The Best Places to Stay in Every Southern State

By Southern Living Editors
Published on March 12, 2019
Jekyll Island Club Resort in Georgia
Photo: Peter Frank Edwards

Check into a fantastic resort, an elegant hotel, or an intimate little hideaway with authentic character, and your vacation is all but made. There's no question that lodging matters—a lot. But Southerners don't have a cookie-cutter definition of a dream location. Maybe yours is a romantic, historic inn with hidden courtyards, loads of charm, and a gourmet breakfast for two—or a tropical resort that offers as much pool space as floorspace, along with fruity drinks you can sip under an umbrella. Of course, there will always be a place for sophisticated city hotels with lavish lobbies, skyline views from rooftop bars, and upscale restaurants where dinner really is an event. When we asked our readers to name their favorites across the region, they chose all of the above. And why not? The South has some of the best places you'll find anywhere. We are, after all, famous for our hospitality, and these spots take it to a whole new level. So treat yourself, and book a room. You can trust us with your wake-up call.* Southern Living Hotel Collection Member

01 of 17

Alabama

Grand Bohemian Hotel in Birmingham, AL
Hector Manuel Sanchez
  • The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa
  • Mobile
  • marriott.com
02 of 17

Arkansas

21c Museum Hotel in Bentonville, AR
Courtesy of 21c Museum Hotels
03 of 17

Florida

The Don CeSar St. Pete Beach, Florida
Robbie Caponetto
  • The Don CeSar (pictured above)
  • St. Pete Beach
  • doncesar.com
  • Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort
  • Fernandina Beach
  • omnihotels.com
  • The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club
  • St. Petersburg
  • marriott.com
04 of 17

Georgia

Jekyll Island Club Resort in Georgia
Peter Frank Edwards
  • Jekyll Island Club Resort (pictured above)
  • Jekyll Island
  • jekyllclub.com
05 of 17

Kentucky

The 1875 Hotel in Paducah, KY
Robbie Caponetto
06 of 17

Louisiana

Ace Hotel in New Orleans, LA
Robbie Caponetto
  • Ace Hotel New Orleans (pictured above)
  • New Orleans
  • acehotel.com
07 of 17

Maryland

Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, MD
Deborah Jaffe
08 of 17

Mississippi

Monmouth Historic Inn & Gardens in Natchez, MS
Allison Miksch
09 of 17

Missouri

Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, MO
Nancy Nolan

Big Cedar Lodge (pictured above)
Ridgedale
bigcedar.com

  • The Chase Park Plaza Royal Sonesta St. Louis
  • St. Louis
  • sonesta.com
10 of 17

North Carolina

Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill in Mills River, NC
Robbie Caponetto
  • Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill* (pictured above)
  • Mills River
  • tiffany-hill.com
11 of 17

Oklahoma

The Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, OK
Art Meripol
12 of 17

South Carolina

Sea Pines Beach Club in Hilton Head Island, SC
Rob Tipton
  • Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes
  • Myrtle Beach
  • marriott.com
  • The Sea Pines Resort* (pictured above)
  • Hilton Head Island
  • seapines.com
13 of 17

Tennessee

Union Station Hotel in Nashville, TN
Robbie Caponetto
  • Dollywood’s DreamMore Resort and Spa
  • Pigeon Forge
  • dollywood.com
  • Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
  • Nashville
  • marriott.com
14 of 17

Texas

Hotel Emma in San Antonio, TX
Wynn Myers
  • Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
  • Grapevine
  • marriott.com
15 of 17

Virginia

The Jefferson Hotel in Richmond, VA
Robbie Caponetto
16 of 17

Washington, D.C.

Kimpton Glover Park Hotel in Washington, DC
Courtesy of Kimpton Glover Park Hotel
17 of 17

West Virginia

The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV
Bill and Albanese
  • The Greenbrier (pictured above)
  • White Sulphur Springs
  • greenbrier.com
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