If you find yourself daydreaming about leaving the traffic and noise of DC behind, you’re not alone… and you’re in exactly the right place. Picture yourself checking in to a peaceful cabin retreat, soaking in a hot tub with a glass of wine in hand, and stoking a wood-burning fireplace as snowflakes gently blanket the world around you at any one of these cozy getaways.
The winter weeks that follow the chaos of the holidays are the ideal time to slow down, unwind, and reset for the new year ahead. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll agree that there’s no better place to do so than in a cozy getaway house outside the city.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite winter stays within a few hours of our home in Washington, DC. Whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend away, family adventure, or solo escapes, these check all the boxes. Keep reading to discover the best places to stay warm, recharge, and make some unforgettable winter memories this season!
Urban Cottage | National Harbor, Maryland
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If you’re looking for a quick (we’re talking minutes from DC) and easy getaway without having to sacrifice any of the coziness that comes along with a secluded cabin in the woods, the Urban Cottage in Oxen Hill, Maryland, is your place!
Located behind the owner’s home, this detached cottage features a cozy loft and can accommodate up to 4 guests. There’s also a full kitchen and bathroom, and a private back porch that overlooks a forested park. The real stars, though, are the steam house and wood-burning stove/fireplace that the owners had fired up for us upon our arrival.
The Urban Cottage is also minutes from all the restaurants and things to do in National Harbor (so close that you can see MGM Casino from the backyard). As far as entertainment goes, Bobby McKey’s dueling piano show is always fun, as is taking a ride 180 feet above the Potomac River on the Capital [Ferris] Wheel! During our stay at the Cottage, we made a dinner reservation at Succotash, and when I say we’re still dreaming about that meal, I mean it! And if you happen to plan your stay during the holidays, you can check out the 60-foot Christmas tree in the Harbor’s Spirit Park that hosts nightly light shows set to music from the U.S. Air Force Band. They also have fireworks every Saturday night at 5:30 PM through December.
AVA A-Frame | Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
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Located 2 hours from Washington, DC, and minutes from the Thornton Gap entrance to Shenandoah National Park, this beautiful four-story A-frame home will have you checking every nook and cranny for secret rooms and hidden passages.
From a covert coffee bar waiting to be found behind a hidden door, to a staircase hidden under the kitchen island, to a full home movie theater tucked behind a bookshelf…this place feels like something straight out of a fantasy novel (or an episode of Scooby Doo).
On top of all that, the property features a decked-out game room with billiards, a PS5 gaming system, and a poker table. Outside, you’ll find a hot tub, grill, flatiron, and even arrows and an archery butt. The cozy cherries on top? A fourth-story stargazing nook, an indoor wood-burning fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the valley.
Mirror Villas | Mercersburg, Pennsylvania
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Boasting the title of the “First Ever Mirror Villa Retreat on the East Coast,” this property is perched on a mountaintop and home to four glass homes with panoramic floor-to-ceiling views. Each unit overlooks Whitetail Mountain Resort‘s 22 ski runs, has a private patio and hot tub, and makes for the perfect setting to immerse oneself in nature.
Villas are available for two and four people, and some are pet-friendly. We stayed in a Deluxe Villa with a private sauna, fire pit, and grill. Inside, our villa was equipped with a bathroom, kitchenette, heated floors, board games, and a projector to watch movies after dark. They’ve also partnered with a local spa, to offer in-unit massages and facials using organic products.
Due to its location two minutes from the slopes, this property is perfect for skiers and snowboarders… but it’s also ideal for hikers. Several state parks and forests can be found just a stone’s throw away, including Buchanan State Forest, Buchanan’s Birthplace State Park, Fort Frederick, and Cowans Gap State Park. These bad boys are packed with snowy winter wonderland trails and even opportunities for ice fishing!
Skyline Yurt | Front Royal, Virginia
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Skyline Yurt is located just over an hour from Washington, DC, about 20 minutes from the Northern entrance of Shenandoah National Park. This pet-friendly property is equipped with 2 bedrooms (+ an upper loft), 1.5 baths, and a wrap-around deck (with a grill, outdoor dining space, and hot tub) that overlooks the Shenandoah Valley.
We watched the sunset from the hot tub, re-watched the new Stranger Things episodes, (unsuccessfully) attempted a 1,000-piece National Park puzzle, and honed our archery skills (Seth’s an expert marksman… Me? not so much). This place exceeded our expectations, and if an escape to the mountains sounds like something you need right about now (or in the New Year to reset after the holiday chaos), save this for planning & add this property to your local travel bucket list.
It also boasts a full kitchen (stocked with a dozen farm-fresh eggs), rain shower, pool table, archery, wood-burning fireplace + outdoor fire pit, EV charger, Nespresso bar, game/book nook, and PlayStation 5, making it perfect for a family or friends getaway. Speaking of family and friends, we’d recommend booking it for a friends/couples group trip or a multi-family getaway, as there’s room to sleep eight when utilizing the sleeper sofas/upper loft that can be converted into a bedroom with folding room dividers.
The Ascent at Bryce Resort | Bayse, Virginia
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This newly built A-frame style chalet is located 10 minutes from Bryce Resort, sleeps eight, and is the perfect spot for a group of friends or a family getaway. The owners drew inspiration from properties in Colorado and Utah, and the après vibes are on point.
Think massive windows with mountain views, a hot tub for relaxing after hitting the slopes, a mudroom complete with mitten and boot dryers, a cozy, outdoor fire ring, and a vintage lift chair that now serves as a swing. Your stay even comes with all the fixings needed for s’mores!
In the upstairs loft, you’ll find built-in bunks (perfect for a little adult slumber party) and a dedicated workspace, and downstairs, there’s a game room/common space with a TV, board games, a record player, and a pair of Meta Googles for gaming.
Harman’s Luxury Log Cabins | West Virginia
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Harman’s Log Cabins are located 2.5 hours from Washington, DC, and just over 3 hours from Pittsburgh, PA & Richmond, VA, within the Seneca Rocks Spruce Knob National Recreation Area. The property is nestled on the banks of a private access trophy trout stream, home to more than 20 modern log cabins, and is as beautiful as it is expansive.
The cabins range in size from one to four bedrooms, and all come fully furnished and equipped with private, outdoor hot tubs and fire rings. They also boast on-site saunas and hiking trails. During your visit, don’t miss catching a sunset from the “Top of the Rocks.” This hike is right on the property and is the perfect vantage point to catch a fiery (read: almost heavenly) winter sky.
Nearby, you can hike snowy trails and chase waterfalls in Dolly Sods Wilderness and Blackwater Falls State Park, venture underground to explore Smoke Hole Caverns, the second-tallest cave east of the Mississippi, or even sled down the East Coast’s longest sled run. Read our full guide to exploring this winter wonderland of an area.
FLOHOM’s Inner Harbor Houseboats
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If you’re looking for an elevated, upscale experience in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, we could not recommend a stay in one of FLOHOM’s houseboats more. They’re docked in the Inner Harbor Marina, minutes from both the city’s waterfront dining and entertainment scene and the Baltimore Christmas Village, and come with free parking (WIN WIN WIN)! They also offer beautiful panoramic views of the downtown skyline and rooftop seating areas with fire pit tables, which make for the ideal spot to catch a sunrise or sunset over the water.
We stayed at FLOHOM 5 (Amanzi), which is pictured above, and has a spacious living room, bathroom, kitchen, washer/dryer, and upper deck. It sleeps two, and is perfect for couples.
If you’re visiting with family or friends, we recommend booking the FLOHOM 1 (Bay Escape), which can be seen the in the background of the shots above. This houseboat accommodates four guests across one bedroom and a cozy sofa bed, and offers 1.5 bathrooms.
Zook Cabin’s A-Frame at Oak Hills
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Located less than 2hrs from DC + Philly is Zook Cabin’s A-Frame at Oak Hills: A one-of-kind A-frame that just may be the *most unique* property in Southern Pennsylvania (and we don’t make that claim lightly)!!
What makes it so cool? Well, beyond the hot tub, and beautifully furnished bedrooms and common spaces, this hilltop/creekside property is dog-friendly, sleeps 5, and is equipped with some sweet amenities, including: a custom in-ground hot tub and sauna built into the hillside and surrounded by trees, a back deck perfect for stargazing, a fully-stocked kitchen with a coffee and tea nook, a dedicated work area w/ a double desk, making it ideal for a workweek staycation.
The property also features not one but two rain showers and cozy ropes, so you can stay warm as you make your way to the outdoor spa, two fire pits, and, in warmer months, you can cool down with a little creek walk right on-site. AND this 2-bedroom, 2-bath A-frame is spacious! It sleeps five and makes for the perfect stay for couples, friends, and families.
It’s also near tons of fun things to do, like the hiking trails at Rocks State Park… the views from King and Queen’s Seat are insane! You can also hike and chase waterfalls at Mill Creek Falls Nature Preserve or hit the slopes on your skis or snowboard at Ski Roundtop. As far as eating and drinking goes, Aviator Brew Hub, Wyndridge Farm + Cidery, and Franklin St. Social Food Hall are just a short drive away. You can also easily hit up all of the fun things to do in Downtown York pretty easily, too. No matter what you’re looking for in a winter getaway, the opportunities here are endless!
Sayre Mansion | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
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While Bethlehem is home to several iconic properties, we were lucky enough to spend a night at the Sayre Mansion. And we were even luckier to stay in what was once Mr. Sayre’s office (which is also said to be haunted, although we didn’t personally experience any Christmas ghosts). We were, however, greeted with the warmest welcome by the mansion’s staff and enjoyed free-flowing port wine and snacks in the beautifully decorated common area, as well as the most delicious breakfast that was included with our stay.
Built in 1858, the mansion was originally the home of Robert H. Sayre, an industrialist and the chief engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, who is often credited with the success and development of the area. Over the years, the property served (briefly) as a fraternity house and was later turned into an apartment building. By 1990, it was slated for demolition due to its deteriorated state, but was saved by a local couple who transformed the property into the luxury and history-filled inn that it is today. Now, the mansion serves as a well-preserved example of Gothic Revival-style architecture, with intricate woodwork, towering ceilings, and expansive windows that offer stunning views of the surrounding area.
Ohiopyle Tree House | Farmington, Pennsylvania
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Located three hours from Washington, DC, at the end of a gravel road in Farmington, PA, and equipped with a hot tub, custom fireplace, and a mile of private hiking trails, Ohiopyle Treehouse is truly an outdoor lover’s paradise. This two-bedroom home sleeps six and is equipped with a full kitchen, ADA-accessible bathroom, WiFi, and a spacious living room. Outside, you’ll find a propane grill and three covered patios (one has a cozy swing bed)!
The cherry on top? This property’s namesake, Ohiopyle, has been voted the best small town in the Northeast by USA Today’s 10 Best, and there are an ample number of winter activities to engage in nearby! If you’re up for some outdoor adventuring, you can chase frozen waterfalls in Ohiopyle State Park, cross-country ski through Laurel Ridge State Park, or hike or snowshoe along snowy trails in Kooser or Laurel Hill State Parks. Laurel Hill State Park and Ohiopyle State Park also maintain sled hills throughout the season, so don’t forget to pack your own sled! Several of Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings can be found in the area as well, and while some are only open seasonally, his iconic Fallingwater House is open for tours year-round.
The Valley Gramophone | Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
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Perched atop a little mountain overlooking your own private valley, and located less than 2 hours from DC, is another one of our Shenandoah Valley Favorites: The Valley Gramophone. Beyond the beautiful views that surrounded us, we also absolutely loved the outdoor firepit, indoor woodstove, record wall & player, wood-burning hot tub, floor-to-ceiling windows, charcoal grill & spacious deck, and the fact that all of the wood in the house (floors, trim, countertops, shelves) was milled locally from the trees taken down to build!
Monte Vista | Berkeley Springs, West Virginia
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This modern retreat is located 2 hours from DC in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, on 33 private acres. It boasts three beautifully designed bedrooms, 2.5 baths, a fully furnished kitchen, and a living room with a unique glass garage door that leads to panoramic mountain views. There’s also a grill, outdoor seating area, hot tub, and fire pit. And to top it all off, there’s an eco-friendly driving tee (complete with biodegradable golf balls) on-site.
The surrounding area offers ample opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and fishing, as well as access to nearby mineral springs and “America’s First Spa” at Berkeley Springs State Park. Here you can receive a variety of services, including massages, facials, and sauna sessions, or opt to soak in a Roman or whirlpool bath filled with the park’s mineral water. If you want to indulge in a soak or spa service, we recommend calling ahead as sessions are limited and often booked weeks in advance. There is also a public tap in the park where you can fill up your water bottle or jug with spring water free of charge!
Whether you’re looking for elevated luxury or rustic charm, these winter getaway rentals are sure to offer the perfect escape. Now all that’s left to do is choose your favorite, pack your coziest winter sweaters, and prepare to unwind as you take in the beauty of the season.
