When I think Deep Creek Lake, surprisingly, the first thought that crosses my mind isn’t the lake. It’s the lodging! Deep Creek has hundreds of places to stay, from cozy cabins in the woods to sprawling estates with eight or more bedrooms. There are townhomes, bed and breakfasts, and even tiny houses. There are houses with hot tubs, houses with firepits, and houses with expansive decks to sip an early morning coffee or host a gathering of family and friends. Deep Creek Lake is not known for its hotels, although there are a few if that’s what you prefer. Some of them include Suites at Silver Tree, Lake Pointe Inn Resort, Will O’ The Wisp, and The Lodge at Wisp.
Cost of Deep Creek Lodging
Unfortunately, one of the only downsides to Deep Creek Lake is that it can get expensive. You can easily spend more on a week at the lake in the summertime than you would on a week at Disney World (not kidding!) Nice – and even not-so-nice – houses on the lake start at around $3,000 and only go up from there. There are some with eight bedrooms or more that can go for more than $18,000!
That is why I can’t stress enough how important it is to BOOK EARLY! Houses for Deep Creek are often rented by the same families year over year, and once you’ve stayed in a house you can usually put in a request for it a year in advance. If you are looking for a house, the major vacation rental companies also open up their website bookings 12 months in advance. This means the nice but also reasonably-priced places can book up quickly.
The good news is, these houses are often meant for sharing! The price of the house can be cut in half, thirds, or even more if you go with another family or families. And, there are are many options to choose from, so you really don’t have to worry about not getting a house at all. Finally, Deep Creek Lake itself is fairly inexpensive (unless you also want to rent a boat – more to come on that.) There are plenty of free outdoor activities, and the restaurants are reasonable.
Staying Lakeside vs. Off-lake
If you are looking to stay for less than a week, you will most likely not be able to find a place on the water in the summer. Most places on the water require a week’s stay. However, if you want to stay for just a few days, there are plenty of off-lake rentals that have a minimum of just two or three nights. A lot of rental companies don’t allow you to cancel and receive a refund unless they are able to rebook the property, so I also highly recommend travel insurance (unless there is a specific policy that allows you to cancel within a short period of time.)
Deep Creek Rental Companies
Now to the details – how to find a place to stay? The two biggest rental companies are Taylor-Made and Railey Realty. In my opinion, they are quite similar and tend to have comparable price points, so I definitely recommend checking both to find your dream vacation spot!
EXAMPLE SEARCH:
Week of 7/16 to 7/23 of 2022
Bedrooms: 3+
Bathrooms: 2+
Amenities:
-A/C (be aware a number of houses in DCL do NOT have A/C)
-A grill
-A private hot tub (always fun to have, and many houses have them)
-Wifi
-A private dock (a luxury, but important if you want privacy for swimming or if you want to rent a boat)
| TAYLOR-MADE | RAILEY REALTY |
| LEAST EXPENSIVE: Retro Lake Landing – $3,190.24 3 beds, 2 baths MOST EXPENSIVE: The Haven – $19,392 8 beds, 9.5 baths | LEAST EXPENSIVE: Sun N Ski – $3,614.80 3 beds, 3.5 baths MOST EXPENSIVE: Timberlodge – $18,701.54 9 beds, 7 baths |
If you are experiencing some sticker shock, don’t worry – there are definitely other options! I always recommend looking at VRBO or Airbnb, even for the same properties that you find on Taylor-Made or Railey Realty. You may find a lower price with more options for cancellation. On the flip side, since both Taylor-Made and Railey are local companies and VRBO and Airbnb are much more hands-off, you won’t get the same guaranteed service if anything goes wrong.
Don’t mind staying off the lake, but still want a reliable, local company? I highly recommend Offlake Rentals. I’ve used them several times and have had great experiences – clean, nice houses and good customer service. Occasionally you can even find a lakefront rental, although this is rare. Also, many of the houses do not have central AC, but even in the dead of August, this is generally not an issue! Just open the windows and feel the fresh mountain air. You can only book places online about six months out, but if you call them, you should be able to book as far in advance as you wish.
Other Lodging Options
For the glamping life, check out Tiny House Vacation | Blue Moon Rising Cabins. I’ve never been, but if you do stay at one of these, please drop me a line as I’d love to hear about it! There are also plenty of homes for rent by owners, many of which you can find reviews for on sites like Tripadvisor. Finally, I cannot finish without recommending a place near and dear to my heart – Ski Harbor. We stayed here for many years when I was growing up with my mom’s side of the family. While the homes are small and a bit outdated, the location, amenities (tennis courts, indoor pool and hot tub, and basketball courts), and community feel are just perfect for families. Whatever you decide to do and wherever you decide to stay, I hope you have an amazing time at the lake!
Want More Deep Creek Lake Info?
- Whitewater Rafting near Deep Creek (with kids!)
- Deep Creek Lake Restaurants
- Shopping in Deep Creek Lake
- State Parks Near Deep Creek Lake
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