Lone Pine sits in the Owens Valley beneath Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous United States, and about an hour and a half from the western entrance of Death Valley. The Dow Villa Motel is a long-established stay in the town, associated with the film crews who came to shoot westerns among the nearby Alabama Hills. For visitors approaching Death Valley from the Sierra, Mammoth Lakes or Yosemite, it is a natural overnight stop, and it gives a very different base from the park itself: pine and granite instead of salt and sand. It also suits those who want to combine Death Valley with Mount Whitney, the Alabama Hills and the Manzanar historic site.
Location
The motel lies on the main street of Lone Pine, with restaurants, shops and the Museum of Western Film History within easy reach. The Alabama Hills, a landscape of rounded boulders and natural arches, are a few minutes outside town and are famous for sunrise photography with the Sierra crest behind. The drive to Panamint Springs from town takes roughly an hour and the drive to Stovepipe Wells somewhat longer, so this is a base for the western half of the park.
Facilities
Expect a classic motel, with simple rooms and a historic character. The property is long established and part of the town's story, and guests often enjoy its connection to the film era. Check current room types and amenities when you book. Prices are generally moderate, and the town offers more dining choice than the park's remote western edge.
Who it suits
Road-trippers on a California loop, photographers, hikers heading for Mount Whitney or the Sierra trails, and film buffs. It is less convenient for visitors who want sunrise at Zabriskie Point or the central park sights, because of the distance. But for a trip that links Death Valley with the Eastern Sierra, Lone Pine is hard to beat.
Practical tip
Check the weather and pass conditions if traveling in winter, and allow generous driving time. Fill the tank before leaving town, as there is little fuel between Lone Pine and Panamint Springs. Book early for summer weekends, when hikers and visitors fill the town.
Extra tips
The Alabama Hills are a short drive from the motel, and sunrise there is one of the great sights of the Eastern Sierra. The Museum of Western Film History in town tells the story of the many films shot in the area. The Manzanar National Historic Site, about ten miles north, is a powerful and important stop.
If you plan to hike Mount Whitney, you will need a permit, so plan well ahead. Fill your tank and buy supplies before heading east into Death Valley, and consider an early start for the long drive through the Panamint Valley.
Why stay here
- ✓Historic Lone Pine location
- ✓Near the Alabama Hills
- ✓Mount Whitney views
- ✓Restaurants within reach
- ✓Museum of Western Film History nearby
- ✓Gateway to the Eastern Sierra
- ✓Free parking
- ✓Base for the western park
Good questions
How far is Lone Pine from Death Valley?+
About an hour and a half to the western entrance, more to the central park.
What is there to see in Lone Pine?+
The Alabama Hills, the Museum of Western Film History, Mount Whitney and the Manzanar historic site.
Is it a good base for the whole park?+
It suits the western half best. For the central sights, stay closer.