Joanna and I stayed at Ray's Den Motel on June 23 on a drive from Phoenix, AZ to Reno, NV. It is a small but beautiful motel, well-maintained and comfortable. Joanna loved the flowers on the porch and the bedspread. She is notoriously picky but she liked the motel and we both slept well. I liked the views of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Nice place to stay. read more

Ray's Den Motel - Hotels Near Me - Independence, California

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This sweet motel is just want I wanted and expected. I loved that I could sit outside our room in redwood chairs and enjoy the dessert air sipping wine, reading and enjoying watching the 2 motel cozy free range cats. The owner was very friendly and kind and welcoming. We had a beautiful hike from the motel across the creek toward the Mts in the morning. The room itself was clean and comfortable. I slept well. read more

This place is a weary hiker's best friend. Arrived at the Onion Valley trailhead from Kearsarge Pass around 7pm. I called ahead and they had a room available! So lucky! Hitched down with a lovely couple. Linda from Ray's was the nicest, sweetest host you'll ever meet. She went out of her way to call the local taco truck to stay open so I could get a warm meal before calling it a night. The room was clean, linens were white, the A/C was cold all night, and the water pressure for the shower was great! Cute little outdoor seating for every room. Amenities in-room included: coffee bar, shampoo/conditioner/body wash, hair dryer, microwave, mini fridge and TV. Slept soundly. Check-out was 11am. I highly recommend! Thanks for the hospitality, Linda! read more

I recently stayed here with a few of my book club friends. We were on a little road trip and all of us had a great stay here. The rooms are so clean and well-maintained. Beds were cozy and there's coffee with real creamers in the rooms! Lots of little touches like that. There is a great hike up the road-well worth doing. Linda the owner told us about that. She is very nice and hard working person. We will stay there again for sure when we are in the area. read more

I love this place. The rooms are clean and roomy, considering they're all studios. Microwave and coffeemaker (not one of those horrible Keurig things), mini fridge. Good TV with cable. Helpful cable channel card. There's a great mini-library in the office with books relevant to the area. Linda, the owner, is kind, friendly, and responsive. I will always stay here when between Bishop and Lone Pine. Highly recommended. read more

While heading down 395 (in central-ish California) at high speed, I suddenly needed a place to grab a few hours napping. The room I got at Ray's Den was clean, comfortable and cheap. The manager was also very nice. This is a good place. read more

Have you tried to book a hotel in Lone Pine or Bishop over a holiday? Well, here's the next best place! Seriously, an easy drive from Lone Pine and just as easy to Bishop, but a great escape from the crowds and traffic. Linda (proprietor) is great, and always looking to please. The first night's stay was a real treat. I was jonesing for chocolate but had no where to go, so I was getting ready to settle for an apple, when I noticed not one... but TWO peppermint patties on the night stand! Oh heaven had answered my prayers, with a little help from Linda! Yes, upon arrival you will be treated to sweets! If you want to get out and stretch your legs, there are a few great trails you can meander through on both the west side of the hotel and across the street on the south side. You'll find lingonberry trees galore on the east, and an amazing high and wild stream to the west! Try this wonderful fruit (small, but tasty!) as the sun sets and your day winds down to a close. But don't pass up the opportunity to support local businesses and keep Ray's Den alive! Maybe one of these days Linda will be able to get out herself and enjoy Mule Days in Bishop! read more

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If you ever pass by Independence and need a place to stay, this is THE best place ever! We visited Independence simply because we went to go visit Manzanar NP. Since we live in Los Angeles, the drive was going to be roughly six hours after work. We left L.A. at around 7PM. I called Ray's Den and let them know that I would get there around 1 in the morning. Linda (the manager of the motel) said that no one will be up at this time (this is a small town, after all), but that she would leave the key under the welcome mat and we can take care of payment the following morning? Who does that? I mean, Linda, not ever meeting me trusts a complete stranger to a room, and not even needing any type of payment, allowed me and my girlfriend to stay for the night. She really bent over backwards to ensure that we would have a night's rest. Her room rate was $75.00/night in June (which changes depending on season). The next morning, we went to the front desk and paid for the room. She makes awesome blueberry muffins. I thanked her for the wonderful service and we went on our way to Manzanar NP. I would definitely recommend this place if you want to visit Manzanar, Onion Valley or any other landmark in this area. Linda makes sure that your stay is a pleasant one. You'll definitely feel the small town hospitality! read more

This motel is the best motel i have stayed in. The owner, Linda was friendly and had good information about the surrounding areas. She had a row of books in the office and let me borrow one to read over night. Thanks to her, i learned of other interesting sites we decided to visit. Our room was organized and clean. We didn't feel like being in a motel. Magazines on the surrounding areas, fridge, wifi, microwave, air conditioner, quality toilet paper ( no tissue thin stuff here!), nice thick towels, coffee and tea, good bath and body products... I am returning to this nice cozy den when in the area. read more

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Could this place have a more bizarre name? That's part of what got us there! Rooms are clean, well-organized, comfortable, and your parking place is right at your room door. Linda, the owner, was a charm, fun to talk to and full of great insights for nearby eateries. Even the coffee we made in the room was just the start of another perfect day driving through California. And, yes, I will make sure to stay here again! read more

Ray's Den Motel - Perfect little motel along Hwy 395! Clean, very comfortable, and coffee in the room! - Hotels Near Me - Independence, California

Have driven past this place many, many times over the years, and finally decided to spend the night. Very friendly check in. Place is spotless. Nice chairs outside the doors to hang out and have a drink etc. Sheets and towels top notch. No funk etc, bathroom spotless and all plumbing worked perfectly. A/C unit functioned well. Would recommend to anyone driving 395 and needing a friendly/quality place to spend a night or more. read more

Linda was awesome staying a little late to check us in after a fire forced us to evacuate our campsite at Whitney Portal / Alabama Hills. The mint on the pillow was a good sign as we opened the door. The A/C was pumping - crucial on a 100+ degree day. Beds are soft and we didn't hear any noise from the road. I had a great night sleep. Would strongly recommend for any travelers in the Eastern Sierra. read more

Super cute motel off the highway. Clean linens and a warm shower what else can you ask for? The owner was very accommodating and welcoming. The room was clean and the cable TV was a plus! The peppermint patties were also a cute treat. Definitely not what I expected from a road side motel, well worth the room rate. Will stay here again if we are in the area! read more

Clean, comfortable, friendly, affordable. Great value in lodging if you need a basic place to stay. Loved walking over to the park behind the motel and discovering the walking path around Independence, which led to a native plant garden. And the ice cream shop two blocks away should not be missed! read more

Old school, but very well maintained and clean. They also have a nice and friendly kitty.

Wow the best little motel in the world highly recommend this place as theee hospitality and cleanliness was great will come back even if it just for the night one day nice cozy relaxed read more

Last week My mom & I broke down literally across the street from this hotel. Linda took The Best Care of us. Got a nice clean comfy room for great price. Next morning our tow truck Still Never came. Linda came across the street twice to check on us & then she called local friends to help. They came Immediately, changed my tire & tried finding a new one. Sent us to a Great tire shop, Perez's Tires in Bishop and we were finally back on the road. They would Not take any money either for all their help. Highly recommend Linda and her hotel! read more

The is a great place to stay. Very friendly, with clean and comfortable rooms. We come back every year when fishing in the area. Linda, the owner runs a very nice operation. You will not be disappointed if you stay here. read more

PRO: Clean, well priced, and easy to deal with. CON: NONE! I book a night here for a night after reading the reviews. When I reserved the room, it was pleasant. Just needed my name and credit card. Pretty normal. When we got there, checking in was quick and no hassle at all. Our room was clean and immaculate. The other reviews wasn't lying. Since we were going to leave at 5am in the morning, Linda said to just leave the key in the room and shut off the heater/lights and it was as simple as that. I would recommend this place to anyone staying near the area. read more

I read a lot of great review about this standard mom and pop motel in remote Independence and was frankly a bit disappointed. I specifically decided to stay in Independence for the Still Life Cafe, which was a awful! Do not bother going to this cafe.The owner innkeeper here at Rays Den was pleasant enough ( and has eco-liberal sensibilities) but no one was there when I checked in,had to call on the phone and luckily she was nearby. This motel is right on highway 395, so is a bit noisy, luckily the traffic dies down in the evening. Bed was quite comfortable and granted,room was spotlessly clean. I love vintage decor but this room is dated and there is a big difference. Only thing vintage is the cool neon sign out front. I did like the simple continental breakfast served on reception counter which I ate sitting on the provided Adirondack chairs in front of each room. I think next time I would stay in Lone Pine and spend more time in the Alabama Hills, great Visitor Center and Manzanar National Park. read more

Ray's Den Motel - Hotels Near Me - Independence, California

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Linda, the den mother of Ray's Den Motel is awesome. This little motel is a one-woman operation and that woman is amazing. The rooms are dated and simple, but positively immaculate. The outside of the motel is adorable, with flowers and well tended plants. The rates are reasonable and we will most definitely be back. Don't expect loads of bells and whistles, but do expect clean rooms, a super nice owner and a comfy bed to sleep in. read more

Man if you are heading to Mammoth this place is a nice break. Room are very clean and the management is supper friendly and helpful. We are planning on stopping here on all our trips from now on. read more

We just spent the last three nights here and couldn't be happier with the experience! The motel is very well maintained, and the service was excellent. We asked for several extra pillows and towels, which were brought immediately to our room. The room was very clean, spacious, and comfortable. We made use of the microwave, mini fridge, and coffee maker (they provided coffee, creamer, and cups too). The scenery around the motel was gorgeous, and made for a great early morning walk. Overall, I would highly recommend Ray's Den Motel. read more

Linda is very nice and the place is kept very clean and neat. Would give 6 stars if l could.

Best out of 37 hotels I have stayed at in the last couple months!! CLEAN Friendly Kind Great price Awesome Stayed 4 days instead of two. Owner & mother Shirley outstanding !! Loved staying here. :) read more

Clean and very close to everything in town. Great place to stay for this 4th of July. Great stay and thanks. Hope to make this our annual stop for the fourth. read more

Ray's Den Motel - 4th of July - Hotels Near Me - Independence, California

We have stayed at this wonderful motel numerous times, and have always been so pleased with our stay. We have alsostayedat all of the other motels in the area, but none compare to Rays Den. Honestly, its better with every stay. Linda provides clean white linens and towels, spotless rooms, comfortable beds, and even yummy york peppermint patties. Its a great location for Kearsarge pass, Mt Whitney, or Bishop. Thank you for a great Eastern Sierra's motel!! read more

It's a simple 1949 motel that is super clean. Even the wall heater is clean and fuzz free. Clean white linens on a comfy bed, a fridge, coffee maker, microwave, hair dryer- everything you need! And it's an easy, flat 40 minute drive to Bishop and 15 minutes from Lone Pine. In a quiet neighborhood with easy access to the Sierra. Linda is a very nice, friendly host. Definitely recommend! read more

Stayed here for three nights. The owner is very personable and loaded with local knowledge. I am used to brisk interactions with chain hotels, so this was a treat to have a friendly and eager owner who was very present in her business. The room was very clean (and came with two York peppermint patties!) and even though it was close to the freeway, I hardly heard anything. The bathroom is a decent size and outside of each room is two nice patio chairs to relax in the cooler nights. Also, right behind the hotel is a little park (if you are traveling with kids and pets) and there is a short trail to a nearby museum. And the area is very quiet at night and SAFE! I had most of my belongings in the car, and was relieved to find them safe and sound each morning. It was also the cheapest hotel in the area and I would highly recommend staying here-there are only 5 rooms so call in advance read more

What a pleasant experience! Linda was so friendly and the place was very clean with bright white linens. The WiFi, complimentary soap and shampoo, and coffee were also a bonus. Would definitely stay if I was in the area again. read more

After 10 hours in the car, Independence, California was a pleasant surprise. Ray's Den was a sweet, clean motel. It was nice place to crash for the night. It was within walking distance of a few places to eat. The bed was comfortable and the room was warm. We could hear the faint sound of passing cars out the window but it wasn't loud enough to bother us. read more

We must have stayed here 20 times over the last 8 years. Consistently clean room. Fun that it has only 8 rooms. Linda, the owner, is a wonderfully friendly person. I have recommedend Ray's Den Motel to many of my friends and they love it as well. A few miles south is a yelper's delight for a restaurant, The Seasons. As good a restaurant as you'll find in any big city. Walking the residential streets of little Independence is a pleasure early in the morning. read more

Terrible service. Be warned the the owner has the worst attitude. Not so clean either. Do not recommend it. read more

RIP OFF My husband and I signed for 84.00 for the room for one night. After we left Linda charged our bank card 184.00! When we called thinking she just made a mistake we were told we smoked in the room so she charged us 100.00. We do not smoke. This is a way for them to make extra money. Now we will have to go through our bank to cancel the charge and my husband being an attorney will deal with this his way. Just know that what you agree to pay for isn't what you might get. And then for her to lie to us on the phone about smoking to justify her getting more money....wow. read more

Affordable lodging beneath the awe inspiring Sierra Nevadas. I always try to support small, local businesses rather than big chains whenever I can. The owner/manager was a friendly woman who conducts her business as if you're a local. Wifi included. Recommend to anyone traveling the 395 read more

I stayed at Ray's Den as a guest of the Museum in Independence. I have stayed in many motels in the area, Ray's Den with owner Linda moves right to the top! CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN!!!! Nice beds, clean bathrooms. My senior parents were with me, they enjoyed every minute of their stay. I would not hesitate staying here again!!! Loved it! read more

Very clean and great service. My jeep broke down and Independence became my home for the night. Ray's Den was the light shining that I needed and I was even met with an offer to pick me up at California City Automotive knowing I didn't have a functional vehicle. Thank you! read more

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the owner of this tiny motel is so helpful. we've stayed here twice before and both times she's made sure we got the end room that is by far the largest of the 8 or so there. it is far cry from the nice modern or elegant hotels you'll find in the cities, but this humble little place is very clean, parking is right outside your door, free wifi, and the owner was nice enough to lend us her bbq to cook our caught fish on. read more

What's to say about a 7 or 8 room motel? One thing is, why don't I stay at more places like this? It's quaint, the owner is on site and it's obviously well taken care of. The room was spotless, the area was quiet and you get your own large parking stall in front of your room. If you're used to large noisy two story motels, then this isn't your place. If you like a quiet neighborly home away from home, give Ray's a call. You won't be disappointed. read more

We just spent 3 nights at Ray's Den Motel and it was a delight. My father and I were in Independence for a work weekend doing our part to help restore the #18 steam locomotive at Dehy Park (pronounced day-hee) and this made for a great base of operations. The Motel itself is small (only 8 or so rooms), quiet (I did mention it only has 8 rooms), and yet has most everything a modern traveler needs including wi-fi. From the outside, you are staying at a blast from the past - an old motor lodge (old by prestige not by condition), but on the inside, the rooms are just as well appointed as other modern chain hotels. The ambiance alone is worth the stay. The rooms have a TV, refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot and wall mounted AC (that kept us perfectly cool) and a wall heater for the winter months. The beds, for me at least, were just right (not overly firm) and quite comfortable. The Bathroom has a shower, sink and toilet and was complete with a hair dryer, body and hair liquid soaps, plenty of towels and even a nightlight (talk about feeling at home). Everything was clean and well maintained. Linda, the proprietor, is a real sweetheart and made our stay there very comfortable. She is a one-woman-army in that she does it all there. She's the manager, maid and everything else needed to keep Ray's Den clean and welcoming. She is truly the Den Mother. While there we ate at two local establishments: Jenny's Cafe located just a block away and across the street; and a new place (2011) called Dugan's (formerly Hooligan's I believe) a bit further down the street but on the same side as the motel. Both were excellent places to dine and had friendly staff and great food. Overall - This is a place to stay at for sure. You just can't do any better than feeling at home while away from home. The price won't put a big dent in your traveling budget either. read more