John Muir Lodge

Loved this lodge. Our room was well equipped and the lobby with a fire and warm drinks was lovely. The staff was very helpful and friendly. We also enjoyed the rocking chairs on the covered porches.

We weren’t expecting luxury, we booked here as it’s one of only a couple of options in the Kings Canyon national park. The room and hotel were fine - not brilliantly clean, a bit shabby, and basic facilities - but acceptable for a one night stay if you’re not too fussy. What was really disappointing is that the on-site restaurant (the only place to eat within a 30 minute drive) was experiencing a ‘boil water’ order and operating on a reduced menu. This wasn’t communicated to us at any point before we arrived (which is a real shame as we could have cancelled our booking). We later found the information on the website which explained there was a reduced menu. We had no choice but to eat there and when we arrived the service was bad, and the only choices on the menu were 3 types of pizza or a chicken wrap. There was only fruit juice - no tea, coffee, sodas, or alcohol was available.
We had one pizza and a chicken wrap which were pretty terrible. By around 4.30am the next morning I was very sick and continued to be ill for the next 48 hours. Really disappointed in the communication, service, and facilities. We will definitely not be back!

The location is worth the high price. The room is very clean and cozy. The lobby area is nice and the front desk staff was very friendly and informative. The bed is a bit too soft, might be good for side sleepers. There is a small market at the entrance of the lodge area. (Beverages and dry goods)

Wonderful and unique experience in a National Park!

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Comfortable accommodations in great location right in Kings Canyon park. No air conditioning but fan provided in room. Fridge in room appreciated. Microwave in lobby got a lot of use the night we were there and nice seating in the lobby for eating what we heated in the microwave. Staff very professional.
Drive up to Panoramic Point starts right behind Lodge.

We enjoyed our stay at the John Muir Lodge. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the staff were always friendly. We loved being able to open our window and enjoy the fresh air and the relaxing surroundings. This lodge is located in Kings Canyon close to the General Grant tree. There is a nearby restaurant in Grant Grove Village that is ok, but you have to order your food at a kiosk, which we didn't prefer. However, the lodge itself was well worth the money and served as a quiet escape from the daily activities.

I loved this place. So peaceful and surrounded by the beauty of nature.

This was a great stay in Kings Canyon NP. Before talking this hotel specifically, after reading other reviews, I think it is helpful to explain what a national park hotel is and why you look to stay there. I think another reviewer said it best that this lodge like most NP hotels is rustic. If you are looking for an every channel TV and resort amenities, that is not why you stay in a NP. Yes, NP hotels are rustic and pricey, an unusual combination, but their greatest amenity is to put you close to the natural beauty which has drawn you to the park. They offer you, the customer, the chance to stay the closest to the nature you want to see and by doing so, provide you opportunities others won't get like a chance to experience the park in near solitude. I love staying in park hotels when they have one.

The John Muir Lodge is not a classic, historic NP lodge. It is a more modern late 20th Century lodge that is sort of "no frills". However, what it lacks in resort amenities, it makes up in location and experiences. It puts you only an hour from Kanawyers, which is the end of the road, where the Mist Falls trail begins. It also puts you in the heart of the sequoia portion of Kings Canyon within walking distance to Grant Grove and a short drive to Panorama Point, both of which we did close to sunset in near seclusion on Labor Day weekend. Our room, while dated, was clean and the beds were very comfortable. One of the better features is an exterior porch that is great for sitting and enjoying the forest at sunset and at night.

There were two small issues that impacted our stay, but not my high support for the facility. First, for late August, there was no AC and the raging fire just north of the river meant the room smelled like a smokehouse in the morning. More significant was that the lodge has no elevator, and we were staying on the second floor meaning I had to carry all of our luggage upstairs. Outside of these two issues the stay was great. In addition to getting to see Panorama Point at sunset, we were some of the first people on the hiking trail in the morning and able to get a good parking place. Those things would not have happened if we were not staying in the park. This is a great place to stay in Kings Canyon.

Disappointing Stay at John Muir Lodge
I rarely leave reviews, but our experience at John Muir Lodge was poor enough that I felt compelled to share. The room was dirty and the carpet was visibly filthy and looked like it hadn’t been deep-cleaned in ages. The bed was terrible: soft, saggy, and extremely uncomfortable. It felt like sleeping on a worn-out sponge.
The walls were paper-thin, so we heard everything from neighboring rooms and the hallway, making it hard to relax or sleep. On top of all that, the staff seemed uninterested and unhelpful. Basic customer service skills were clearly lacking, and any questions or concerns we had were met with indifference.
For the price and location, I expected at least a clean and quiet room with a decent bed — unfortunately, the lodge failed on all fronts. Would not recommend.

Disappointing Stay at John Muir Lodge
I rarely leave reviews, but our experience at John Muir Lodge was poor enough that I felt compelled to share. The room was dirty and the carpet was visibly filthy and looked like it hadn’t been deep-cleaned in ages. The bed was terrible: soft, saggy, and extremely uncomfortable. It felt like sleeping on a worn-out sponge.
The walls were paper-thin, so we heard everything from neighboring rooms and the hallway, making it hard to relax or sleep. On top of all that, the staff seemed uninterested and unhelpful. Basic customer service skills were clearly lacking, and any questions or concerns we had were met with indifference.
For the price and location, I expected at least a clean and quiet room with a decent bed — unfortunately, the lodge failed on all fronts. Would not recommend.

Friendly staff, room was too hot. Dining options were limited and not very good.

I am OK to pay $300+ a night for the privilege of staying in one of the most stunningly beautiful places in California. But I'd expect some minimal quality services to match the price. Yes, the check-in staff was super friendly, but the beds were worn out and uncomfortable. We didn't come for the food either, but oh boy, the ordering system and the food quality was something else. And this in late September. I dread to think what summer busy season would be like.
But I can't stress enough, how stunningly beautiful King's Canyon is, with magnificent drives and hikes and sceneries, easily rivalling Yosemite. Five stars for the weekend experience, but alas, only two stars for the accommodations.

It was clean and fine but very basic. There wasn’t really outdoor space to sit outside as the photos suggest. Most of the chairs faced the parking lot. The restaurant was a horrible cafeteria Would not stay here again.

We were pleased with the room we had for our one-night stay. Very friendly and efficient staff at all points of contact. Clean, nicely appointed room with great beds. No AC but a tower fan did the trick nicely. Would happily stay here again if the opportunity arose.

We loved the location and that’s solely why we wanted to stay here. Staff is great, it is limited in staff but they are very attentive once they’re available. Check in and out was easy. Rooms were clean. They also have a tv which can be rare in National Park lodging. It was a great in between to visit Kings Canyon and Sequoia. We are also really close to Big Stump, General Grant and Panorama View. Overall great time during our National Park venture, and close to amenities.

Loved the lodge!! The folks were super nice. The shower wasn’t great (the shower trickled out which made it tough to rinse off) but they did have a water challenge which I thought was a great idea-but with the trickle-made it impossible to achieve). Other than that, it was great. Loved the location!!

Great location by Grant Village and grove. Friendly staff and hood accommodation.

We loved our stay with one major issue. The location was great, we arrived late afternoon and were still able to go down and enjoy the General Grant tree and grave. Dinner and breakfast at the restaurant were great. The lobby was fun and inviting. The staff friendly and helpful. The one major issue was the mattress. When you sat on the bed you sunk almost to the floor. Sleeping was interesting. You need to get new mattresses.

A fantastic base to explore the park!