Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for friends and family to gather together.
But if you’d rather escape the relatives and get somewhere cozy for the holidays — and let a professional crisp the turkey and do the dishes — America’s hotels, guesthouses and Airbnbs have you covered.
Here are seven of the coziest places to stay in the US for Thanksgiving, a collection of retreats that will make the outside world melt.
There is a hot springs resort in Colorado that has been meticulously recreated from a ghost town. A 37,000-acre ranch in Montana amid virgin forests. An ideal South Carolina hideaway where you can linger in a library chair by a crackling fire. and a Scandi-chic A-frame cabin on the doorstep of a spectacular resort area.
Our collection also includes a historic homely inn in Niagara Falls and a Santa Fe sanctuary filled with treasures from Central and South Asia—hand-carved doors, jewel-toned mosaics, and industrial textiles.
1. Dunton Hot Springs, Dolores, Colorado
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What was once a ghost town is now a beautiful Relais & Châteaux hotel with rustic luxury.
Deep in an 8,600-foot alpine canyon in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, Danton Hot Springs is a meticulously restored 1880s mining town featuring 13 luxurious hand-hewn cabins—one a former post office, another a general store—plus a dining area (said to be an 1880 Cassadee). A library, outdoor fire pit, and hot springs fed by waters that emerge at 108 degrees Fahrenheit.
Guests can soak in the bathhouse’s thermal therapy pools—the mineral-rich waters are said to boost circulation and promote healthy skin—while taking in majestic mountain views through floor-to-ceiling windows.
After a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast around a communal dining table or at a private table in the “ballroom,” sleep is easy in the super-cozy cabins, each with antique furnishings, wood-burning stoves, and warm slate floors. One, the Wells House, even has its own private hot spring.
It is a destination that is always tempting.
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2. Paws Up Montana, Greenough, Montana
Thanksgiving outings don’t come much more amazing than a stay at Paws Up Montana, a 37,000-acre, two-Michelin-K ranch nestled in pristine forests along the Blackfoot River.
The property is a cross between glitz and a five-star hotel, with accommodations split between luxury tents and cozy log cabins with warm slate floors, fully equipped kitchens, and outdoor hot tubs.
Activities to celebrate the holiday include fireside s’mores (Paws Up has a full s’moreology program), watch football and a family game night, but the main event is undoubtedly the outstanding feast created by two Paws Up nominated chefs, James Beard.
Delicious, locally sourced Thanksgiving menus range from comforting classics like cherry-stick Montana turkey breast to sweet potato casserole and creative dishes like smoked wagyu zabuton.
And if you can’t bear to leave your luxury hideaway after sunset, you can dine at Pomp’s formal restaurant or opt for a house party delivered straight to your door.
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3. Palmetto Bluff Assembly, Bluffton, South Carolina
Located between Hilton Head Island and Savannah in South Carolina’s Low Country, Montage Palmetto Bluff is the perfect fall retreat that offers plenty of cozy charm this time of year when temperatures are chilly.
During Thanksgiving weekend, guests can enjoy an array of experiences and treats.
On Thanksgiving morning, they can loosen up with a gratitude yoga class, then take a guided Walk on the Bluff to spot wild turkeys. There is also a raptor show where guests can get up close and personal with birds of prey such as falcons, peregrine falcons and owls.
In terms of food, the resort settles for nothing less than sumptuous holiday meals filled with delicious food.
A sumptuous Thanksgiving brunch and open-belt dinner will be served at the River House and Wilson Ballroom, while regional delights are offered at the beautiful Moreland Landing, a photogenic waterfront event venue with a five-story tree house overlooking the scenic May River.
Culinary dishes available there include clam chowder, Lowcountry stew, and Southern fare (side dishes like mashed potatoes and turkey gravy).
Guests can then curl up in an easy chair by the library’s fireplace, surrounded by warm wood walls, and sip an Old Fashioned.
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4. The Little House in Crosby, Minnesota
If getting away from it all on Thanksgiving also means getting away from other people, this inviting Airbnb A-frame in Minnesota could be just the ticket.
It’s a chic space, with white pine walls, a queen bed in the loft that overlooks the south-facing windows, and a queen pullout couch on the main floor for two extra guests (in case you don’t want to get too secluded).
Outside, you’ll find a cedar barrel sauna, a fire pit for serious brawls, and a gentle pine creek.
Just a 10-minute drive away is the incredible Coyona Lakes Recreation Area, home to 20 crystal-clear lakes ideal for fishing, kayaking, and even snorkeling.
The park also has great mountain bike trails that wind through amazing terrain.
And when it’s time to cook up that all-important Thanksgiving turkey after a day soaking in nature, you’re covered – the cabin has a fully equipped kitchen.
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5. Horse Shoe Farm, Hendersonville, North Carolina
With a peaceful riverside location in western North Carolina’s stunning Blue Ridge Mountains, Horseshoe Farm will feed your soul and fill your belly with its Thanksgiving spread—sourced from the surrounding orchards, forests, and fields.
The 85-acre boutique resort offers a fixed feast at the on-site Silo Cookhouse restaurant with all the family favorites, from whole roasted turkey with chicken gravy to buttermilk mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
Afterward, retire to the fire pit for a nightcap or complimentary entertainment and enjoy the star-studded Western Carolina sky.
Your room for the night will be in a luxurious home, or perhaps a cozy cottage or charming suite.
The features of these shelters include old furniture, deep bathtubs, fireplaces, and views of Mount Pisgah and the green pastures of the farm.
You can also enjoy stunning views of the grounds and farm from the lodge’s outdoor saltwater pool, a highlight of the Stable Spa, which also offers steam rooms, a chill zone, yoga classes and massages.
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6. Red Coach Inn, Niagara Falls, New York State
The Red Coach Inn in Niagara Falls has a cozy, homey vibe that makes it a tempting choice for a Thanksgiving stay—and its indulgent “Traditional Family Feast” seals the deal.
Opened in 1923, this historic hotel is modeled after an English Tudor-style inn office where Pam and Jim get married), leaded glass windows, and wood-beamed rooms.
Thanksgiving is served in one of its most memorable spaces, the Grill Restaurant, where diners tuck into juicy turkey while a fire simmers in a natural stone fireplace.
The only caveat? A nearby waterfall may place food on top of the stage…
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7. The Five Graces Inn, Santa Fe, New Mexico
This charming retreat in downtown Santa Fe—located in the historic 17th-century Barrio de Analco, the city’s oldest neighborhood—is a beautiful and comfortable place for Thanksgiving travelers.
Opened in 1996 by antique collectors Ira and Sylvia Sert, this luxurious property is filled with treasures the couple have collected over decades of travel in Central and South Asia.
Guests enter through hand-carved wooden doors into colorful, earthy rooms with handmade mosaics, Persian textiles, Indian artefacts and thick wooden beams. And they’re never far from a cozy log fireplace—some even have their own bedrooms.
An à la carte Thanksgiving dinner is usually served at the hotel’s partner restaurant, The Pink Adobe.
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