10 Cozy Cabins in California Perfect for Your Escape from the Hustle and Bustle

In California, there are nine national parks and a variety of rich landscapes, from beaches to mountains to deserts, often within a few hours’ drive of each other. California is one of the great places to enjoy natural beauty.

However, you don’t necessarily need to go camping to experience the great outdoors. Finding a cozy and peaceful cabin to spend a few days in is also a good option. This article will introduce you to 10 of the most popular cabins in California, which can be booked through Airbnb, hotels, or glamping resorts. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway in Joshua Tree National Park, a family road trip along the Santa Barbara coast, or a group ski trip to Northern California, we’ve found the right place for you.

1.Desolation Hotel Hope Valley   Location: Hope Valley

Desolation Hotel Hope Valley is a historic mountain resort on 165 acres, nearly 100 years old. After a major renovation in 2020 by the team behind Desolation Hotel Lake Tahoe, it reopened with various accommodations. Located about 20 minutes south of South Lake Tahoe, the property includes renovated cabins, new yurts, a vintage Spartan trailer, and RV and tent campsites. The 28 cabins have modern Scandinavian decor, full kitchens, and can sleep up to eight guests. The on-site restaurant, Sorensen’s, offers American dishes like king salmon and burgers on an outdoor patio, plus cocktails.

2.Whimsy Homes Tree Castle   Location: Arnold

Whimsy Homes Tree Castle is a very nice house located about 150 miles northeast of San Francisco, in Stanislaus National Forest near Calaveras Big Trees State Park. Opened in late 2023, this colorful home is a five-minute drive from Arnold. It features retro decor, including ABBA-themed wallpaper and teal kitchen appliances. It sleeps up to nine guests with two bedrooms (each with a queen bed), a loft with a bunk bed, and a pull-out sofa. The cedar hot tub on the lower deck offers forest views. Family-friendly amenities include a Guava Travel Crib, safety gate, children’s books, kids’ dinnerware, and a high chair. Pets are welcome too.

3.The Rum Runner Modern Homestead Cabin   Location: Yucca Valley

This one-bedroom beautiful house, which opened in 2021, is just a 15-minute drive from Joshua Tree National Park. The property features barn wood and rusted metal for great desert views. Inside, local artist Ana Digiallonardo painted a minimalist desert mural, and a retractable glass wall in the sunroom offers panoramic views. Inside there is a luxurious king-size Tuft and Needle bed, Parachute linens, industrial fixtures, and a vintage Chesterfield couch. Outside, enjoy a six-person hot tub, a stargazing bed, and “cowboy tubs” for sunset views and wildlife spotting.

4.Constellation Creek   Location: Sierraville

Constellation Creek is located in a quiet corner of the Sierra Nevadas, just 30 minutes north of Truckee. This family-run property features six charming cabins, restored by Georgie and Sebastian. The clean, updated log cabins, which fit two to six guests, come with a kitchen, bathroom, fireplace, and porch. Cozy extras include vinyl record players, local snacks, coffee, and plenty of blankets.

With limited cell service and no TVs, guests can fully relax and enjoy the peaceful creek and forest with hammocks and Adirondack chairs. The starlit skies are stunning, but it’s the warm hospitality from Georgie, Sebastian, their daughter Birdie, and their dog Blue that makes every stay memorable.

5.El Capitan Canyon   Location: Santa Barbara

El Capitan Canyon is a short drive up the coast from Los Angeles and offers a tranquil retreat on 350 acres of oak and sycamore trees, just 20 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara. The Cedar Cabins, ideal for families or groups of up to seven, come with en suite bathrooms and private firepits. Enjoy nearby El Capitan Beach, visit the on-site farm with llamas and goats, and roast marshmallows in the evening. Extras include a swimming pool, live music on summer weekends, and a market store with wine and barbecue kits.

6.Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite   Location: Fish Camp

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite introduced the Explorer Cabins in 2019. These 50 two-bedroom cabins, perfect for groups of up to six, each have a living room with a sleeper sofa and fireplace, a partial kitchen, and a private deck. Some cabins are pet-friendly and have bunk beds. Located about half a mile from the main lodge, guests can use the lodge’s restaurant, spa, and both outdoor and indoor pools, great for winter. You can enjoy a free wine hour at 5 p.m. and s’mores kits from 6 to 9 p.m. at Explorer Clubhouse. There’s also a 24-hour scan-and-pay system for snacks, beer, and drinks.

7.The A-Frame Apogee   Location: Arrowbear Lake

Arrowbear Lake is one of the most popular getaways for Los Angelenos. This two-bedroom A-frame house was built in 1964 and renovated in 2023, and it sleeps up to four guests with two queen beds downstairs and a loft upstairs. After skiing or hiking, unwind in the five-person Jacuzzi, heated to 101 degrees year-round, or relax by the 1960s Malm gas fireplace in the living room.

8.AutoCamp Yosemite   Location: Midpines

AutoCamp Yosemite, known for its stylish Airstream campers, also has three classic pine cabins about an hour from Yosemite Valley. Each cabin includes an outdoor porch swing, firepit, grill, and dining table. Inside, it accommodates up to five guests with a memory foam queen bed, twin bunk beds, and a pull-out sofa. The cabins have a kitchenette, a bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a dining area. Guests can use the central clubhouse for meals and supplies and enjoy the heated pool on the property.

9.Flying Flags   Location: Buellton

Flying Flags is an RV campground and glamping resort in Santa Ynez Valley, about 45 minutes from Santa Barbara. It offers canvas tents, Airstreams, and one-bedroom cabins and cottages ideal for groups of up to four. There is a living area, kitchenette, bathroom, a queen bed, and two twin beds in a loft or bunk setup in an energy cabin.

Guests can dine on the deck, relax around a private firepit, or let the kids enjoy the pool. Nearby, explore Solvang, visit Firestone Walker Brewery in Buellton, and try the mushroom and caramelized onion pies at Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos, just 20 minutes away.

10.Post Ranch Inn   Location: Big Sur

Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur is perched 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean and offers some of California’s most luxurious cabins. Designed by architect Mickey Muennig, the treehouse cabins are made from recycled wood and blend with the Santa Lucia Mountains. Elevated on stilts, each cabin features a wood-burning fireplace and a skylight above the king-size bed for stargazing. Enjoy a reflexology treatment at the spa or explore nearby forests with a private guided hike or meditation session.