Top 10 Midwest Resort Hotels: Readers’ Picks for 2025

Note: If you’re looking for our most recent recommendations, check out the 2024 list of our favorite resorts in the Midwest.

This year’s World’s Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2024, as destinations around the world. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

With vast swaths of nature reserves, forests, rivers, and lakes, the American Midwest is a dream for travelers seeking peace and serenity in the great outdoors. Each state offers a unique experience, and the best hotels in the Midwest excel at showcasing everything the region has to offer.

Every year for the World’s Best Awards survey, readers are invited to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe—sharing their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Hotels are rated based on their facilities, location, service, food, and overall value. Properties were classified as city or resort based on their locations and amenities.

Hotels across Michigan made a significant impression in this year’s survey, with the Great Lake State dominating the list with four properties, including three located on the popular summer destination of Mackinac Island: Hotel Iroquois (this year’s runner-up), Grand Hotel (No. 5), and Mission Point (No. 6). One reader commented on the Grand Hotel, stating, “Each room is unique and beautifully decorated. Nothing beats sitting in the rockers and people watching!” The hotel boasts a grand columned facade, horse-drawn carriages, afternoon tea service, and croquet and bocce courts, providing a nostalgic atmosphere. Guests particularly enjoy the Esther Williams Swimming Pool, named after the actor known for her role in the 1947 film This Time for Keeps, partially filmed at the hotel.

In Missouri’s Ozarks, Big Cedar Lodge earned the No. 8 spot this year. One reader described the experience as “one of the most scenic places I have ever visited. The cabin-in-the-woods feel was perfect, considering the abundant nature surrounding you.” Another praised the resort’s “one of a kind” location, stating, “The grounds and landscaping are exceptional. Rooms are beautiful and unique—and all tied to the Ozarks experience. Food is excellent. What a find.”

For the third consecutive year, Illinois’ Deer Path Inn secured the top position. Continue reading to discover what ensures its lasting appeal and view the full list of the best resort hotels in the Midwest.

1. Deer Path Inn, Lake Forest, Illinois

“The Deer Path Inn is in a class above the rest,” said a reader about this consistently top-rated hotel in the affluent suburb of Lake Forest. “Every detail is considered for your comfort and enjoyment. Never stuffy, the inn is elegant without being overbearing. The staff is responsive and friendly.” Although only a 40-minute drive from Chicago, it feels like a country retreat, featuring a Tudor-style facade and cozy fireplaces. The property’s 2016 renovation redefined its guest rooms, refreshing them with pastel palettes and inviting white tones. One reader mentioned that the “exceptionally friendly service combined with charming and cozy rooms, plus excellent food make this small hotel worth a visit.”

Score: 96.50
Website: thedeerpathinn.com