The Resort Voted Best in the Continental U.S. Overlooks an Underrated California Beach and Has a Michelin-star Mexican Restaurant

You don’t need to fly halfway around the world to have an epic vacation. In fact, you don’t need a passport at all. All you need to do is find your own little slice of American paradise at one of the nation’s best resorts. And if this year’s list of reader favorites in the continental U.S. is any indication, you’ll have no problem finding an ideal spot from coast to coast.

How Voting Works

Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Over 186,000 T+L readers completed the 2024 survey. A total of more than 700,000 votes were cast across over 8,700 properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

Hotels were classified as either resort hotel, city hotel, inn, or safari lodge based on their location and amenities, and they were specifically rated on the criteria below:

• Rooms/facilities
• Location
• Service
• Food
• Value

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses.

What Readers Loved

This year’s list showcases the best of America’s coastlines and its mountain towns. However, the American West is the real star of the show, with nine of the 15 resorts located west of the Mississippi. More specifically, Colorado and California take the cake, making three appearances each on this year’s list of the 15 best continental U.S. resorts.

A few favorites from years past reappear on the 2024 list, including the forever chic Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection (No. 4) in Aspen, Colorado, which was also named the No. 1 hotel in Colorado in the 2023 list, along with Quisisana Resort (No. 8) in Maine, a summer camp escape for adults that will make you want to say, “I carried a watermelon.”

But it was a brand-new entry that made its way to the top for 2024 — one that’s just steps from the sand in the Golden State. Keep reading to find out which resorts you need to be booking this year.

The Winner

Mission Pacific Beach Resort: Oceanside, California

Mission Pacific Beach Resort is making quite the splash in this year’s World’s Best Awards. The hotel not only takes the title for the No. 1 resort in the continental U.S., but it was also voted the best resort in California. Guests at the hotel don’t even need to bother putting on shoes to get to the beach, because it’s simply that close. They can also just swing open the doors to their private balconies to let the ocean air in day and night. Though the resort is well positioned for guests who want to explore the area, it’s a place you never really need to leave to have a good time. It’s home to both a Michelin-starred restaurant (Valle, which serves tasty Mexican bites) and a rooftop bar serving craft cocktails that are ideal at sunset. While here, don’t miss the fun of visiting the “Top Gun” house, which is the very same Victorian cottage that appeared in the original 1986 film.

The Full List

1. Mission Pacific Hotel: Oceanside, California

The Mission Pacific Hotel perfectly marries style and comfort. The serene escape comes with breathtaking ocean views, maximizing the SoCal experience, and throws in fantastic dining as a bonus.

Reader Score: 99.17

2. The Winnetu Oceanside Resort: Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Get in a little New England magic with a stay at The Winnetu Oceanside Resort on Martha’s Vineyard. The ultra family-friendly resort is just a short walk to the beach and hosts plenty of clambakes to gather around.

Reader Score: 99.00

3. Hotel Hartness: Greenville, South Carolina

Southern hospitality lives on at Hotel Hartness. The boutique hotel provides the perfect backdrop to a tranquil stay with its sprawling estate that guests can roam and its expansive Spa H that offers every treatment visitors could ever want.

Reader Score: 98.80

4. Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection: Aspen, Colorado

The classic luxury destination offers travelers the chance to live out their Old West fantasies with horseback riding and fly fishing, and exploring nearby ghost towns. And, when they’re done, they can return for some of the best cocktails in the West at its beloved bar, Bad Harriet.

Reader Score: 98.24

5. Cedar Lakes Estate: Port Jervis, New York

Have an idyllic escape to the Hudson Valley with a visit to Cedar Lakes. The rustic-meets-refined retreat offers plenty of outdoor activities to choose from, including boating on the lake, tennis, volleyball, and lawn games galore. When the day is done, guests can unwind with farm-to-table dining with produce picked right from their chef’s garden.

Reader Score: 98.20

6. Deer Path Inn: Lake Forest, Illinois

Deer Path Inn is a slice of English countryside charm hiding in Illinois. The inn’s stunning Tudor-style exterior, covered in ivy, is matched by its elegant interiors, where guests can gather around fireplaces, in plush leather furnishings, or for the all-important afternoon tea served — where else — in the English Room.

Reader Score: 98.11

7. Triple Creek Ranch: Darby, Montana

Have one more cowboy-esque experience with a visit to Triple Creek, a spectacular ranch set in the midst of Montana’s breathtaking wilderness. Here, guests can unwind in their private cabins, visit the ranch’s friendly horses, go out for a fly fishing adventure, or take part in perhaps the coolest experience, panning for sapphires plucked right from the river running through the property.

Reader Score: 97.87

8. Quisisana Resort: Lovell, Maine

Play like a kid again at this camp-inspired resort. Located on the shores of Lake Kezar, the resort is the epitome of fun for all. Here, guests can enjoy musical and theatrical entertainment, lake activities for all ages, and revel in the community atmosphere.

Reader Score: 97.77

9. Madeline Hotel and Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection: Telluride, Colorado

Find a year-round paradise at the Madeline Hotel and Residences. Tucked at the base of a mountain, the hotel is a prime place for ski-in, ski-out fun, but it also makes for a stellar home base for spring, summer, and fall hiking, mountain biking, and fishing experiences.

Reader Score: 96.67

10. Sonnenalp Hotel: Vail, Colorado

Keep the ski vibes high with a visit to Sonnenalp Hotel, located near the base of Vail, another beloved Colorado ski destination. Here, winter sports enthusiasts can live in the lap of luxury thanks to its in-house ski concierge and private ski lounge, which always has hot cocoa at the ready.

Reader Score: 96.47

11. Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa: Rancho Santa Fe, California

Rancho Valencia, which sits on 45 pristine acres of private land, has long been loved by T+L readers for its quiet atmosphere and wealth of wellness offerings. Here, guests can take part in daily fitness offerings like morning yoga and TRX classes, or soothe their aches at its 5-star spa, which tailors each treatment to the individual guest.

Reader Score: 96.44

12. Little Palm Island Resort & Spa: Little Torch Key, Florida

Really get away from it all with a visit to Little Palm Island, which is only accessible via boat or seaplane. The private island paradise, which took the No. 1 spot for the best hotels in Florida in the 2023 World’s Best Awards, is the right place to come to unplug. There are no TVs here and screen time is frowned upon. That’s OK though, because you get to trade that in for sunset views and swinging on its hammocks.

Reader Score: 96.29

13. The Ranch at Rock Creek: Philipsburg, Montana

Dig deeper into the adventurous spirit of Montana with a stay at Ranch at Rock Creek. The 19th-century homestead has been turned into an all-inclusive haven. Here, guests can pick just how rugged they want to get with accommodations ranging from glamping cabins to the historic barn and luxury rooms decked to the nines. Though really, no matter which guests choose, they won’t be roughing it.

Reader Score: 96.22

14. The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa: Oceanside, California

California dreaming is alive and well at The Seabird Ocean Resort & Spa. Nestled along the Pacific Ocean, the resort is coastal chic at its best, with blue decor to match the color of the sea outside. It’s also a place where plenty of fun can be had thanks to its live music and fire pits, complete with all the necessities for a delicious s’more.

Reader Score: 96.15

15. The Lodge at Blue Sky, Auberge Resorts Collection: Park City, Utah

Come reconnect with Mother Nature at the Lodge at Blue Sky. The resort has done its best to ensure guests feel immersed in the mountain’s magic from the moment they check in. Guests can open the doors to their Earth Suites and Sky Lodge rooms to breathe the fresh mountain air, dine on farm-fresh ingredients, and head out for an adventure to remember, including fishing, hiking, wagon rides, and plenty of activities for families, too, including teen-specific outings and kid-friendly camps.

Reader Score: 96.13