25 Best Hotels in The Sierra Nevada, California

Guests at Rio Sierra come for the river views, the sandy beach, and the proximity to Sequoia National Park (6 miles away), but invariably end up raving equally about the warm, laid-back hospitality of proprietress Mars Roberts. The charm of many Three Rivers establishments is their nod to family vacations of 1950s California—in some cases because the places actually haven't changed since then—but Roberts's shabby-not-trying-to-be-chic aesthetic lends her inn a contemporary, lived-in feel. And that beach! From May into October it beckons so compellingly you might have to remind yourself you came here to visit the park.

Every room here is impeccably styled with European antiques, sumptuous fabrics, fresh-cut flowers, and oversize soaking tubs. You'll feel pampered from the moment you drive through the wrought-iron gates. Fall asleep by the glow of a crackling fire amid goose-down pillows and Italian linens, then awaken to a hearty European breakfast in the dining room. Afterward, relax with a game of chess in the piano room beneath an exquisite ceiling mural, or indulge in a treatment at the on-site day spa.

The cabins at this resort a 10-minute drive south from Mammoth Lakes range from rustic to modern and come with fully equipped kitchens, including coffeemakers and premium coffee. The least-fancy feel like upgraded fishing cabins, and the nicest have whirlpool tubs and other creature comforts. In addition to the 28 cabins, three houses are available for groups of 12–32 people. Whichever room you book, the valley here is so gorgeous that you may want to spend all your time outdoors. Winters are especially pretty.

Lofty pines tower over this June Lake Loop spa retreat with rooms in four buildings overlooking a pond, as well as a three-bedroom house and knotty-pine two-bedroom cabins—all with fully equipped kitchens. The on-site Eagles Landing Restaurant serves three meals a day, and spa services and treatments, plus access to the indoor pool, are available for guests and nonguests. In 2023, the spa added soaking tubs and new treatments including acupressure, neuromuscular release, Thai massage, and lymphatic drainage massage.

On the edge of the John Muir Wilderness Area, where cross-country ski trails lace the woods, this 1924 lodge looks like something out of a snow globe. The lake it borders is serenely beautiful, and during warm months fishing, canoeing, hiking, and mountain biking can be had right outside. For more privacy, opt for one of the cabins, which range from rustic to downright cushy—many have kitchens and fireplaces or wood-burning stoves. The softly lit Lakefront Restaurant (reservations encouraged) serves outstanding seasonal cuisine.

A stay at one of the region's largest hotels puts you amid the wilderness with all the creature comforts—from the striking lobby lounge, with its high windows and sturdy beams, to the ample lodge rooms where baths have granite countertops and brushed-bronze fixtures. An additional 19 buildings hold 53 cottage rooms with outdoor seating areas and gas fireplaces, and there are 50 deluxe, custom-built, creekside cabins as well. The resort restaurants offer everything from continental cuisine to burgers, pizzas, and pastas.

On a hill just steps from the Village at Mammoth, the Westin provides full-service comfort and amenities close to restaurants, entertainment, and free public transportation. Artwork and other details reflect local character, from a Devils Postpile sculpture at reception and the lobby's slate floors to the reclaimed boulders in the Whitebark restaurant. Choose from studio or one- and two-bedroom units—most are pet-friendly and have fireplaces and either kitchenettes or full kitchens; some units have balconies. Additional perks include a heated pool, underground parking, fitness center, two whirlpools, a ski valet, a free shuttle, and charging stations for electric cars.

Across from the Village at Mammoth, this family-run hotel (with rooms and a couple of cabins) offers basic comforts and a few niceties such as attractive pine furniture. All rooms have fresh color schemes, contemporary bedding, ski racks, refrigerators, coffeemakers, and flat-screen TVs, and some rooms have fireplaces and kitchens. The pool is a nice touch in summer. Best of all, you can walk to shops and restaurants, including the on-site Petra's. In business for over 50 years, the owners also run the downstairs Clocktower Cellar pub. The Village Gondola is across the street, a major plus for skiers.

With a location near Highway 41 (the main route to Yosemite), Fresno State, and a big mall, this well-run hotel is popular with families, businesspeople, and parents with offspring at the university. The rooms, done in bright oranges and yellows, have perky-patterned rugs and curtains, flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and good-size bathrooms. An outdoor pool, a hot tub, and a modest fitness center are among the amenities.

Perched on 11 hillside acres, Oakhurst's best motel has carefully tended landscaping and rooms with stylish contemporary furnishings and hand-painted murals of Yosemite.

This mountain-lodge-style hotel, where the river-rock lobby has a wonderfully large hearth, is a good base for exploring the town or going skiing and trout fishing nearby. Rooms are elegantly furnished; request number 140 for a view of the creek. In summer you can sit around fire tables near the water's edge.

Every room at this two-story motel has a patio facing a sun-dappled grassy lawn, right on the banks of the Kaweah River; individually decorated cottages and cabins across the river have private outdoor spaces with barbecue grills. Accommodations are simple and well kept, and the lodge sits a mere ¼ mile from the park gate. Book well in advance.

Built to cater to the film industry, this lodging in the center of town consists of a 1923 hotel—where John Wayne, Gene Autry, and other Western-movie greats stayed—and a late-1950s motel, where rooms (many of them updated in 2023) are more spacious. Both buildings have access to a pool and are within walking distance of just about everything in town. 

This former antiques store and car garage landed in the right hands with the Rose family, who transformed it into a boutique hotel for those on a hostel budget. Designed with community in mind, there are plenty of common spaces, including a kitchen; picnic area; and lounge with games, books, and a fireplace for winter nights. Rooms are spotless and modern, including the bunk rooms for hikers seeking refuge from the Pacific Crest Trail. Among the lodging options are seven private rooms, five family rooms, four bunk rooms, and one apartment suite. In summer, an airstream is set up, offering pastries to go with your free coffee served daily from 6 to 10 am.

Amid the trees near Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy entrance, this sprawling property is perfect for families. The cabin complex includes a recreation center, playground, amphitheater, large room with games for all ages, restaurant, gift shop, pool, and activities desk where you can sign up for more than 30 guided tours. The cabins are wood-paneled and cozy. The roadhouse-style restaurant serves everything from bean burgers to barbecued game and lobster risotto. The historic bar has a friendly feel, perhaps owing to the frequent live music. Multinight stays are required from April through October, as well as on holidays. You can also stay in two- to four-person tents in summer.

This two-story property has 7½ attractively landscaped acres and a big swimming pool. The sizeable rooms have king- and queen-size beds, robes, baths with granite countertops, mini-refrigerators, and free Wi-Fi; some have fireplaces.

Tops for slope-side comfort, these condominium-style units have full kitchens and ski-in, ski-out access to the mountain at Eagle Lodge. Extras include gas fireplaces and balconies; the heated outdoor pool—surrounded by a heated deck—is open year-round. If you like to be near nightlife, you'll do better at the Village, but if you don't mind having to drive to go out for the evening, this is a great spot. For the best rates, book ski-and-stay packages through 1800–Mammoth. 

Cottages, enormous rooms, and landscaping that includes several shaded sitting areas set this motel apart from its competitors in town. It's also off the highway by a few hundred feet, which means it's peaceful as well as pretty. The cottages lack the main building's lake views; some have kitchens and can sleep up to six.

Surrounded by 12 acres of green lawns and a split-rail fence, the Lazy J is a modest compound of one-story motel buildings and freestanding cottages near the banks of the Kaweah River. Some rooms have gas fireplaces; all have coffeemakers.

If you want to be within walking distance of the Mammoth Mountain Main Lodge, this is the place, and, in summer, the proximity to the gondola means you can hike and mountain bike to your heart's delight. Accommodations, which vary in size, include more than 14 room types, from standard hotel rooms to condo units. The inn, ski lodge, and other summit facilities are likely to be razed and rebuilt within five years, bringing more of a 21st-century ski resort feel to what's been a quaint 1950s-born resort. Meanwhile, the inn has done a respectable job with continual refurbishing.

Rooms at this family-owned property have balconies with views of the surrounding woods and mountains. For maximum atmosphere, book a room overlooking the brook (runs in spring and early summer); for some serenity, choose a lower-level room on the edge of the forest. All accommodations are comfortably furnished with old-fashioned accents. The restaurant, decorated with moose, bison, and other mounted heads, specializes in steaks and American fare. It's open from late April until late October.

This full-service resort has it all—Old Mammoth rustic elegance, a restaurant, bar, seasonal pool and whirlpool, and room and suite options in three buildings. All accommodations have flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, mini-refrigerators, and microwaves; some also have gas fireplaces, leather lounge chairs, soaking tubs, waterfall showers, and kitchenettes. The 10 cabins sleep anywhere between two and six people In late 2022, new owners remodeled extensively, adding a rustic-modern flare to the rooms.

Off Highway 41 just 10 miles south of the Yosemite National Park, this 19th-century cattle ranch near a hidden grove of giant sequoia trees provides a restful, rustic retreat. Although the upscale furnishings and amenities are contemporary, the ranch's historic character has been preserved. Most rooms have French doors that open out onto airy porches that are ideal for unwinding on a summer evening, and guests stay connected to the modern world with cable TV and free Wi-Fi access. There's a steak house on-site, and the swimming pool is open in summer. Heating and air-conditioning in all rooms make the ranch a four-season getaway.

With their exposed timbers and peaked roofs, these four-story condo buildings at the epicenter of Mammoth's dining and nightlife scene pay homage to Alpine style. Units have gas fireplaces, kitchens or kitchenettes, high-speed Wi-Fi, DVD players, slate-tile bathroom floors, and comfortable furnishings. You won't have to drive anywhere: the buildings are connected by a ground-floor pedestrian mall to shops, restaurants, bars, and—best of all—a gondola (from November through mid-April) that whisks you right from the Village to the mountain.

Two miles outside Yosemite's Arch Rock entrance, this modern property is the most convenient place to spend the night if you are unable to secure lodgings in the valley. All rooms have good views, but the ones with balconies that overlook the Merced River are the best. You have your choice of four pools here, one of which is indoors. The restaurant cooks up an impressive breakfast buffet, and there's also a pizza joint on-site (open only from April through October). Many of the rooms, however, come with kitchenettes.