By Noreen Kompanik
TravelPulse
Long before modern security details and official presidential retreats, America’s presidents traveled the country by rail, steamship, and carriage, often taking up residence in the nation’s grandest hotels and resorts.
Not only did these historic resorts offer a respite for presidential getaways, but many important political decisions were made at these venues, resulting in a landscape of diplomatic history and national and international change.
We’re highlighting some of these storied resorts that hosted presidents, offering today’s traveler an opportunity to sleep in the same halls as presidents, experience living history firsthand and enjoy the timeless luxury that has attracted some of the nation’s most influential guests.
Hotel del Coronado, Coronado, California
Built in 1887, the Hotel del Coronado is a red-turreted Victorian architectural masterpiece and quintessential legendary oceanfront beach hotel that’s hosted numerous U.S. presidents, foreign dignitaries, royalty and celebrities. They came to enjoy the captivating, elegant and timeless turn-of-the-century resort standing sentinel over a wide mile and a half of pristine white sand beach fronting the azure waters of the Pacific.The Hotel Del’s list of presidential stays is impressive and includes Presidents Harrison, McKinley, Taft, Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama.
Kennebunkport Resort Collection, Maine
Kennebunkport has long been tied to presidential summer tradition as home to the Bush family’s Walker’s Point estate. Travelers can experience the same classic Maine coastal rhythm across Kennebunkport Resort Collection’s refined seaside stays, from oceanfront dining at Ocean at Cape Arundel Inn & Resort to woodland-inspired meals at Earth at Hidden Pond.The Equinox Resort, Manchester, Vermont
A true New England grande dame, The Equinox Resort has hosted U.S. presidents including Ulysses S. Grant, William Howard Taft, Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin Harrison, with Roosevelt even delivering a campaign speech from the front lawn. The surrounding Manchester area is equally steeped in American legacy, from Mary Todd Lincoln’s 1864 summer stay to Robert Todd Lincoln’s nearby estate, Hildene. Today, guests can check into mountain-framed charm and timeless hospitality with deep presidential roots.Castle Hot Springs, Morristown, Arizona
Celebrating 130 years as Arizona’s original luxury wellness retreat, Castle Hot Springs is a living chapter of American travel history. Founded in 1896, the desert sanctuary became a favorite escape for prominent American families including the Roosevelts, Cabots, Vanderbilts, Wrigleys, and Astors. The all-inclusive resort spans 1,100 acres in the Bradshaw Mountains with standalone bungalows and cabins, mineral-rich hot springs, Arizona’s first Via Ferrata course and a rich culinary program rooted in its on-site farm.Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Santa Monica, California
Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, perched on five blufftop acres overlooking the Pacific has stood as a Santa Monica landmark since 1921, capturing quintessential Southern California beach living and blending heritage with contemporary luxury. The Owner’s Suite, located in the Historic Palisades Wing, nods to the estate’s past with original oak walls, vintage prints and sweeping city views. Over the past century, the hotel has welcomed notable figures including John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.Chico Hot Springs, Pray, Montana
Set near Yellowstone National Park, Chico Hot Springs offers a classic Western escape in Montana tied to President Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy. President Roosevelt stopped at Chico while traveling through Montana en route to Yellowstone, where he dedicated the Roosevelt Arch at the park’s North Entrance. Today, guests can soak in natural hot springs and experience the wide-open landscapes that helped define America’s national park story.Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, Arizona
For a Spanish-inspired desert escape with true presidential appeal, Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia’s grand Andalusian Presidential Suite hosted President Barack Obama while on the campaign trail.Spanning 2,800 square feet, the two-bedroom suite features expansive living areas, two palatial bedrooms, two full bathrooms and one-half bath, a private study, outdoor seating areas and a private pool and spa with sweeping views of Camelback Mountain. The resort channels the romance of Southern Spain and Morocco through Andalusian architecture, whitewashed archways, tiled courtyards, fire-lit tapas bars, award-winning dining and Joya Spa, home to Scottsdale’s only Hammam.
The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
This luxury resort began as a mineral-springs retreat in 1778 and evolved into a gathering place for political leaders. By the mid-1800s, The Greenbrier had become so popular with national leaders that it was often referred to as a “Summer White House.” Five sitting presidents visited before the Civil War and many other presidents stayed here as well. The resort’s Presidents’ Cottage still commemorates those early presidential visits.Willard Intercontinental, Washington, D.C.
Often called the “Residence of Presidents,” the Willard has hosted every U.S. president since Franklin Pierce, either as an overnight guest or an honored attendee at major events. Abraham Lincoln stayed here under guard before his inauguration in 1861.
The Beaux-Arts grand dame, a mere block from the White House, features afternoon tea beneath towering columns, sleek hotel rooms balancing vintage charm with modern comfort and elegant dining.
Omni Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, Virginia
This secluded historic resort, founded in 1966, is renowned for its historic golf courses and warm springs pools and has been a haven for U.S. presidents for over two centuries. Nestled in Virginia’s picturesque Allegheny Mountains, the resort has welcomed 24 presidents throughout the years that includes George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and William McKinley. The Omni Homestead Resort is famous for its naturally warm mineral springs and bathhouses dating back to the 18 th and 19 th centuries, and golf is another major part of the Homestead’s legacy.The Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, California
Often called the “White House of the West Coast,” the Fairmont, perched atop Nob Hill, has been known for its historic authenticity and modern luxury since 1907. According to the hotel, nearly every president since 1907 has stayed at the Fairmont San Francisco, giving it its famous nickname.Whenever presidents visited Northern California, the hotel became the natural headquarters because of its commanding location, grand public spaces and ability to accommodate the Secret Service and large entourages. In 1945, delegates from 50 nations gathered in San Francisco for the United Nations Conference on International Organization. While the conference itself took place primarily at the War Memorial Opera House and Herbst Theatre, the final drafting and refinement of the Signing of the Charter of the United Nations took place in the Fairmont’s Garden Room.
Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Few destinations evoke the spirit of a classic American summer quite like Cape Cod — and few families are more synonymous with it than the Kennedys. Just a few miles away from the Kennedy Compound, guests can embrace a Kennedy-inspired Cape escape, from sailing Nantucket Sound and Pleasant Bay to beach picnics, quahogging and exploring the Cape’s storied villages. Nearby, the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum offers a deeper look at the region President Kennedy considered home.The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Honolulu, Hawaii
Every president from Lyndon B. Johnson to George W. Bush has stayed at this luxury resort just outside the bustle of Waikiki, a place where presidents could combine official duties with relative seclusion. The Kahala opened in 1964 as the Kahala Hilton, designed to feel more like an elegant Hawaiian estate than a large resort. Its quiet location and reputation as Hawaii’s discrete hotel quickly attracted celebrities, royalty, and heads of state seeking privacy and top security in this tropical paradise.Copyright 2026 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
