Hotels near/Cornell University
— Colleges · NY —

Hotels near Cornell University.

The gorges, the Johnson Museum and a Finger Lakes college town — Ithaca fills up hard for graduation and homecoming, and Aurora and Trumansburg spread it out.

The 9 independent hotels we list within about 55 miles of Cornell University, ranked by drive time and the Le Hotelist Score. No chains.

  1. 3 min · 1.4 miclosest
    Ithaca, NY · $$ from $265

    A 19th-century Ithaca downtown inn — nine rooms, whirlpool tubs, walkable to Cornell.

  2. 16 min · 9 mi
    Trumansburg, NY · $$ from $285 · restaurant

    An 1873 Victorian estate overlooking Cayuga Lake — 16 rooms, restaurant with Finger Lakes wine program.

  3. 20 min · 11 mi
    Trumansburg, NY · $$ from $275

    Eight rooms between Cayuga and Seneca — a Victorian B&B that takes its breakfast seriously.

  4. 43 min · 24 mi
    Canandaigua, NY · $$ from $285 · restaurant

    Stone mansion on a working farm — six bedrooms, fireplaces, three-course dinners by request.

  5. 43 min · 23.8 mi
    Aurora, NY · $$$ from $512 · restaurant

    Five restored 19th-century houses along one Cayuga Lake village main street, run as a single quiet resort by the woman who created American Girl.

  6. 1h 6m · 36.9 mi
    Geneva, NY · $$$ from $425 · restaurant

    An 1889 Richardsonian Romanesque stone castle on Seneca Lake — 29 rooms, on-site winery.

  7. 1h 7m · 37.5 mi
    Geneva, NY · $$$ from $445 · restaurant

    A 1911 Lamoreaux Landing-era villa on Seneca Lake — 30 all-suite rooms in formal Italianate gardens.

  8. 1h 10m · 39.4 mi
    Hammondsport, NY · $$ from $295

    An octagonal 1859 house turned wine-country inn — seven rooms, a spa, and properly eccentric decor.

  9. 1h 29m · 50.1 mi
    Canandaigua, NY · $$$ from $495 · restaurant

    2020 new-build on Canandaigua Lake — the Finger Lakes' most ambitious design hotel, Condé Nast Hot List 2021.

The hotels within a short drive of Cornell University are mostly chains and mid-scale boxes on the approach roads. The ones above are the independent alternatives — inns, converted buildings and small design hotels run by the people who own them. Each has a Le Hotelist Score built from five sub-scores (design, location, service, value, quiet), and the distance shown is straight-line; real drive times run a little longer on back roads.

Frequently asked
What's the closest hotel to Cornell University?
William Henry Miller Inn in Ithaca, NY is the nearest independent hotel we list — about 1.4 miles, roughly 3 min by car.
Are there any non-chain hotels near Cornell University?
Yes. Le Hotelist lists only independent hotels — no chains, no pay-to-rank. 5 of them are within about an hour's drive of Cornell University, each with a Le Hotelist Score from 0 to 10.
How far in advance should I book?
Peak weekends in season fill up; midweek and shoulder season are more forgiving. The smaller inns near Cornell University have the fewest rooms, so they go first.
Is it better to stay near Cornell University or in the nearest city?
Staying close means an early start and a short drive back after dinner. Ithaca and the towns nearby keep you within 3 min without giving up a good restaurant or a real bed.
These hotels are in: Finger Lakes
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