The Best Hotel in Every State

“Exactly what a beach vacation should be—and nothing it shouldn’t,” raved one happy T+L reader about this family-friendly resort in Orange Beach.

Nestled in a valley carved by glaciers, this is one of few resorts in North America that can boast both mountain as well as ocean views. Find it 40 miles south of Anchorage.

Fresh off a multi-million dollar renovation in 2015, this resort is spread across acres of the Sonoran Desert foothills.

“If you’re visiting the Ozarks, this is one of the most beautiful places you could stay,” suggested one World’s Best survey respondent. Old World details like French walnut doors and a wraparound porch made this charming Fayetteville boutique a favorite with readers.

Family-run and with only 25 rooms (including a handful of 20th-century cottages), this wine country property wooed readers with a Michelin-starred restaurant and easy to access to many of Sonoma’s top vineyards.

Adrenaline junkies love this upscale resort on the edge of the Dolores River, which offers easy access to red rock hikes and Class V rapids.

There’s nothing staid about Winvian, in Litchfield Hills. Fifteen architects collaborated on the hotel’s cottages, which include a two-story tree house complete with a fireplace, Jacuzzi, steam shower, and fully-stocked bar.

Rich history (the property has seen a lot since it was opened in 1913) and an impressive collection of Wyeth works made Hotel du Pont in Wilmington the top hotel in the state.

Formerly the Capella, this Georgetown hotel took top honors, thanks to top-notch rooftop bar and grill, which is reserved for guests only.

One reader went so far as to suggest this wasn’t just the best hotel in Florida, but perhaps the top spot in the entire South. After more than a century, Gasparilla Inn expertly balances historic charm (there’s still a dress code and Grecian columns) and modernity, with seaplane excursions and stand-up paddleboarding.

Legendary golf courses are a huge draw for this 40-room lodge—as is the bagpiper who roams the ground every evening.

One of the newest properties in town, Montage Kapalua Bay quickly edged out the competition, thanks to its world-class spa and incredible restaurant overlooking Namalu Bay where you’re guaranteed to be the only diners.

Our readers’ favorite hotel in Idaho is also one of the country’s best places to celebrate Christmas. Every year, this lakefront resort celebrates the season with a 1.5 million light show: the largest in the United States.

Inside a landmark Mies van der Rohe building is the Langham, where guests enjoy views of the Chicago River and the Windy City’s skyline from rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Readers continued to rave about the Jesuit seminary-turned National Historic Landmark and upscale hotel. “This is Indiana’s best resort property,” proclaimed one World’s Best voter, who recommends reserving the Chef’s Table experience.

Iowa’s hotels weren’t represented in this year’s World’s Best Awards, but the state’s tourism office recommends Hotel Blackhawk as the top property. Local artwork and an on-site bowling alley add to the Davenport hotel’s whimsy.

“Excellent service” and a true downtown vibe helped this historic, all-suite Lawrence property earn top marks in this year’s survey.

Five 19th-century brick buildings are now home to a rotating collection of modern paintings, sculptures, and other artworks—along with 91 guest rooms. It’s part hotel, part cultural institution.

Hailed as one of the coolest new city hotels in the country, the Old No. 77 Hotel is an exciting addition to New Orleans’ Warehouse Arts District. Rooms feature hardwood floors, an antique writing desk, and exposed brick.

“Best of Maine!” raved one satisfied reader, while another hailed it as “a beautiful property [with] its own private beach…that embodies the Maine experience.” Families should book a suite with a kitchen and fireplace.

Homey touches, like fresh-baked cookies at turndown, helped make this 1816 manor-turned inn the best hotel in the state of Maryland.

Simultaneously lavish and relaxed, guests love this 1740s house and clapboard cottages for its family-centric activities (evening s’mores kits, a rock-climbing wall, treasure hunts), seafood restaurant, and 27 acres of beautiful gardens.

“A five-star hotel on the outskirts of Detroit that offers the best service, accommodations, restaurant, and surroundings in Michigan.” More concisely, another T+L reader called it “the best place to stay in Michigan, period!”

With only 60 rooms, this theater district property feels cozy and intimate. Décor is playful and contemporary, with a graffiti-covered stairwell and 200 modern artworks by artists like Damien Hirst and Gary Hume.

“What a gem to be found in a small town in Mississippi,” said one contented World’ Best readers. The restaurant, spa, and southern hospitality earned equal praise.

Also ranked as the No. 1 resort in the Midwest, Ridgedale’s Big Cedar Lodge looks out over Table Rock Lake, and offers 4,600 acres of reserve land to families who love fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, and golfing. After all that adventure, guests can retreat to an 18,000-square-foot spa.

Rural Montana is home to an upscale dude ranch, where 23 posh cabins featuring hot tubs and wood-burning fireplaces are eclipsed only by the all-inclusive activities (think: helicopter tours and horseback riding).

Location is everything at this contemporary property, where guests have easy access to restaurants, shopping, a clutch of great wine bars, and museums.

Without a casino, the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas proves to be a spot of tranquility, or a “haven in the center of the strip,” as described by T+L Reader Devon Conrad. You can’t miss the shimmering gold wall in the 23rd-floor lobby.

A grand New England resort dating back to the 1800s, Wentworth by the Sea has an unbeatable coastal location near Portsmouth. Opt for a room with a balcony overlooking the ocean.

America’s oldest seaside hotel has survived two fires, a rebuild, and even a 10-year-closure. In addition to T+L readers, Congress Hall has impressed the likes of John Philip Sousa and five presidents.

Sandstone walls and latilla-and-viga ceilings (beams crossed with slender sticks) give the rooms in this A-list hotel a decidedly Southwestern vibe. Look out for local celebs at the eponymous restaurant and lounge, or cozy up to the in-room, kiva-shaped gas fireplace.

New York City is home to a dizzying number of excellent hotels, but The Surrey’s unbeatable location (a block from Central Park) makes guests at this Relais & Châteaux property feel like true Upper East Side residents.

Before Old Edwards Inn & Spa was a Relais & Châteaux property, it was a boarding house in the state’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Today, guests enjoy a glass of champagne while checking into their recently upgraded rooms.

The state’s tourism division recommends travelers visiting Fargo bed down in the 17-room Hotel Donaldson. Popular amenities include truffle turndown service and a rooftop hot tub.

Another art-focused property by the wife-and-team duo behind the 21C Museum Hotel Louisville. Guests called it “an unexpected,” “sleek,” and “whimsical” addition to downtown Cincinnati.

“I was very impressed by this lovely boutique hotel in downtown Oklahoma City,” said one T+L reader. A convenient, central location and “welcoming, accommodating, professional” staff made guests feel at home.

Between the Rogue River and old-growth rainforests, this Gold Beach property is a popular spot for traveling. Communal seating and family-style feasts are hallmarks of this Pacific Northwest property.

Romance is key at this luxury getaway meets grown-up summer camp in northwest Pennsylvania. Reserve one of the private cabins, like the log and plank-style Miller’s Cabin from 1927.

Westerly’s 31-room inn sits at the edge of a pond on a private peninsula. Expect marble bathrooms and understated wicker-and-wood furnishings. Join the on-site naturalist for daily beach walks and bike trips.

Visiting the No. 1 city in the world? Book a room at the 1920s glam Spectator hotel, where guests are assigned personal butlers and rooms boast white Carrara marble and velvet headboards.

South Dakota Tourism recommends this downtown Rapid City property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As it becomes the first Midwest property in the Curio collection, the Hotel Alex Johnson is undergoing a massive overhaul.

“Charming vibe and uber-friendly staff make [it] feel like I’m coming home instead of walking into a hotel,” observed one pleased T+L reader. Rooms are elegant, and guests look forward to waking up for breakfast at Paulette’s.

Formerly the Watermark Hotel & Spa, this San Antonio Omni hotel is just a short stroll from the Alamo. All the rooms and suites has high ceilings, marble and wood finishes, and bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs.

Readers raved about the spoiling service at this ski chalet in Deer Valley. Guests are invited to end days on the slope with nights spent sipping mulled wine by the fire.

Parents looking for a weekend away should reserve one of Twin Farms’ 20 rustic cottages. You’ll wake up somewhere between a wildflower meadow and pine forest. Check out the spa, which features Tata Harper products, and work up an appetite skiing, snowshoeing, or hiking before a multi-course meal.

T+L readers seeking solitude should head swiftly to this Blue Ridge Mountain retreat: there are only three tree houses on the entire 12,000-acre estate.

In a deliberate nod to the state’s burgeoning wine country, rooms are done in merlot and chardonnay hues, with a complimentary wine hour in the lobby every evening.

Even after a $65 million renovation, this 1778 property maintains historic elements, including baroque plaster pediments and floral-patterned wallpaper courtesy of Dorothy Draper.

Solo travelers are particularly fond of this Milwaukee boutique (a 100-year-old converted warehouse just south of downtown). Its outdoor bar, The Yard, is a great place to mingle with a glass of the hotel’s own limited edition Barrel 1907 Rye Whiskey.

Absolutely every space at Amangani (guest rooms, the outdoor infinity pool) has an unobstructed view of the Teton Range, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort—even 60 miles away to Yellowstone on an exceptionally clear day—thanks to its perch on a 7,000-foot butte.