ZIP Code 93541 in Lee Vining, CA

Geographic Significance

Lee Vining sits on the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada at 6,781 feet elevation, serving as the gateway to Yosemite National Park's Tioga Pass entrance and the ancient shores of Mono Lake. This small mountain community of 488 year-round residents punches above its weight, supporting 251 PO Boxes across a 226 square mile territory where no alternative mail delivery exists.

Multiple Communities, One Post Office

The post office serves multiple communities recognized by USPS: Lee Vining itself, plus Mono Lake and Mono City. That's why the PO Box count exceeds local households. With 251 boxes and 193 occupied homes, the 1.30 adoption rate means this post office handles mail for scattered residences, seasonal workers, and visitors across the eastern Sierra corridor.

A Seasonal Community

Nearly half the housing (45%) sits vacant most of the year, waiting for seasonal residents who arrive for summer hiking and winter skiing. Streets like E Mono Lake Dr, Wilson Creek Rd, and Peeler Lake Dr branch into the high country, where rural carrier routes wind through 226 square miles of volcanic landscape and alpine wilderness.

Federal Workforce and Tourism Economy

Federal workers dominate the local economy. Of those employed here, 165 work for federal agencies (mostly National Park Service and Forest Service staff managing Yosemite's east entrance and the Inyo National Forest). Another 137 work in education and healthcare, while 101 serve tourists in lodges, restaurants, and guide services. Median household income reaches $117,719, reflecting specialized professional employment rather than tourism wages.

Educated Mountain Community

Education levels are exceptional for a rural mountain community. Among residents 25 and older, 70.3% hold bachelor's degrees or higher. These aren't seasonal workers. They're biologists, rangers, geologists, and resource managers stationed here for careers managing public lands.

How Mail Works in the Eastern Sierra

Mail arrives by rural route only. There's no city carrier delivery, no walking mail carriers. Two rural routes (R001 and R002) cover the territory, plus General Delivery service at the post office for transient workers and campers. Highway 395 runs north-south through town, connecting to Highway 120 (Tioga Pass Road), which closes each winter under deep snow.

PO Box Only Zone

This is a PO Box Only Zone. No street delivery exists anywhere in the 226 square mile service area. Whether you're a ranger stationed at the Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center, a researcher studying the lake's unique ecology, or a seasonal worker at Tioga Pass Resort, your mail waits at the Lee Vining post office.

Mailing to Lee Vining

Standard format:

Recipient Name
PO Box [number]
Lee Vining, CA 93541

Alternative accepted names:

• Mono Lake (not valid for mailing, but recognized)
• Mono City (not valid for mailing, but recognized)

Use Lee Vining as the city name for all mail.

Street Name Patterns

Street names reference Mono Lake and alpine features, while Highway 395 serves as the primary corridor through this high-elevation gateway community.

Nearby Areas