The best lake resorts in the U.S.

Best for: Wellness enthusiasts
Is this the only hotel on the lake? Yes

Set deep in the wooded lake region of the Poconos, about two hours from New York City, The Lodge at Woodloch is an adults-only, all-inclusive spa resort designed for a structured retreat rather than a casual escape. The experience is intentionally intimate, with fewer than 60 guest rooms. The 500-plus-acre property notably includes forested trails and a private 15-acre lake, Little Lake Teedyuskung, where guests can kayak or stand-up paddleboard during the warmer months. It’s also pretty much impossible to be bored here, with over 50 classes and workshops spanning fitness, mindfulness, creative arts and outdoor activities. Stays include three daily gourmet meals and access to the lodge’s expansive spa and fitness complex, which features hydrotherapy pools, saunas, steam rooms and a snow room (featuring dry snow and cold air for quick and gentle cooling).

Best for: A romantic escape
Is this the only hotel on the lake? Yes

An easy water taxi ride from downtown Austin, Lake Austin Spa Resort sits on 17 quiet acres along the shores of Lake Austin in the Texas Hill Country. This adults-only, all-inclusive wellness resort moves at an unhurried pace, with lake activities like paddleboarding and kayaking, daily yoga and fitness classes, guided hikes and a full-service spa with pools, saunas, steam rooms and relaxation gardens. Accommodations are limited to a small collection of airy cottages and bungalows dotted along the grounds, creating a sense of privacy and intimacy. All meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, activities, spa access and gratuities are included, leaving little reason to venture beyond the property.

Best for: All-inclusive ease
Is this the only hotel on the lake? Yes

Nestled within 40,000 acres of protected forest and framed by mountain views, Mohonk Mountain House is a historic Victorian castle resort dating to 1869, set deep in the Hudson Valley. At its center is Lake Mohonk, a glacially formed lake with a private beach where guests can swim, paddle and go fishing in summer or begin the day with an early morning canoe tour led by the resort’s resident naturalist. Wellness offerings include lakeside cold immersion experiences and seasonal spa treatments at the Lakeview Summerhouse, an outdoor retreat perched above the water with views of Sky Top Tower and the surrounding ridge. Overnight rates include accommodations, three meals, afternoon tea and cookies, and access to many of the resort’s daily activities like guided hiking, yoga, meditation and movie nights.

Best for: Adventure-focused stays
Is this the only hotel on the lake? No—several other neighboring hotels

Set on the shores of Mirror Lake in the heart of Lake Placid, High Peaks Resort serves as a convenient base for exploring the Adirondacks, with walkable access to Main Street and the world-famous Olympic Center. The resort spans three distinct lodging options, including a traditional hotel, the Lake House with balcony-equipped rooms overlooking the water and a quieter Waterfront Collection with direct lake access. In warmer months, guests can kayak, paddleboard or swim just steps from their rooms, while winter brings ice skating, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing on and around the frozen lake. Additional on-site amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center and seasonal dining with views across the water.

Best for: Classic lakeside luxury
Is this the only hotel on the lake? Yes

About 75 miles east of Atlanta, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee sits along the shoreline of Lake Oconee, surrounded by pine forest and open water near the historic town of Greensboro. The resort is organized around outdoor activity, with access to hiking and biking trails, boating and fishing on the lake and informal gathering spaces by the water. When hunger calls, guests can take their pick of multiple restaurants, including two set directly on the lake. Five golf courses are woven into the surrounding landscape, while a 27,000-square-foot spa anchors the wellness offerings. Accommodations, meanwhile, range from standard guest rooms to multi-bedroom cottages and a freestanding Lake House.

Best for: Golf lovers
Is this the only hotel on the lake? No—one neighboring property

Madden’s On Gull Lake occupies a broad stretch of shoreline in Minnesota’s Brainerd Lakes region, operating at a scale few Midwest resorts can match. Accommodations—including traditional hotel rooms to cabins, villas and multi-bedroom homes—are spread across the 1,000-acre property. Out on the water, you’ll find a full-service marina offering pontoon cruises along with banana boat rides, paddleboarding, kayaking and swimming. Several sandy beaches and indoor and outdoor pools enhance the resort experience. A lakeside spa—the only one of its kind in the region—adds a quieter counterbalance, while four golf courses woven through the grounds reinforce Madden’s long-standing appeal as both a family destination and a golf resort.

Best for: Fun-loving families
Is this the only hotel on the lake? No—several neighboring properties

Built directly into the shoreline of Lake Coeur d’Alene, the Coeur d’Alene Resort treats the lake more as a main event than a backdrop. Guests can spend entire days on the water, from scenic and sunset dinner cruises to pontoon rentals, paddleboarding and kayaking along the lake’s long, wooded shoreline. Back on land, a floating boardwalk traces the edge of the resort, while dining extends onto the water itself: The Cedars, a long-running floating restaurant near the mouth of the Spokane River, draws boaters and resort guests alike. Don’t miss the world-famous Floating Green, an island golf hole reached by boat and viewed from a casual restaurant and patio nearby. Accommodations are contemporary and generously sized, ranging from standard guest rooms to suites, many with balconies overlooking the lake, keeping the water central to the stay from morning to night.

Best for: Boutique luxury
Is this the only hotel on the lake? No—several neighboring properties

Edgewood Tahoe sits on one of the few privately held stretches of shoreline along Lake Tahoe’s southern edge, with direct lake access shaping much of the stay. Days unfold outdoors, especially in the summer when you’re boating, kayaking and paddleboarding on the water or spending time along the resort’s private waterfront and docks. That said, a heated pool and open-air hot tubs stay accessible year-round, keeping the water in view even in colder months. In the warmer months, golf takes center stage on the resort’s historic lakeside course, while winter shifts the focus to snowshoeing, skating and easy access to nearby ski terrain. Dining venues and a tranquil spa sit close to the shoreline, maintaining the emphasis on the setting rather than spectacle.

Best for: Summer camp vibes
Is this the only hotel on the lake? No—several neighboring properties

Big Cedar Lodge stretches across 4,600 acres along Table Rock Lake in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, with accommodations ranging from lodge rooms and lakeside cottages to private log cabins and glamping tents. The on-site marina offers complimentary paddle boats, canoes and kayaks, plus paid boat and personal watercraft rentals as well as organized excursions, like dinner cruises aboard a custom yacht. On land, the pace remains relaxed and summer-camp-esque, with mini golf, outdoor games, playgrounds, paved walking trails, bonfires and board games, alongside an 18,000-square-foot spa. Dining is unusually extensive for a wilderness resort, with more than a dozen bars, restaurants and lounges. As a bonus, overnight guests also receive entry to Top of the Rock, the resort’s scenic overlook and attraction hub.

Best for: Classic lakeside lodge experience
Is this the only hotel on the lake? Yes

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake sits between the shoreline of Whitefish Lake and the protected Viking Creek Wetland Preserve, just minutes from downtown Whitefish. In terms of accommodations, options abound, including traditional lodge rooms, lakefront condominiums and standalone luxury homes, many with fireplaces and patios or balconies. The lake is central to daily life, with a private beach and swim area, canoe use, boat rentals and seasonal watersports, as well as a lakefront pool and hot tub positioned directly on the shoreline. Wellness and downtime also extend outdoors, with lakefront saunas and nightly s’mores by the water. Additional hot tubs, an indoor pool and a full-service spa round out the offerings, while seasonal activities shift from boating in summer to snowshoeing and ice skating in winter. Dining remains closely tied to the setting, including, most notably, a seasonal lakeside Tiki Bar & Grill, keeping much of the experience oriented toward the water.