The Best Upstate New York Hotel Pools for Your Summer Escape
There comes a moment every New York summer when the heat becomes too much, and the only logical move is to flee the city. Thankfully, some of the most tempting retreats are just a few hours north, where winding roads, mountain views, and forest hideaways come with the ultimate warm-weather bonus: a swimming pool. Across the Catskills and Hudson Valley, a fresh wave of hotels is elevating the classic getaway, offering sprawling lawns for lazy afternoons, live music, seasonal events, and a cool, stylish crowd that makes lounging by the water feel like the best plan you ever made.
Whether you want a family-friendly resort, a design-forward hideaway, or a classic country inn with a pool, these spots deliver a welcome break from city life. Some lean into old-school Americana charm, others bring a lively social scene, but all share that unmistakable summer feeling: warm air, cold drinks, and a pool waiting for you at the end of the day. Here are our top picks for your next easy warm-weather escape.
**Hotel Lilien, Tannersville** This restored 1890s Victorian gem in Greene County blends vintage character with modern luxury. The 18-room property, formerly the Washington Irving Inn, now features brass fixtures and marble floors in its bathrooms, while stained-glass windows and dark wood paneling create a cozy, elegant atmosphere. Its cocktail bar and dining room draw a trendy crowd, and guests can enjoy the woodburning stove and outdoor pool set on nine acres of reimagined grounds. The Summer Spritz cart serves poolside cocktails, and live music fills the lounge on Tuesdays and Sundays.
**Inness, Accord** Minutes after arriving at this rustic yet refined compound, you sense a shift in Catskills hospitality. With 28 cabins and a 12-room farmhouse, it blends Scandinavian minimalism with throwback Americana, nodding to the Borscht Belt resorts of the past. The restaurant serves comfort food with Italian and Middle Eastern touches, and the heated saltwater pools—one adults-only, one family-friendly—sit amid rolling fields and mountain views.
**Wildflower Farms, Auberge Collection, Gardiner** Set in a meadow beneath the Shawangunk Mountains, this 140-acre property feels like a Hudson River School painting. It leans into its agricultural heritage with a working farm that supplies the restaurant, Clay, and the spa, Thistle. Guests can tour crops, feed animals, and collect eggs for breakfast. The outdoor pool overlooks wildflower meadows and the ridge, with cocktails and light bites from the Dew Bar available through September.
**Scribner’s Catskill Lodge, Hunter** With its bold black wood exterior and Scoutcore design—plaid carpet, pennant flags, shelves of novels—Scribner’s draws a relaxed crowd of young families and city escapees. The hillside pool, open since late April, offers mountain views and an easygoing social scene, with a new 2026 Pool Club menu for lounging all day.
**Troutbeck, Amenia** This historic inn, two hours north of NYC, has hosted literati and politicos for over two centuries. Recently expanded, it keeps its country charm with reading nooks, a fireplace lounge, and sprawling grounds. The pool and Pool Grill bring classic estate energy, with housemade popsicles and ice cream sandwiches between swims.
**Eastwind Oliverea Valley, Big Indian** Tucked deeper into nature than its Windham sibling, this cozy retreat is made for vintage lovers and those seeking serenity. The year-round heated pool sits beneath 3,000-foot peaks beside Esopus Creek, with outdoor yoga, DJ sets, and a poolside menu featuring fire-grilled beef skewers and boozy shaved ice.
**Blue Fox Motel, Narrowsburg** This 1950s motel, lovingly restored by its co-owners, blends old-time charm with refined luxury. The pool is the social heart, hosting popular Sunday pool parties, while a new pickleball court, honky tonk bar, and poolside pizza bar keep things lively. The on-site restaurant, run by a former NYC restaurateur, is a destination in itself.