We stayed at Cedar Grove Lodge mid September 2011 and in fact booked a room here months before we arrived in California purely so we could spend the night in the canyon as opposed to driving in and out in a day. (We weren't equipped for camping but the campsites look great.)
Our room was upstairs, accessed via a narrow hallway and stairs/balcony on the river end, a long ramp on the other end. Yes, it was a bit of a slog getting everything out of the car and up to the room on a very warm afternoon but no biggie. The room was sited either over or very near the electric door for the main entrance below, but again, it wasn't a real issue.
Overall the condition of the room was pretty much as expected from TA reviews - basic but perfectly adequate.
Likewise the cafe downstairs.
The point being we weren't there for the lodging or the dining, but rather the surrounds. We had a wonderful twilight walk around the Zumwalt Meadow after dinner and in the morning, got up very early to walk up the Mist Falls track to Bub's Creek before returning for breakfast.
The Lodge gave us a chance to enjoy at least a little bit of the canyon's beauty without having to rush and after our shocking experience at Wuksachi the next night, in hindsight we would have been better to stay two nights at Cedar Grove. Certainly it would have been easier on the budget as well as our stress levels!
If we return to Kings - and we very much hope to - we will stay here again. We found the staff to be both friendly and helpful and we loved the canyon itself, partly because there are so few people there. For us this was a case of money, and time, well spent.

We stayed for two nights in a room with two double beds and an en suite bathroom. It was all very clean and comfortable. There is a cafe at the lodge, although at the time of year we were there (early October) the opening hours were reducing, beware of missing dinner! Since Cedar Grove is at the end of the road in the northern part of the (easily accessible) park, getting there takes a while, but the drive is awesome, with jaw-dropping views of the mountains and gorges.

The lodge is an all-wooden construction on the banks of the Kings River - the sound of the river is inescapable but soothing - and surrounded by huge trees. There is a wide porch on the upper level where you can sit and listen to the water and the wind rustling the leaves. Just what you want from a National Park.

The service was the only thing that let the lodge down a little - the chap who checked us in and later served us in the store was just a bit surly. Not quite impolite but nearly. Maybe he was having a bad day. We felt the room only rate of $119 was reasonable.

We would definitely stay here again.

Just stayed here last week for one night and almost wished it was 2. I had went with very low expectations from everything I had read on line and was pleasantly surprised at this little lodge. The location is the real draw and being at the bottom of Kings Canyon along the river is just an amazing spot. Very remote feeling and yet you are still in CA.
We had one of the little patio rooms and it was nice to have the patio area. Being Oct and an early storm had just come through the week before the nights were very cool and no problem with room ventilation. Actually used the little heater in the morning. The room is very basic but very clean and so was the bathroom.
Had some of the best trout on our road trip in the snack bar upstairs.
You are not allowed to cook in the room, but there is a nice little kitchenette area which i thought was strange since you couldn't cook. we did sit out in the morning at our picnic table and had our cereal and milk. i do recommend you bring some kind of food cause there is only the snack bar with limited hours and the market. the markets pre made sandwiches did look appealing at all to me.

Spectacular setting, certainly worth a least a day trip. Lodge itself a little iffy. Coffee shop has limited offerings, cook looked like she was 80 yr old, short hours for breakfast and supper, during late season lunch served only on weekends, Unless you bring your own food (and you can't cook in the rooms), no other eatery within a 45 minute drive. In late Sep 2011, washed out bridge adjacent to lodge was under construction -- jackhammering and other noise kind of ruined the ambiance. Be careful of the three "patio" rooms (20-21-22, I think) downstairs: While they do have small patios (separated by wood lattice) and open onto the Kings River only about 100 ft away, the only opening to the outside in these rooms is a 3 ft door with windowpanes and no screen door. No windows or other source of ventilation. No air conditioning in those three rooms. Right under the coffee shop, so a certain amount of "tramping around" noise inevitable during their "open" hours. Upstairs rooms have through the wall unit air conditioners. Upstairs rooms are about average for Forest Service/Park Service concessionaire facilities: Adequate, clean, not fancy. Small General Store type shop adjacent to snack shop. Good for a family trip or for the purpose of seeing the canyon. If you're looking for five-star food and accommodations, this ain't it. .