Get Lost! America’s Most Remote Hotels, Resorts, and Lodges

How are you supposed to get away from it all when your mobile phone just won’t leave you alone, crowds are stacked on top of you, and your “getaway” is full of tourist traps and Starbucks shops? It’s a common gripe of the modern wanderer who yearns for the vacations of yore when getting out of town meant actually having to leave your job and your life behind.

That’s why families are seeking even more secluded vacation spots — places where you’re more likely to see a moose than get cell reception. And these nine destinations from around the country — some not even accessible by car! — are truly escapes. Book a bed at any of these properties, and the only work you’ll have to do (once you get there) will be to sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge, Fla.

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diving-vacation

(Photo: Facebook/Jules’ Undersea Lodge)

Miles from civilization: 21 feet (underwater) from Key Largo, Fla.

Accessible by: Scuba diving

Scuba-certified guests of Jules’ Undersea Lodge, which claims to be the world’s only “underwater hotel,” can enter their night’s lodgings only by strapping on an oxygen tank and descending into the watery depths. Once inside the watertight “cabin,” they’ll find normal creature comforts, such as a hot shower and a kitchen, but also 42-inch windows from which to observe the local marine wildlife. There’s even room service: Your hosts will deliver hot pizza upon request.

WATCH: World’s Best Diving & Resorts: Blackbeard’s Cruises

LeConte Lodge, Tenn.

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leconte

LeConte Lodge (Photo: LeConte Lodge/Flickr)

Miles from civilization: 5 miles from Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Accessible by: Hiking

Hike five miles up into the clouds surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains to find this electricity-free getaway that is older than the National Park in which it resides. Up to 60 guests can rest in one of seven cabins or three multiroom lodges, lit by kerosene lamps. At an elevation of 6,360 feet, this area is good for nature watching, hiking, and communal family-style meals.

The Arrabelle at Vail Squares Game Creek Chalet, Colo.

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colorado-lodge

Game Creek Chalet. (Photo: Game Creek Chalet/Facebook)

Miles from civilization: 8 miles from Vail, Colo.

Accessible by: Snowcat, skiing

If you like the isolation (and first tracks) of Colorado’s fantastic hut skiing but prefer the amenities of a luxury resort, the Arrabelle at Vail Square has just the compromise for you. Situated near the top of Game Creek Bowl, the Game Creek Chalet is Vail’s only on-mountain property. This means that when the lifts close, the mountain is your own private playground. But with a chef’s kitchen, a hot tub, personal chefs, and on-demand massage, you might not even want to venture outside.

Related: Where to Go When You Want to Get Away — From Everyone

Ludlow’s Island Resort, Minn.


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minnesota-fishing

Aerial view of Ludlow’s Island Resort (Photo: Ludlow’s Island Resort/Facebook)

Miles from civilization: 9 miles to Cook, Minn.

Accessible by: Boat

An escape in the Land of 10,000 Lakes wouldn’t be complete without having to cross one. This family-owned retreat on a private island in the Northwoods features 20 private cabins tucked beneath towering pine and birch trees. Fishing is a major draw up here — the surrounding Lake Vermilion is known for producing extra-large “muskies” — but the resort also prides itself on its cultural offerings, such as the Gourmet Weekend of Food and Wine, and the Classic Wooden Boat Show.

Amangiri, Utah

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amangiri

The roof of the junior suite is open to the skies so you can literally sleep under the stars. (Photo: Aman Resorts)

Miles from civilization: 16 miles from Page, Ariz.

Accessible by: Car

At the edge of a red sandstone desert only a few miles from Lake Powell lies an oasis known as Amangiri, whose name translates to “peaceful mountain.” Out of this Martian landscape springs a watering hole surrounded by suites designed by Selldorf Architects that blend seamlessly into the neighboring rock. Part of the Aman family of resorts, Amangiri creates a signature place of retreat complete with top-notch cuisine, an elegant spa, and plenty of place to enjoy the solitude.

Len Foote Hike Inn, Ga.

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ga-parks

Len Foote Hike Inn. (Photo: Len Foote Hike Inn)

Miles from civilization: 18 miles from Dawsonville, Ga.

Accessible by: Hiking

Not far from the terminus of the Appalachian Trail sits this sprawling Georgia State Parks lodge. A local favorite that’s a great introduction to life off the grid, the Hike Inn welcomes casual and serious hikers alike. Spend the night in one of 20 guest rooms, and enjoy home-cooked meals in the facility’s family-style dining room.

Related: Top Rated Hotels and Resorts in the World

Dunton Hot Springs, Colo.

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telluride-resort

Night settles on the remote camp. (Photo: Dunton Hot Springs)

Miles from civilization: 31 miles from Telluride, Colo.

Accessible by: Car

This former mining camp is now one of the most unique resorts in the American Southwest. Taking over the ruins of an old ghost town in the San Juan Mountains, Dunton Hot Springs does indeed feature its own mineral spring. But it’s the refined take on cowboy life, from the casual luxury of its renovated cabins to the quiet respite of its riverside tents, that really makes Dunton a trip back to a simpler time.

Havasupai Lodge, Ariz.

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grand-canyon-lodge

The spectacular Havasu Falls (Photo: Havasupai Tribe/Facebook)

Miles from civilization: 74 miles from Peach Springs, Ariz.

Accessible by: Hiking, mule

If you consider Phantom Ranch’s location nine miles below the Grand Canyon rim to be on the beaten path, then you might prefer this rustic lodge run by the Havasupai tribe. You’ll have to hike farther, and on less-treaded trails, to get to the base of the canyon, but the reward will be idyllic isolation with fantastic proximity to the magical Havasu Falls. Your accommodations might be spartan — no TV or telephone — but you’ll get a perspective on one of America’s great natural wonders from the people who have known it intimately for the last 800 years.

Winterlake Lodge, Alaska

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alaska-lodge

(Photo: Winterlake Lodge/Facebook)

Miles from civilization: 198 miles from Anchorage, Alaska

Accessible by: Seaplane, sled dogs

Things don’t get much more secluded than Winterlake Lodge, which is noted for being a checkpoint on the Iditarod, the famous dogsled race. In fact, if you come in winter, you can try your hand at a dogsled yourself. Yet, despite its isolation, Winterlake Lodge provides plenty of upscale amenities, such as private cabins and a cedar hot tub, and chef-owner Kirsten Dixon flies in cheese from Murray’s Cheese Shop in New York every week.

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