Where to Stay near Yosemite's East Entrance

At a glance

Who it suits

Families and groups of up to eight

Sleeps

8 in three suites, each with its own bath

Yosemite

27 miles to Tioga Pass, 45 minutes to Tuolumne Meadows, late May to November

June Mountain

1 mile; kids 12 and under ski free

Season

Open all year; the hot tub runs all year

Rates

$295 to $995 a night, plus a flat $295 cleaning fee and 15% Mono County tax

The east side in brief

Yosemite Valley gets the crowds. The east side, where Highway 120 climbs from the Mono Basin over Tioga Pass to Tuolumne Meadows, is the quieter, higher half of the park. There are no large hotels up here. Lodging inside the park along Tioga Road is limited and seasonal, so most people stay outside the park on US 395 and drive in.

One thing shapes every plan: Tioga Road is open only part of the year, usually from late May or June until the first big snow around November. Outside those months, there is no entrance to Yosemite from the east. See our Tioga Pass guide.

Comparing the three towns

	Lee Vining	June Lake	Mammoth Lakes
To Tioga Pass entrance	About 12 mi	27 mi, about 40 min	About 40 mi
To Tuolumne Meadows	About 30 min	About 45 min	About 1 hr
Character	A small highway town above Mono Lake	A mountain village on four lakes	A full resort town
Lodging	Motels and inns	Small resorts, cabins, vacation homes	Hotels, condos, homes
Winter	Quiet	June Mountain ski area	Mammoth Mountain ski resort
Best for	The shortest drive into the park	Lakes, trails, space and quiet	The most choice and nightlife

Lee Vining

The closest town to the entrance, at the foot of Lee Vining Canyon. It has a handful of motels and the Mono Lake Committee’s visitor center. If being the first car through the gate is everything, stay here.

June Lake

A village on the June Lake Loop, a horseshoe of Highway 158 past four lakes, under the granite of Carson Peak. You trade about 15 minutes of extra driving for lakes to paddle, trails from the door, a ski mountain and a much quieter night. See our June Lake guide.

Mammoth Lakes

The largest town on the east side, with the widest range of hotels, restaurants and services, plus the Mammoth Yosemite Airport. It is the farthest of the three from the Tioga Pass entrance.

Great property in a great location. Our host was friendly, available and helpful, responding promptly to a couple of questions we texted to him. The Chalet was as represented, and the surrounding June Lake area was just plain beautiful.

Staying as a group

Families and groups traveling together often want one house rather than several rooms. That is why the Yosemite Gateway Chalet exists: a 4,000 square foot log home in June Lake, rented whole, with three private suites, a Grand Room with an open fire, a gourmet kitchen and an outdoor hydrotherapy tub. It sleeps up to eight overnight guests. Mono County limits occupancy to eight overnight and ten on the property, so it is not a venue for events.

A day in the park from June Lake

1. Leave early, around 6:30, and fill up in Lee Vining.
2. Stop at the Tioga Pass entrance at about 7:15.
3. Walk Gaylor Lakes from the entrance, or drive on to Tuolumne Meadows for Cathedral Lakes or Lembert Dome.
4. Lunch by the Tuolumne River.
5. Drive back down Lee Vining Canyon in the late afternoon light, with dinner at the Whoa Nellie Deli at the bottom.
6. Home to the hot tub.

Before you book

• Season: for Yosemite access, book between late spring and fall, and watch the Tioga opening each year.
• Park entry: no reservations were required to enter Yosemite in 2026, and an entrance fee applies. Check the National Park Service for your dates.
• Winter: if your trip falls between November and spring, plan around skiing and snow on the east side rather than the park. See Yosemite’s east side in winter.