Travelers have plenty of options when it comes to choosing a hotel to stay at when traveling. Socially conscious travelers, however, have to cut through the clutter and greenwashing. To save you time, we’ve done the leg work for you. Here’s a range of green hotels in the U.S., each providing layers of impact, for every budget.
Budget $
The Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel is located on the coast in Pescadero, California. Surrounded by miles of hiking and coastal trails, it is located at the foot of a working 115-foot-tall lighthouse.
Super green, this affordable hostel is Green Globe certified, and has a California Green Business Certification. It’s also a dark sky night preserve, which means the location is unimpaired by light pollution. That makes this the perfect place for stargazing.
Midrange $$
Located in Waitsfield, Vermont, The Inn at Round Barn Farm, is a quaint bed and breakfast. Near the Mad River Valley, the property encompasses 245 acres of mountains, meadows and ponds. One of the only round barns left in the state, the location is unique and ideal for special events. Sustainability and locally sourcing are also a priority, therefore much of the produce is grown organically, onsite.
A historic resort located on Florida’s Key West, The Banyan Resort, is just a 9-minute walk from the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. The resort is the first lodging establishment certified by Florida as being a Green Lodging facility. In other words, the facility has been verified to meet multiple environmental standards.
With a focus on water quality and conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation and energy efficiency, they are intentional about landscaping and building. They emphasize things like using recycled materials and planting native plants that require less water.
Luxury $$$
Established by Robert Redford in 1969, the Sundance Mountain Resort is dedicated to conservation, the arts, and community. Each reservation includes two ski and lift passes per bedroom and for music fans, there’s live music every weekend.
At the resort, water comes from local mountain-fed spring. With an eye towards creativity, they installed their own glass works kiln where glass is repurposed and turned into decorative art. To create their conference center, 70 pounds of coffee grounds were used sustainably, on the building in place of traditional stain. Staff also helps restore the mountain by laying erosion blankets and restoring vegetation where the terrain has been altered, making this one of our favorite green hotels in the U.S.
Inn by the Sea, is located on a mile of sandy beach in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. A sustainability champion, the Inn has implemented different eco-friendly initiatives and appreciates all things local. Their most successful collaboration is with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. They foster adoptable dogs on site and over 100 guests have adopted shelter dogs from the Inn.
With sustainable seafood fresh from the Gulf of Maine, the Inn also educates guests with beach ecology walks where they can learn about the importance of sand dunes for erosion and nesting shorebirds.
An adult-only resort, Alila Ventana Big Sur consists of 160 forested acres right along California’s Pacific coast. With a number of initiatives aimed at making the resort environmentally friendly, the property blends luxury and sustainability seamlessly. Guests can choose from luxury rooms, Redwood or Canyon glamping tents, complete with modern amenities.
The irrigation used on the property comes from 100% recycled water and is turned off during periods of rain or cold. The Executive Chef acquires ingredients from local suppliers and from the resort’s organic garden. The resort also provides on-property housing for more than 40 employees, helping to reduce traffic and vehicle emissions, helping to make this one of the more sustainable hotels in the U.S.
CARLI CUTHBERTSON
