14 Best Hotels in Upstate New York and the Northeast for Peak Leaf Peeping

Fall break getaways worth their weight in foliagePhoto: Kate S JordanThe debate of when fall really starts is as divisive as pumpkin spice. While some rush enthusiastically into the cashmere-clothed arms of the season before the autumnal equinox, there are others who subscribe to a more “endless summer” approach. No matter where you fall on the spectrum, one thing’s universally true: The changing of the leaves is as poetic and grounding as it was when you first shaded over them with crayons in elementary school.So what’s a city-bound spectator to do? A weekend of leaf-peeping is just the thing. Must-haves include a fall-friendly spirit, ample apple cider donuts, cozy knits, and a lovely place to call home base. Now’s not the time for sleek amenities (but they're always a welcome addition). A great leaf-peeping headquarters should have some combination of a hearth, large windows, and proximity to foliage. Enter: The best hotels in upstate New York and the northeast. Ahead, we rounded up a bunch of great places to stay this fall. Count on these spots as your guide to the season among the Adirondacks, scenes of fall colors reflected on Lake Placid, breathing in the crisp air of the Berkshires. We even included some spots in the surrounding Northeast areas if you want to venture further than the Hudson River to witness the changing of the leaves.The Double Duke King Room at The Six Bells — Rosendale, NYPerks: Complimentary breakfast, daily housekeeping, all-day coffee and tea, fire pit, pets allowed, security system, free parkingFor a basecamp with as much going on indoors as out, The Six Bells is hard to beat. The 1850s Rosendale inn—dreamed up by Six Bells founder Audrey Gelman with designer Adam Greco and named one of AD’s 2025 Great Design Hotels—takes its cues from a fictional English-American country village, which means the interiors are bursting with maximalism. The Double Duke room is wrapped in fretwork wallpaper and deep cinnabar, with pistachio window shades and a striped sectional. Downstairs, there’s a cozy tavern and riverside restaurant overlooking Rondout Creek. Outside, downtown Rosendale is right at the door, and the nearby Wallkill Valley Rail Trail crosses the 940-foot-long Rosendale Trestle high above the creek—a particularly dramatic place to take in the Hudson Valley’s fall coloring. From $440 per night.Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa — Aurora, NYPerks: Spa and fitness center, on-site restaurants and culinary experiences, lake access, complimentary paddle boards, biking and hiking trailsNot one but two AD editors have stayed at The Inns of Aurora, where they experienced the tastefully decorated accommodations, relaxing spa, and hospitable staff firsthand. Contributor (and previous AD senior design editor) Sydney Gore called the spa “an all-encompassing healing center designed with deep intention.” Shopping editor Audrey Lee described it as “heaven on earth,” and was particularly impressed with the extensive treatment list, as well as the state-of-the-art facilities, which include heated swimming pools, cold plunges, and saunas. “The staff couldn’t have been more kind and attentive, they really go above and beyond to make your stay memorable” she says. It’s right on the Cayuga Lake shoreline an hour away from Syracuse, so you’ll not only get sweeping views of the lake, but the rainbow of foliage too. From $375 per night.Hotel Lilien — Tannersville, NYPerks: Seasonal outdoor pool, complimentary snowshoes and sleds during winter, hiking backpacks and walking sticks, continental breakfast, billiards table, vintage jukeboxOne of our top picks for a getaway in New York state, Hotel Lilien has been praised by contributor Rachel Fletcher as “quite possibly one of the best vantage points for fall foliage in the Catskills.” The vintage-inspired getaway is nestled among several forests and mountain ranges so leaf-peeping is guaranteed, even on the occasions you don’t seek it out. Outdoor activities abound with close proximity to skiing on Hunter Mountain, and investigating the ample waterfalls around Kaaterskill. From $612 per night.The Henson — Hensonville, NYPerks: Complimentary breakfast, infrared sauna, rooftop deck, outdoor fire pit, complimentary lake rentals, free parking, pet-friendly (fee applies)“The Henson is the kind of place you never want to leave,” says contributor Kate McGregor, who stayed during a rainy April weekend and found it a perfect escape from the city and the weather. Plastered walls and eclectic seating in the lounge serve as the backdrop for post-dinner chess games and morning cups of tea. At Matilda, the on-site restaurant, guests can enjoy rye beer, east coast oysters, and Hudson Valley trout. Fletcher, another Henson fan, can attest: “It’s a beautiful landing pad for everything the Catskills has to offer,” Fletcher adds. From $304 per night.Mayflower Inn & Spa — Washington, CTPerks: Spa, multiple pools, fitness center, tennis courts, five-hole golf course, complimentary breakfast, Barbour jackets available for loansIdyllic doesn’t even begin to describe the Mayflower Inn & Spa. Known for its sprawling grounds—58 acres of manicured gardens and woodlands—and convenient two-hour drive from New York City, this luxury hotel sets the standard for a fall getaway. Located in the charming town of Washington, Connecticut (Amy Sherman Palladino’s inspiration for Gilmore Girls’ town of Stars Hollow), it doesn’t get much more autumnal than this place. Our shopping director Lori Keong, who spent a night there when the hotel hosted the Fenimore Lane Design Summit, described the stay as “heavenly, with impeccable service from start to finish” and especially appreciated the pool on the property during the humidity of summer. “Each space feels practically enchanted, with a wealth of details that lend the place warmth and character, from the antique tapestries on the walls to the paper flowers in the rooms,” she says. “Even the teas for turndown service are special enough that I’ve since started integrating the same chamomile/lavender blend into my bedtime routine in Brooklyn.” The Well at Mayflower Inn—a 20,000 square-foot spa sanctuary—is another draw for the well-heeled clientele who lodge here, with plenty of antique shops in the neighboring Litchfield area for anyone looking to develop a serious case of window shopping envy. From $1,751 per night.Eastwind Hotel — Lake Placid, NYPerks: Sauna, private balcony, free onsite parking, pets allowedEastwind Lake Placid sets a high standard for leaf-peeping, thanks to its cabins that directly look out to impressive forestry views. The hotel occupies a revamped historic motor lodge near the center of town, but its standalone Lushna Suite has a distinctly more tucked-away feel, with warm wood interiors, a queen bed, private patio, rain shower, and heated bathroom floors for brisk fall mornings. Even better, guests get the coziness of a cabin without giving up hotel perks: There’s an on-site bar and lounge, vintage library, and sauna for warming up after a day outside. Lake Placid’s local shops and restaurants are within walking distance, while the surrounding High Peaks put some of the Adirondacks’ most dramatic fall color practically at your doorstep. From $212 per night.Prospect — Great Barrington, MAPerks: Signature restaurant, sauna, cold plunge, lake access, Tennis and pickleball courts, bicycles, communal fire pitsAt Prospect, a Berkshires hideaway comprised of 49 prefab cabins nestled along an almost eerily-quiet lake of the same name, you have your pick of where to peep the season’s leafy splendor: You could gaze from one of the Finnish-style saunas that overlook the water. Or maybe from The Cliff House, built in 1876 and newly restored to serve up warm pastries in the morning and crisp martinis at night. “As for me, I like to hide away with a book in my 135-square foot wood cabin,” says digital director Julie Vadnal, “where two sets of sliding doors give you a close up view of fiery foliage—without even having to leave bed.”From $345 per night.Lamplight King Junior Suite at The Six Bells — Rosendale, NYPerks: Complimentary breakfast, daily housekeeping, all-day coffee and tea, fire pit, pets allowed, security system, free parkingThis room is for travelers who prefer their fall color with a little theatrical flair. The junior suite is washed in peacock blue and soft brick, with a hand-stenciled mural inspired by a thwarted 19th-century elopement wrapping the walls. A curtained king-size box bed framed by decorative wooden scrollwork is the centerpiece, while a ruffle-skirted sofa, and rattan coffee table layer in even more personality. When the interiors get too distracting, step outside for the real show: The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail and Rosendale Trestle are nearby, with elevated views over wooded hillsides that turn shades of amber, rust, and gold in fall. From $564 per night.The Nash — Sharon Springs, NYPerks: On-site restaurant with complimentary breakfast, bar, free parkingFor leaf peepers who’d rather stay in town than disappear into the woods, The Nash makes a stylish home base in Sharon Springs. Room No. 4 keeps things simple but polished, with contemporary decor, a private bath, and enough space for a duo (guests also enjoy complimentary breakfast downstairs at 204 Main Bar and Bistro). The real draw, though, is the setting. Sharon Springs sits along Route 20, one of central New York’s most scenic drives, where rolling farmland, small villages, and long views across the countryside become especially photogenic once fall color arrives. From $287 per night.Courtesty of TouristsTourists Welcome — North Adams, MAPerks: Heated saltwater pool, on-site restaurant, private woodland trails, property-wide fire pitsTucked along the banks of the Hoosic River in North Adams, Massachusetts, Tourists is the kind of place that makes you exhale the moment you park. Autumn is when the riverside retreat truly shines—a modern reimagining of the classic American motor lodge, equal parts nostalgic charm and Donald Judd–esque restraint. “The setting is pure Berkshires magic,” says contributor Zoë Sessums. “Mount Greylock rising in the distance, state forests minutes away, and woodland trails that weave right through the property.” You can take an outdoor shower surrounded by blazing foliage, lounge by the pool, or wander the sculpture-dotted path linking the hotel to its rentable homes (ideal for a group getaway). Whether your version of fall bliss means leaf peeping, hiking the Appalachian Trail, or simply sitting still under the crisp sky, Tourists is your perfect basecamp. From $300 per night.The Norumbega — Camden, MEPerks: Complimentary breakfast, private terrace, garden views, fireplaces in select rooms, Malin+Goetz toiletriesIf you’re looking to forego upstate NY altogether—too close to home—try a six-hour foray up to Camden, Maine, where shopping writer Julia Harrison had “the luxury stay of my lifetime.” The on-site dining room and restaurant offers delicious, fresh-caught seafood, and the views from behind the high-end hotel spread out across Penobscot Bay, where you can see the changing foliage against the ocean’s backdrop. Camden is also one of Maine’s most robust year-round towns, so you won’t have to worry about a nearby ghost town. Places like First Fig are open throughout the year for locals to enjoy. Don’t sleep on a late-fall seaside vacation, where you can have the ocean to yourself. From $439 per night.Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection — Gardiner, NYPerks: Spa, multiple pools, sauna, steam room, working farm, hiking trails, tennis courts, pickleball courts, complimentary use of Mercedes-Benz vehiclesCome autumn, all of the Hudson Valley in New York is transformed into a cornucopia of fall foliage. Only two hours from New York City, Wildflower Farms is basically a high-end and widespread compound poised to be your new favorite home away from home. The resort is all about facilitating meaningful connections with nature, making it perfect for leaf-peeping. Ample space, firepits, wide views, and A-frames abound; a three-mile walking trail connects all of the property, which includes fine dining and curated shopping. For the loved ones who tend to forego hiking, there’s basketball, pickleball, and tennis courts. From $1,315 per night.The Weston — Weston, VTPerks: Spa, on-site French bistro, landscaped kitchen gardens, outdoor fire pit, bocce court, croquetTake cottagecore to the next level at The Weston, a boutique hotel nestled in Vermont’s gorgeous countryside. Just like most of New England, Vermont will certainly impress the pickiest peeper with the vibrant foliage that peaks towards the beginning of October. Fletcher visited the inns right before spring, but knew it would be the perfect place to be during the fall, noting that “it’s basically at the top of a mountain range so the view of leaves has to be amazing during leaf season.” The guest rooms are decorated in traditional Americana style, including masterfully crafted wood furniture, ornately framed artworks, and overstuffed armchairs. It doesn’t feel dated, though, instead leaning classic and timeless. The onsite restaurant has a comforting and curated menu, and the attached spa offers yoga and meditation classes, facials, massages, and more, for the days you just need a minute to relax. From $520 per night.1885 Fruit Packing House — Hector, NYPerks: Lake views, beach access, vineyard access, private patio, washer and dryer, free parkingIn the heart of Finger Lakes wine country stands this 1885 farmhouse, perfect for a romantic getaway. Nestled along Seneca Lake, it’s far enough north to be a hop, skip, and a jump from Canada and Lake Ontario, without loading too many miles on the rental (about 250 from NYC, to be exact). This wood-paneled beauty has all the accoutrements of a modern stay, while maintaining the feeling of something historically preserved. It’s the exact antithesis of the city itself, far from the hustle and bustle, and much closer to the sound of shedding oaks. From $230 per night.The AD Travel EditCraving an escape? From colorful carry-ons to cleverly designed packing cubes (how did we ever travel without them?), shop everything you need to make the journey in style—and as streamlined and stress-free as possible.Julia Harrison is a shopping writer at AD. Previously, she was a writer and editor for Coveteur, and The Sewanee Review. She writes Interior Monologue, and feels passionately about coastal inns and mission tile. She runs a creative resource called saloon, and writes a personal newsletter called orzo bimbo. Her ... Read MoreBailey Berg is a freelance writer and editor who primarily covers design and travel. Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, TIME, Conde Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and beyond. She previously served as the Associate Travel News Editor at Afar (where she still ... Read More