8 Most Magical Treehouse Hotels in the U.S. 2021

Nothing will thrill your kid more—or make you feel like a kid again—than spending the night high in the treetops. And while a treetop hotel isn’t always a treehouse of its own, it brings the forest experience as close as possible and adds an adventurous element to family vacations. From a treehouse villa right outside of Disney World in Florida to a hide-away cabin on a South Carolina canoe trail, these are our favorite treehouse family hotels across the U.S.

Editor’s Note: Some amenities and services at these properties may be altered/halted due to the pandemic.

1. Rivers Edge Treehouse Resort, NC

Six treehouse-style accommodations, perched among the treetops on wooden pilings, welcome visitors to this pretty property along the Cheoah River in western North Carolina. Fittingly, the treehouses are all named after tree types—poplar, persimmon, cherry—and families enjoy a common barbecue area complete with grills, fire pits, Adirondack chairs, corn hole and horseshoes. There are tons of nature activities to enjoy nearby, too, like hiking and fishing, and you can access the river via a trail that leads there from Rivers Edge.

2. The Mohicans, OH

Enjoy an uninterrupted connection with nature when you stay at The Mohicans, where two of the rustic-chic cabins and treehouses were designed by the brains behind Animal Planet’s Treehouse Masters. There are nine treehouses in total, all accessed by boardwalks through the forest, and several can sleep up to four guests. Several of the accommodations even have outdoor showers, all the more fun for feeling close to nature. Hiking, fishing and canoeing are among the many ways to get out into nature in nearby Mohican State Park, which is particularly beautiful during the fall foliage season.

Related: The 7 Most Beautiful Places in the World

3. Out’n’About Treehouse Treesort, OR

The tallest treehouse at this beloved resort and adventure destination in Cave Junction, Oregon, looms 47 feet above the ground. Dubbed the “Majestree,” it can sleep five people. It’s accessed by two suspension bridges and several flights of stairs, so you’ll want to be sure your kids are old enough for this experience (kids must be at least 5 years old to stay regardless). There are other treehouses that are easier to access if you’re traveling with a younger crew. When you’re not enjoying your treetop perch at Out’n’About Treehouse Resort, head out on a ziplining excursion at the property, go river rafting or take a guided horseback riding trip.

4. Tree House Cabins at River of Life Farm, MO

Plan a vacation on Missouri’s North Fork River and stay in treetop-style at the treehouse cabins and lofts at Tree House Cabins at River of Life Farm in the Ozark Mountains. Nearby activities including fishing for rainbow trout and hiking in the Mark Twain National Forest. But it might be hard to leave the lovely cabins and loft, with views out over the forest canopy, covered porches, and other amenities such as oversized whirlpool tubs.

5. Edisto River Treehouses, SC

There are no roads to this treehouse hotel, located along a blackwater river in South Carolina. That’s right—you and your family will have to paddle canoes or kayaks to reach the Edisto River Treehouses. And your reward comes in the solitude and serenity—and all-out family bonding moments—of staying surrounded by pristine forest on the river’s edge. The larger treehouse sleeps up to eight people, and cooking utensils and futons are provided, as is a screened-in sleeping area. If you aren’t looking for an overnight stay, you can book day trip paddling packages that include shuttle transfers, canoe rentals, secure parking and other logistics. Children must be 11 years old or older to stay overnight in the treehouses.

Related: The Ultimate Camping Packing List: 29 Essentials

6. Post Ranch Inn, CA

The luxury treehouses built nine feet off the ground and accessed by a staircase up from the forest floor deliver a luxury treehouse experience at the famed Post Ranch Inn on Big Sur’s famous coastline. But since guests must be 18 years or older here, it’s a special occasion treetop stay best reserved for a high school graduation reward or something along those lines. A daily gourmet breakfast is included, as well as nightly guided stargazing tours, guided nature hikes, and daily yoga.

7. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, FL

Just 7 miles from Disney’s Magic Kingdom, you can bed down with the family in an atmospheric treehouse villa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, one of the best resort hotels at Disney World. The villa can sleep up to nine people and has a full kitchen, a dine-in eating area with a huge table, bar seating, a sleeper sofa and many other amenities that ease the logistics of traveling with a family. Views look out onto surrounding woodlands, and the peaceful setting is particularly nice to come “home” to after a busy day of park hopping.

8. Treebones Resort, CA

Made for adventurous, fun-loving families who love a glamping vacation in stunning surrounds, the forested yurts at Treebones Resort are a special place to stay along the Big Sur coastline. Some of the yurts have full ocean views overlooking the pounding Pacific Ocean, while others have partial views. Trees and beautiful coastal scrub brush surround them all. Relax in an Adirondack chair on your yurt deck to admire the redwood trees, go hiking with the kids or just feel the thundering ocean during a beach walk on one of the nearby stretches of sand. Kids must be age 6 or older to stay here due to the extreme nature of the setting and the often-wild weather.