The Best Cabins and Lodges to Book in New York State

Lakeside living awaits you at the Saranac Waterfront Lodge
Lakeside living awaits you at the Saranac Waterfront Lodge | Courtesy of Saranac Waterfront Lodge / Expedia
Debra Smith

Upstate New York has been a welcome retreat for presidents and pillars of society since the late 1800s, when many mansions were built in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lake districts. Our selection of cabins and lodges, bookable with Culture Trip, will have you feeling cosy in no time.

With millions of acres set aside as parkland, and the Susquehanna, Allegheny, Delaware and Hudson Rivers stitched across the landscape, this area close to New York City remains a playground full of outdoor activities. Escape into nature year-round: swim, hike, fish and bike in the summer, or snowshoe, ski and snuggle by the fire in the winter. There are over two dozen wineries, breweries and distilleries throughout the region, plus many independent coffee houses. Here are the best cabins and lodges to book for your next stay in Upstate New York.

1. Wellnesste Lodge and Cabin Rentals

Lodge, Cabin

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Courtesy of Wellnesste Lodge and Cabin Rentals / Hotels.com

Enjoy a peaceful retreat at Wellnesste Lodge, in 60 acres (24ha) of Appalachian wilderness where the appreciation of nature comes first. Seven cabins surround the lodge, like the Henry David Thoreau cabin, built from a former 1800s summer kitchen, and the Goodall Treehouse cabin, named after ecologist Jane Goodall. They come with a variety of amenities including wood burning fireplaces, small kitchens and lofts accessible by ladder, and some have shared detached full bathrooms. Guests are welcome to curl up in front of the fire in the main lodge with a good book and a glass of wine.

2. Lake George Bear's Den

Lodge

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Courtesy of Lake George Bear's Den / Hotels.com

This family-run establishment would like to invite you to “bearadise” near the town of Lake George. Cabins range from one to six beds, with adjacent cabins and loft bedrooms available; all have kitchenettes, picnic tables and porches. A deli, farmer’s market and convenience store are right across the street, and the Lake George trolley stops at the entrance. Bring your dog for long walks on the trails, and enjoy the outdoor pool and nearby restaurants.

4. The Fern Lodge

Lodge

The Fern has just five carefully curated guest rooms. Colorful throw rugs decorate the pine floors, jacuzzi tubs are situated with a view of the wood-burning fireplace, delicious breakfasts are delivered to your bedside every morning and balconies have a view of the sunset every night. Try a complimentary kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard on Friends Lake during the day, and enjoy a boat ride early in the evening. There are activities for every season at this Adirondacks getaway.

5. The Lodges at Cresthaven

Lodge, Hotel

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Courtesy of the Lodges at Cresthaven / Booking.com

Fall foliage and winter snowfalls are particularly beautiful at Lake George – and best appreciated from the balcony of your private lodge at Cresthaven. The one- and two-bedroom pine-paneled suites have fully equipped kitchens; children will enjoy the heated pool, many varieties of playground equipment and field games on the 11-acre (4.5ha) resort in the summer. After a game of basketball, volleyball, shuffleboard or bocce, it’s a five-minute drive to the restaurants at Bolton Landing or Lake George.

6. Saranac Waterfront Lodge

Lodge, Hotel

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Courtesy of Saranac Waterfront Lodge / Booking.com

Lakeside living awaits you at the pristine LEED-certified Saranac Waterfront Lodge, located in the Tri-Lakes area between Lake Placid and Tupper Lake. The lodge offers contemporary guest rooms and suites overlooking Pontiac Bay in Lake Flower, with a choice of town, bay or lake views. You’ll find deep-soaker tubs, luxurious bedding and Keurig coffee makers in every room; suites add a walk-out balcony, sofa bed and living areas. Rent a kayak or paddleboard and take off from the dock, or take a 10-minute walk to the galleries and shops of Saranac Lake, a local artists’ colony.

7. The Alpine Lodge

Lodge, Hotel

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Courtesy of the Alpine Lodge / Booking.com

A four-hour drive from New York City will bring you to this modern lodge on the Hudson River, in an area that’s the perfect place to experience high-energy whitewater rafting. Alpine prides itself on being the first “smart” hotel in the area with an Alexa voice-activated assistant and multiple USB stations in each room, plus two Tesla charging stations. Allergen-free rooms range from single beds to the Eagle’s Nest with a full kitchen, a porch overlooking Main Street and two bedrooms. Dogs are more than welcome to join you in the private backyard that has a fire pit and dog run.

8. Single Island Shores

Lodge

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Courtesy of Single Island Shores / Booking.com

Single Island’s immaculate cottages and chalets overlook beautiful Seneca Lake, in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Double log cabins sleep four, while the larger chalets accommodate up to 14 guests with fully equipped kitchens. Wraparound porches are the perfect place to take in the sunset over the lake, after an afternoon spent touring local wineries.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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