Amenities & Property FAQ
Questions about rooms, the hot tub, fireplaces, EV charging, and other amenities at Donner Lake Inn.
Do the rooms have fireplaces?
Yes. All five rooms have a freestanding gas heating stove. They look like classic wood stoves but are gas-fired for easy use — no firewood or maintenance required. The stoves provide both warmth and ambiance and are one of the most-loved features in guest reviews, especially during ski season.
Is there a hot tub?
Yes. The inn has a private outdoor hot tub on the property, set beside the seasonal creek among the pines. All registered guests have access. Hours are posted on site.
Is there air conditioning?
The rooms do not have air conditioning. The inn sits at over 5,900 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada, where summer evenings cool down significantly and rooms stay comfortable with windows open. Fans are available on request.
Is there EV charging on site?
Yes. Donner Lake Inn is one of the few hotels with EV charging in the Truckee and Donner Lake area. The on-site charger is Level 2 with 40 amp output, free for guests on a first-come, first-served basis. It uses a NACS connector (the Tesla connector, now the industry standard) with a J1772 adapter available on site for older non-Tesla EVs. Teslas and newer NACS-native EVs (most 2025+ models from Ford, Rivian, GM, Hyundai/Kia, and others) plug in directly. Most EVs gain about 25 to 30 miles of range per hour, so an overnight charge typically refills the battery. See the dedicated EV charging page for more details.
Is the inn family-friendly?
Yes. Every room has a Queen bed plus a Twin XL bunk bed configuration suitable for adults or kids, so families travel comfortably here. The Superior Suite features a triple bunk that is especially popular with families of three children. Guests routinely bring children and there is outdoor space on the property.
What is the room configuration?
All five rooms are on the ground floor with private exterior entrances and en-suite bathrooms with stall showers. Four rooms are "Deluxe Suites" with a Queen bed plus a double Twin XL bunk (sleeps up to 4). One room is the "Superior Suite" with a Queen bed plus a triple Twin XL bunk (sleeps up to 5).
How fast is the WiFi? Can I work from the inn?
Yes. The inn has 500+ Mbps fiber WiFi available throughout the property, which comfortably supports video calls, large file transfers, and streaming on multiple devices at once. Several guests have used the inn as a remote-work base for week-long stays.
Is there a TV in the room?
Yes, each room has a smart TV with Roku. You can sign in to your own streaming accounts (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, etc.) for your stay.
How big are the rooms?
The rooms are intentionally cozy and cabin-inspired, true to the inn's mountain B&B character. Each is well-appointed but compact. Travelers looking for resort-sized rooms may prefer a larger hotel; guests who appreciate cabin charm consistently describe the rooms as warm, comfortable, and homely.
Are the hosts on site?
Yes. The hosts (the Meehan family) live on the property and are typically reachable by text or in person during your stay. Check-in is self-service so you can arrive any time without coordinating with them.
Is the inn accessible (no stairs, ground-floor rooms)?
Yes. All five guest rooms are on the ground floor with level entry from the parking area. There are no stairs between parking and any room, and no shared interior hallways or staircases to navigate. The bathrooms have stall showers (not tubs). The inn is not formally ADA-certified, but the ground-floor, single-step-free layout works well for guests with mobility considerations and for families with strollers, gear, or wheelchairs. Please contact us before booking if you have specific accessibility requirements so we can confirm fit.
Is there bike or ski storage?
Yes. Complimentary bike and ski storage is available on the property. Let us know when you arrive (or in advance for ski groups), and we'll show you where to stash gear so you don't have to carry skis, snowboards, or bikes in and out of your room.
Is there a stream or creek on the property?
Yes, Gregory Creek runs through the property year-round, right past the outdoor hot tub. The sound of the running water is one of the small touches guests frequently mention. The inn is at 10070 Gregory Place, named for the same creek.
Is there anywhere to walk or eat nearby?
Yes. Within walking distance you'll find The Pub at Donner Lake (a half-mile, elevated pub fare and craft cocktails), Donner Lake Marina (kayak and paddleboard rentals), Little Truckee Ice Creamery (small-batch ice cream, voted best in Truckee/Tahoe since 2018), and Donner Lake Gift Shop (general store with snacks, beer, and tire chains in winter). West End Beach is about a four-minute walk.
Where can I get tire chains if I-80 chain control goes into effect?
The Donner Lake Gift Shop, right in the neighborhood, sells tire chains and will install them on-site in winter. Located at 15688 Donner Pass Rd, it's the closest option to the inn if you find yourself needing chains for a ski day or storm.
Is Donner Lake Inn near Lake Tahoe?
Yes. The inn is in Truckee, about 12 miles (20-25 minutes by car) from Lake Tahoe's north shore — Tahoe Vista, Kings Beach, and Incline Village are all easy day trips. Donner Lake itself, where the inn sits, is in the same Sierra Nevada watershed and is commonly grouped with the Lake Tahoe area by visitors. Donner Lake Inn is a practical base for both Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe.
Is this a hotel, a B&B, or an inn?
All three terms are accurate. Donner Lake Inn is a small boutique hotel with five guest rooms, run as a traditional bed and breakfast with complimentary morning breakfast. Guests often describe it as a cabin-style B&B or a boutique Truckee hotel; both characterizations fit.
Is Donner Lake Inn on Donner Pass?
Donner Lake Inn sits at the base of Donner Pass, in the residential neighborhood along the western end of Donner Lake. The summit of Donner Pass is a few miles up Old Highway 40 / I-80 from the inn. We're often the closest non-resort lodging to Donner Pass — convenient for skiers headed to the Donner Summit cluster (Sugar Bowl, Donner Ski Ranch, Boreal, Soda Springs), PCT hikers using Donner Pass as a resupply point, and visitors to the historic railroad tunnels at the summit.
Is the property smoke-free?
Yes, all rooms and indoor spaces are non-smoking.