Lake resorts are a family favorite for good reason: Instagram-worthy views, outdoor fun, nostalgic vibes, and endless activities. Across the U.S., kid-friendly lake hotels offer year-round escapes or seasonal stays perfect for everything from summer vacations to fall leaf peeping, with plenty of opportunities for family togetherness—think swimming, kayaking, fishing, playing lawn games, or simply relaxing by the water. Here are my picks for the best lake resorts for your next family getaway.
Why you can trust these picks: Read FamilyVacationist’s methodology for selecting and recommending vacation destinations and hotels.
1. The Otesaga Resort Hotel
Cooperstown, New York
The Otesaga Resort Hotel makes the most of its lakeside setting.
If a pilgrimage to the National Baseball Hall of Fame is on your family vacation bucket list, combine your visit with a stay at The Otesaga Resort Hotel for a lovely lakeside getaway. Situated on the shores of Otsego Lake, the elegant lakefront hotel offers 132 guest rooms and suites and earns well-deserved raves for its location and service. You can rent canoes, rowboats, kayaks, and paddleboards to ply the lake waters; cast a line to see what’s biting (with the help of equipment provided by the resort); or enjoy water views while pedaling a bike or taking a jog along the lakeshore.
An outdoor heated pool beckons during the warmer months of the year, and the resort’s Leatherstocking Golf Course has offered a scenic waterfront spot for golf vacations since the resort first opened in 1909. On-site restaurants offer dining experiences ranging from lakeside burgers to a clubby steakhouse.
2. The Inn at Stonecliffe
Mackinac Island, Michigan
The Inn at Stonecliffe offers a family lake vacation to remember.
Slow down and reconnect at The Inn at Stonecliffe. Located on car-free Mackinac Island, which sits in Lake Huron, and open from late-April through October, this historic lakefront property recently underwent a major refresh and is a picture-perfect spot for making family memories. Book a suite in the resort’s Summer House for space to spread out or one of the three private cottages for a truly special and stress-free family lake vacation.
Then get ready for fun on the resort’s Straits Lawn, where lawn games and firepits sit at the ready and movie nights take place with sunset views that are just as compelling as what’s on the screen. There’s also a family-friendly pool and regular schedule of complimentary activities that includes pizza-making classes and kids craft sessions. When you’re ready for more action, rent a bike to pedal around the island or take a complimentary carriage ride to the island’s bustling downtown.
3. Mill Falls Resort Collection at the Lake
Meredith, New Hampshire
Located on Lake Winnipesaukee, Mill Falls offers four distinct kinds of accommodations.
An ideal lake resort for families who like choices, Mill Falls Resort Collection at the Lake sits on New Hampshire’s scenic Lake Winnipesaukee. It’s actually four different lodging options in one, including a restored 19th-century linen mill and a rustically elegant Adirondack-style inn.
The all-season lakefront resort offers family-friendly amenities and activities like weekend campfires with s’mores, pontoon boat charters, lawn games, and bicycle and watercraft rentals. The resort’s EKAL Activity Center is the place to go for yoga classes, guided tours, art classes, and other activities, and the different lodging sites have pools and/or fitness centers for guests. You can enjoy views of the water from several of the lake resort’s restaurants or from the Outdoor Spa Deck at the on-site Cascade Spa.
4. Flathead Lake Lodge
Bigfork, Montana
Everyone in the family will enjoy a sail on Flathead Lake.
Both a dude ranch and a lake resort in one, Flathead Lake Lodge has been welcoming guests since 1945. Families flock to this Montana resort for its scenic setting on the largest natural freshwater lake in the West and its range of all-inclusive activities that creates a much-appreciated summer camp vibe. Open May to October, the family-owned and -operated property encompasses almost 2,000 acres where you can enjoy the land and water in all kinds of fun ways.
On Flathead Lake, families can take sailing or wakeboarding lessons, enjoy a lake cruise, or paddle a canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard through the water. On land, activities include everything from horseback trail rides and mountain biking to guided hikes and flower cutting classes. The recently refreshed lakeside pool makes for a perfect place to cool off after a hard day’s work or vacationing, and a new onsite bakery is the spot for coffee and a treat.
5. Basin Harbor
Vergennes, Vermont
Basin Harbor on Vermont’s Lake Champlain offers a long list of activities.
Family-run for more than 130 years, the pet-friendly Basin Harbor Lake Resort occupies a prime spot on Vermont’s Lake Champlain. Travelers love the classic family vacation vibe found at the resort, which is open mid-May to mid-October. You can vacation in rustic chic style in one of the resort’s 74 cottages (all of which are unique and date from the 1920s and ’30s) or in one of the Guesthouses for a traditional guest room experience.
When it comes to amenities and activities, the list is long at this lakeside resort. Basin Harbor offers all kinds of ways to explore the lake, with kayak, canoe, and standup paddleboard rentals included in every guest’s stay for 2025 and a new inflatable water feature adding extra excitement to a swim. Children’s programming takes place seven days a week during the summer months, and a new summertime Kids Dinner Club is being added two nights a week that will give the grownups a night to themselves.
6. The Sagamore Resort
Bolton Landing, New York
The Sagamore Resort has been a family favorite for more than 100 years.
It’s easy to see why guests have been checking in at The Sagamore Resort for 140 years. The historic property on Lake George in New York’s Adirondack Mountains respects its history while keeping up with the luxuries expected by modern travelers. Family groups benefit from the range of lodging options, which include rooms in the original 1883 hotel, lodge rooms and suites, residential-style condos, and standalone houses.
The lake resort’s Rec Center is pure kid heaven, an expansive indoor-outdoor play space housing everything from mini-golf and an indoor basketball court to video and table games and a horseshoe pit. During the warmer months of the year, you can book a waterskiing lesson on the lake, fish from the resort’s dock, or splash into the zero-edge pool overlooking Lake George. The winter vacation season brings experiences like the annual Glacier Ice Bar weekends, where everything from the tables to the glasses are made of ice.
7. Woodloch Resort
Hawley, Pennsylvania
Woodloch Resort is an ideal spot for a family getaway in the Poconos.
A perennial family-favorite getaway often heralded as one of the best all-inclusive family resorts in the country, Woodloch Resort sits along Lake Teedyuskung in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Family-owned and -operated for more than six decades, this lakefront resort offers 160 guest rooms, most of which feature lake views and can accommodate up to six people. Families who need even more room to spread out can book one of the multi-bedroom guest homes available onsite or at the resort’s sister property, Woodloch Springs.
Family-focused amenities abound at Woodloch any time of year. During the summer, you can cool off at the lakeside beach (complete with a waterslide) or the indoor and outdoor pools. For those who’d rather get out on the water, options range from kayaks and paddleboards to bumper boats and waterskiing. When winter comes around, there’s ice skating and snow tubing plus all kinds of any-season activities and events to keep the whole family well entertained. A stay at Woodloch Resort also includes a meal plan with two to three meals a day served in the main dining room.
8. Madden’s on Gull Lake
Brainerd, Minnesota
An inflatable water park is just one of the ways to have fun on Gull Lake.
Open late April through late October every year, family-owned and -operated Madden’s on Gull Lake has been a much-loved lakeside vacation spot for traveling families for more than 90 years. Accommodations range from historic hotel units and cottages to multi-bedroom cabins and houses, and because the resort sits on a 1,000-acre peninsula and has more than two miles of lakeshore, water views are plentiful.
The kids will gravitate to amenities like the lake resort’s four swimming pools, Gull Lake inflatable waterpark, wake surfing and water skiing school, and recreation center with pickleball courts, lawn bowling, shuffleboard, and croquet. Grownups will appreciate the tennis courts, on-site lakeside spa, multiple dining options, and four golf courses, including The Classic at Madden’s, consistently ranked among Golf Digest’s Top 100 Greatest Public Courses in America. And the whole family can spend time on the resort’s three sandy beaches or rent bikes or watercraft to enjoy the outdoors.
9. Big Cedar Lodge
Ridgedale, Missouri
Big Cedar Beach is ready for some family fun.
For a luxury-meets-rustic escape, head to Big Cedar Lodge overlooking Table Rock Lake. The focus is on enjoying the Great Outdoors at the 4,600-acre Ozark Mountains resort, which was created by Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris. Accommodations include lodge rooms, cabins, cottages, and even glamping tents at Camp Long Creek.
This Midwest lakefront resort boasts multiple restaurants, a spa, and golf courses. Two marinas make it easy to rent boats or WaveRunners, book a fishing guide, take a waterskiing or wakeboarding lesson, or explore the lake by paddleboard, kayak, canoe, or pedal boat. Sit under the sun at Big Cedar Beach, ride the go-karts and bumper cars at the Fun Mountain entertainment zone, and take in the views from the Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve. There’s no way the kids can say they’re bored with all there is to do here—in fact, you might have trouble getting them to leave!
10. The Coeur d’Alene Golf and Spa Resort
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
It’s easy to get out on the water at Coeur d’Alene Resort
Situated on 200 acres on the north shore of Coeur d’Alene Lake in Idaho, Coeur d’Alene Golf and Spa Resort makes it easy to explore its waterfront setting. Head to the Boardwalk Marina to rent sport boats, pontoon boats, or paddleboards, or book a guided paddleboard tour or scenic cruise around the lake. A round of golf starts with a ride in a mahogany boat to the resort’s par 71 course, with gorgeous lake views from most holes and its legendary Floating Green on hole 14.
Both the spa and the many on-site dining options at the 338-room lakefront hotel take inspiration from the Pacific Northwest region, while a seasonal lakefront infinity-edge swimming pool and private beach offer a picturesque setting for cooling off. And the kids will be impressed by the four-foot-tall, 2,200-gallon koi fish tank in the resort’s lobby. Coming in 2027: The new Sherman Tower currently under construction, which will add an additional 139 rooms.
11. The Abbey Resort
Fontana, Wisconsin
The Abbey Resort offers lots of family fun at any time of year.
This Lake Geneva resort with a distinctive A-frame exterior recently completed a multiyear renovation that brought enhancements to its guest rooms and public spaces, a major upgrade to its Avani Spa, and refreshed culinary offerings. Set on 90 acres, The Abbey Resort is Lake Geneva’s only full-service resort and boasts a long history as a Midwest vacation spot.
Kids can make a splash at the seasonal family outdoor pool or the indoor pool with a children’s wading area. Complimentary bike rentals, bonfires, an on-site disc golf course, and a cinema showing kid-friendly movies will keep the whole family entertained, and seasonal offerings like boat rentals and a skating rink add to the fun throughout the year. The Geneva Lake Shore Path, a 26-mile public pathway along the lakeshore that travels past public parks, lush gardens, and historic homes, can also be easily accessed from the lake resort.
12. Brooks Lake Lodge and Spa
Dubois, Wyoming
Horseback rides are a great way to take in the scenery.
For more than 100 years, Brooks Lake Lodge and Spa has been welcoming guests to its scenic spot within Wyoming’s Shoshone National Forest. The much-lauded, lakeside all-inclusive resort is located in the Rocky Mountains near Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, but you’ll find plenty to do without even leaving the property.
All-inclusive lodging options include luxe lodge rooms and cabins done up in Western chic style. During the summer, guests can enjoy activities like trail rides, hiking, fishing, and canoeing, while the wintertime brings experiences like ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, and snow tubing. After a long day of activity, head to the spa to relax in the dry sauna and hot tub or book a massage for even more pampering. Meals include elevated Western classics featuring locally sourced organic produce and handmade cheeses from local farms.
13. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee
Greensboro, Georgia
The family pool is ready for fun at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee.
Just 90 minutes from Atlanta, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee rolls out the red carpet for families, with a “Very Important Kids” registration desk (where young visitors can sign the guest book and pick up a scavenger hunt) and amenities like a seasonal zero-entry family pool with fun interactive features. The lake resort’s Ritz Kids Clubhouse includes a floor-to-ceiling aquarium housing frogs, salamanders, and fish and offers a daily rotating calendar of outdoor activities, while full- or half-day Ritz Kids Lake Adventures take five- to 12-year-olds out on the water.
Everyone can enjoy the lake at the Georgia property’s private beach, on a paddleboard or kayak, or during the complimentary s’mores celebration each evening by the water. The whole family can pedal complimentary bike rentals around eight miles of trails or take on the new Aerial Adventure Course, and for the grownups there’s a spa and five championship golf courses offering 99 holes of play. Lodging options include guest rooms, suites, and private cottages with kitchens and outdoor spaces.
14. Edgewood Tahoe Resort
Stateline, Nevada
Lake views are easy to find at Edgewood Tahoe Resort.
A year-round getaway on the shores of Lake Tahoe, Edgewood Tahoe Resort makes for a memorable family lake vacation. Stay in one of the new Villa Suites for amazing views of the lake and amenities like private patios, firepits, and individual outdoor spas. And no matter where you stay at the Nevada resort, you can enjoy the daily s’mores fixings that are available for guests.
There are lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors here, whether you’re into hiking, swimming, paddling, or golfing. Lawn games and outdoor movies add to the fun during the summer, while colder weather might mean ice-skating or skiing at nearby Heavenly Mountain Resort. Any time of year indoor activities include a spa offering signature gemstone rituals and the daily Board and Box Game Time in the Great Room, where families can play classics like checkers, Chutes and Ladders, and Jenga.
15. Blue Harbor Resort
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Blue Harbor Resort is one of the best year-round lake resorts in the U.S.
Family fun is the name of the game at Blue Harbor Resort, which sits on the shores of Lake Michigan and is an easy drive from cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Green Bay. No matter the time of year, the whole family can enjoy the surf simulator, lazy river, and waterslides at the 54,000-square-foot indoor Breaker Bay Waterpark; the games and interactive activities at the Pier Fun Zone Arcade; and two nine-hole indoor mini-golf courses offering glow-in-the-dark gameplay.
During the summer, activities at this lake resort include daily kids’ crafts, lawn games, bonfires, and s’mores. Families can rent bikes, head to the heated outdoor pool, or pick up a complimentary sandcastle kit for creating masterpieces on the resort’s beach. Multiple on-site restaurants make it easy to refuel in between all the fun without ever having to leave the resort.
16. Grand View Lodge
Nisswa, Minnesota
Grand View Lodge is a year-round family vacation destination.
With lodging options that include boutique hotel rooms, cabins, and cottages to comfortably fit families of all sizes, you can choose your way to stay at Grand View Lodge on Minnesota’s Gull Lake. The 750-acre lake resort offers a range of family-friendly activities and amenities throughout the year, from ice skating, snowshoeing, and ice fishing during the winter to watercraft rentals, fishing, lawn games, and a kids’ club during the summer.
No matter the time of year, guests of all ages can enjoy an indoor pool with a waterslide, golf simulator, game room, modern fitness center, and the newly renovated Glacial Waters Spa. Two championship golf courses and a variety of on-site dining options ranging from casual to higher-end also help to keep the whole family happy, including a newly remodeled beachside restaurant serving up nachos and tacos.
17. Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa
Lake Arrowhead, California
There are lots of ways to enjoy the water at this lake hotel in California.
Book a lakeside room to maximize a stay at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa. It’s just a few hours from Los Angeles, but it feels worlds away. This lake hotel makes it easy to enjoy the water with amenities and activities like guided kayak tours, resort dock fishing, an outdoor pool with lake views, and a private beach area with exclusive access to Lake Arrowhead.
A state-of-the-art fitness facility, spa that utilizes organic products in its treatments, and on-site dining options add to the appeal of the woodsy getaway in California’s San Bernardino Mountains. Families can take advantage of the resort’s game room, complimentary board games, campfire activities, and family-friendly movie nights, as well as nearby attractions like SkyPark, Heaps Peak Arboretum, and Lake Arrowhead Village.
17 best lake resorts and hotels in the US for families originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations. If you buy an item through a link in our content, we may earn a commission.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The best lake resorts for families who want fun, fresh air, floaties
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