For six to eight
Group Lodging near Yosemite
For a group of six to eight, the easiest way to stay together near Yosemite is a whole home on the east side. The Yosemite Gateway Chalet sleeps eight in three private suites, 27 miles from the Tioga Pass entrance.
The short answer
Most lodging inside and around Yosemite is built for couples: hotel rooms, motel rooms and tent cabins. A group that wants to cook together, gather by one fire and still sleep apart needs a whole home. The chalet is that: about 4,000 square feet, rented to one party, with three suites upstairs and a Grand Room downstairs big enough for everyone.
At a glance
| Guests | Up to 8, including infants |
| Bedrooms | 3 suites, each with a private bath, plus a half bath downstairs |
| Beds | 2 California Kings, 1 queen, a pull-out sofa in the master loft, a pull-out futon in the family room off the kitchen |
| Gathering space | Grand Room with a 21-foot ceiling, open fire and oak bar; 12-foot dining table |
| Yosemite | 27 miles to the Tioga Pass entrance, 45 minutes to Tuolumne Meadows (seasonal) |
| Fees | Flat $295 cleaning fee, $59 a night for a seventh and eighth guest, and Mono County’s 15% lodging tax |
| Parking | 3 cars |
How a group of eight fits
Upstairs, the master suite has a California King, a private two-person jacuzzi and a loft with a pull-out couch. The Elsie Room has a ruby-red claw-foot tub. The River Room is the quietest in the house, with Yost Creek below the window. Every suite has its own bath, so nobody waits in a hallway in the morning.
Downstairs, a pull-out futon in the family room off the kitchen sleeps one or two more. The floorplan shows how the two levels fit together.
Cooking and gathering
Groups eat in. The remodeled kitchen has a six-burner stove, a double oven and a handmade copper sink, and it is stocked down to the coffee grinder and the garlic press. Dinner goes on a twelve-foot table of local pine. After dark, the outdoor hydrotherapy tub seats six under Carson Peak and runs all year.
We loved the three separate rooms, each with it's own bathroom. The large kitchen and dining room were perfect for our needs.
Planning a group trip to Yosemite from June Lake
From late May or June until about November, Tioga Road crosses the Sierra and the east entrance opens. A group can be at the Tioga Pass entrance in about 40 minutes and in Tuolumne Meadows in 45. Leave early: parking at popular trailheads often fills by mid-morning in summer. Yosemite Valley is two to two and a half hours away, a long but rewarding day.
Our Tuolumne Meadows guide and Tioga Pass guide cover the hikes, and lodging near Yosemite’s east entrance compares June Lake with Lee Vining and Mammoth Lakes.
Groups in every season
Summer and fall are for Yosemite’s high country, the four lakes of the loop and five paddleboards in the garage. Winter is for June Mountain, a mile away, where kids 12 and under ski free. Spring brings the trout opener and the first long days.
House rules that matter for groups
Arrival and departure. Check-in is from 4:30 pm and check-out is at 10:00 am. Ask at least 48 hours ahead if you need to arrive earlier.
Cars. Three at most in the driveway. Carpool from home, or meet in Lee Vining or Mammoth and drive in together.
The hot tub. Guests under 18, pregnant guests, and anyone with a heart condition or pacemaker may not use it.
Smoking and fire. No smoking indoors. Outdoors, stay at least ten feet from the house and mind the fire danger, which is real in the Eastern Sierra.
Pets. None. Any animal, service or emotional support, needs advance approval with paperwork from a licensed physician; see rates and policies.
Bears. Clear all food and trash out of your cars on arrival. Bears in the Eastern Sierra break into cars for far less than a cooler.
Booking for a group
Check open dates on our availability calendar and send your group’s details directly, or book on VRBO or Airbnb. Every stay adds a flat $295 cleaning fee and Mono County’s 15% lodging tax, and nothing else. See rates and policies for the house rules.
Questions
How many people can stay at the chalet?
Up to eight overnight guests, including infants, and no more than ten people on the property at any time. Mono County sets these limits.
How are the beds arranged for a group?
Three upstairs suites, each with a private bath, hold two California Kings and a queen. A pull-out couch in the master suite’s loft and a pull-out futon in the family room off the kitchen sleep two more.
Can we host an event or reunion at the chalet?
No. The county limit of eight overnight guests and ten people on site rules out weddings, parties and reunions.
How many cars can we bring?
Three. June Lake’s neighbors value the quiet, and the driveway holds three cars.
Is the chalet close enough to Yosemite for day trips?
Yes, in summer and fall. When Tioga Road is open, usually late May or June to about November, the Tioga Pass entrance is 27 miles away and Tuolumne Meadows about 45 minutes. In winter the east entrance is closed.