James Buchanan liked the mineral water at Bedford Springs so much that, as president, he ran the country from its porches for part of the summer. More than two centuries after the hotel opened as the Stone Inn in 1806, it still pours that spring water into its spa treatments. That’s the kind of story the best resorts in Pennsylvania tell: grand hotels built for railroad-era vacationers, a chocolate magnate’s Depression-era palace in Hershey, family lake resorts in the Poconos where three meals a day and a schedule of activities come with the room, and a 2,200-acre estate in the Laurel Highlands with three Five-Diamond hotels.
Quick answer: For outright luxury, Nemacolin in the Laurel Highlands is the state’s top resort, with three AAA Five-Diamond hotels since 2025. For history and a real mineral-springs spa, choose the Omni Bedford Springs. For a family vacation where meals and activities are included, Woodloch Pines in the Poconos is the closest thing Pennsylvania has to an all-inclusive. Couples should look at the adults-only Lodge at Woodloch (spa) or Cove Haven (classic Poconos romance), and families with young kids at Hershey Lodge or Great Wolf Lodge. Book fall-foliage, ski and holiday weekends months ahead.
Last updated October 1, 2026. Resort details, closures and ownership were checked that day against the resorts’ own websites. We list price tiers, not nightly rates, because rates change daily.
- New since 2025: all three Nemacolin hotels hold AAA Five-Diamond ratings, and its Falling Rock hotel now takes only guests 16 and older.
- Closed: Pocono Palace, one of the three Cove Pocono couples resorts, has closed; Cove Haven and Paradise Stream still operate.
- Closed in 2026: Camelback’s outdoor Camelbeach water park didn’t open this summer, though its indoor Aquatopia water park runs year-round and 2027 Camelbeach passes are on sale.
- Owners: Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Liberty, Whitetail and four other Pennsylvania ski resorts belong to Vail Resorts and are on the Epic Pass.
- State park cabins can be booked up to 11 months ahead, with a $6.50 transaction fee.
On this page: At a glance | How we chose | The 20 best | By trip | All-inclusive? | Golf, ski and spa | Regions | Cabins and glamping | By season | Sample weekends | Booking | Drive times | What’s changed | FAQ
The best resorts in Pennsylvania at a glance
Price tiers compare resorts with each other, from $ (budget-friendly) to $$$$ (the top of the state’s market). Actual rates swing widely by season and day of the week.
| Resort | Region | Type | Price tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nemacolin | Laurel Highlands | Luxury estate | $$$$ | A splurge, golf, spa |
| Omni Bedford Springs | Bedford | Historic spa resort | $$$-$$$$ | History, golf, spa |
| The Hotel Hershey | Hershey | Grand hotel | $$$-$$$$ | Couples, families, chocolate spa |
| The Lodge at Glendorn | Bradford | Luxury lodge and cabins | $$$$ | Fly fishing, privacy |
| Skytop Lodge | Poconos | Historic mountain lodge | $$$ | Multi-generation trips |
| The Lodge at Woodloch | Poconos | Adults-only destination spa | $$$$ | Wellness, couples, friends |
| Woodloch Pines | Poconos | Family all-inclusive | $$$ | Families who want it all planned |
| Hershey Lodge | Hershey | Family resort | $$-$$$ | Hersheypark trips |
| Great Wolf Lodge | Poconos | Indoor water park | $$-$$$ | Kids under 12 |
| Kalahari Resorts | Poconos | Indoor water park | $$-$$$ | Kids and teens |
| Seven Springs | Laurel Highlands | Ski and mountain resort | $$-$$$ | Skiers, Pittsburgh families |
| Camelback Resort | Poconos | Ski and water park resort | $$-$$$ | Skiers, families |
| Cove Haven | Poconos | Couples resort | $$-$$$ | Honeymoons, anniversaries |
| Mount Airy Casino Resort | Poconos | Adults-only casino resort | $$-$$$ | Couples, friends 21+ |
| The French Manor Inn & Spa | Poconos | Chateau inn | $$-$$$ | Romantic weekends |
| Buhl Mansion | Western PA | Mansion guesthouse and spa | $$-$$$ | A one-of-a-kind night |
| Shawnee Inn | Poconos | Historic golf resort | $$-$$$ | Golfers, river views |
| Eagles Mere Inn | Endless Mountains | Country inn | $$-$$$ | Quiet weekends, golf |
| Bear Creek Mountain Resort | Lehigh Valley | Ski and spa hotel | $$ | Easy escapes from Philadelphia |
| Whitetail Resort | South-central PA | Ski resort with condos | $$ | Skiers near the Maryland line |
How we chose, and what “resort” means in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania uses the word “resort” loosely. Some places on this list are true destination resorts, where you could spend a week without leaving the property; others are grand hotels with a spa and a golf course; a few are small inns whose setting does the work. We picked them for what you get for the money, how well they deliver on their type, and how useful they are to a visitor who has never been to the state. Nobody paid to be included, and we don’t take commissions on bookings.
We sorted the list by type, because the “best” resort depends on the trip. A family with a 6-year-old and a couple celebrating 25 years want different things, and so do a Philadelphia family and a Pittsburgh one: Nemacolin and Seven Springs are about 1.5 hours from Pittsburgh and 4.5 to 5 hours from Philadelphia, while the Pocono resorts are about 2 hours from Philadelphia and 5 from Pittsburgh. Hershey sits in between.
What we don’t do: quote nightly rates. Prices at these resorts can double between a Tuesday in March and a Saturday in October, and packages change constantly. Instead, each listing says what drives the price and what’s included.
The 20 best resorts in Pennsylvania, by type
1. Nemacolin
Luxury estate; $$$$; Laurel Highlands; the state’s most complete resort. Nemacolin spreads across 2,200 private acres near Farmington, in the hills southeast of Pittsburgh, and it’s built to keep you on the property. It has three hotels with different personalities: The Chateau, a grand, art-filled French-style hotel; The Grand Lodge, warmer and more rustic, with long views; and Falling Rock, designed by David Merritt, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin. Since 2025 Falling Rock has been a boutique hotel for guests and members 16 and older, which makes it the adults’ corner of the estate. In 2025 all three hotels earned AAA’s Five-Diamond rating.
The estate’s facilities run from Mystic Rock and other golf courses in summer to The Peak, its own ski area, in winter, plus a spa, many restaurants and The Casino at Nemacolin, open to overnight guests and members. Ohiopyle and Fallingwater are each about 20 minutes away, so even a short stay can take in the Laurel Highlands’ big sights.
Skip it if: You’d rather explore the region than stay on one property, or the extras would strain the budget: a weekend here adds up fast once golf, spa and dinners are counted.
Plan it: 1001 Lafayette Drive, Farmington, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, 3 hours 15 minutes from Harrisburg and 5 hours from Philadelphia. Rates are among the highest in the state, and activities, spa treatments and many dining options cost extra, so budget well beyond the room. Book holiday and fall weekends early. Best for: a once-in-a-while splurge, golfers, and Pittsburgh families who want a full resort within easy reach.
2. Omni Bedford Springs Resort
Historic spa resort; $$$ to $$$$; Bedford; the one with the best story. The springs came first: a local doctor found the mineral springs in 1796, and the Stone Inn opened beside them in 1806. Thirteen US presidents have stayed since. James Buchanan made it his Summer White House, and James K. Polk was the first sitting president to visit, in 1848. The long, white-porched hotel has been restored and is now run by Omni, and its Springs Eternal Spa still uses the natural spring water in its treatments. The Old Course, which dates to 1895, carries work by three of golf’s great designers: Spencer Oldham, A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross.
The setting is quieter than Nemacolin, in a valley just south of the old town of Bedford, and that’s the appeal. Spend a day at the spa, play the Old Course, walk the grounds, and drive into Bedford for dinner. This October, the town’s Fall Foliage Festival returns for a second weekend on October 10 and 11, 2026, with more than 400 vendors downtown and no tickets needed.
Skip it if: You want nightlife or a busy schedule. Bedford Springs is quiet by design, and the town nearby is small.
Plan it: Just south of Bedford, off the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Bedford exit. About 1 hour 45 minutes from both Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, and 3 hours 30 minutes from Philadelphia. Spa treatments and golf are extra; book them when you book the room. Best for: couples, golfers and history lovers who want a slower pace.
3. The Hotel Hershey
Grand hotel; $$$ to $$$$; Hershey; chocolate and gardens. Milton Hershey built this Mediterranean-style hotel on the hill above his town in the early 1930s, during the Depression, partly to keep his workers employed. It’s still the most elegant place to stay in Hershey, with formal gardens, a pool complex, villas and a dining room, The Circular, built so that no guest would be seated in a corner. Its spa, known as The Chocolate Spa, is the reason many couples come: the menu includes a Whipped Cocoa Bath, a Chocolate Fondue Body Wrap and a Cocoa Massage, alongside hydrotherapy baths and Vichy showers.
Families get the perks of a Hersheypark resort: Hershey’s official resorts include extra hours in the park and a free shuttle to the front gate. Two changes to know: the 1994 water ride Tidal Force closed for good in September 2026, and the sooperdooperLooper is closed until summer 2027. For the whole town, from Chocolate World to Hershey Gardens, see our Hershey PA vacation guide.
Skip it if: Your trip is mostly about Hersheypark. Hershey Lodge is more practical for a ride-all-day family, and usually cheaper.
Plan it: 100 Hotel Road, Hershey, about 20 minutes from Harrisburg, 1 hour 45 minutes from Philadelphia and 3 hours 30 minutes from Pittsburgh. The spa is open seven days; book treatments well before you arrive. Best for: couples, multi-generation families and anyone who wants the old-fashioned grand-hotel experience.
4. The Lodge at Glendorn
Luxury lodge and cabins; $$$$; Bradford; remote and private. Glendorn began as a family’s private forest retreat near Bradford in McKean County, and it still feels like one. It’s a Relais & Châteaux property and an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing lodge, with a Main Lodge and 12 individually designed cabins, spa services, farm-to-table food and evenings by the campfire. Guests come for the fishing, the woods and the quiet; there’s little else for miles, which is the point.
The Allegheny National Forest is next door, and the Kinzua Bridge is about 40 minutes away, though its Skywalk is open only through October 31, 2026 before closing for repairs until fall 2027.
Skip it if: You need things to do beyond the lodge, or you don’t want a long drive. Glendorn is about seclusion, and the nearest towns are small.
Plan it: Near Bradford, about 3 hours 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, 4 hours from Harrisburg and 5 hours 45 minutes from Philadelphia. Open year-round. Book fly-fishing guides and spa time with your stay. Best for: anglers, couples who want privacy and small groups who can take over a cabin.
5. Skytop Lodge
Historic mountain lodge; $$$; Poconos; the classic family resort. Skytop’s stone lodge has stood on its mountaintop since the late 1920s, and its 5,500 acres hold a lake, golf, hiking trails and the sort of daily activity list that keeps three generations busy. It’s less polished than Nemacolin and more traditional than the newer Pocono resorts, which is exactly why families have returned for decades.
The resort is in the heart of the Poconos, about 35 minutes from the Delaware Water Gap and close to Bushkill Falls and the region’s ski areas. Our guide to things to do in the Poconos covers the area around it.
Skip it if: You’re after modern luxury or a polished spa scene. Skytop’s appeal is traditional rather than trendy.
Plan it: Skytop, Monroe County, about 2 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia, 2 hours 30 minutes from Harrisburg and 5 hours 15 minutes from Pittsburgh. Ask what each package includes, since meals and activities vary by rate. Best for: family reunions, hikers and anyone who likes a historic lodge.
6. The Lodge at Woodloch
Adults-only destination spa; $$$$; Poconos; the best spa resort in the state. Woodloch’s adults-only spa resort near Hawley is built around wellness rather than amenities: an all-inclusive stay with more than 50 classes and activities a day, from fitness and yoga to talks and guided hikes, plus the spa’s treatments, its indoor pool and hydrotherapy. It’s the place for a girlfriends’ weekend, a couple’s reset or a solo trip where you don’t want to plan anything.
Skip it if: You’re traveling with children (it’s adults-only) or want nightlife and a bar scene. Evenings here are calm.
Plan it: 109 River Birch Lane, Hawley, about 3 hours from Philadelphia and Harrisburg. Check which treatments are included in your package and which cost extra. Best for: couples, friends and solo travelers who want an all-in wellness break.
7. Woodloch Pines
Family all-inclusive; $$$; Poconos; the “cruise on land.” Woodloch Pines, the family half of Woodloch, is Pennsylvania’s best answer to an all-inclusive. On its traditional package you pick your room, then two or three meals a day are included in the dining rooms, along with a schedule of more than 30 activities a day and nightly entertainment. The resort compares it to a cruise on land, and it’s not wrong: kids’ programs, lake activities, sports and shows fill the days, and you never have to choose a restaurant. Families who want more flexibility can rent a vacation house on the property instead.
Skip it if: Scheduled fun isn’t your style, or you want a quiet couples’ break. On busy weeks it’s lively and full of families.
Plan it: 731 Welcome Lake Road, Hawley, about 3 hours from Philadelphia and Harrisburg and 5 hours 45 minutes from Pittsburgh. Summer and holiday weeks book far ahead; midweek stays outside school breaks are the best value. Best for: families with kids from toddlers to teens, and grandparents who want everyone in one place.
8. Hershey Lodge
Family resort; $$ to $$$; Hershey; the practical Hersheypark base. Hershey Lodge is the big, busy, kid-friendly sister of The Hotel Hershey, built for families and conventions. Its Hershey’s Water Works indoor pool complex keeps kids happy on rainy days, there’s an outdoor pool in summer, and its restaurants, from the Bears Den sports bar to the Cocoa Beanery café, mean you don’t need to drive for dinner. As an official Hersheypark resort, it comes with extra park hours and the shuttle to the gate.
Skip it if: You want a hushed, romantic stay. The Lodge is a family and convention hotel, and it’s busy most of the year.
Plan it: Hershey, about 20 minutes from Harrisburg and 1 hour 45 minutes from Philadelphia. Book Hersheypark packages for the best combined value in summer and during Christmas Candylane. Best for: families with kids, and Hersheypark trips.
9. Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains
Indoor water park resort; $$ to $$$; Poconos; for younger kids. Great Wolf’s 120,000-square-foot indoor water park is kept at 84 degrees year-round, so a January weekend feels like July. The Scotrun resort finished a $125 million makeover in 2023 that added suites, three-bedroom villas, seven new slides, two restaurants and an outdoor pool area. Days revolve around the slides, the toddler areas and the indoor games, and many families never leave the building.
Water park access comes with the room, and day passes are sold too. For how Great Wolf compares with Kalahari, Camelback’s Aquatopia and the state’s outdoor water parks, see our guide to amusement parks in Pennsylvania.
Skip it if: Your kids are teenagers, or you’d rather be outdoors. Great Wolf is built for younger children and indoor play.
Plan it: 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun, off I-80, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Philadelphia and 2 hours from Harrisburg. Ask what water park access you get on arrival and departure days. Best for: kids roughly 3 to 12.
10. Kalahari Resorts Poconos
Indoor water park resort; $$ to $$$; Poconos; for older kids and teens. Kalahari, in Pocono Manor off I-380, is the larger, louder rival to Great Wolf, with an African-safari theme, a huge indoor water park, an indoor theme park and a convention center. Overnight guests get water park access from opening on check-in day to closing on check-out day, so a one-night stay buys two days of slides. Day passes are sold too, and its seasonal Fall Fest in Gorilla Grove is open to the public.
Skip it if: You want peace and quiet. Weekends and school breaks are loud and crowded, and the scale can feel overwhelming.
Plan it: Pocono Manor, about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours from Philadelphia. Weekend and holiday rates are much higher than midweek. Best for: families with older kids and teens, and groups.
11. Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Ski and mountain resort; $$ to $$$; Laurel Highlands; western Pennsylvania’s big mountain. Seven Springs is western Pennsylvania’s biggest ski resort, with 33 slopes, two high-speed quads among more than 15 lifts, 750 feet of vertical, seven terrain parks, night skiing and snow tubing, according to Ski PA’s September 2026 listing. Since Vail Resorts bought it, it’s on the Epic Pass, along with nearby Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain. In summer the slopes turn to golf, hiking and mountain activities, and the big hotel and condos fill with Pittsburgh families escaping the heat.
Skip it if: You want a luxury hotel. Seven Springs is a big, busy family mountain, more practical than plush.
Plan it: 777 Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Pittsburgh, 3 hours from Harrisburg and 4 hours 30 minutes from Philadelphia. Buy Epic Pass products or lift tickets online in advance; check Seven Springs’ site for 2026-27 opening dates. Best for: skiers and Pittsburgh families in any season.
12. Camelback Resort
Ski and water park resort; $$ to $$$; Poconos; year-round fun for families. Camelback is one of the Poconos’ biggest all-season resorts: 39 trails and 800 feet of vertical in winter, more than 40 snow tubing lanes, and the Camelback Lodge with its Aquatopia indoor water park all year. In warm months the Mountain Adventure Park adds treetop courses, ziplines and a mountain coaster. The outdoor Camelbeach water park was closed for the 2026 summer season; Camelback is selling 2027 Camelbeach passes but hadn’t announced an opening date. It’s on the Ikon Pass and the local Peak-to-Peak Poconos pass.
Skip it if: You were counting on the outdoor water park this year (Camelbeach was closed in 2026), or you want a quiet mountain weekend.
Plan it: 193 Resort Drive, Tannersville, about 2 hours from Philadelphia and 2 hours 15 minutes from Harrisburg. The lodge has family condos, junior suites and standard rooms; slopeside packages sell out on holiday weekends. Best for: families who want skiing and water slides in one trip.
13. Cove Haven Resort
Couples resort; $$ to $$$; Poconos; the honeymoon classic. The Poconos invented the couples resort, and Cove Haven on Lake Wallenpaupack is where the tradition lives on: suites with heart-shaped tubs and champagne-glass whirlpools, couples-only activities and entertainment, and packages that bundle meals. It’s kitsch, knowingly so, and many couples love it for exactly that. Its sister resort, Paradise Stream in Mount Pocono, still operates; the third, Pocono Palace, has closed.
Skip it if: Themed decor makes you wince. Cove Haven is unashamedly retro, which is the point for fans and a turn-off for others.
Plan it: Lakeville, Wayne County, about 2 hours 45 minutes from Philadelphia and 2 hours 30 minutes from Harrisburg. Compare packages carefully: what counts as “all-inclusive” varies by plan and season. Best for: honeymooners, anniversaries and couples who want a theme.
14. Mount Airy Casino Resort
Adults-only casino resort; $$ to $$$; Poconos; for grown-ups only. Every guest at Mount Airy must be 21 or older, which changes the atmosphere completely. It pairs a casino and poker room with restaurants, a full-service spa and on-site hiking trails, and it calls itself the Poconos’ first AAA Four-Diamond casino resort. For couples or friends who want a lively evening and a quiet morning, it’s the easiest weekend in the mountains.
Skip it if: You don’t gamble and want a nature-focused trip. The casino is the center of gravity, even with the spa and trails.
Plan it: Mount Pocono, about 2 hours from Philadelphia and 2 hours 15 minutes from Harrisburg. Best for: couples and friends 21 and over.
15. The French Manor Inn & Spa
Chateau inn; $$ to $$$; Poconos; small and romantic. This stone chateau on Huckleberry Mountain near Newfoundland is more inn than resort, which is its charm: a small number of rooms, mountain views, a fine-dining restaurant with a casual terrace, and Le Spa Forêt. It’s a good choice for couples who want the Poconos without the crowds of the big resorts.
Skip it if: You want resort amenities like pools and kids’ programs. It’s a small inn, best for couples who want dinner and a view.
Plan it: Newfoundland, Wayne County, in the northern Poconos, a little over 2 hours from Philadelphia. Book dinner with your room on weekends. Best for: couples and anniversary trips.
16. Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa
Mansion guesthouse and spa; $$ to $$$; Sharon; a castle for a night. In Sharon, near the Ohio line, a turreted stone mansion built for a steel baron in the Gilded Age is now a guesthouse and spa. It’s an unusual choice, and one of the most romantic places to stay in western Pennsylvania, with grand rooms and the option to rent the whole house as a “Castle For A Day” for weddings and events.
Skip it if: You want outdoor activities on site. The Buhl Mansion is a house to stay in, not a resort to roam.
Plan it: 422 East State Street, Sharon, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Pittsburgh. Best for: couples and anyone who wants a night in a castle.
17. Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort
Historic golf resort; $$ to $$$; Poconos; golf on a river island. The Shawnee Inn’s Main Inn has stood on the banks of the Delaware River since 1911, with 80 guest rooms and long porches facing the water. Its golf course came first: the Shawnee Island Course, finished in 1910, was the first course A.W. Tillinghast ever designed, and 24 of its 27 holes sit on an island in the river. Beyond the inn, the resort rents cabins and glamping sites, which makes it one of the few places in the Poconos where a golfer, a camper and a grandparent can all be happy on one trip.
The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area surrounds the area, with river trips, waterfalls and hiking close by, and the Shawnee Mountain ski area is nearby for winter visits.
Skip it if: You want modern luxury rooms. Shawnee’s charm is its history and setting, and the Main Inn is more traditional than sleek.
Plan it: 100 Shawnee Inn Drive, Shawnee on Delaware, about 2 hours from Philadelphia, 2 hours 15 minutes from Harrisburg and 5 hours from Pittsburgh. Book tee times with your room in season. Best for: golfers, history lovers and couples who want the river.
18. Eagles Mere Inn
Country inn; $$ to $$$; Endless Mountains; the quiet one. Eagles Mere is a Victorian summer village on a mountain lake in Sullivan County, and its inn has welcomed guests since 1887. It’s small, with 16 rooms, a fine-dining room named 1887 that seats about 40, and C Little’s Drinkery for an evening drink. Guests can play the village’s 18-hole championship course, designed by William Flynn, the architect of Merion. The inn calls Eagles Mere “the last unspoiled resort,” and on a fall weekday it’s hard to argue.
Worlds End State Park, in its S-shaped valley along Loyalsock Creek, is a short drive away for hiking and fall color, and the roads through the Endless Mountains are some of the prettiest in the state in October.
Skip it if: You need nightlife, shopping or a big resort’s facilities. Eagles Mere is a small village, and evenings end early.
Plan it: Eagles Mere, Sullivan County, about 2 hours from Harrisburg, 3 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia and 4 hours 15 minutes from Pittsburgh. Reserve dinner with your room. Best for: couples, readers and walkers who want an old-fashioned quiet break.
19. Bear Creek Mountain Resort
Ski and spa hotel; $$; Lehigh Valley; the easy escape from Philadelphia. Bear Creek, near Macungie in Lehigh County, is a small mountain resort with a full hotel attached: guest rooms and loft and executive suites, a couple of restaurants, a spa with massages, facials and body treatments, and skiing and snow tubing in winter. Its calendar runs year-round, from fall brunches with a scenic chairlift ride (the next is October 11, 2026) to winter ski weekends. It’s listed among the Indy Pass partners, which makes it a cheap add-on for pass holders.
Skip it if: You’re a serious skier looking for big vertical. Bear Creek is a small mountain; Blue Mountain or the bigger Pocono and Laurel Highlands resorts suit experts better.
Plan it: Near Macungie, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Philadelphia, 1 hour 30 minutes from Harrisburg and 35 minutes from Allentown. Pair it with Bethlehem’s Moravian district and Christmas City in December. Best for: Philadelphia couples and families who want a short drive.
20. Whitetail Resort
Ski resort with condos; $$; south-central Pennsylvania; close to the Maryland line. Whitetail, near Mercersburg in Franklin County, is one of Vail Resorts’ eight Pennsylvania mountains and is on the Epic Pass. Ski PA lists 20 slopes, a high-speed detachable quad, 935 feet of vertical, night skiing until 10pm and slopeside condos. It’s the best-placed ski resort for south-central Pennsylvania and for skiers driving up from the Washington and Baltimore area.
Skip it if: You want a full-service resort hotel. Whitetail is about the skiing, with condos rather than a grand lodge.
Plan it: 13805 Blairs Valley Road, Mercersburg, about 1 hour 45 minutes from Harrisburg, 3 hours from Pittsburgh and 3 hours 15 minutes from Philadelphia. Buy lift tickets online ahead of time. Best for: skiers and snowboarders who want a short drive and slopeside lodging.
Choose by trip: our picks
Couples. For a spa weekend, the adults-only Lodge at Woodloch. For history and quiet, the Omni Bedford Springs or the Eagles Mere Inn. For a lively night out, Mount Airy, where every guest is 21 or older. For classic Poconos romance, Cove Haven. For luxury without children around, Falling Rock at Nemacolin, which takes guests 16 and older.
Families with young children. Great Wolf Lodge or Hershey Lodge, where pools and kid-sized activities are built in, or Woodloch Pines, where meals and activities are included and you never have to plan the day. Camelback’s Aquatopia works year-round for water-park fans.
Families with teenagers. Kalahari for its size, Seven Springs or Camelback for skiing and summer adventure parks, and Nemacolin if the budget allows, for its sheer range of activities.
Multi-generation groups. Skytop Lodge, Woodloch Pines and The Hotel Hershey all handle grandparents, parents and kids well, with something for each and rooms or houses that let everyone stay together.
Golfers. The Old Course at Bedford Springs, Mystic Rock at Nemacolin, Tillinghast’s island course at the Shawnee Inn and William Flynn’s design at Eagles Mere.
Skiers. Seven Springs in the west, Camelback in the east, Whitetail in the south, Bear Creek near Philadelphia and The Peak at Nemacolin for skiing with five-star service.
On a budget. State park cabins, which cost a fraction of resort rooms; midweek stays anywhere outside school breaks; and the Hershey resorts in the off-season, when park hours don’t drive demand.
By home base. From Pittsburgh, Nemacolin, Seven Springs and Bedford Springs are each under 2 hours. From Philadelphia, the Poconos resorts, Bear Creek and Hershey are 1 to 3 hours away. From New York, the eastern Poconos, including the Shawnee Inn, Camelback, Great Wolf and Kalahari, are the closest Pennsylvania resorts.
Is there an all-inclusive resort in Pennsylvania?
Not in the Caribbean sense, where food, drinks and activities are all covered by one price. Pennsylvania has a few resorts that come close, and the details matter:
- Woodloch Pines includes two or three meals a day plus 30-plus daily activities and nightly entertainment on its traditional packages. It’s the most complete family package in the state.
- The Lodge at Woodloch sells all-inclusive spa stays with meals and more than 50 classes and activities a day; treatments may be included or extra depending on the package.
- Cove Haven and Paradise Stream sell couples packages that can bundle meals and activities; read what each plan includes before you book.
- Ski-and-stay packages at Camelback, Seven Springs and other mountains bundle lodging and lift tickets, but meals usually cost extra.
Alcohol is the big difference from Caribbean resorts: in Pennsylvania, assume drinks are extra unless the package says otherwise. Ask about gratuities and resort fees too, which some properties add on top of the package price.
Golf, ski and spa resorts compared
Golf resorts
Pennsylvania has some of the oldest resort golf in the country. The Old Course at Omni Bedford Springs dates to 1895 and carries work by Spencer Oldham, A.W. Tillinghast and Donald Ross. Tillinghast’s first-ever design, the Shawnee Island Course of 1910, puts 24 of its 27 holes on an island in the Delaware River. Nemacolin’s Mystic Rock is the state’s best-known modern resort course, and Eagles Mere’s William Flynn course is the quiet classic of the north. Woodloch Springs, Skytop and The Hotel Hershey all have golf on site or close by. Spring and early fall are the best value: courses are in good shape, and rates fall outside summer weekends.
Ski resorts you can sleep at
Only a few Pennsylvania ski areas have real resort lodging. Seven Springs has a large hotel and condos at the base; Camelback has the Camelback Lodge with its indoor water park; Whitetail has slopeside condos; Bear Creek has a full hotel and spa; and Nemacolin’s guests ski The Peak without leaving the estate. Hidden Valley, near Seven Springs, has 25 slopes, night skiing Wednesday to Sunday and tubing, and Blue Mountain near Palmerton has the biggest vertical drop in the state, 1,082 feet, for day trips from the Lehigh Valley. Pass holders should note who owns what: Seven Springs, Hidden Valley, Laurel Mountain, Liberty, Roundtop, Whitetail, Jack Frost and Big Boulder are on Vail’s Epic Pass, while Camelback and Blue Mountain are on the Ikon Pass.
Spa resorts
The Lodge at Woodloch is the only true destination spa, where the whole stay is built around wellness and adults only. For a spa inside a classic resort, The Hotel Hershey’s Chocolate Spa offers cocoa baths and chocolate wraps, and the Springs Eternal Spa at Omni Bedford Springs uses the resort’s natural spring water in its treatments. Nemacolin has a full spa, Mount Airy’s spa suits a 21-plus weekend, and smaller spas at the French Manor (Le Spa Forêt), the Buhl Mansion, Bear Creek and Glendorn make a treatment part of a quieter stay. At every one, book treatments when you book the room: weekend appointments go first.
Pennsylvania’s resort regions
The Poconos. The state’s resort heartland, about 2 hours from Philadelphia and closer still to New York. It has the most choice by far: family lake resorts, couples resorts, indoor water parks, ski resorts, a casino resort, historic golf at Shawnee and the grand old lodge at Skytop. Weekends are busy year-round, and traffic on I-80 and I-380 can add an hour.
The Laurel Highlands. Pittsburgh’s mountain playground, about 1 to 1.5 hours southeast of the city. Nemacolin and Seven Springs anchor it, with Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain for skiing, and Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob and Ohiopyle’s waterfalls and whitewater close by.
Hershey and Harrisburg. The center of the state, an easy drive from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Harrisburg. The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge lead, with Hersheypark, Chocolate World and Hershey Gardens on the doorstep.
South-central Pennsylvania. Bedford Springs off the Turnpike, Whitetail and Liberty for skiing near the Maryland line, and Gettysburg’s historic inns.
The northern tier and the Wilds. Remote and quiet: The Lodge at Glendorn near the Allegheny National Forest, the Eagles Mere Inn in the Endless Mountains, and cabins and glamping near the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and Cherry Springs’ dark skies. Expect long drives and little cell signal, which is the appeal.
The Lehigh Valley and Western Pennsylvania. Bear Creek is the closest mountain resort to Philadelphia, and the Buhl Mansion is western Pennsylvania’s most unusual overnight.
Cabins, glamping, treehouses and B&Bs
Not every great Pennsylvania stay is a resort. Some of the best value, and some of the best memories, come from simpler places.
State park cabins. Pennsylvania’s state parks rent cabins, cottages and yurts, from rustic log cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s to modern cabins with kitchens and bathrooms. They’re far cheaper than private rentals, and day use of the parks is free. Reservations open up to 11 months ahead, with a $6.50 transaction fee, and popular parks fill quickly for summer and fall weekends.
Private cabins. The Poconos, the Laurel Highlands, the PA Wilds and the Endless Mountains all have cabin rentals, from simple lake cabins to big houses with hot tubs. Book directly with local rental managers where you can, check winter road access and the hot tub’s working season, and read pet rules before you pack the dog.
Glamping and treehouses. Safari tents, geodesic domes with hot tubs and treehouse rentals have spread across the state, especially near the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, the Poconos, Lancaster County and the Laurel Highlands. Look closely at photos and descriptions: “treehouse” can mean anything from a cabin on stilts to a true tree-supported room, and some involve ladders, steep stairs or shared bathhouses.
Bed-and-breakfasts. Pennsylvania’s B&Bs and country inns are some of the best in the Northeast: farm stays in Lancaster County, river-town inns in Bucks County, historic inns in Gettysburg, Victorian houses in Jim Thorpe and Wellsboro, and mountain inns like the French Manor. Many require two-night minimums on weekends, and booking directly often gets a better rate or a more flexible cancellation policy.
Resort, rental or B&B?
| Choose | If you want | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| A resort | Everything on site: dining, pools, activities, spa, kids’ programs | Resort fees, extra charges for activities, busy weekends |
| A cabin or vacation rental | Space, a kitchen, privacy, pets, a hot tub | Cleaning fees, minimum stays, winter road access |
| A state park cabin or yurt | The lowest price and trails from the door | Booking up to 11 months ahead, basic facilities in rustic cabins |
| A B&B or country inn | Character, breakfast, local advice | Two-night minimums, stairs, fewer amenities |
Accessibility. The large resorts (Nemacolin, the Hershey properties, the Omni, the water-park resorts) have accessible rooms and elevators; ask for specific features such as roll-in showers when you book. Historic inns, B&Bs and mansion guesthouses often have stairs and older layouts, and treehouses, yurts and glamping tents are rarely accessible. Call ahead rather than relying on booking-site filters.
Best resorts in Pennsylvania by season
Fall (late September to early November). The busiest and most expensive season at the mountain resorts. The Laurel Highlands’ color usually peaks in October, which makes Nemacolin, Seven Springs and Bedford Springs prime choices, and the Poconos resorts fill on every October weekend. Book by summer for a fall weekend, or go midweek.
Winter (December to March). Ski resorts take over: Seven Springs and Hidden Valley in the west, Camelback, Blue Mountain and Jack Frost Big Boulder in the east, and The Peak at Nemacolin for skiing at a luxury resort. Indoor water parks are at their busiest on winter weekends and school breaks. Hershey glows at Christmas, with Hersheypark Christmas Candylane drawing families to the Hershey resorts.
Spring (April to June). The quietest and best-value season at many resorts. Golf courses open, the spa resorts run spring specials, and lake resorts are calm before summer. It’s a good time for the historic grand hotels.
Summer (late June to August). Family resort season: Woodloch Pines, Hershey and the Poconos lakes book up for school holidays, and the mountain resorts trade skis for golf, hiking and water sports. Couples and spa-goers find better rates in late August and early September.
Three sample resort weekends
A Laurel Highlands luxury weekend (from Pittsburgh). Drive out Friday afternoon and check into Nemacolin or the Omni Bedford Springs. On Saturday morning, tour Fallingwater (book timed tickets well ahead) and walk the falls at Ohiopyle, both about 20 minutes from Nemacolin; spend the afternoon at the spa or on the golf course. Sunday is for a slow breakfast and the drive home through the fall color.
A Poconos family weekend (from Philadelphia or New York). Check into Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari or Woodloch Pines on Friday night. Give Saturday to the water park or the resort’s activity schedule, and on Sunday morning get outside: Bushkill Falls, the Delaware Water Gap or a scenic chairlift ride, depending on the season.
A Hershey couples weekend. Stay at The Hotel Hershey and book a Chocolate Spa treatment for Saturday morning. Walk Hershey Gardens, which is open daily from 9am to 5pm, and the Hershey Story museum on Chocolate Avenue in the afternoon, then dinner at the hotel. On Sunday, Lancaster County is about 40 minutes away and Gettysburg about an hour, so either makes an easy stop on the way home.
How to book: prices, fees and packages
What drives the price. Day of the week (Friday and Saturday nights can cost far more than Sunday to Thursday), season (fall foliage, ski holidays and summer school breaks are peak), events (Christmas in Hershey, fall festivals, big golf weekends) and what’s included (meals, activities, park tickets, spa credits). A midweek stay in spring or early December can cost half of a peak October Saturday.
Read the fine print. Some resorts add daily resort fees, service charges or mandatory gratuities, and Pennsylvania adds sales and hotel occupancy taxes on top. Compare the full price, not the headline rate. Ask whether parking is included, whether pets are allowed and at what fee, and what the cancellation window is, which can be strict at peak times.
Packages worth buying. Hersheypark resort packages, which add extra park hours and the gate shuttle; ski-and-stay packages at the mountain resorts; and the all-inclusive plans at Woodloch. Spa packages at The Hotel Hershey, Bedford Springs and the Lodge at Woodloch can make sense if you’d book treatments anyway.
Minimum stays. Expect two-night minimums on peak weekends at most resorts and B&Bs, and three nights on holiday weekends.
Drive times to Pennsylvania’s top resorts
| Resort | From Philadelphia | From Pittsburgh | From Harrisburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nemacolin | About 5 hours | About 1 hr 30 min | About 3 hr 15 min |
| Omni Bedford Springs | About 3 hr 30 min | About 1 hr 45 min | About 1 hr 45 min |
| The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge | About 1 hr 45 min | About 3 hr 30 min | About 20 min |
| The Lodge at Glendorn | About 5 hr 45 min | About 3 hr 30 min | About 4 hours |
| Skytop Lodge | About 2 hr 15 min | About 5 hr 15 min | About 2 hr 30 min |
| Woodloch (Pines and Lodge) | About 3 hours | About 5 hr 45 min | About 3 hours |
| Seven Springs | About 4 hr 30 min | About 1 hr 15 min | About 3 hours |
| Great Wolf Lodge | About 1 hr 45 min | About 5 hours | About 2 hours |
| Camelback Resort | About 2 hours | About 5 hours | About 2 hr 15 min |
| Mount Airy Casino Resort | About 2 hours | About 5 hours | About 2 hr 15 min |
| Cove Haven | About 2 hr 45 min | About 5 hr 30 min | About 2 hr 30 min |
| Buhl Mansion | About 6 hours | About 1 hr 15 min | About 4 hr 15 min |
| Shawnee Inn | About 2 hours | About 5 hours | About 2 hr 15 min |
| Eagles Mere Inn | About 3 hr 15 min | About 4 hr 15 min | About 2 hours |
| Bear Creek Mountain Resort | About 1 hr 15 min | About 4 hr 45 min | About 1 hr 30 min |
| Whitetail Resort | About 3 hr 15 min | About 3 hours | About 1 hr 45 min |
Times are free-flow estimates. Add time on Friday afternoons, on I-80 and I-380 into the Poconos on summer and ski weekends, and on the Turnpike around holidays.
A short history of the Pennsylvania resort
Pennsylvania’s resorts come in layers, and knowing them explains why the state’s choices look the way they do. The first layer is the springs resort. In the early 1800s, wealthy families traveled for mineral water, and Bedford Springs, which opened as the Stone Inn in 1806, became one of the most fashionable stops in the country, close enough to Washington that presidents came for the summer.
The railroad built the second layer. Late-19th and early-20th-century trains carried city families to the mountains for whole summers, and the lake villages and grand inns of that era still stand: the Eagles Mere Inn, open since 1887; the Shawnee Inn on the Delaware, built in 1911 beside A.W. Tillinghast’s first golf course; and Skytop’s stone lodge from the late 1920s. Milton Hershey added a different kind of grand hotel in the early 1930s, building The Hotel Hershey on the hill above his chocolate town.
After World War II the Poconos invented a third layer: the honeymoon and couples resort, with themed suites, heart-shaped tubs and package deals that made the mountains a byword for newlyweds. Cove Haven and Paradise Stream keep that tradition going, even as other couples resorts, including Pocono Palace, have closed. Family resorts like Woodloch Pines grew up in the same years around lakes and full activity schedules.
The newest layers are the luxury estate and the indoor water park. Nemacolin turned a Laurel Highlands hunting lodge into a 2,200-acre resort with three Five-Diamond hotels, and Great Wolf, Kalahari and Camelback’s Aquatopia made the Poconos a year-round destination for families who once came only in summer. Add the ski resorts, now largely owned by national companies like Vail, and the state’s resort map is wider than it has ever been.
What’s changed, and what to skip
- Pocono Palace is gone. Older lists still include it. Cove Haven and Paradise Stream remain.
- Camelbeach was closed in 2026. Camelback’s indoor water park, Aquatopia, is open; check before planning a summer 2027 trip around the outdoor park.
- Falling Rock is now 16 and over. Families booking Nemacolin should choose The Chateau or The Grand Lodge.
- Great Wolf was rebuilt. Reviews from before 2023 describe a different resort.
- Hersheypark is missing two rides. Tidal Force closed for good in 2026, and the sooperdooperLooper returns in summer 2027.
- Skip: booking a fall-foliage Saturday at the last minute (you’ll pay peak rates for leftovers), assuming “all-inclusive” covers drinks, and choosing a resort by its photos alone. A great resort two hours from the sights you came to see can be the wrong choice.
Pennsylvania Resorts FAQ
What is the best resort in Pennsylvania?
For luxury, Nemacolin in the Laurel Highlands, whose three hotels all earned AAA Five-Diamond ratings in 2025. For history and a mineral-springs spa, the Omni Bedford Springs. For a family vacation with meals and activities included, Woodloch Pines in the Poconos. The best choice depends on who’s traveling and where you’re coming from.
Are there all-inclusive resorts in Pennsylvania?
A few come close. Woodloch Pines includes two or three daily meals, 30-plus activities a day and nightly entertainment; the adults-only Lodge at Woodloch sells all-inclusive spa stays; and Cove Haven bundles meals in its couples packages. Drinks are usually extra, so read what each package covers.
Which Pennsylvania resorts are adults-only?
The Lodge at Woodloch is an adults-only destination spa, Mount Airy Casino Resort requires every guest to be 21 or older, and Cove Haven and Paradise Stream are built for couples. At Nemacolin, the Falling Rock hotel has taken only guests 16 and older since 2025.
What is the best family resort in Pennsylvania?
Woodloch Pines for an all-in-one family vacation with meals and activities included; Hershey Lodge for a Hersheypark trip; Great Wolf Lodge or Kalahari for indoor water parks; and Seven Springs or Camelback for skiing. Skytop Lodge suits multi-generation groups who like hiking and a historic setting.
Where is Kalahari Resort in Pennsylvania?
Kalahari Resorts Poconos is in Pocono Manor, Monroe County, off I-380 in the Pocono Mountains, about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours from Philadelphia. Overnight guests get water park access from opening on check-in day to closing on check-out day, and day passes are also sold.
What is the most romantic resort in Pennsylvania?
For classic Poconos romance, Cove Haven with its heart-shaped tubs and champagne-glass whirlpools. For a quieter, more grown-up stay, the French Manor Inn & Spa or the Omni Bedford Springs. For a spa-focused break, the adults-only Lodge at Woodloch, and for something unusual, the Buhl Mansion in Sharon.
When should I book a Pennsylvania resort?
Three to six months ahead for fall-foliage weekends, Christmas in Hershey, ski holidays and summer school breaks at the family resorts. Midweek stays in spring and early December are the easiest to book and the best value. State park cabins open for reservations 11 months in advance.
Is Nemacolin worth the money?
For a special occasion, usually yes: three AAA Five-Diamond hotels on 2,200 acres, golf, skiing at The Peak, a spa and many restaurants mean you can stay several days without leaving. It’s expensive, though, and extras add up. If you’d rather explore the region, Bedford Springs or a Laurel Highlands inn costs less.
Related Pennsylvania Guides
- Things to do in the Poconos: lakes, waterfalls, skiing and towns around the Pocono resorts.
- Hershey PA vacation guide: Hersheypark, Chocolate World and the town.
- Amusement and water parks in Pennsylvania: Hersheypark, Kennywood, Dorney and the indoor water park resorts.
Sources and How We Checked
Everything on this page was checked on October 1, 2026 against the official sources below and compiled from them; we don’t claim stays or first-hand visits. Drive times are free-flow estimates from OpenStreetMap-based routing (the Valhalla engine), rounded to the nearest 15 minutes.
- The Hotel Hershey, spa and Hershey Lodge: facilities, dining and spa treatments.
- Woodloch Pines and The Lodge at Woodloch: what the packages include.
- The Lodge at Glendorn: lodge, cabins and affiliations.
- Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains: the water park.
- Camelback Resort: water parks, lodging and adventure park.
- Mount Airy Casino Resort: age policy and facilities.
Also used: the websites of Skytop Lodge, the French Manor Inn & Spa and the Buhl Mansion, nemacolin.com and omnihotels.com, and Lehigh Valley Public Media’s and NBC Philadelphia’s reports on Great Wolf’s renovation.
Pennsylvania Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with any resort, hotel, inn or company named here, including Nemacolin, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, Woodloch, Great Wolf Resorts, Kalahari Resorts, Vail Resorts, Cove Pocono Resorts and Mount Airy, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- Omni Bedford Springs Resort, Bedford: photo by Acroterion, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Mystic Rock golf course, Nemacolin: photo by daveynin from United States, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Lake Wallenpaupack: photo by Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Great Wolf Lodge Pocono Mountains: photo by Carlos Pacheco from Toronto, Canada, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Seven Springs Mountain Resort: photo by Baron Maddock, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
- Buhl Mansion, Sharon: photo by Cbaile19, via Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
- CCC cabin, Black Moshannon State Park: photo by User:Ruhrfisch, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)