Mark and Kristen Morgan are experts at finding and booking hotels. They have been traveling the world non-stop for over 6 years, staying at more than 500 hotels across 4 continents.
They only write about places they have personally visited themselves, which means every article you read is created directly from first hand experience.
Are you looking for the best hotels in Lone Pine CA? Perfect! We’re going to show you the 5 top rated hotels available in and around Lone Pine so you can make the most informed decision on exactly where to stay when you visit eastern California.
Instead of trawling through randomly listed hotel search engine results, use our research and data driven guide to find the best hotel in Lone Pine CA for your visit based on location, value, previous guest ratings and our own experiences.
We have personally stayed in Lone Pine when driving between Lake Tahoe and Death Valley. The small Californian town easily surpassed our expectations and some.
Here’s how we will break down the best Lone Pine CA hotels to help you find the perfect place to stay:
- Our Lone Pine experience
- Why stay in Lone Pine?
- Things to do in the area
- Lone Pine hotels map
- 5 best Lone Pine CA hotels
Let’s find the perfect hotel for your trip to Lone Pine, California!
*Please note this guide contains affiliate links. If you click on one, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the free content we provide! Read more in our disclosure policy.*
Our Lone Pine Experience
The first time we left Death Valley back in October 2019, we drove straight through Lone Pine on the way up to Yosemite’s northeast entrance.
We saw the spectacular snow capped Sierra Nevada mountains from the road and vowed to return one day. Fast-forward two years to late 2021 and we were spending a night in Lone Pine after leaving South Lake Tahoe earlier that morning.
The small town is filled with adventurers, road trippers and hikers. We ate out at a fantastic Chinese restaurant and had a few beers with other travelers, before spending a night at Portal Motel in town.
Next morning, we drove up to the hugely underrated Alabama Hills to watch sunrise at Mobius Arch. We very highly recommend Alabama Hills at sunrise for any photographers or lovers of nature.
One day we will return again to see the Alabama Hills and hopefully hike Mt Whitney.
Why Book A Hotel In Lone Pine CA?
Let’s start with the obvious question:
Why would you want to book a hotel in a tiny central California town flanked by towering mountains and a hostile desert?
Well, the answer lies precisely within those formidable landscapes.
Lone Pine is located in a perfect spot for adventure hikers and US southwest road trippers:
- Death Valley National Park is just 40 miles southeast
- The tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 Mount Whitney trailhead is 11 miles west
- The northeast entrance to Yosemite National Park is just 120 miles north
- Popular vacation spot Lake Tahoe is 232 miles north
- Even Los Angeles is just 210 miles from Lone Pine
Not only is Lone Pine positioned near a ton of popular California adventure spots, but it is also a great place to stop on a longer drive up or down the inner west coast.
And we haven’t even talked about one of the best hidden gem landscapes in the US southwest yet, the Alabama Hills.
Things To Do Around Town
So what can you do if you decide to spend a night or two nights at a hotel in Lone Pine CA?
Let’s take a look at what is in store for your visit:
- Bathe in nearby natural Northern California Hot Springs
- Hike the enormous Mt Whitney
- Watch sunrise over the Alabama Hills from Mobius Arch
- Look for classic movie locations further into the Alabama Hills
- Day trip into Death Valley National Park
Planning a California road trip? Take a look through some our most popular California travel guides on our sister site Where Are Those Morgans to help create the perfect itinerary.
Are Hotels In Lone Pine CA Cheap?
Yes, hotels in Lone Pine CA are cheap, affordable and functional. It is a fantastic stopping off point between Las Vegas or Death Valley and Yosemite or Lake Tahoe.
There are no luxury hotels in Lone Pine, you won’t find any unique hotels and there are no resort style hotels for families.
The low cost of hotels in Lone Pine makes the town available for every traveler on any budget.
However, there are two important things to be aware of when booking hotels near Lone Pine CA.
1. Seasonality
Like most places, Lone Pine hotels are cheaper in off season before transitioning into a more expensive peak season.
You an pick up hotel rooms at anywhere between 33% – 50% cheaper if you visit in off season, which typically runs from October through April.
Between May and September you are going to pay more per night to sleep in Lone Pine, sometimes double the rate you would in off season.
This is no different to any other town or city, but it is something to be aware of before planning your trip.
2. Bed Tax
One thing you should bear in mind when booking any hotels near Lone Pine CA is “Bed Tax”, which is officially known as Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT).
Lone Pine is located in Inyo County, California which levies 12% bed tax on all stays, no matter how you book your hotel room.
So let’s say a room costs $100 for one night in Lone Pine, your total cost is going to be $112.
When booking your hotel using Booking.com look under the price for “includes taxes and fees”. This means the price you see is final and will not be subject to further add ons.
This is something to be aware of so you avoid any nasty surprises when you come to pay!
5 Top Rated Lone Pine CA Hotels
OK, let’s take a look into the best Lone Pine CA hotels as per previous guest ratings from both Booking.com and Google reviews.
Hotels are listed in order of accumulative rating from both sources.
1. Dow Villa Motel Lone Pine
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.8 / 10
- Google – 4.3 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Rooms: King room, queen room, queen room with two double beds for families
- Amenities: Free WiFi, outdoor seasonal pool, hot tub, free parking
- Location: Center of Lone Pine
Dow Villa Motel is the top rated hotel in Lone Pine as per both Booking on Google reviewers. The motel is located directly next to the Historic Dow Hotel but it is a separate entity. You can book a room here for the price of around $100 per night in off season, which is excellent value for money.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Dow Villa Motel. Guests can use a seasonal outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers and hot tub. From any of these amenities you can see the spectacular Sierra Nevada mountain range.
>> Book Hotel: Dow Villa Motel
2. Portal Motel Lone Pine
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.3 / 10
- Google – 4.3 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Rooms: King room, queen room with two double beds for families
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking
- Location: Center of Lone Pine
Portal Motel is the top rated alternative Lone Pine hotel to Dow Villa Motel. Rooms are basic but functional and previous guest reviews are solid. A room here will typically cost a little under $100 per night in off season. It has easy access to the Alabama Hills and the main restaurants in town.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Portal Motel. This is where we stayed when we spent a night in Lone Pine. We booked last minute and the Portal Motel had a room available at a low rate. It is a no frills place but it was clean and quiet.
>> Book Hotel: Portal Motel
3. Historic Dow Hotel Lone Pine
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 8.0 / 10
- Google – 4.3 / 5
- Price: Cheap $
- Rooms: Double room only (not suitable for families with younger kids)
- Amenities: Free WiFi, outdoor seasonal pool, hot tub, free parking
- Location: Center of Lone Pine
The Historic Dow Hotel is the most attractive looking of all Lone Pine CA hotels from the outside. This 1920’s building is joined to the Dow Villa Motel and uses all of the same amenities, including the swimming pool and hot tub jacuzzi. You also benefit from staying in a charming hotel with character.
Reviewers rate staff, cleanliness and location the highest at the Historic Dow Hotel. However, free WiFi is rated poorly at this old hotel, so if you need to use the internet, maybe choose a different hotel in town. You can book a room for under $80 per night in off season on Booking.com.
>> Book Hotel: Historic Dow Hotel
4. Quality Inn Lone Pine
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 7.9 / 10
- Google – 4.2 / 5
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Rooms: King room, queen room with two double beds for families
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free breakfast, seasonal outdoor pool, jacuzzi, pet friendly, free parking, laundry
- Location: 1.8 miles south of Lone Pine
Quality Inn offers more guest amenities than the other hotels in Lone Pine CA but it is almost 2 miles south of town. At around $100 per night in off season, it is more expensive but this Quality Inn has laundry, it is pet friendly and it is the only Lone Pine hotel with breakfast included.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness and location the highest at Quality Inn. If you are using Lone Pine as a place to crash either before or after visiting Death Valley, this Quality Inn is located right at the turn leading into the national park. However, you will need to drive into town for meal times.
>> Book Hotel: Quality Inn
5. Cozy Muir Cottage Lone Pine
Guest ratings:
- Booking.com – 9.0 / 10
- Google – N/A
- Price: Mid Range $$
- Rooms: One queen bed and one sofa bed
- Amenities: Free WiFi, free parking, pet friendly, full kitchen
- Location: Center of Lone Pine
Cozy Muir Cottage is a one bedroom house located in a quiet residential area of Lone Pine. Both off season and peak season prices are excellent for what you get. It is more like a vacation rental than a hotel. You get the entire house with kitchen, plus a fenced back yard for dogs.
Reviewers rate staff, comfort, cleanliness, facilities, value for money and location the highest at Cozy Muir Cottage. There are no Google ratings because it hasn’t been listed as a local business but it is legit and has extremely positive guest reviews on Booking.
>> Book Hotel: Cozy Muir Cottage
Where To Eat In Lone Pine CA
Once you’ve booked your hotel, it’s time to figure out the best places to eat for your stay in Lone Pine.
Here are the top rated places to grab food:
- Merry Go Round – Chinese, loads of fun, great hosts.
- Seasons – More upscale, seafood and steaks.
- Alabama Hills Bakery & Cafe – The place to grab breakfast and lunch.
- The Grill – Classic grub and great for vegans.
If you don’t want to do a sit down, you should head up to Castro’s Taco Stand or Tacos Los Hermanos near E Willow Street for quick, easy and great Mexican food.
Best Hotels In Lone Pine CA FAQ’s
Let’s take a quick look at some of the most frequently asked questions about where to stay in Lone Pine, California.
Is Lone Pine worth visiting?
Yes, Lone Pine is definitely worth visiting if you want to hike Mt Whitney, explore the Alabama Hills or spend a quiet night on a road trip between Death Valley and Yosemite or Lake Tahoe.
Which hotels in Lone Pine CA have the highest guest ratings?
Dow Villa Motel and Portal Motel are the two hotels with the highest combined guest ratings in Lone Pine, CA based on data collected from Booking and Google.
What are the best hotels near Alabama Hills?
Any of the five Lone Pine hotels covered in this guide plus Ray’s Den Motel, Courtyard Motel and Mt Williamson Motel in nearby Independence can all be considered the best hotels near Alabama Hills.
Top Hotels In Places Near Lone Pine
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We hope this guide to the best Lone Pine CA hotels helps you book the perfect hotel for your visit to the California desert!
Please let us know if you have any questions about any of our best hotels near Lone Pine in the comments below.
Happy Booking,
Mark and Kristen
Best Hotels Anywhere
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