaching anyone or leaving a message. I asked to speak to the manager and was told that s/he was out of town. So, then, I wrote them a letter, again explaining what had happened and why I thought that we shouldn't be charged. It's been 12 days since I posted the letter. I called one more time and, no surprise, got the recorded message that no one was available to help me. I just called my credit card company and requested (and got) a charge back. Needless to say, I won't ever book a room at this place again. read more

Super clean and well appointed, we enjoyed our 2 nights at the Lake View Lodge. The grounds are nice too, with well manicured garden areas throughout. Lee Vining is a convenient town to explore Yosemite from, as well as Mono Lake. Would definitely go back! read more