5 Budget Cabins Perfect for a Quick Escape

Give us a cabin with a wood-burning fireplace, a cozy chair to read a book, some good coffee, and maybe an evening nip of whiskey, and we’re happy. Give us hiking and biking trails, backcountry ski runs, old-growth forests, or loaner canoes and kayaks—plus no cell service or internet, so we can truly get away—and we may never leave.  

The Sky and Timber Loft Cabin

Cheshire, Oregon

Jason Williams, a bike mechanic, and his partner, Shasta Brewer, a freelance designer, spent three years restoring their log home on a five-acre property just 15 minutes outside Eugene, Oregon. Then they tackled their Sky and Timber guesthouse cabin, up the hill, which is where you’ll stay. It has a high-beam ceiling of exposed logs, a record player, and a stovetop espresso maker, plus thoughtful extras like birding books, binoculars, and board games. There’s no Wi-Fi and limited cell coverage. Instead, guests explore forest trails before lounging around the outdoor fire pit or the living room’s cast-iron wood stove. $108

Fariss Farms

Allisonia, Virginia

In the Blue Ridge Mountains, you’ll find Fariss Farms and Iron Heart Winery, a 990-acre property and vineyard that’s part of the state’s booming wine scene. Choose from three cabins, one of which dates back to 1882 and each of which were recently renovated with newly timbered and reclaimed logs. A trail leads from your front porch to a swimming hole on Little Reed Island Creek, or bring a canoe to paddle New River and a bike to cycle the 57-mile New River Trail, which follows an abandoned railroad. From $155

Starfire Cabin

Sandpoint, Idaho

George and Kristina Orton spent three years milling trees from their own property to build the 800-square-foot Starfire Cabin. It sleeps up to four in a bedroom and an upper loft, and comes stocked with firewood. Kayaking on Lake Pend Oreille, skiing at Schweitzer Mountain, and exploring the waterfront town of Sandpoint are all options a short drive away, but the log cabin feels remote, with limited cell-phone service, no Wi-Fi, and stargazing through a skylight. Kristina occasionally shows up with homemade pies and cookies. $150 

Sherman Log House

Ludlow, Vermont

Located five miles from Okemo Mountain Resort, the Sherman Log House, from vacation rental company Vacasa, has walls of shiplap planks, hardwood floors, and three bedrooms with enough room for up to ten people. You’ll play board games in front of a wood-burning fireplace and enjoy views of the snow-covered Green Mountains from the large jetted bathtub. When you’re not skiing at Okemo, which is on the Epic Pass as of this winter, head to the nearby Crowley Cheese Factory for a tasting tour, or spend some time in the charming village of Ludlow (population 811), 30 miles away. $143

The Hunt Hill Log Cabins

Sarona, Wisconsin

The Hunt Hill Audubon Society rents out two cabins that overlook 600 acres of old-growth forest, bogs, and four glacial lakes in a protected nature reserve. The cabins are rustic, but you’ll have access to 13 miles of trails and a canoe to spot ospreys and otters from the water. Built in 1917, the Frances Andrews Cabin sleeps up to six and sports views of Big Devil and Upper and Lower Twin Lakes. The Log Cabin, constructed in 1930, has a stone fireplace and a loft and bedroom that sleep up to four. It’s open all year. $120

The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island

Little St. Simons Island, Georgia 

This privately owned island is only accessible by boat, has seven miles of secluded coastline, and accommodates a maximum of just 32 guests. Book a room in the lodge or one of the five hunting-camp-inspired bungalows and your stay includes boat transfers, meals, and guided outings with local naturalists. Fall and winter bring cooler temperatures and fewer bugs and people, making it an ideal time to visit. If that still sounds too crowded, you can rent out the entire island. From $575, all-inclusive