Americas

Best Lake Resorts in the US

8 May, 2022

Spending days exploring landscapes by canoe or kayak, hiking in the woods, or waiting at the dock for the first stars to appear…a visit to a lake resort is one of the best getaways for those looking to get out into nature.

Discover the United States’ best lake resorts. For a last-minute summer trip or a cozy fall or winter escape, here are the best lake resorts in the U.S., from Austin to Alaska.

Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, Judd Lake, Alaska

On the shores of Judd Lake, Tordrillo Mountain Lodge offers a wilderness escape that’s conveniently under an hour’s flight from Anchorage.

The lodge also offers flight seeing tours in a classic otter plane, which can venture even deeper into the mountains and over to Katmai National Park for an amazing view. The lodge’s top accommodations are four private cabins, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and personal decks, perfect for enjoying the water views.

Lake Kora, Raquette Lake, New York

At the end of a two-mile gravel road in the Adirondacks, Lake Kora is a private resort that’s only available for takeovers. The former “Great Camp” for New York Lieutenant Governor Timothy Woodruff during the late 1880s, it’s now ideal for a multigenerational family visit, open to groups of 14 to 34 people through October.

Cottages range from loft-style cabins to a three-bedroom house on its own island, reachable only by boat. Guests have unlimited access to lake and water activities, as well as to the resort’s expert culinary team, who make fully customizable meal plans for each group of visitors.

Winterlake Lodge, Finger Lake, Alaska

Winterlake Lodge is one of the best wilderness lodges in Alaska’s Interior. Housing only 20 guests at a time, its six standalone wooden cabins are simply, yet comfortably furnished, and some come with private decks.

Winterlake Lodge offers all of the expected lake hotel activities (kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, etc.), from ice climbing and glacier trekking to visiting the lodge’s dog-mushing school, set on a mountain glacier.

The Chatwal Lodge, Bethel, New York

The Chatwal Lodge is set on 30 acres of protected land overlooking Toronto Reservoir Lake. The new lodge’s 10 suites have vaulted ceilings, reclaimed-wood walls and arched windows (ideal for those lake views), along with private patios or lakeside decks.

For a more adventurous sleep, one suite will be an 850-square-foot tent with a wraparound veranda. Expect action-packed days spent horseback riding, fly fishing, and kayaking, coupled with plenty of relaxation with Ayurvedic spa treatments, meditation and simply sitting back to admire the views.

The Sagamore, Bolton Landing, New York

No other resort matches The Sagamore for lake views, iconic architecture, and luxury resort offerings. From its own island in Lake George, the historic property is a family favorite where the majority of activities cluster along the waterfront.

Fishing is available from several docks, and guests can swim and use floaties in roped-off sections, one of which has a lifeguard on duty to ensure kids are safe. If you’re thinking of a longer stay, consider the First House, the former home of the resort’s original innkeeper that has just opened as a four-bedroom standalone house with a full kitchen, private front porch, and patio with a fireplace overlooking Lake George.

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

You might be in the middle of the Sierra Nevadas, but this is still the Ritz-Carlton, meaning there’s access to poolside cabanas, floor-to-ceiling windows, bedside fireplaces, and every outdoor activity imaginable.

Luckily, the sweeping magnitude of Lake Tahoe will bring you back down to earth, if only until dinnertime at the resort’s Manzanita restaurant.

Grand View Lodge, Nisswa, Minnesota

Gull Lake is an easy sell in itself, but the amenities at Grand View Lodge make a trip here all the more enticing. The lodge’s historic cabins and main house are rustic, yet still luxurious.

Its spa offers massages, wraps, facials, and other treatments. There’s also an extensive children’s program, allowing parents the free time for dinner at Cru restaurant and wine bar, one of the resort’s eight dining venues.

Migis Lodge, Lake Sebago, Maine

Migis Lodge has been a beloved family retreat since it opened on the shores of Sebago Lake in 1916. With 3,500 feet of shoreline and nearly 135 acres of pine woodlands, it’s a one-stop destination for lakeside activities and rustic relaxation.

Ideal for groups, its 35 cottages range in size from studios to six-bedroom houses, and reservations are all-inclusive. That means meals, served inside the main lodge, al fresco at the aptly named Cookout Point or on a private island, and activities like tennis, sailing and wakeboarding sessions are all accounted for.