Ready for a getaway? 4 NC resorts rank among best places to stay in the South
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- Four North Carolina destinations rank on Travel + Leisure’s list of top Southern resorts.
- Half-Mile Farm in the mountain town of Highlands ranked highest at No. 4.
- To create the list, the magazine studied reader input on fan-favorite destinations.
If you’re in need of an idyllic getaway close to home, you may be in luck.
That’s because four North Carolina resorts rank among the best places to stay in the South. It turns out, all of the state’s top destinations are nestled in the mountains.
Here’s where those fan-favorite accommodations landed on a readers’ choice list from Travel + Leisure magazine:
- Half-Mile Farm in Highlands at No. 4
- The Inn on Biltmore Estate in Asheville at No. 5
- Old Edwards Inn & Spa in Highlands at No. 7
- Skyline Lodge in Highlands at No. 9
“With insights from more than 207,000 readers, the annual survey offers a snapshot of the places, brands, and experiences resonating with travelers today,” the magazine wrote in a Tuesday, July 7 news release.
What makes the NC resorts special?
To determine the winners of its World’s Best Awards, Travel + Leisure said it scored results of an online survey. Readers cast over a half-million votes from Oct. 20 to Feb. 23 as they weighed in on vacation-related topics.
When it came to hotels, the magazine scored destinations across these categories: “rooms/facilities, location, service, food, value.” The Southern resort list focused on places in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, a Travel + Leisure spokesperson told The News & Observer via email.
The spokesperson didn’t share additional insight into why the North Carolina resorts landed on the list. But the magazine in its report revealed trends about the most-loved hotels worldwide.
“While some hotels offer a rich backstory and entrancing interiors, others are brand new to the hospitality scene,” the magazine wrote. “What do they all have in common? Exceptional service that turns inquisitive travelers into return guests.”
Of the North Carolina destinations that ranked among the best Southern resorts, Half-Mile Farm landed the highest at No. 4. The property in Highlands, a roughly 70-mile drive southwest from Asheville, calls itself a “luxury country inn.”
Meanwhile, The Inn on Biltmore Estate in Asheville and Old Edwards Inn & Spa in Highlands return to the Travel + Leisure list for at least the second year in a row. In its 2025 report, the magazine said readers poured on the love for mountain destinations across the region.
Rounding out the most recent list of the best Southern resorts was Skyline Lodge in Highlands at No. 9. The resort said it “pairs panoramic mountain views with mid-century modern design” from its location “tucked away in the Nantahala National Forest,” according to a Friday, July 10 news release.
Other top vacation destinations
The results come as Western North Carolina vacation spots have made their marks on recent best-of lists. This year, the popular tourist destination of Asheville ranked among the top places in the South.
And Bryson City — an adventure hub near Great Smoky Mountains National Park — was named a fan-favorite Southern town, CharlotteFive previously reported.
In the latest rankings from Travel + Leisure, North Carolina destinations received nods in other categories. Here are highlights:
- The Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone at No. 6 in best U.S. spas
- Outer Banks at No. 10 in best continental U.S. islands
- Asheville at No. 13 in best U.S. cities
Across the South, the top-ranking resort was The Lodge at Primland. The property is in the mountains of Virginia and a roughly 60-mile drive northwest from Winston-Salem.
Portions of this story were previously published in CharlotteFive.
