New York may be famous for its iconic metropolitan areas, but the state is also home to immense natural beauty. From the Adirondacks and the Catskills to the Hudson Valley and rugged ravines, there’s so much to discover.
To help promote traveling while preserving the environment, there is an increasing number of eco-lodges in New York. From quaint cabins and farmhouses to high-design retreats, each will offer a comfortable and memorable experience while minimizing its impact on the environment.
To help you find the perfect base for your trip, we’ve created this list of the best eco-lodges in New York. Whether you’re planning a family trip, romantic getaway, or anything in between – we’ve got you covered.
In a Hurry? Here’s Where to Stay in New York for One Night
2 Bedroom Eco Tiny House
This quaint 2-bedroom tiny house features Scandinavian design and everything needed for a stylish and comfortable stay in the Adirondacks. The home is neat, bright and well-equipped, and offers easy access to nature trails and lakes. It was built using sustainable practices and recycled materials to reduce the carbon footprint and incread the eco friendliness of the cabin.
- Lake Placid
- Saranac Lake
- Whiteface Mountain
Is this amazing New York Eco Lodge booked for your dates? We’ve got your back with our other favourite properties below!
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Why Stay in an Eco-lodge in New York?
An eco-lodge in New York will offer guests a comfortable and well-managed stay close to nature. As well as being immersed in exceptional natural beauty, eco-lodges in New York aim to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint.
By staying in an eco-lodge, you can rest easy knowing that you’re traveling responsibly and respecting the environment. What’s more, you’ll also be empowering and uplifting local communities through tourism.
There are plenty of eco-friendly hotels around too but lodges offer more privacy and facilities.
What is an Eco-lodge?
Simply put, an eco-resort is any accommodation that takes steps towards environmental sustainability and social responsibility. This can be through a variety of initiatives, including using solar power, harvesting rainwater, a detailed recycling program, using green cleaning products and composting, to name a few.
It’s all about forgoing those commercial hotels in New York City and instead choosing somewhere that concentrates on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through eco-friendly practices and sustainable lifestyle choices.
Eco lodges also focus on supporting and uplifting local communities. Many eco-lodges employ local staff, promote local businesses, or purchase products from local artisans. It can also be a commitment to showing visitors the local culture and heritage in a more meaningful way.
2 Bedroom Eco Tiny House
- > $
- > 2 guests
- > Tiny home offering comfort and style
- > Bright, modern, Scandinavian design
Kapitan’s Cottage
- > $
- > 2 guests
- > Light and bright cottage with modern amenities
- > Tranquil country setting
Fern Valley Eco-Cabin
- > $
- > 2 guests
- > Secluded off-grid cabin
- > True back-to-basics experience
Little Green Cottage
- > $
- > 2 guests
- > Peaceful, mountaintop cottage
- > Green in colour and philosophy
StoneHaven
- > $
- > 8 guests
- > Comforts of home in nature
- > Adirondacks family retreat
Eco-friendly Woodstock Getaway
- > $$
- > 4 guests
- > Cosy country home
- > Secluded location
Beautiful Eco House in the Woods
- > $$
- > 10 guests
- > Spacious country home
- > Quiet wooded location
Looking for other types of accommodation? Check out our guide to Where to Stay in New York. There’s plenty of eco-friendly hotels too!Â
Top 10 Eco Lodges in New York
Forget boring old hotels in New York City! These are our top picks for eco-lodges in New York. We’ve included something for every travel style and budget, and each one has a positive impact on the environment and is socially responsible!
Overall Best Eco-lodge in New York – 2 Bedroom Eco Tiny House
- $
- 2 guests
- Tiny home offering comfort and style
- Bright, modern, Scandinavian design
This Tiny Eco House provides accommodation near Lake Placid and Saranac Lake in upstate New York. It’s well-equipped yet compact and offers everything you’ll need for a comfortable country retreat.
The house is made from natural and recycled materials and uses a responsible waste management system and recycling program. Concrete floors help keep the cabin cool in summer but can be heated for the colder months. The carpets are made from upcycled saris and are purchased from female entrepreneurs.
The surrounding area offers a vast network of hiking trails, as well as great boating – perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. When not out exploring, guests can relax on the deck/ private balcony and enjoy a barbeque.
Best Value Eco-lodge in New York – Kapitan’s Cottage
- $
- 2 guests
- Light and bright cottage with modern amenities
- Tranquil country setting
The Kapitan’s Cottage is the converted barn space of a 1700’s Dutch Colonial farmhouse. Located just 90 minutes from the city in a picturesque valley, the cottage offers modern amenities, a full kitchen, and a lovely yard area.
The cottage uses much of the original barn structure, as well as a variety of vintage, reused, and upcycled furnishings and recycled materials. Solar panels generate electricity for the cottage, and drinking water comes directly from the well.
Escape New York City! Outdoor adventurers will delight in the many trails and swimming spots to explore. Visit the farmer’s markets and nearby farms, go apple picking, or stop by to enjoy local hospitality at any of the restaurants and cafes in the area. Make sure you pack your hiking boots!
Budget Tip: Dorms in New York start from $10USD per bed. They’re the cheapest accommodation in the city. Search for hostels in the area!
Best Eco-lodge for Couples – Fern Valley Eco-Cabin
- $
- 2 guests
- Secluded off-grid cabin
- True back-to-basics experience
Fern Valley Eco-cabin is inspired by traditional lean-tos and minimalist Swedish design. The compact space is a timber structure made from pine trees milled on the property and features a glass wall to blur the distinction between indoors and out. Guests will love the feeling of sleeping in the trees while staying cosy and warm.
There’s no electricity in the cabin to reduce the carbon footprint, but there’s a fire pit and barbeque area for cooking. Between November and May, the cabin has no running water, but there’s a rustic outdoor shower for the warmer months. The toilet in the outhouse is also eco-friendly. This place is the antithesis of fancy hotels in New York City!
The cabin is the ideal base for exploring the Catskills. The surrounding area offers plenty of trails for hiking, as well as farms to visit and restaurants to dine at. When not out exploring this natural wonderland, guests can relax around the fire pit or simply enjoy the sounds of nature. It’s the perfect off-grid spot if eco-friendliness and travelling in a socially responsible fashion is important to you.
Most Ecological Eco-lodge in New York – Little Green Cottage
- $$
- 2 guests
- Peaceful, mountaintop cottage
- Green inside and out
The Little Green Cottage is the perfect getaway for those who enjoy nature and off-grid living. There are three buildings to the cottage – the main bedroom/living space, a full bathroom, and a separate kitchen all close to each other.
The kitchen has a gas stove, oven, recycling bins and a gravity-fed sink, while the bathroom also has gravity-fed water for the shower and flushing toilet as well as eco-friendly bath products. Fully charged batteries, drinking water, and ice are provided on arrival and can be replenished after three days.
There are numerous hiking trails, scenic vistas, and rural landscapes to enjoy, or visit some of the museums and historical sites in the area. Farmer’s markets are in abundance here, so make sure to check those out!
Best Eco-lodge for Families Visiting New York – StoneHaven
- $$
- 8 guests
- Comforts of home in nature
- Adirondacks family retreat
StoneHaven is one of the best places to stay in the Adirondacks. The house incorporates modern conveniences in a rustic and natural setting, providing the perfect family escape.
Much of the house features old-world craftsmanship, reclaimed wood and recycled materials. The house was custom designed and provides a comfortable experience in nature with its 3 guest rooms.
Guests can enjoy endless miles of trails through beautiful terrain, hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling on the property. Who needs a fitness center with all that! The house is equipped with board games, as well as books and toys for the little ones. You really can’t get bored here!
Best Eco-lodge for a Weekend in New York – Eco-friendly Woodstock Getaway
- $$
- 4 guests (3 guest rooms)
- Cosy country home
- Secluded location but close to town amenities
The Eco-friendly Woodstock Getaway is a rustic home dedicated to sustainability. The three-bedroom house has been decorated with various furnishings saved from film sets and offers a full kitchen.
In addition to using reclaimed and recycled furniture, the hosts offer plant-based and biodegradable/ green cleaning products, eco-friendly bath products and recycling bins. Free-range chickens roam the property and visitors are free to collect eggs each day.
You won’t need to go far to spot local wildlife, as sightings from the house often include bunnies, deer, bears, and coyotes. You won’t need a fitness center as there are popular swimming holes within easy reach of the home, and in the winter, nearby Hunter Mountain is ideal for skiing.
Eco-lodge with an Epic Location – Beautiful Eco House in the Woods
- $$
- 10 guests (4 guest rooms)
- Spacious country home
- Quiet wooded location
The Beautiful Eco House in the Woods is located in a quiet corner of town in a peaceful forested area. Offering four spacious bedrooms, the house is ideal for small groups or families looking to travel responsibly.
Energy is generated via solar panels and a spring provides fresh water. Guests are asked to use energy and water conservatively and follow the recycling program and use compost facilities.
Forget the fitness center, the house sits on several acres of land with private trails for mountain biking and hiking instead! Explore the nearby town of Ithaca, visit Cornell University campus, or simply hang out on the deck and enjoy a laid-back barbeque.
Best Eco-lodge for Views – Private Eco Barn Home
- $$
- 4 guests
- Newly constructed barn home
- Privacy, sunsets, and exploration
The newly built home is a modern eco-retreat with high ceilings, energy-efficient lighting. contemporary furnishings, and large windows throughout to bring the outdoors in. Combining traditional barn elements with modern comforts, the home offers plenty of privacy and a variety of spots to enjoy the sunsets.
Built mostly from local, organic timber and reused or reclaimed materials, the home is committed to energy efficiency and comfort. Organic gardens surround the home and guests can pick their own fresh produce as well as taking advantage of the green cleaning products.
The home is an ideal retreat for those wishing to explore trails, ravines, and waterfalls. The area is also blessed with several great wineries, distilleries, and breweries to visit, as well as many State parks to explore. With so much to do, it’s the perfect base for a road trip through New York.
Best Eco-lodge for Long-term Travellers – Eco cottage, spectacular setting
- $$
- 4 guests
- Ultra-modern, yet cosy cottage
- Made to the highest green standards
Enjoy all the indoor comforts and abundant natural beauty outdoors while still being just a stone’s throw from public transport and town at this eco-cottage. The custom-designed and state-of-the-art cottage has two bedrooms, a luxurious bathroom, a modern kitchen and uses energy-efficient lighting.
The cottage is designed to conserve energy and has been made with virtually zero volatile organic compounds. A heat recovery ventilator ensures the indoor air is filtered and allergen-free.
Explore the vast trails through the area, perfect for hiking, running, cycling, and cross-country skiing. There’s a nearby swimming hole for a refreshing dip and several bars and restaurants within walking distance. The attractions of Rosendale are a short drive away.
Most Beautiful Eco-lodge in New York – Architectural wonder in the woods
- $$
- 3 guests
- Unique geometric masterpiece
- Open-plan, eco-living
Located on 30 acres of preserved land near the Hudson Valley, this lodge offers a geometric, architectural space among the trees. The open-plan house has plenty of natural light and can accommodate up to three guests.
The house is heated geothermally and uses solar power to provide electricity as well as energy-efficient lighting. A wood-burning stove is available for heating in the cooler months, while the clever design allows a cooling through-flow of air in the summer. All the proceeds from the house are used to sustain a non-profit educational initiative that operates a gallery, architecture fellowship and sculpture trail.
Guests at the house are perfectly positioned to explore the Rhinebeck and Hudson valleys. During the winter months, guests can enjoy skiing at nearby resorts like Hunter Mountain, Windam, and Catamount.
Don’t Forget Your New York Travel Insurance
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on Eco-lodges in New York
Staying in an eco-lodge in New York is the best way to immerse yourself in the unparalleled natural beauty that the state has to offer. Many will offer the chance to access the city as well as the beautiful countryside.
Whether you choose a converted barn, a rustic mountain cabin, or an architectural masterpiece, you can enjoy an authentic stay in nature without sacrificing comfort. Sure, you could opt for one of the eco-friendly hotels but cabins in New York are a bit more fun!
Once you’ve decided on the best eco-lodge in New York for you, it’s advisable to consider taking out some good travel insurance. It’s safe to travel in the USA, but you’ll enjoy your travels so much more knowing that you’ll be taken care of even if things don’t go to plan.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
