Best motel I ever stay in. Very clean motel, excellent location, super friendly staff and maids. Room was very comfortable, clean bed sheets, bathroom was beyond clean. Close to many attractions here in town. Our room vie was fenomenal looking at Mono lake and river behind the hotel. Super quiet room we got. I would recommend this motel to my fiends and family hands down. We will be back to Yosemite and we will stay here again. Thank you staff and owners you guys have an excellent motel. read more

You know... what's the point of giving a "3 star" motel 3 stars for completely meeting expectations... and doing so in the middle of nowhere? Meanwhile, this place is actually listed online as TWO stars (*gasp*)... but is obviously still nicest thing around here. Geez. What a bunch of picky yelpers who've been here... prissies! Room completely renovated (esp. for a 3 star motel) Bed and shower great (esp. for a 3 star motel) Amenities all solid.... Easy parking... solid Wi-Fi in a location with zero signal... Completely easy contactless check-in... yes, yes, yes, and yes. Also, right in the middle of the few food spots, 2 gas stations, 2 cafes, visitor center, and anything else in this tiny lil' tizzown called Lee Irving. Plus, they rent a room with 3 beds for families. So, yeah, like, for real, praise Jesus for having a roof over your head, appreciate when you get what you pay for, and plan ahead to make your own stay as comfortable as you can. At least there's an ice machine. Yes, I wish there were vending machines, an all night front desk, and fridges/microwaves in the room. But this is a 2 star motel in the middle of nowhere, nearby Yosemite, in the heart of the Sierra-Nevada's. YOLO and God bless you on your journey... *ahem* I meant life. read more

Whenever I'm planning a trip, there's one thing I never look forward to: Booking an inexpensive, quality place to stay at. Best case scenario, I don't get ripped off and management won't have to hear a peep from me. Worst case? I end up with a motel like Portland's Ranch Inn, where I have to fight for my life against bed bugs and secondhand smoke (https://www.yelp.com/biz/ranch-inn-motel-portland?uid=aKcehnoot5pkZt5keAP6Tg&utm_source=ishare). Unfortunately, more often than not something usually does go wrong. Recently though, I was actually able to receive a 4-5 star experience at a budget motel! Specifically, Yosemite Gateway Motel in Lee Vining. Never heard of this place before? Well long story short, my friends and I spent two quick days in the Sierra Nevada exploring beautiful landscapes and historic landmarks such as Mono Lake. Thanks to Booking.com, I was able to come across Yosemite Gateway. Despite its mediocre reviews on Yelp, I HIGHLY encourage all travelers far and wide to stay at this motel. And that's because there are way more good things about Yosemite Gateway than there are bad. So here's what I liked and didn't like about this place: -- ME LIKE -- 1. Very friendly, responsive, and flexible staff: Whether on the phone or in person, the workers at Yosemite Gateway were very professional and courteous. For example when I emailed them about whether the motel would be open when we arrived, they replied almost immediately. I also appreciated that they allowed late arrivals, meaning you could pick your key up outside the office way beyond closing hours so long as you checked-in during the morning. 2. Affordable prices: As mentioned above, I got our double-queen room through Booking.com. Overall, it was only about $210 for two days so $70/person in total for our group of three. 3. Amazing amenities: Even though Yosemite Gateway was considered a budget motel, we got quality perks. The water was SO CLEAN, the room had a coffee maker, and there was even a hair dryer. Furthermore, internet, tv, and cell reception all worked fine despite us being in the middle of nowhere. Probably the best thing for me though was the fact that our room did not reek of cigarette smoke. Thank goodness! 4. Gorgeous View: How often would you be able to step outside your room and gaze at a stunning landscape? Yep, this was definitely included with the price of our stay. We got a bird's-eye view of desert fauna, snow-capped mountains, and flowing streams of water. 5. Convenient AF Spot: Location is everything, and I'm still wondering why they didn't charge us more for our stay. Besides the view, we were literally only 20-40 minutes from major tourist destinations like Bodie State Park and Mammoth Lakes! Best of all, the motel was literally right along U.S. Highway 395. Can't miss it if you're coming to and from Yosemite. -- NO LIKE -- 1. No Refunds for Missing Out: For those of y'all interested in staying during the winter, I would double check the weather conditions because Yosemite Gateway WILL NOT provide refunds if you somehow can't get to the motel due to road closures/some other reasons. 2. Hard to Get Cold H2O: This is probably because we were in such a chill part of California, but it was quite difficult for me to get hot running water. So if you're planning on showering early in the morning, be prepared for a freeze. Because of all the good stuff Yosemite Gateway Motel had to offer, I definitely must give it an "Omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this" rating. Low cost, great package, and amazing location. Have fun and prosper, read more

See all

Proximity to Yosemite was the only good thing about this place. There was no air conditioning. The woman at the desk said that I didn't pay for an air conditioned room. I paid almost $250 in a dump. Are you kidding? It was hot. There was a loud cooling fan that didn't do much. There were no windows. The only door was a sliding glass door with a screen that didn't lock. We felt unsafe leaving it open. The stairs down to the room are uneven and hazardous. The room itself was okay but the outside needs freshening up. There is a fence on the terrace that looks like one you would use to fence animals in. Not very attractive or inviting. Someone left a half used bottle of wine in the bathroom cabinet. Makes me wonder how well they cleaned. Overall a big rip-off. There are not many hotel choices in the area so they are taking advantage of customers. Delivering very little for a big price. read more

See all

This hotel had both positives and negatives: Positives: clean, cozy bed, beautiful views, updated bedroom. Negatives: see picture of bathroom No microwave, refrigerator, cost... seemed like the price should have been $50 cheaper...would have chosen the place across the street had I known. It seems like they ran out of money to finish the bathroom... caulking around tub and paint job Bottom line is it a clean and comfortable hotel but for the $ would have chosen differently. read more

We just missed the bear! This place is the perfect location for entering Yosemite. Restaurants directly across the street that were good. Gorgeous view. Comfortable beds and the room was very clean. Also, coffee! read more

Clean, comfortable, cozy and a relaxing stay. Local cafe across the street for a quick breakfast after your relaxing night's sleep. No complaints. Definitely a fair price. Front office staff is friendly as well! Definitely would recommend and we will be back! Heads up though: bring snacks if you're planning on arriving late. Not many nearby stores to grab a bite or snack after dark, but given its location and small town vibes, that's understandable! read more

This is an older motel in Lee Vining that evidently sells out most nights due to the proximity to the entrance to Yosemite and other popular area attractions. I got the impression they all sell out quickly here, old and new. The gal at the front desk, Patti, is the mother-in law of the owner and is a delight, great sense of humor. We got their last room for $120+. They don't give discounts for AAA or AARP. The overhead light in the room was out and she was going to replace it but I offered my tall husband to do it. He was unable to though because the bulb was in there so tight neither he nor she were able to safely loosen it so we told her don't worry about it and she was going to have the owner look at it the next day. There was what appeared to be a large spider in the ceiling corner near the door and the bathroom door squeaked so loud it woke me up at night. That is easily remedied with a simple squirt of WD-40 yet seems to be an ongoing problem in motels. Maybe they don't train the maids to keep an ear out for loud squeaky doors. The room was clean and plenty quiet, plus had a spectacular view of Mono Lake and the mountains. I have gotten nicer rooms for way cheaper but in a resort town you don't have a lot of choice. The ice was convenient to get to and there was coffee in the room, which was nice in the morning. They were also walking distance to most of the town's restaurants. I would stay here again if I came back to town. read more

Visited the 3rd week in October for Eastern Serria Fall Colors for $249 (Peak price) Stayed in room 14 upstairs with a private balcony. Clean rooms. Large bedroom had one King and one Full size bed. The living room had a pullout sofa. Fridge, microwave, flat screen TV in both rooms. Heat termastat in all rooms. Great View Really enjoyed my stay here! read more

See all

We were on our way home from Yosemite and stayed here one night. We loved the eclectic vibe, the balcony with a Mono Lake view, and the clean, super comfortable bed. COVID restrictions are taken seriously here, we picked up our key from a board outside, and dropped it in a box on our way out. There are real people there though, because I forgot my laptop in the room, and they kindly and carefully boxed it up and mailed it to me immediately! I would definitely recommend this place. read more

We enjoyed our one night stay June 27 in room 18. The room was clean, the beds were comfortable and the AC worked great. The Wi-Fi also worked great. We enjoyed the views of Mono Lake from the tables and chairs outside. I forgot something when I left and the management mailed it to my home. Great customer service. I would stay there again. read more

I had booked a room here for one night so my husband and I could take our Son to Yosemite for the day. Unfortunately I had a schedule conflict and had to cancel, which I did a month before the booked stay. I called and left three messages and never got a call back. I sent an email about my circumstance and was rudely told basically that they don't need my business and they they were going to keep my $180.00 anyway. I was never even given the opportunity to give my room to a friend, it was just automatically cancelled when I sent an email trying to get help. This place is a racket and these people are crooks. DON'T BOOK HERE read more

My husband and I stayed at this hotel yesterday. We were very disappointed. The only positive thing that we could say about it is the view was magnificent but the hotel itself was not what we had hoped for. We had wanted air conditioning and knew when we reserved the room that this listed as a normal benefit of a room. We got no air conditioning. I went to complain to the desk clerk who herself was not helpful at all and very dismissive. She basically said we did not ask for air conditioning. We've never had to ask for air conditioning in all the years that we've traveled. And, even worse than that, we booked the room a while ago and the amount that we were charged was about $100 more than somebody coming in last night from the street. It was all very disappointing and I would not recommend it to anybody. read more

I can give three stars in evaluation of this property only for two reasons: 1. It has a great view of the Mono lake; 2. There is a cat named Ozzy living on the property, and he's really something, if you are a cat lover you'll find him really amazing. All the rest leaves much to be desired. But I doubt that you find anything better in this Lee Vining. The room we had was pretty spacious; the same goes for the bathroom. The bed wasn't creaking or making any noise like some write in their reviews. But the pillows were cheap and not comfortable, don't expect any goose down or something. Everything inside as well as outside looks quite beat up, but if you're staying overnight only - you can survive. One thing I hated the most was - the insects - there was a whole sanctuary of these different little butterflies, flies, moths etc flying around at night and especially attracted to the light in your room. They don't have any fridge or microwave in the room, only coffee maker. But you can use their fridge in the office as well as microwave is there. Open from 8am-10pm. The coffee and tea they provide there too. The stuff is really nice, by the way. The best view opens from the parking lot. If the price was 3 times cheaper - that would suit more for the place, but due to the lake and Yosemite park in the area - they charge you a lot more... read more

See all

The only reason I am giving this rating of 2 stars is because the shower was wonderful and actually had excellent water pressure and the bed linen was clean and well thought out. Everything else was not very good. We checked in and entered our room. The room had heavy smell of carpet cleaning product. I waited for my husband to enter the room and he nearly gagged at the smell. When I mentioned it to the office they felt I was overly sensitive. If you have Asthma this room would be a real problem. It was a 44 degree night and we had to sleep with the door open in order to breathe. What topped off our experience was our toilet block at 5am in the morning and we couldn't raise any body to help with the situation. The bed was extremely hard and with the cold that night it was an extremely unpleasant stay. There was a strange carpeted bit of wood in front of the shower with a bath mat on. The carpet or mat was glued to a raised board which was a little odd. We had difficulty getting the hotel WiFi in our room but could get it at the restaurant across the road. I would not recommend this hotel especially for the price! read more

A small motel, right on the highway. Comfortable beds, decent channel selection, solid water pressure. My room had some noise from the road, at least when big trucks rolled through. But you come here because of its location--right at the eastern end of 120 through Yosemite--and because it is cheap cheap cheap. And it excels at both those things. I'd stay here again. read more

This is an okay motel. It's got clean beds and rooms and a nice view. We were on the lower level where the main door is not a traditional door, but a sliding glass patio door. The shower head looked like they tried to repair it with plumbers tape, but it was still leaking in two spots. There was no telephone in the room? I'm unsure if this is allowed, but I'm unfamiliar with California state law. The room also smelled a bit sulfur-y, but this may be due to the water. It's a solid three star motel. read more

OK for this particular location with not much other choices but not so great. we stayed one night in a room at a lower level with view of the mono lake. View was great. It also had a nicely placed deck with table and chairs with the view. room was clean (strong cleaning solutions smell if you can take it) .Free Wifi. Other than that is was a very basic level, worn out and in need of remodeling. Some rather large scary old rusty radiator screen built into a floor in a corner and warning about possibly being too hot - stay away. Bathroom is very old and as basic as it can be. somebody started just to simply move around in the room upstairs at 4 am and woke both of us up without making any other noise. very squeaky floors and bad soundproofing. read more

Very nice stay! Room was clean, bed was comfortable and nice large bathroom. We had view of Mono Lake and sat outside the room in two metal chairs and table provided and ate dinner both nights there. Close to east entrance to Yosemite and stores and eateries walkable. I forgot my camera charger and battery and they sent it to me *no extra charge*, which was a bit shocking, since I'd left my something similar at a Hilton in Phoenix and they charged me to send it back to me. I will definitely come here again. And btw the Saddlebag Lake Loop hike is extremely recommended, too. Thanks, Yosemite Gateway Motel! read more

We spent 3 nights at this motel and are exhausted. The bed has some kind of plastic envelope around the mattress. Everytime my wife or I moved it was like sleeping on a bag of potato chips. It cracked and squawked all night. The mattress cover seems great for a hospice or for chronic bed wetters. The manager was polite but close to being rude. Whatever his calling it isn't as an inn keeper. There was a woman receptionist who was pleasant but I only saw her once. The room was clean and had a decent view of Mono Lake. If you need a motel in Lee Vining keep looking. It's a 30's building that simply hangs on because there is so little competition. FYI, bring lots of cash to Lee Vining. There are no banks and no one gives any "cash back." "Oh, just use the ATM in the corner." The ATM's are another way to wring a buck more out out of the tourist. The Mono Market gets $2.00 for an ATM withdrawl, they're the lowest in town. The Mobil Station and restaurant will nick you $4.00 a pop for the ATM. Plus my bank, B of A, skinned me another $2.50 for having the temerity to use an off brand ATM. Good luck... read more

Room was very clean, bed was comfortable. There was a coffee machine in the room. We had a fantastic view from our balcony. Friendly stuff! The room was allready heated up when we checked in. read more

Yosemite Gateway Motel - Hotels Near Me - Lee Vining, California

See all

This place may seem cute, but stay somewhere else! The rooms smell like they have not been deep cleaned since 1967 and the constant traffic of the highway only 4 feet away evokes the sense of staying at Motel 6 on an interstate. The woman at the front desk was not at all welcoming or sensitive to the fact that I had been driving all day, was traveling with my elderly parents, was hot, exhausted, and dehydrated and instead said, "Could you try to hurry up and make a decision - we sell out really quickly..." I made the right decision and decided to go somewhere else. For a much cleaner and pleasant experience, stay somewhere on the June Lake Loop just 10 miles south. read more

Rooms were very clean and cozy, beautiful views and management was extremely accommodating. We had a lovely stay and would come back again!

I stayed 1 night on 10/19/2012. The motel is conveniently located on highway 395. Wifi is included in the room and it had a nice view of mono lake, albeit the lake was a little distance away. I stayed in room 2 which was ground level so when you opened the bathroom window to get fresh air, people walking by on the sidewalk can see into your bathroom. I also didn't feel safe because there was no latch on the bathroom window to lock it. The shower was remodeled fairly recently so it was clean. The room had a powerful heater but no air conditioner. The receptionist at the front desk was nice and helpful. Unfortunately the unacceptable problem was I found a live bed bug on my bed. Nasty! I will not stay there ever again due to the safety issue & bed bug. read more

What a dump! This place is barely maintained and very run-down. There is fence wire stapled to the railing around the porch leading to our room. This was clearly an alternative to refitting with an attractive and safe railing. The ceiling over the porch is covered in spider webs and dead bugs. The screens are held onto the windows with duck tape. Even so there are are holes big enough to allow flies into the room. There were ants in the bathroom and dead gnats all over the telephone and bedside table. One window in our room appeared cloudy. On closer inspection, it was scratched over most of its area. The scratches came from opening the window, because the frame of the moving pane rubs over the fixed plexiglass pane. When we first checked in, the shower curtain appeared way too long, with about a foot of it lying in the tub. It had fallen off the wall and was being held up by the old, obsolete shower door frames. I was able to fix it. Where the tub meets the wall, there is a 1.5" piece of plastic "sealant" that has green adhesive (I hope) oozing from behind it. We had originally planned to stay 3 nights, but after one, we couldn't face that prospect. We cut our trip short and checked out after the second night. The one good thing I can say is that the manager refunded our 3rd night without any hesitation. The beds have a rubber sleeve over the mattresses that make it sound like you're sleeping on a life raft. Every move elicits an annoying rubbing noise. The sleeve also induces sweating. None of the four of us slept well either night. This motel may seem like a reasonable place to stay close to Yosemite, but please plan far enough ahead that you can avoid this dump. read more

Friendly customer service. Such a cute place to stay; reminded me of a little boat house. Stayed in room 8, so we got a great view of the lake and could hear the river. Only a few things to do in town, but conveniently walked to it all from the motel. read more

We've stayed at the Yosemite Gateway probably four times over the years. Its old but functional in a well maintained kind of way. Its not luxury accommodations, but comfortable. The view of the lake from the deck area is great, plus the rooms are quieter since they are below grade. We've always been treated well by the staff over the years, and would recommend staying here if you find yourself in town for the night. read more

This is our second time staying here and I'll definitely stay here again. I'd reccomend staying on one of the backside (quirky) rooms for a bit less road noise, but both rooms we've stayed in and the one my bf parents stayed in are all great. Clean and simple. Beautiful views and close proximity to everything. Beds are comfortable especially for the price. read more

The view was nice! and the location above mono lake is to die for. and i loved that they dont have the new magnetic keys that dont work sometimes in hotel rooms. Traditional keys make me excited nowadays. i wish they had a "do not disturb" sign so that i would not have had a room service person waking me up at 930 a.m. on a day i wanted to wake up whatever time i wanted. but other than that the hotel is perfect for the price. read more

I was brought here for a surprise weekend get-away, and was not disappointed. The check-in clerk was sweet and friendly, even gave us some pointers on how to get down to the flowing creek behind the motel. Got to our room, expecting a Motel 6 from 1989, and ended up pleasantly surprised. Large bed, room was very clean, large bathroom, t.v. and coffee maker as well. The shower was a bit small, and no fridge or microwave, or phone. Walking distance to the market, and restaurants, and very easy to find. Parking is a bit tough if you have a large truck though. But our view from our room was amazing (any room) and we listened to the rushing creek all night long. They have several cool small patio areas to hang out (and a very sweet cat that'll hang out all night with ya). Had a small glitch with a lost remote after house-keeping, but they handled it like pros. The doors and stairs are a bit nosy, and it was time to replace our mattress, but overall, I can't wait to stay here again. read more

The man at the front desk was borderline rude, one of the two queen beds' frame was broken, the paint was peeling off, the bathroom caulking looked like it had been made by a two-year old, one picture missing on the wall while the screw -however- is still hanging, and for all that we paid $179 for one night. The view is ok but honestly, this room is not even worth $79 per night. read more

We stayed here many years ago and I recall that we liked it. The good points are that the bathroom is large and modern (unlike everything else), a decent view of Mono Lake, and free WiFi. The bad includes wet floor from swamp cooler, stuffy room so had to keep the door ajar, terrible lock on sliding glass door, and 2-prong outlets. Bottom line, not a good value because also pricey. read more

A-OK 3 stars is a perfect rating for this motel. We had 4 people stay in 2 different rooms and were happy with the rooms. Shower and bathroom were adequate and beds, although quite used, still offered a decent night's sleep. Pillows were poor. It ain't the Ritz Carlton, but it's in Lee Vining for Christ's sake. Nice view of the lake. read more

Go for Room 12! It's farthest from the highway and looks out (hangs over) Lee Vining Creek and the lake. It's a great birdwatching spot and the veranda outside the room is a good spot for reading, breakfast or nature contemplation. read more

Planned to stay, made my reservation through hotels.com, found out I needed to stay further south. My reservation was on a Tuesday night at 10:05pm, tried to cancel at 10:45 for a Friday stay. They didn't answer the call from hotels.com. I called in the morning and they were willing to cancel my reservation and charge me $20. 7 day cancelation policy. Won't stay in future. read more

So i didnt have the highest hopes for this hotel after seeing it in person. Run down huildings from the 40s house rooms with little amenitys (no fridge) and matresses covered in rubber undersheets which make sounds remisant of inflatable tubes. the pillows are all extra thick which was not good for my bad neck, and i counted 11 dead flys smashed on the ceiling and walls. There were also 2 live flys in the bathroom. I will not stay here again. read more

The views from some of the rooms (not ours) are probably spectacular. Other than that, this is basically an older Motel 6 with updated linens and extra pillows. Beds are strangely creaky/squeaky. Bathroom is in serious need of updating, and the shower/tub is so narrow I think only a child could take a bath. If we had paid $75-100 for this room I'd be a little peeved. We paid 200 DOLLARS. It takes big brass ones to charge that kind of money for this very basic hotel. read more

Gave this hotel 3 stars because of the view of the lake, not because of any helpfulness on the part of the staff. The room was adequate, barely. Just barely enough of amenities, including soap, shampoo, and t-paper. Had to keep asking for more. It advertised TV, but staff did not seem happy about helping to see why it wouldn't work, and said they didn't subscribe to a lot of channels. Said the book (where was it?) told how to use it, but it was in a drawer and was not adequate. Why not just say, no TV? Internet there, but very slow. I would look elsewhere next time. read more

It is an older motel located just outside Yosemite . The bathroom is very dated. The door to my room can not be locked when I leave. On the bright side I don't think they really have any crime in this little town. They have taken the time to set up nice seating areas outside to enjoy the views. Nice big flat screen with DirectTV in the room. It's old but clean. Everything is in walking distance. I would stay again. read more

This was much nicer than expected. With three kids, we were hoping to find a place with enough room for all of us and the Deluxe Family Suite was perfect. Clean and relatively modern, with two beds (queen and full) in one room and a fold-out sofa bed in the other. Nice view of Mono Lake, and they were helpful with directions for touristy things to do. Reading some of the other reviews, it sounds like maybe they made renovations recently, or perhaps the other rooms are different. read more