There’s nothing quite like the quiet of lakeside living. Often tucked under trees and set to frame perfect views of calm, clear waters, lake houses are ideal if you want to disconnect from the often hectic world around you.
There’s just something about being on the water that makes you move a bit slower, but in the best way possible. The lake houses on Airbnb are usually in places not quite as busy as the beach and boast more humble Americana appeal. They’re a good choice for families looking to actually spend time together or friends who collectively want a relaxing vacation.
However, thanks to Airbnb, the days of lodging in a dingy cabin are long gone. There are so many stylish, designer-led lake houses on Airbnb that you don’t have to settle for a vintage cabin (unless you want to, of course).
So whether you’re looking for Scandinavian-inspired interior, ultra modern architectural gems, or a cabin with mid-century flare, you’ll certainly find it on the list below. While the best Airbnb lake house for each group will differ depending on your taste and budget, what all these lake houses have in common are epic views, lake access, and killer amenities like saunas, private docks, and tons of toys.
Related Read: 15 Amazing Airbnb Monthly Rentals Around the U.S.
1. Lake Arrowhead Lakefront Cottage
Why you should stay: For the incredibly inviting 1,200-square-foot deck.
- Location: Waleska, Georgia
- Sleeps: 8
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $308/night
With a traditional wood cabin construction but modern amenities, this rustic retreat allows you to enjoy both little luxuries and the simple pleasures of lakeside living. The interior is cozy and contemporary, the wood-paneled walls painted grey and white, and the open kitchen updated with stainless steel appliances.
You’ll adore the finishing touches in cabin, like the black bedside lamps that match the doorknobs and bathroom’s black faucets. The ores on staircase are another wonderfully rustic touch.
But, truth be told, most of your time here will be outside on the giant deck. Jump into your pontoon boat (rented separately by the owners) or go for a paddle on one of the kayaks or water bikes. Sunsets around the fire pit are sure to be some of your most cherished memories from this place. This is one of the best lake houses on Airbnb if you live near the Atlanta metro area as it’s only about an hour north of the city.
Check Availability2. Flathead Lake Retreat
Why you should stay: Views from every angle and easy access to Glacier National Park.
- Location: Lakeside, Montana
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 2+ nights
- Rates from: $188/night
This cool cabin was built to frame the views of Flathead Lake from nearly anywhere in the house, but the wrap-around porch and sprawling lawn will probably lure you outside all the same. With a pebble beach in lieu of a dock, this property is perfect for kids who want to splash about in the shallows and for parents who want to launch their watercraft.
But it’s the attention to detail and family-oriented owners that make this lakeside retreat stand out. The home includes a s’mores package, baby gear, toys, dishes, kid’s life jackets and beach toys so you can pack light for the week. Amenities like a screened-in porch for buggy nights, a hot tub for cool evenings, and the fact that it’s less than an hour to the west entrance of Glacier National Park make this a top pick for outdoorsy folks.
Check Availability3. Colorado Lakeside Dream
Why you should stay: A lux property with a private beach perfect for events or family reunions.
- Location: Conifer, Colorado
- Sleeps: 11
- Minimum stay: 4 nights
- Rates from: $725/night
This Colorado cabin is one of the best lake houses on Airbnb no matter what time of year you plan to visit. The home has a beach, hot tub, canoe and fishing boat, and even an outdoor living room with a television. In summer, there’s no better place to be on a hot afternoon than sunbathing on the lawn or splashing on the beach. And come winter, you can watch the snow fall from the hot tub after a day of ice hockey or fishing on the lake.
It’s clear the owners spared no expense with this luxury property, from the granite countertops in the chef’s kitchen to the spiral staircase and plush bedrooms.
With such uninterrupted views, it’s easy to see why people rent this property for weddings. It can sleep your whole wedding party, or just your closest friends and family you decide to invite along for your own private beach getaway.
Check Availability4. ADK Oasis on Lake Champlain
Why you should stay: Have seven lakefront acres to yourself.
- Location: Willsboro, New York
- Sleeps: 4
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Rates from: $251/night
Chic and contemporary, the interior of this lake home on Lake Champlain looks more like something out of an Architectural Digest magazine rather than just an Airbnb property. With modern furniture with a mid-century flare, the home feels airy and cozy at once, mixing white textured fabrics with cool black accents and warm wood tones. That neutral palette lets the colors from the outside saturate the room, whether it’s the bright green grass, the deep blue of the lake, or the fiery red of the autumn foliage.
On the other side of Lake Champlain are the Green Mountains of Vermont, so you can bet the views are pretty damn good. And the owners make it easy to take advantage of the views, providing guests with kayaks and snowshoes for exploring. While the outdoors are beautiful during the day, be sure to make time to curl up next to the vintage-inspired fireplace or stargaze from the hammock come night.
Check Availability5. The Modern Lakehouse
Why you should stay: Get the best of the lake and the coast at this modern, chic lake house.
- Location: Oxford, Maine
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $300/night
The interior of this modern Maine lake house is whitewashed and splashed with accents of turquoise, giving it a bright and slightly whimsical feel. The design itself is decidedly contemporary but has fun eclectic touches like Zellij-inspired kitchen tiles to the heritage leather couch, barn doors, and Persian rugs. The covered porch has a picnic table for outdoor eating and a hot tub for late-night soaks; the latter will be particularly wonderful for relaxing sore muscles after a day of cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
But it’s the zig-zagged coffered walls, spiral staircases, and modern furnishings that really make the design feel cool and polished. You’ll probably want to steal ideas from this lake house for your own home. But what will be harder to recreate is the wall of windows that perfectly framed lake views from every bedroom. And the views from outside aren’t too shabby, either.
This Airbnb-bookable lake house is less than an hour from Portland, so you can easily tack exploring the coastal city on to your vacation. You can spend one day disconnect from the world with morning paddle or watching the ospreys and bald eagles landing around your sandy beach, or head to the city to take advantage of the museums, parks, and attractions in Portland.
Check Availability6. Moondance Shores
Why you should stay: A private beach, peaceful furnishings, and a cozy sauna.
- Location: Northport, Michigan
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $407/night
Outfitted with a serene and design-forward interior and on the shore of Lake Michigan, Moondance Shores is a place of rest and rejuvenation.
On two acres of sand backing to woodland, the home has perfect views of the swaying beach grasses and lake beyond. Inside, you’ll find lux amenities like radiant wood floors, a fireplace, and a sauna. And from the front door you have easy access to cycling and hiking trails. It’s clear the goal of this Airbnb lake house was to make it easy to relax and slow down — it’s as peaceful as can be.
The muted indoor color palette reflects the neutrals just outside, playing with bright whites, cool grays, and warm wood tones. It almost has a Scandinavian feel, with clean lines, modern furnishings, and wood accents. It’s a welcomed, modern aesthetic, especially when most lake houses usually have a more rustic feel.
It’s a great place for total relaxation or a creative reprieve, but prepared to be longing for the sandy shores and sweeping lake views well beyond past the end of your stay.
Check Availability7. The Honeymoon House on Lake Superior
Why you should stay: Floor-to-ceiling windows straight out of a five-star resort.
- Location: Lutsen, Minnesota
- Sleeps: 8
- Minimum stay: 4 nights
- Rates from: $574/night
With floor-to-ceiling windows in multiple rooms, this amazing home on Lake Superior puts you face-to-face with the area’s natural splendor.
In summer, you can lay in bed and watch the sun rise over the private, sandy shoreline. In autumn, you can sit for hours watching the trees change color from the living room. And in the winter, post up with a good book and some cocoa in the sun room, watching the snow fall and ice crystallize on the pine branches. It’s no wonder they call this the honeymoon house. Every view is incredibly romantic.
While most honeymoons have just two guests, the property sleeps eight, making it a great Airbnb lake house option for friends and family traveling together. At just 15 minutes from Grand Marais, it’s an easy drive but still feels very secluded. Your immediate neighbors are just the lake, the creek, and the trees. Be sure to gather near the lakeside fire pit to tell stories and roast marshmallows for at least one evening.
Check Availability8. Flathead Lake Home
Why you should stay: For the large private dock and home theater.
- Location: Rollins, Montana
- Sleeps: 5
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $485/night
Charming and rustic, this lakeside property is as picturesque as it gets. Tall, vaulted ceilings with windows from top to bottom frame views of the lake and lead to the deck, which is really the heart of the home. From the deck’s Adirondack chairs, you’ll have amazing views of Flathead Lake, the Mission Mountains, and Wild Horse Island. You can also see your private dock — the perfect place to jump in for a swim or launch your kayaks or paddleboards (which don’t come with the home, by the way).
Though recreation is literally steps away, you’re also just a quick drive from famous Montana attractions like Kalispell, Whitefish, and Glacier National Park. After a long day of hiking, make some popcorn and gather in the home theater in front of the big-screen TV. Try not to fall asleep in the large, comfortable leather chairs.
Check Availability9. Les Landing Big Bear Cabin
Why you should stay: Three decks, air hockey, and a hot tub.
- Location: Big Bear Lake, California
- Sleeps: 10
- Minimum stay: 2 nights
- Rates from: $625/night
Big Bear is where Southern Californians flock for relaxation and lakeside fun. But that also makes this a busy place much of the year. That’s what makes Les Landing Big Bear Cabin one of the best lake houses on Airbnb in the area. It’s tucked into a sheltered cove, creating a sense of privacy and seclusion at the famous lake.
Outfitted with its own deepwater dock and slip, this is also the perfect lake house if you’re bringing your boat. Oh, and there are three outdoor decks, all of which have views framing the lake, too.
While they call this place a cabin, inside, it feels anything but. It’s a 1970’s home updated with modern amenities, furnishings, and fixtures, with a few vintage sporting items as a nod to the family’s history.
Guests will drool over features like an in-bedroom fireplace, a hot tub, and the high-end kitchen. But the inviting outdoor furniture on the large deck might be what you appreciate most if you want to spend as much time as possible soaking up the sun and lakeside views.
Check Availability10. Caribou Lake House
Why you should stay: Tap into Minnesota’s Scandinavian culture with a stay at this perfect lake house.
- Location: Lutsen, Minnesota
- Sleeps: 8
- Minimum stay: 4+ nights
- Rates from: $454/night
In contrast to the wooded surroundings, this home’s vaulted ceilings, large picture windows, and modern furniture create a light and open space that feels surprisingly contemporary. It’d be easy to mistake the Caribou Lake House for a lakefront cabin in Sweden, especially as it has a toasty private sauna. If you come in winter, try laying in the snow before jumping in the sauna (or vice-versa.) Were that not enough, the property also has a private dock, a screened porch, a soaking tub, a fireplace, and access to canoes.
Natural stone and hand-finished cedar, fir, and pine both support the home and decorate its interior, quite literally making it feel like the forest is inside. However, you can be in the outdoor forest in seconds since the great outdoors are at your doorstep. The lake reflects the most beautiful sunsets and in winter, the blue water is the perfect backdrop for snowy hikes.
Check Availability11. Lake House Retreat
Why you should stay: Ultra-modern lake house with outdoor living near the Twin Cities.
- Location: Somerset, Wisconsin
- Sleeps: 10
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Rates from: $431/night
The most modern property on this list, this incredible house just a quick drive from the Twin Cities is surprisingly stylish. In less than an hour from Minneapolis-St. Paul (and 20 minutes from Stillwater), you can be at this retreat with looks to kill. It’s the ideal Airbnb lake house for city dwellers looking to indulge in a relaxing lakeside retreat in style. Guest reviews speak highly of the fact that it’s a 2.5-acre lot with 120 feet of private shoreline — seclusion is a given.
The exterior marries simple modernism with industrial materials. Inside, the white-and-black color palette continues into the high-end kitchen with stone countertops and fine finishings. Whimsical lighting and tasteful art add to the sophisticated feel of the main floor, though the vibe is more romantic upstairs, with a loft framing the woods, lake, and pastel sunsets. Another perk? Outside, you’ll have big spaces with contemporary furniture, a fire pit, and access to toys like a pedal boat and kayaks.
Check Availability12. The Blue Lakehouse
Why you should stay: Catskills escape for an easy weekend away from NYC.
- Location: Swan Lake, New York
- Sleeps: 6
- Minimum stay: 1 night
- Rates from: $217/night
Rustic, cozy and cute, this blue house on Swan Lake is the perfect lake house bookable on Airbnb if you live in NYC and need an escape from urbanity. In the Catskills and just two hours from Manhattan, this house provides guests with a quiet, humble place to rest their head and connect with nature.
From the back yard, you can jump in the kayak for a sunrise paddle, spend the afternoon fishing from the dock, or open a bottle of wine on the deck or in the lakefront Adirondack chairs.
But what’s special about this property besides its lakeside location are all the attractions nearby, from the Bethel-Woods Center for Arts to the Resort World Casino, the small Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun Park, and the Catskill Brewery. Whether you’re after small-town vibes for a weekend or want to totally avoid other people and reconnect with the outdoors, this property gives you the space to relax however you want.
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