Poll Reveals: America’s Coziest Winter Getaways in 2026

Winter travel has a way of revealing what people actually crave when the temperature drops.

For some, it’s snow and ski towns; for others, it’s soft coastal air, old Main Streets, or mountain retreats with nothing much to do except settle in.

We looked at where Americans say they are most eager to escape to this winter – and the results paint a surprisingly consistent picture of what “cozy” really means in 2026.

Here are the patterns that stand out once you dig beyond the top 10 list.

Key Findings

New York destinations dominate the “true winter escape” category

New York destinations, including Lake Placid, Aurora, Woodstock, and the Finger Lakes, all ranked strongly among the most coveted winter destinations.

New York certainly hits a sweet spot – cute winter destinations that are not too remote.

Florida locations also feature, and cozy doesn’t always mean cold

It is perhaps surprising that so many Florida locations appear across the list – these include Apalachicola, Fernandina Beach, and Mount Dora. What do they have in common?

They are locations with a slow pace of life, historic, and have walkable main streets. It suggests a second definition of “cozy”: mild temperatures, gentle winter light, and days that feel manageable rather than bleak.

Mountain towns remain the default winter fantasy – but not only in the Rockies

Colorado obviously places well (Ouray, Grand Lake, Paonia), but North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Montana, and even Alabama and Arkansas lodge multiple entries. What they share in common isn’t skiing – rather, it is cabin life, valleys, and rolling landscapes.

Alaska’s remote locations do not deter travelers

Homer, Talkeetna, and Girdwood all land unusually high for destinations that require real travel commitment. It suggests Americans are not put off by full-on winter weather – many are embracing it.

Alaska offers isolation and landscapes that feel untouched, framed in dramatic winter settings.

The Midwest and Great Lakes region show up several times in the ranking

Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, and Iowa have multiple towns in the rankings. The pattern here tends to be small, lake-or-river towns with pretty winter scenery and a slower rhythm – places that offer atmosphere without requiring mountain travel.

The South contributes more “slow-winter” destinations than snowy ones

South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky, and Virginia all appear repeatedly, but the common thread is charm over climate. These aren’t freezing destinations – they’re warm-porch, early-evening, lights-on-Main-Street kinds of places. Cozy as a mood, not a temperature.

Final Thoughts

What stands out across all 142 destinations is how unified the idea of “cozy” has become. Americans appear to want a sense of retreat above all, and locations with a slow pace of life.

In a year where everything else feels fast, a winter getaway seems to be less about what you do and more about how a place makes you feel for a few days.