10 Best Winter Getaways in the USA: Where to Go This Season
Photo courtesy of Edgewood Tahoe Resort
You need a winter break, but leaving the country means passport checks, long flights, and travel complications you don't want to deal with. Good news: the best winter escapes are domestic. Some lean into snow and mountain culture. Others offer warm weather and sunshine. A few split the difference with mild temps and actual substance. What matters is matching the destination to what you actually need—not what looks good on Instagram. Here are ten American winter getaways that deliver.
The Cold-Weather Spots
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole doesn't mess around. The skiing is legitimately challenging—steep terrain, deep powder, and runs that'll remind you why you started skiing in the first place. The town itself has character without the Aspen price tag on everything. You'll find solid restaurants, dive bars that locals actually go to, and enough gear shops to outfit an expedition. Winter here means the Tetons covered in snow, elk wandering through town, and that high-altitude cold that feels clean instead of miserable. Stay slopeside at one of the newer properties if skiing is your main focus. Head into town if you want walkable access to restaurants and nightlife. Either way, you're looking at one of the best mountain towns in the country—minus the pretension that ruins so many ski destinations.
Worth it for: Advanced skiers, couples who want mountain views without the Aspen attitude, anyone who values substance over scene.
Where to Stay: Hotel Yellowstone at Jackson Hole - Modern mountain luxury that doesn't try too hard. The property balances upscale amenities with genuine Wyoming character—think fireplaces, locally inspired design, and easy access to both the slopes and town.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport in winter is what the town used to be before summer crowds turned it into a zoo. The Gilded Age mansions look even more dramatic against gray winter skies and crashing waves. Cliff Walk is nearly empty, meaning you can actually enjoy the views without dodging selfie-takers every ten feet. The restaurant scene stays strong year-round—this is a port town with serious culinary chops, not just summer tourist traps. You've got fresh oysters, proper seafood, and enough cozy pubs to keep you warm between mansion tours. Winter temps hover in the 30s-40s, cold enough to make fireplaces feel earned but not the brutal cold that keeps you indoors. The beaches are wild and windswept, perfect for bundled-up walks that clear your head. Hotels drop their rates significantly, so you can stay at properties that would cost double in July. Newport works in winter because you get the history, the coastline, and the food without the chaos.
Worth it for: History lovers who hate crowds, couples who want coastal New England charm, anyone chasing that old-money aesthetic without the summer price tag.
Where to stay: Vanderbilt, Auberge Collection - Gilded Age mansion turned luxury hotel that actually lives up to the setting. Impeccable service, sophisticated rooms, and a location that puts you walking distance from everything worth seeing in Newport.
Photo courtesy of Edgewood Tahoe Resort
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Lake Tahoe gives you options, which matters when you're planning a winter trip with people who want different things. The lake sits right on the California-Nevada border, surrounded by mountains and ski resorts. You can hit multiple resorts in one trip—Palisades for advanced terrain, Heavenly for the views, Northstar for families. The California side skews quieter and more upscale, with properties that lean into mountain luxury. The Nevada side brings casinos, nightlife, and a livelier après-ski scene. Winter means deep snow, bluebird days, and that high alpine air that makes everything feel sharper. The lake itself doesn't freeze, so you get this surreal contrast of snow-covered peaks reflected in crystal-clear water. Stay North Shore if you want fewer crowds and easier access to Truckee's restaurant scene. South Shore if you want more action and don't mind tourists.
Worth it for: Groups with mixed interests, people who want options beyond just skiing, couples who can't decide between California chill and Nevada energy.
Where to stay: Edgewood Tahoe Resort - Direct lakefront access with those fire pits you see in every Tahoe photo—except here, you actually get to use them. The spa is exceptional, rooms are spacious, and the restaurant overlooks the water.
Photo courtesy of Aspen Meadows Resort
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen costs money. Let's get that out of the way. But if you're going to spend on a winter trip, this is where it makes sense. Four mountains give you variety—Snowmass for terrain, Aspen Mountain for steeps, Buttermilk for parks, Highlands for views. The town itself is walkable, packed with high-end dining that actually earns the prices, and enough après-ski spots to keep things interesting. Winter here means bluebird powder days, luxury lodges that understand service, and a social scene that manages to feel buzzy without being obnoxious. The shopping is what you'd expect—designer boutiques, art galleries, jewelry stores. But you also get solid coffee shops, a surprising music scene, and enough cultural programming to justify calling this more than just a ski town. Aspen works because it's been the standard for decades and still delivers on the hype.
Worth it for: Skiers with deep pockets, couples celebrating something big, anyone who wants the full luxury mountain experience done right.
Where to stay: Aspen Meadows Resort - Bauhaus architecture meets Rocky Mountain luxury on 40 acres. Quieter than staying in town, with a world-class spa and enough space to feel like you're not on top of other guests.
The Moderate Winter Escapes
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville in winter is what the city should always be—fewer tourists, better hotel rates, and locals reclaiming their own town. The Blue Ridge Mountains look incredible covered in snow, though the Parkway closes in sections so plan accordingly. What makes Asheville work in winter is the density of good stuff happening in a walkable downtown. The brewery scene is legitimately one of the best in the country—not just quantity, but quality. Restaurants lean hard into seasonal ingredients and Appalachian traditions done with actual technique. You've got a strong art scene, live music most nights, and enough indie shops to keep you busy between meals. Winter temps hover in the 40s-50s, cold enough to justify cozy sweaters and fireplaces but not the brutal cold that makes you regret leaving the house. Stay downtown if you want walkability. Head to the Biltmore area if you want something quieter and more resort-like.
Worth it for: Beer lovers, anyone who wants mountain vibes without the ski resort prices, couples who prefer culture and food to outdoor sports.
Where to stay: The Restoration Asheville - Boutique hotel in a converted 1920s building with original details that matter. Downtown location means you can walk to breweries and restaurants, and the rooms blend historic character with modern comfort.
Portland, Maine
Portland works in winter because most people are smart enough to visit in summer, leaving you with a quieter, more authentic version of the city. The food scene is exceptional year-round—lobster rolls that justify the hype, craft cocktails at bars that would hold up in any major city, and a farm-to-table commitment that feels genuine instead of performative. Winter means bundling up for waterfront walks, ducking into breweries for warming stouts, and eating your way through a restaurant scene that punches way above its weight for a city this size. The Old Port is walkable, brick-lined, and full of the kind of independent shops that make you want to browse. You're close enough to hit L.L.Bean's flagship in Freeport if that's your vibe, or just stay in the city and rotate between restaurants. Portland in winter is cold—real cold—but the city knows how to make cold feel cozy instead of miserable.
Worth it for: Foodies who want a proper restaurant scene, couples who prefer walkable cities to resorts, anyone willing to embrace the cold for quality experiences.
Where to stay: Portland Harbor Hotel - Garden courtyard in the middle of the Old Port—surprising for a city hotel. Comfortable rooms, genuinely helpful staff, and you're steps from the best restaurants in the city.
Photo courtesy of Bishop's Lodge Auberge Collection
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe in winter is high desert perfection—cold nights, sunny days, and snow that looks surreal against adobe architecture. The light here is different, sharper, which explains why artists have been flocking here for over a century. Winter means gallery hopping without the summer crowds, eating green and red chile at every meal, and a pace that forces you to slow down whether you planned to or not. The art scene is world-class, not just Southwestern clichés but contemporary galleries showing museum-quality work. Canyon Road alone could fill a full day. Food leans heavy into New Mexican traditions—enchiladas, posole, sopaipillas—done at every price point from hole-in-the-wall taquerias to white-tablecloth fine dining. Winter temps drop at night but days are often sunny and pleasant. The city sits at 7,000 feet, so the air is thin and the views go on forever.
Worth it for: Culture seekers, anyone tired of the usual winter playbook, couples who want sophistication without the ski resort energy.
Where to stay: Bishop's Lodge, Auberge Collection - 317 acres in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, close enough to downtown but feels remote. The property nails Southwestern luxury without the clichés—think contemporary design that respects the landscape.
The Warm-Weather Escapes
Photo courtesy of Alila Ventana Big Sur
Big Sur, California
Big Sur in winter is moody, dramatic, and exactly what California's coastline should be. You're trading beach weather for something better—70 miles of cliffside highway, redwood forests, and luxury lodges perched above the Pacific. Winter brings whales migrating south, bigger waves crashing against rocks, and fog rolling in that makes the whole coast feel cinematic. Temps hover in the 50s-60s, perfect for hiking without overheating and sitting by fire pits at sunset. The lodges here understand luxury—Ventana, Post Ranch, Alila—properties that let the landscape do the talking instead of loading up on unnecessary amenities. You're here to disconnect, drive Highway 1 without summer traffic, and remember what it feels like to actually relax. Restaurants are spread out, so plan accordingly. But when you're eating at Sierra Mar with the Pacific stretching out in front of you, the drive makes sense.
Worth it for: Road trippers who want luxury without crowds, couples who want moody coastal drama, anyone who finds beach resorts boring.
Where to stay: Alila Ventana Big Sur - Inclusive Resort - Perched 1,200 feet above the Pacific with views that justify the price. Every room has an ocean-view patio, the Japanese hot baths are worth the visit alone, and the restaurant (Sur House) is one of Big Sur's best.
Photo courtesy of La Quinta Resort & Club
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs in winter is when the city makes sense. Summer is brutal—120-degree days that turn the place into a ghost town. Winter brings 70-degree sunshine, cool nights, and the kind of weather that makes you want to spend the entire day outside. The mid-century modern architecture is everywhere—homes, hotels, even the gas stations—and the design-forward crowd that descends on the city knows exactly why they're here. You've got hiking in the morning (the trails are exceptional and empty), poolside lounging by afternoon, and a restaurant and bar scene that feels effortlessly cool without trying too hard. The vibe splits the difference between chill and chic—you can show up in sneakers and a t-shirt or dress it up, and either works. Stay at a boutique property if you want design credibility, or go full resort if you want amenities. Either way, you're getting California desert at its best.
Worth it for: Design lovers, anyone who needs warmth but wants substance beyond a beach resort, couples who appreciate good cocktails and architecture.
Where to stay: ARRIVE Palm Springs - Mid-century modern design done right in the Uptown Design District. Smaller property with serious style—think poolside vinyl listening stations, locally-driven restaurant, and rooms that nail the Palm Springs aesthetic without feeling like a museum.
Photo courtesy of Montage Kapalua Bay
Maui, Hawaii
Maui in winter is the obvious choice, and sometimes obvious exists for a reason. Winter brings humpback whales breaching offshore, consistent 75-80 degree weather, and that complete disconnection from reality that only island life delivers. You're here to reset—morning swims, afternoon drives along the Hana Highway, sunset drinks watching the sky turn colors you forgot existed. The island is big enough to offer variety: Wailea for luxury resorts and golf, Paia for surf towns and açai bowls, Hana for dramatic coastline and actual solitude. Winter is peak season, so book early and expect higher prices. But you're also getting the best weather, calmer seas for snorkeling, and whale season—which alone justifies the trip. Skip the crowds in the resort areas if that's not your vibe. Head Upcountry to Kula or Makawao for something quieter. Or just accept that sometimes the best move is picking a great hotel and not leaving for three days.
Worth it for: Beach people who want guaranteed sun, anyone willing to invest in a proper escape, couples who need to completely unplug.
Where to stay: Montage Kapalua Bay - Maui's northwest coast means better beaches and fewer crowds than Wailea. Residential-style suites with full kitchens, three pools including an adults-only option, and service that gets the details right.
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