Barnyard chores and the smell of manure? Why more Americans are vacationing on farms

Green Acres is, and always was, the place to be. But now, the rooster-as-alarm-clock lifestyle is inspiring (fertilizing?) a bountiful crop for rural vacation destinations.

The perennial envy of city slickers jaded by their penthouse views, farms are now a dream destination for 84% of travelers, who say they’d like to stay on or near an agricultural outpost. That’s according to Vrbo’s recent trend report, Unpack ’26, which also found a 300% year-over-year increase in guest reviews mentioning farms on the vacation rental platform owned by Expedia.

“To escape the stresses of everyday life, travelers are increasingly drawn to trips that feel simpler and closer to nature,” said Melanie Fish, global head of public relations for Expedia Group Brands, noting that this desire for farm charm is reflected in travelers’ growing appetite for experiences like picking apples and interacting with farm animals.

Take a dip inside the fancy Farm at Woods Hill in Bath, NH. Steve Keep Stays at Vrbo’s Devita House start at $200 a night. Vrbo

But farm stays don’t mean roughing it rustic. Many of these barn and breakfasts “also include amenities like courtyards, private pools and gourmet kitchens” allowing travelers to slow down and connect with nature, says Fish.

If you want to enjoy a farm stay in the tri-state, Fish recommends Vrbo’s DeVita House (from $200 per night) in Gardiner, NY, a cozy 1900s farmhouse sleeping six.

There’s also Chestnut Hill (from $798 per per night) in Saugerties, NY. It’s a four-bedroom dwelling on 53 acres originally built in the 1840s with a lily pond, swimmable creek, and, of course, farm animals. Also on the platform is the Historic Centreville House (from $247 per night) in Layton, NJ, a three-bedroom home with a front porch and rocking chairs set on a working farm near the Delaware Water Gap.

Chestnut Hill sports four bedrooms on its 53 acres. Vrbo

For a spot of equine equanimity, gallop to the horse oasis, Rosemary Farm Sanctuary in South Kortright in the Western Catskills. Roughly two and a half hours from NYC, the horse rescue has a three-bedroom guest house on Airbnb (from $337 per night with a two-night minimum required) with views of horses and hills from every window.

When you’re not doing a guided horse grooming session with one of the animals, Delaware County’s peaks and rivers are ripe for exploration on foot, horseback (saddle up at Skyhold Ranch or Broken Spoke Stables) or with lure in hand on the Beaverkill, Willowmoc or Delaware rivers (hire a guide with Hackett Fly Fishing).

Over in Sullivan County, another Catskillian retreat is Driftwood Ranch Resort (from $750 per night) in White Lake. There, you’ll swap city claustrophobia for 200 acres where horses and Texas Longhorns roam on verdant grounds adjacent to white pine and maple forests.

D&K Ranch is a female-first equestrian hub in the Finger Lakes. Discover Seneca

Owned by Steve Dubrovsky, a four-time PRCA Rodeo Champion and award-winning architect, you can stay in one of four Western-themed suites when you’re not busy engaging in roping lessons, guided trail hikes, cattle feedings, kayaking on the property pond and leatherworking lessons.

Whenever fourth-generation Sullivan County resident Sarah Halpern, who runs social media for Sullivan Catskills, is at the ranch visiting her horse she suggests exploring the town of Kauneonga Lake. It’s just minutes from the resort, home to local favorites like Benji & Jakes for pizza and Sticky Fingers Delectables for ice cream.

Farther upstate, you’ll find D&K Ranch (from $100 per night) in Interlaken, tucked away in the Finger Lakes National Forest. At this women-led working horse ranch, you can rent a modest yet charming cabin and explore the horseback riding trail rides to their heart’s content.

Stays at the Tanglebloom Tiny Cabin start at $199 a bight. Ethan Abitz

Over in Vermont, those seeking an escape from screenland can check into Tanglebloom Tiny Cabin (from $199 per night) in Brookline, roughly three and half hours from NYC.

It’s a working flower farm and the cabin is equally whimsical — an open-air space beneath a transparent roof for tree- and stargazing, alike. There’s even a covered porch for coffee, a kitchen and an outdoor shower.

The real showstopper, though? A wood-fired hot tub set among the trees.

Tanglebloom has a bloomin’ flower farm. Krystina Olsen

There’s no resort dining here, but Vermont’s Most Wish-Listed Airbnb will certainly delight you with self-guided flower picking.

“There’s something genuinely moving about walking out of the woods, clippers in hand, and filling your arms with flowers,” said owner Melissa Hessney Masters.

If you can, time your visit for the Bloom & Steam event with Brattleboro Sauna on June 4 and 5, combining the peony fields and the sauna experience unlike anything else in New England, she added.

Feed your flock a feast of farm-fresh victuals at the Farm at Woods Hill. Steve Keep

Another New England jewel for an Old McDonaldesque experience is the Farm at Woods Hill (from $420 per night) in Bath, NH. This working produce and animal farm supplies the award-winning Woods Hill Table, Woods Hill Pier 4 (seasonal hits like the sunflower risotto and crispy lamb ribs are phenomenal, as are the year-round water views) and the Block at Woods Hill restaurants in Massachusetts. Stay in the Lodge, holding up to six guests, or the Farmhouse, holding up to 16 guests.

Either way, the farm team is at your service to cook meals and deliver fresh eggs and produce to your doorstep each morning. You can also partake in a yoga or fermentation class or sign up for farm chores — bring your barn clothes — in June through August.

Down South, we’re swooning for Goodstone Inn & Restaurant in Middleburg, Va., where you can stay in the White Cottage (from $964 per night), a three-bedroom retreat for up to six guests. The working farm has cows, chickens, a llama and more, and perhaps more appealing to some humans, a private fire pit, seasonal access to a saltwater pool, hiking trails and on-site dining.

Sheep and other animals get a dip at Pat’s Farm by O’Reilly’s. Saltstone Media

Or really, really south, venture to farmland resorts abroad like the chalets at Pat’s Farm by O’Reilly’s (from $395 per night) in Canungra, Queensland, Australia, on a working cattle operation surrounded by World Heritage Area Lamington National Park.

Each of the six off-grid chalets sleeps two and boasts a plunge pool, fire pit, couple’s hammock, indoor fireplace and kitchen with Smeg appliances, an espresso machine and a SodaStream to provide your creature comforts.

Veg out at this massive Italian farm estate in Bologna. Palazzo di Varignana

From the Sunburned Country to Bel Paese, Palazzo di Varignana (from $334 per night) in Bologna, Italy, awaits visitors. Nestled in the Bolognese countryside, this historic resort sits on a working 650-hectare agricultural estate with vineyards and vegetable gardens, a rare saffron crop, fruit orchards and pomegranate groves, all supplying the property’s restaurants.

Wherever you book your muddy reprieve, don’t forget to sit back and relax, too.

“The rise in ‘farm charm’ reflects the growing popularity of the slow travel movement,” said Fish. These slower-paced stays enable guests to indulge in analog “grandma hobbies” like reading, knitting, needlepoint and gardening.

Ready to find bliss in the barnyard?