Author
Ellen Eberhardt
Located roughly 2-3 hours north of NYC, nestled west of the Hudson River and east of the PA/NY state border, the Catskill Mountains have long been an “upstate” destination for the tri-state area. It’s where the Field Mag team prefers to escape to, alongside countless others from our respective boroughs.
Besides the rich array of outdoor activities the region offers, like skiing, hiking, biking, boating, and more, the area is home to countless well-designed hotels and motels reflective of the taste of its New York City visitors (especially those from design-obsessed Brooklyn), each with their own je ne sais quoi. Take for instance, the popular Urban Cowboy Lodge, a 28-room hotel featuring blindingly upscale Americana decor, or the barebones Roscoe Motel, a perfectly lo-fi fly fishing retreat with a loyal following. And while the area offers cabin rentals of the same calibur and style diversity, sometimes, you just can't beat room-service and a jacuzzi.
Beyond the mountains, charming towns in the Western Catskills like Woodstock, New Paltz, Tannersville, and Phoenicia are popular hot spots. On the eastern flank, areas around Lumberland, Narrowsburg, Callicoon, and Livingston Manor are hotbeds of art, food, and cabin culture. Each community scattered throughout the rolling hills features its fair share of cute main streets, live music, and cozy coffee shops, all set against the backdrop of Catskill Mountains—the perfect places to hang after a long day exploring outside.
The following collection of mountainside lodges and boutique hotels (plus three bonus motels) offer up a range of styles of stays in a region as diverse and unique as each property. Many have their own restaurants and taverns, along with the area's characteristic thoughtful design. Spread throughout the Catskills, each option is an awesome basecamp for exploring during a weekend getaway or a relaxing destination by itself.
11 Best Catskills Hotels & Lodges Within 3 Hours of NYC (Plus 3 Great Motels)
Piaule Catskill
Location: Catskill, NY
Distance from NYC: 115 miles
Located on 50 pristine acres of rolling Catskill landscape, Piaule landscape hotel boasts 24 modular cabins, an on-site spa with a swimming pool, wellness experiences, and a restaurant, all decked out in organic minimalist design. Founded by designers of a homeware brand of the same name, chic sheets, tableware, towels, and more can be found throughout the lodgings, and are all available to purchase.
Price: $534/Night
Camptown
Location: Leeds, NY
Distance to NYC: 120 miles
Opened in March 2023, Camptown is a new hotel retreat located at the base of the Catskill mountains. Accommodations include a renovated motor lodge with 24 guest suites and 26 stand-alone log cabins painted in a variety of bold earth tones. Each suite is outfitted with a thoughtful mixture of vintage and modern furniture, paired with custom woodwork and local art. An on-site restaurant highlights Jaliscan flavors, local histories, and fresh produce, and elsewhere on the property, a pool and sauna are set to open Summer and Fall of 2023.
Inness
Location: Accord, NY
Distance to NYC: 97 miles
Launched in 2021 by a dynamic team of New York City partners, including restaurateur and trained architect Taavo Somer, Inness is a palatial upstate retreat set on 225 acres, and not one has gone to waste. The property features it all, it seems, from a golf course, organic farm, tennis courts, and pools, to 28 individual cabins and a 12-room farmhouse, all awash in a sophisticated contemporary New England style.
Price: $399/Night
Eastwind Hotel Oliverea Valley
Location: Oliverea, NY
Distance to NYC: 130 miles
This newly opened, 30-room hotel just west of Phoenicia is the second Catskills location for Eastwind and the first fully custom-built property. With distinctly Scandinavian vibes, the hillside retreat features Lushna cabin suites and mini A-frames, an outdoor pool, barrel saunas, and communal fire pits. The beautiful Dandelion Restaurant & Bar caters to those looking to hunker down and enjoy a holiday on-site.
Price: $280/Night
The Woodhouse Lodge
Location: Greenville, NY
Distance to NYC: 136 miles
Tucked away amongst the rolling hills of upstate New York, this Catskills hotel features 10 Shaker meets mid-century style guest rooms and an on-site pizza joint and bar—could it get any better? Yes, yes it can. Countless outdoor destinations like Hunter Mountain, Ten Mile Creek for fly fishing, hiking trails, and more are right around the corner, and quaint local towns provide cafes, shopping, and entertainment.
Price: $250/Night
AutoCamp Catskills
Location: Saugerties, NY
Distance to NYC: 111 miles
The second East Coast location from California-based lodging-company AutoCamp, their family-friendly Catskills property features characteristic mid-mod design, Airstreams, prefab cabins, and a central lodge. Activities included rock climbing, yoga, forest bathing, and more, and the on-site cafe serves morning coffee amoungst other goodies.
Price: $167/Night
Scribner's Catskill Lodge
Location: Hunter, NY
Distance to NYC: 127 miles
Founded amongst the buzz of the famed music festival Woodstock and the opening of Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl in the 1960s, this mountain lodge retains the charm of decades past, but with updated contemporary design that attracts flocks of New Yorkers to this day. Highlights include an outdoor swimming pool, a stylish main lodge, in-room dining, a highly-rated on-site restaurant, and 20 acres of mountainside to explore.
Price: $275/Night
Deer Mountain Inn
Location: Tannersville, NY
Distance to NYC: 124 miles
Rumored to once belong to the Depression-era gangster, Jack "Leggs" Diamond, this 1880s mountain chalet mixes rustic hunting lodge vibes with Victorian-era furnishings for a property that looks straight out of the history books. Contemporary creature comforts have been integrated, however, so expect luxury linens, room service, and a restaurant and bar with hop cocktails.
Price: $325/Night
Woodstock Way
Location: Woodstock, NY
Distance to NYC: 109 miles
A short walk from Woodstock, NY, this sprawling property features a mix of hotel suites and contemporary cabins for rent. A central lodge hosts a small shop featuring local goods and a cafe, while massages and healing sessions are available by appointment at an on-site spa.
Price: $382/Night
Getaway — Eastern/Western
Location: Catskill, NY
Distance to NYC: 120 hrs
Lodging company Getaway hosts glampsites across the nation just a few hours outside major cities and in New York State, there are actually two different sites on either side of Catskill Park. Each contains a smattering of prefab cabins with contemporary interiors and kitchenettes, hot showers, fire pits for bonfires, and plenty of nature to explore.
Price: $177/Night
(Use discount code FIELDMAG for $25 off any booking)
Wylder Windham
Location: Windham, NY
Distance to NYC: 140 miles
A certain country club aesthetic adorns the Wylder Hotel, making it a smidge more upper-crust than your average glamping getaway, although its ski town location (just minutes to Windham Mountain) and unfussy interior design make it inviting. Activities like tennis are offered on-site, as well as a heated pool and electric bikes.
Price: $325/Night
BONUS: 3 Design-driven Catskills Motels
Starlite Motel
Location: Kerhonkson, NY
Distance to NYC: 102 miles
The Starlite Hotel is a recently renovated motor lodge in the Catskill foothills of the Hudson Valley. There's a bar, restaurant, and pool on-site, as well as a charming renovated camper van that's also available to rent.
Price: $195/Night
The Red Rose Motel + Tavern
Location: Roscoe, NY
Distance to NYC: 124 miles
Located along the Beaverkill River, the Red Rose Motel features 7 guest rooms steeped in a vintage Americana style that reflect its history as a fishing, hunting, and country retreat for locals and city-dwellers alike. The cozy Tavern on the property serves up pasta dishes, burgers, and local beer.
Price: $193/Night
Norsdale
Location: Phoenicia, NY
Distance to NYC: 124 miles
Comprised of a 5 bedroom house and 4-room motel, Norsdale is exclusively available to rent as a retreat for up to 18 guests. In the CMYK Motel, each room takes on one monochromatic color story, while the cabin features rooms adorned in colorful wallpaper and cheerful design. A hot tub, game room, large deck, and other amenities are sure to keep everyone in the group happy.
Price: $1,350/Night per 10 guests
Published 03-13-2023
