10 Best Hotels in The North Carolina Mountains, North Carolina

Spread across 1,400 acres on one of the finest properties in western North Carolina, High Hampton exudes casual luxury from the friendly welcome in the gorgeous lodge, where the staff remembers your name, to the leisurely breakfasts and multi-course dinners in the dining room (an optional add-on). Two mountains—both with private hiking trails—frame the view from the fishing and swimming lake, swimming pool, tennis courts, and 18-hole, Tom Fazio–designed golf course. Now a Blackberry Farms property, the resort includes rooms in the historic inn and cottages spread across the grounds.

Sit in the hot tub under the stars—and next to a striking Dale Chihuly glass sculpture—and soak in the rolling mountain vistas at this sumptuous retreat 10 miles out of town. Suites and cottages, all tastefully appointed and art-filled, are spread across the 85-acre riverfront property that includes a horse barn converted into a spa, a steam room and dry sauna, a game room with billiards and table tennis, a dedicated children's play house, and the Silo Cookhouse, the best restaurant south of Asheville on the I–26 corridor. 

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Snowbird Mountain Lodge is everything you expect from a rustic inn, with two massive stone fireplaces, solid chestnut beams across the ceiling, and beautiful views across the valley. All 15 rooms in the main lodge are paneled in different woods cut on the property, and newer rooms in adjacent buildings have private hot tubs with horizon views. The restaurant, now open to the public, serves dishes like fresh mountain trout with couscous and sautéed summer squash, and the wine list is the size of a small telephone directory. The property changed hands in 2022 and expansion plans are in place. 

Sitting high atop the Cataloochee Divide on 250 wooded acres bordering the national park, the Swag is a luxurious escape that's truly away-from-it-all. You can hike from the grounds to nearby Hemphill Bald, one of the most stunning vistas in the Smokies, or relax in the spa or at the pool, which has views across the mountains. The gourmet meals here are social events, with an option of family-style or individual seating. 

At this century-old stone house turned boutique inn, 2 miles from downtown Blowing Rock, you can take in breathtaking views of the mountains from the gardens and stone terraces or relax with a book by the fire in the library. Most of the 10 guest rooms and suites have gas fireplaces, and all are nicely furnished in a country-home style with updates like flat-screen TVs and modern showers. A full breakfast is included, as is afternoon tea. Guests are guaranteed a reservation at the restaurant, which is reason enough to stay here. 

The Harrah's complex now includes two hotels, doubling down on its status as North Carolina's largest lodging. The Cherokee opened in 2021, adding 725 more rooms to the 21-story towers of the existing resort. The comfortable rooms and suites on the higher floors overlook the mountains, and escalators get you to the casino and the extensive restaurant selection that includes a Wicked Weed Brewpub, a Ruth's Chris Steak House, BRIO Italian Grille, Guy Fieri's Cherokee Kitchen, and a food court by Gordon Ramsay that stays open late. The casino is larger than three football fields and has live blackjack, roulette, craps, and poker games along with some 5,000 electronic gaming machines. There's also a bowling alley and a 3,000-seat theater that presents big-name stars like Travis Tritt, Pat Benatar, and Three Dog Night. The lobby and other public areas incorporate traditional Cherokee art themes. Room prices surge beyond $500 on weekends, but are often under $100 on weekdays.

Service at this posh inn is first-rate, starting with the complimentary champagne in the lobby and extending to elegantly furnished guest rooms in the main building, with period antiques and European linens, and more rustic but still luxurious accommodations in the lodge. You can also choose to stay in one of the inn's cottages or rental houses. Reservations should be made far, far ahead. The outstanding spa has won national awards, and golf is available at the nearby Old Edwards Club. The same company owns a chic motel, 200 Main, and a deluxe rural retreat, Half-Mile Farm.

The River Arts District finally has a boutique hotel, and it's as funky as the building's history (it's been a cereal factory, a coffee roaster, and an indoor paintball arena). The adults-only destination features rooms with high ceilings and graffiti murals on exposed brick walls. The on-site restaurant, Golden Hour, serves locally sourced, wood-fired fare. There's also a rooftop bar and coffee shop. 

This midcentury-modern lodge was designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright devotee, abandoned for decades, and is now restored to glory. Forty rooms all feature porches or patios, and an exemplary restaurant, Oak Steakhouse, offers views across the valley below. Perks of the modernization include heated bathroom floors and the gorgeous Butler's Bar speakeasy, featuring a small library, a fireplace, and a wall of windows to soak in the mountain vista. 

In 1915 Savannah resident Lucy Molz built a second home on Lake Toxaway, a Swiss-style mansion that is now a luxurious inn listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rooms have antiques or period reproductions, while suites are more modern and border the lake. Guests here can enjoy the private lake, golf club, tennis, swimming pool, and small spa, and rates include breakfast and dinner, afternoon tea and cake, and cocktails.