The Best Waterfront Hotels on Lake Chelan
Last Updated on April 10, 2024 by Kelly
Are you planning a vacation to Chelan and want to stay at a property with access to Lake Chelan’s pristine waters? Staying right by the water will allow you to easily enjoy everything the lake offers. There are a handful of Chelan hotels located directly on the lake, and we’re sharing our full report in this guide! I’ve been to Chelan dozens of times throughout my life, and I’m sharing my picks for the best Chelan hotels right on the lake! I’ve personally been to many of these hotels, so read on for my recommendations!
8 Waterfront Hotels and Resorts at Lake Chelan
We created this map so that you can easily pick a Chelan hotel based on your desired location.
Some of the hotels are located near parks, and some are located in the heart of downtown Chelan.
Read on to find out which Chelan waterfront hotel is perfect for you!
1. Campbell’s Resort
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Campbell’s Resort is easily the most popular hotel in Chelan. With a location right in the heart of downtown and on the water, its location can’t be beat. Guests of the hotel can easily walk to downtown restaurants and shops, as well as to local parks.
What we love about Campbell’s Resort is the fact that it has a sandy beach, a dock, floating docks, two outdoor heated swimming pools (open seasonally), and two hot tubs (one of which is open year-round). There are few places to stay in the in the Chelan area that have all of those! The private beach is 1800 feet long, so there’s plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the water. The resort also offers seasonal boat moorage, a seasonal beach bar, and seasonal water rentals such as stand up paddle boards.
We also love that Campbell’s Resort has a restaurant and bar. My family especially enjoys dining outside on the veranda during the summer time. (We’ve even listed their restaurant as one of our favorite restaurants in Chelan!)
Campbell’s Resort is also a historic property. The land was purchased in 1898 by CC Campbell, who hiked into the wilderness and decided to purchase the waterfront parcel. Just a few years later, he opened the Hotel Chelan, which had 16 rooms.
2. Grandview on the Lake
The Grandview on the Lake is located just steps away from downtown Chelan. All you have to do is cross the bridge and you’re there! (The Grandview on the Lake is located adjacent to Campbell’s Resort.) The Grandview on the Lake is a collection of condos that range in size from three-bedroom apartments to studios. In addition to making reservations on their website, you can often find units available on Booking.com or AirBnb.
The Grandview on the Lake also sits right on the water of Lake Chelan. There is an outdoor swimming pool (open seasonally), hot tub, sun deck, and floating docks. There’s no sandy beach at this location, but there is direct water access for swimming. (We like to jump from the sun deck straight into the water!)
We also really like that the Grandview has many rooms with direct up-lake views. You really can’t beat it! The Grandview is also adjacent to Chelan’s Riverwalk Park, which is a beautiful place to take a stroll.
We’ve personally stayed at the Grandview a handful of times and have stayed in their 3-bedroom unit and 2-bedroom unit. My family members have stayed in the 1-bedroom unit and studio. We have enjoyed each of our visits!
For more photos, be sure to read our full article about our stay at the Grandview on the Lake!
3. Lakeside Lodge and Suites
Lakeside Lodge and Suites also has easy access to the waterfront. Although the hotel isn’t directly on the lake, it’s right next to Lakeside Park, which is right on the water. You’ll be able to walk straight from the hotel to the lake. We really like the Lakeside Park because of its floating dock, sandy beach, playground, and lots of shaded grassy areas.
The Lakeside Lodge and Suites has an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub (open seasonally) as well as an indoor swimming pool and hot tub (open year round). This makes it a great choice for families that want to visit during the shoulder season when the lake might be too cold to swim in! Lakeside Lodge and Suites also offers complimentary breakfast. This makes it an convenient place to stay and play.
4. Darnells Lake Resort
Darnells Lake Resort is located right next to Don Morse Memorial Park. Darnells has 300 feet of sandy beach right on Lake Chelan.
Darnells has pickleball/tennis courts, a heated outdoor pool, and an outdoor hot tub. There’s also seasonal moorage for boats.
Darnells Lake Resort is also located right next to the Lakeshore RV Park. If you have friends or family staying at the city campground, then staying at Darnells is ideal because you’ll be right next door.
5. Peterson’s Waterfront
Peterson’s Waterfront is another beautiful resort right on Lake Chelan. The resort offers an outdoor swimming pool (seasonal), access to the lake, a dock, and seasonal boat moorage. The rooms have views of the lake. The swimming pool is located right next to the lake, so it’s a really beautiful place to swim. You can also book the 3-bedroom townhouse if you have a larger family!
6. The Lookout: A Lakeside Village
The Lookout is a collection of vacation rental homes located on the north side of the lake. These newly-built homes are beautifully decorated. The community has access to 700 feet of waterfront, a marina, swimming pool, and water activity rentals.
Most of these vacation homes are large, spacious, and beautifully-decorated. Some of them even have hot tubs and outdoor fire places.
7. Kelly’s Resort
Kelly’s Resort is a 4-star hotel that’s located further up-lake and has a more rugged vibe. The resort offers more solitude for those that are seeking a more restorative retreat. Guests have access to the mountains, forest, and lake. The resort has an outdoor pool, woodland walking trails, docks, and water rentals.
8. Vacation Homes
There are a number of private vacation homes that are located right on the water. Our family has rented several vacation homes, and it’s definitely more affordable when you are splitting the cost with multiple people. Our most recent vacation home rental was at this amazing property right on Lake Chelan. We had direct access to the lake, a hot tub just feet away from the lake, and a sauna.
Summary
Wherever you choose to your stay, we know that you will have a good time! Lake Chelan is one of our favorite places to visit, and nothing beats staying at a hotel that is directly on the lake. Time is precious, and when you stay on the lake, you’ll be able to spend even more time enjoy everything Chelan has to offer!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
