Yosemite Gateway Motel

A simple hillside motel with big‑sky Mono Lake views and a straight shot to Yosemite’s Tioga Pass.

Yosemite Gateway Motel sits above Highway 395 in Lee Vining with a front‑row look at Mono Lake’s salt‑white tufa towers and the Eastern Sierra’s long horizons. Rooms are spread across a few low‑rise buildings; some step out to small terraces or shared sundecks where the evening light turns the basin silver. Inside, spaces are straightforward and uncluttered—think flat‑screen HD TV, a private bath with shower or tub, reliable free Wi‑Fi, and a coffee maker to set the day in motion. A handful of rooms face the lake; others tuck closer to the road for quick in‑and‑out access.

The mood here is classic highway‑town practical: park just outside, grab a coffee, and be on the road before the sun clears the ridge. For slower mornings, the terraces do the heavy lifting—sit out and watch weather move across the lake, or plan a loop to Tuolumne Meadows when Tioga Pass is open. In winter and early spring, when the pass closes seasonally, the motel remains a useful base for Mono Lake and Bodie’s high‑desert history; in summer and fall, it’s one of the closest beds to Yosemite’s east entrance.

Practical touches anchor the stay. Parking is free on site. Wi‑Fi holds up for maps and last‑minute trail checks. Tea/coffee makers, heating, and private entrances add small comforts after high‑altitude days. Staff keep things moving with daily housekeeping and simple, no‑nonsense service. The point isn’t frills; it’s location—near Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, a quick drive to Bodie State Historic Ghost Town, and about a half hour down to Mammoth.