HorseTraining

The Country’s Hottest Horse Motels

Take your next trail-riding adventure to the next level by staying at one of these six horse motels across the United States.

Photo by Johnny Greig

From the rolling hills of the East Coast to the expansive plains of the West, hidden gems await you and your horse at various horse motels across the country. Whether you’re passing through for a brief layover or seeking a memorable vacation spot, these facilities are designed to accommodate both rider and horse with unparalleled hospitality.

At these horse motels, you’ll find comfortable lodgings, secure stabling, and easy access to scenic trails and vibrant local equestrian communities. Many also provide additional amenities. Such as tack rooms, wash racks, trailer hook-ups, and cozy cabins to ensure that both you and your horse are well-cared for during your stay.

If a vacation with your horse sounds like the perfect adventure, here are six handpicked horse motels ready to welcome you. Located across the United States, these destinations not only provide top-notch care but also connect you to some of the best trails in their regions.

For each selected horse motel, we provide comprehensive information to assist with your planning. You’ll find details on location, standout features, and specific amenities. Plus, we’ve included insights on the best times to visit to ensure you make the most of your experience.

The East

The Location: Marienville, Pennsylvania.

The Details: Sharon’s Horse Haven is your must-visit trail riding destination in Pennsylvania. It has eight box stalls, eight grass paddocks, a two-acre pasture. And, if you’re there for a longer stay, a three-acre pasture.

For you, the property features a two-bedroom cabin on the barn’s second floor. The cabin is ready for you to use, with a full kitchen and bathroom, and it sleeps up to six. Guests are required to bring their own linens, towels, and pillows for the stay. Guests may also camp in the quiet, cozy camping area that accommodates four trailers.

The Best Features: Sharon’s Horse Heaven is located on 60 acres with wooded areas, fields, trails, pine groves, apple orchards, and a pond. Guests can ride on the property or head to nine surrounding trails in the Allegheny National Forest. Add an extra day to your trip for kayaking the Clarion River or biking the newly added bike trail. Ride from the farm or travel to one of the five other nearby trail systems.

The Best Time to Go: June through August are the best times to visit for warm, sunny weather and forests in full bloom.

Booking Details: sharonshorseheaven.com.

Explore Pennsylvania’s natural beauty at Sharon’s Horse Heaven, where you’re surrounded by national forests. Photo courtesy of Sharon’s Horse Heaven

The Location: Washington, Vermont.

The Details: The Bunkhouse is your ticket to the perfect four-season getaway, where you can enjoy Vermont’s year-round beauty. Disconnect from the world and be mindful with your horse. While the property is off grid, solar and generators offer power for your electrical needs. Just in case you really need to check your phone. The property can accommodate up to eight horses. It has sizable corrals for individual turnout and a fenced turnout that accommodates up to three horses. There’s also an outdoor arena and a round pen.

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As the name states, the bunkhouse has four rooms and sleeps up to ten. So this is the perfect place for a larger group. It also has a living room, a full kitchen, and a full bathroom. Since the property is off grid, there aren’t trailer hookups. But you’re welcome to dry camp in your trailer if you desire. It’s also just a short drive away from nearby dining and shopping.

The Best Features: Surrounded by miles of trails, you can completely disconnect and be mindful. While this vacation destination is best suited for riding, there are plenty of activities to do in addition to riding the trails, such as mountain biking, hiking, and swimming in the pond in the summer or snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing in the winter.

The Best Time to Go: The Bunkhouse is a year-round destination. While there might be snow, you can still hit the trails in the winter or enjoy outdoor winter activities.

Booking Details: thebunkhousevermont.com.

Unplug from the hustle and bustle with your horse at The Bunkhouse, the off-grid retreat you’ve been looking for. Photo courtesy of Bunk House Vermont

The Midwest

The Location: Nebo, Illinois.

The Details: At Heartland Lodge, stalls are available, and a large outdoor arena is adjacent to the main lodge. Guests must bring their own buckets and feed but are welcomed with a clean stall with bedding ready. While there aren’t any trailer hookups at this horse motel, you can relax either in a luxury cabin or your own luxury suite in one of the lodges.

The Quail Ridge Cabin offers seclusion from the rest of the property since it is a couple of miles from the main resort down a dead-end road. The Private Luxury Cabins are each decorated with their own unique themes and feature a fireplace and hot tub. The Heavenly View Cabin sits on 50 private acres, near the top of the Mississippi River bluff, giving you amazing views of the Mississippi River valley and surrounding property.

The Best Features: With 1,200 rolling acres, this property has many trails that lead through forests, creeks, and prairies. In addition to trail riding, guests may also fish, hike, shoot at the pistol range, use the sporting clay course, rent a UTV, and more. If you don’t want to camp and just want to ride, a day pass will allow you to explore and experience the lodge as well.

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The Best Time to Go: Horseback riding season at Heartland Lodge runs from April 1 through September 30. And it’s recommended that you visit during the week to avoid ATV/UTV traffic.

Booking Details: www.heartlandlodge.com.

With more than 1,000 acres to explore, you’ll find yourself wanting to return to Heartland Lodge in Nebo, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Heartland Lodge

The Location: Mountain, Wisconsin.

The Details: Spur of the Moment Ranch has 15 paddocks, 19 box stalls, and paddocks in three areas for your horse. For you, there are five campsites with picnic tables, fire pits, electricity, water, and an on-site dump station. If you don’t want to stay in your camper or living-quarters trailer, you can stay in one of the eight cabins.

The Bunkhouse is a one-room cabin. It has six twin beds and a futon, and is complete with a full kitchen. The Ash Cabin is a log cabin that has a queen bed and futon. The Ash Cabin features a full kitchen and is located close to the paddocks. The Spruce and The Cedar Cabins are one-bedroom cabins that sleep eight and have a complete kitchen and bathroom. The Maple and The Birch Cabins sleep up to four, but The Birch Cabin does not have a kitchen. The Pine and The Oak Cabins sleep two and have a small kitchenette. Dogs are welcome to visit the ranch, as well.

The Best Features: This ranch sits on 12 acres surrounded by the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. It features direct access to the Nicolet Trail. This abandoned railroad bed runs 30 miles north and south. In addition to the trails, the Wolf River to the west and the Pestigo River to the east offer rafting and tubing. Spur of the Moment Ranch also offers carriage rides for up to four people. And even driving lessons for those who want to learn.

The Best Time to Go: Between May and September is the best time to experience the area with your horse.

Booking Details: spurofthemomentranch.org.

Find yourself falling in love with the North Woods of Wisconsin at Spur of the Moment Ranch. Photo courtesy of spur of The Moment Ranch

The West

The Location: Mill Creek, California.

The Details: The St. Bernard Lodge is the perfect home base for all outdoor enthusiasts wanting to explore. The lodge is just over a mile away from the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s 20 minutes from Lassen Volcanic Nationwal Park, and is the perfect layover for those traveling through to Crater Lake or Redwoods National Forest. It has seven pipe-fenced corrals and two larger paddocks with wire fencing. Owners are responsible for bringing buckets, feed, and cleaning up after horses.

The lodge is a place to stay in luxury and doesn’t allow camping in your trailer, but there is plenty of room to park trailers safely behind it. When you stay at the lodge, breakfast is included in the accommodations, and arrangements can be made for lunch and dinner. The lodge has seven rooms, and they allow two to four guests, depending on which room is booked. It also has a tavern and plenty of fun indoor and outdoor activities for the entire family.

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The Best Features: This lodge sits on 10 acres and is one of the closest lodges to Lassen Volcanic National Park. Take your horse on a ride along the Pacific Crest Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lassen Volcanic Forest, or BLM lands. Several trailheads near the lodge make for easy access to scenic trails. There are various terrain types to ride through depending on which trail you choose to ride.

The Best Time to Go: The best time to ride the trails near the lodge is between July and September, but the lodge is open year-round.

Booking Details: stbernardlodge.com.

You’ll find yourself surrounded by nature’s beauty as you ride from St. Bernard Lodge. Photo courtesy of St. Bernard Lodge

The Location: West Yellowstone, Montana.

The Details: For 70 years, The Diamond P Ranch has been allowing guests to experience the West and what Yellowstone has to offer from the back of a horse. It offers pens for your horse, a full-size outdoor arena, and a round pen. For additional fees, hay and stall cleaning can be provided. For you, there are 30-amp electrical hookups for your camper, or you have the option to dry camp. While there aren’t any cabins or other lodging, this destination is worth staying in your living-quarters trailer to experience the area and what it offers. Bring your horses and living- quarters trailer for the adventure of your life in a piece of the United States that is unlike any other.

The Best Features: Only seven miles from the west gate of Yellowstone National Park—also known as the main entrance—this is one of the closest camping locations to stay with your horse near the park. Located directly on Highway 20, you have easy access for large trailers with a short, straight drive to the west gate. Trailer your horse to Yellowstone National Park to ride or leave from your campsite and head into Gallatin National Forest. If you want a guide or don’t want to bring your own horse, Diamond P Ranch does offer guided trail rides. And is the only outfit permitted to offer guided horseback rides in the Gallatin National Forest.

The Best Time to Go: June through September are the best months to visit. However, to avoid the crowds in Yellowstone National Park, April through May and September through early October are best.

Booking Details: thediamondpranch.com.

Find your Yellowstone adventure at Diamond P Ranch as you take in the Montana wilderness. Photo courtesy of Diamond P Ranch

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