Two historic mineral-spring resorts, both run by Omni, both in the Alleghenies. One is Virginia’s grande dame. The other is Pennsylvania’s best-kept secret — and an hour closer to DC.
Everyone in the DC area knows The Homestead. Far fewer know Omni Bedford Springs, a white-columned spring resort in the Pennsylvania mountains that once served as a president’s summer White House — and sits about two and a half hours from the Beltway. Both were built around healing mineral springs. Both have historic golf courses and grand old hotels restored by Omni. So which one is right for your weekend?
The Homestead vs Omni Bedford Springs: Which One?
Same company, same mountains, same idea — very different scale.
You Want the Full Grand Resort
483 rooms, two golf courses including the Cascades, falconry, a small ski hill, the Jefferson Pools nearby, and dress-up dinners. Bigger, grander, more to do.
Check Homestead RatesYou Want Quieter and Closer
216 rooms on 2,200 acres, about 2.5 hours from DC. A spring-fed indoor pool from 1905, a Donald Ross golf course, and hiking trails to eight mineral springs. Smaller, calmer, easier to reach.
Check Bedford RatesThe Homestead, Narrowly
Two courses and the Cascades, one of the best mountain courses in the country. But Bedford’s Old Course, rebuilt by Donald Ross in 1923, is a gem — and it’s been named the top resort course in Pennsylvania.
Check Homestead RatesBedford Springs Wins
About an hour closer to DC than The Homestead. Leave after work Friday and still make dinner. Ideal for a one- or two-night reset.
Check Bedford RatesThe Side by Side
| Category | The Homestead | Omni Bedford Springs |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Hot Springs, Virginia | Bedford, Pennsylvania |
| Founded | 1766 | 1796; first hotel building 1806 |
| Rooms | 483 | 216 |
| Golf | 2 courses (Old Course + Cascades) | 1 course (the Old Course, Donald Ross 1923) |
| The springs | Jefferson Pools in nearby Warm Springs | Eight springs on property, spring-fed pool and spa |
| Signature pool | Indoor spa pool, seasonal outdoor pools | 1905 spring-fed indoor pool |
| Presidential history | 22 presidents | Buchanan’s “Summer White House” |
| Winter | Small ski area and ice rink | Quiet mountain retreat |
| Feel | Grand, formal, lots to do | Intimate, peaceful, restorative |
| From DC | ~3.5 hours | ~2.5 hours |
| Book at | Hotels.com ✓ | Hotels.com ✓ |
The Case for The Homestead
The Homestead is the bigger, grander experience — 483 rooms under a red-brick tower, guests since 1766, and a full calendar of things to do. Our family spent several Christmases there, and it’s the resort we measure every other one against.
The golf is the headline: the Old Course has the oldest first tee in continuous use in the United States, and the Cascades, a William Flynn design from 1923, is one of the best mountain courses in the country. Add falconry, fly fishing, a small ski area in winter, a spa built around the mineral springs, and the historic Jefferson Pools a few minutes away in Warm Springs. Evenings are dressed up — this is a resort that still does formal dinners with live music.
The trade-off is distance. The Homestead is about three and a half hours from DC, which makes it a true weekend or longer, not a quick escape. Full Homestead guide →
The Case for Omni Bedford Springs
Bedford Springs is The Homestead’s quieter cousin — a 216-room white-columned hotel on 2,200 acres in the Pennsylvania Alleghenies, restored and reopened in 2007 after two decades closed. It’s the resort for people who want the history and the springs without the scale.
The history runs deep. Dr. John Anderson bought the land in 1796 for its mineral springs and built the first stone inn in 1806. President James Buchanan used the hotel as his Summer White House, and in 1858 he received the first transatlantic cable message from Queen Victoria while staying here. The resort is a National Historic Landmark.
The standout is the indoor pool. Opened in 1905, it’s one of the first indoor pools in the country, fed by a mineral spring — look up and you’ll see the old balcony where musicians once played for swimmers. The Springs Eternal Spa uses the same spring water, and marked trails lead to all eight springs on the property.
The Old Course is the other draw. Laid out in 1895, reworked by A.W. Tillinghast in 1912 and rebuilt by Donald Ross in 1923, it was restored when the resort reopened, and Golfweek has named it the top resort course in Pennsylvania. One course instead of two, but a historic one.
Honest note: We know The Homestead from years of family Christmases. Our Bedford Springs section is based on research — we’ll update it with firsthand notes after we visit.
Which Is Better for…
- A quick weekend from DC: Bedford Springs. It’s about an hour closer.
- Golf: The Homestead for variety and the Cascades; Bedford Springs for one excellent historic round.
- A spa and springs weekend: close call. Bedford’s springs and spring-fed pool are right on property; The Homestead has its spa plus the historic Jefferson Pools nearby.
- Families with kids: The Homestead, for the sheer amount of activities.
- Couples and quiet: Bedford Springs.
- Winter: The Homestead, with skiing and skating when conditions allow.
- History lovers: both — Jefferson at The Homestead, Buchanan at Bedford.
Fall at Both Resorts
Fall is prime time at both. The Alleghenies usually peak in mid-October, and both golf courses play beautifully under the color. Bedford Springs makes an easy add-on to a Pennsylvania fall drive, while The Homestead fits a longer Virginia mountain loop — see our Best Fall Trips from DC for more.
Book The Homestead or Omni Bedford Springs
Both resorts book on Hotels.com. Fall foliage weekends and holidays fill up early at both — book ahead.
The Homestead vs Bedford Springs: Common Questions
Where is Omni Bedford Springs?
In Bedford, Pennsylvania, in the Allegheny Mountains just north of the Maryland line — about two and a half hours from Washington, DC.
Is Omni Bedford Springs or The Homestead closer to DC?
Bedford Springs, at about 2.5 hours. The Homestead is about 3.5 hours.
Which resort is bigger?
The Homestead, with 483 rooms and two golf courses. Omni Bedford Springs has 216 rooms and one golf course on 2,200 acres.
Which is older?
The Homestead, founded in 1766. Bedford Springs dates to 1796, with its first hotel building completed in 1806.
Are both resorts owned by Omni?
Yes. Both are part of Omni Hotels & Resorts’ collection of historic properties.
Which is better for golf?
The Homestead has two courses, including the Cascades, one of the country’s best mountain courses. Bedford Springs has one historic course, the Old Course, rebuilt by Donald Ross in 1923 and named Pennsylvania’s top resort course by Golfweek.
Quick Reference: The Homestead vs Omni Bedford Springs
| Choose | If You Want |
|---|---|
| The Homestead | A grand resort weekend — two golf courses, falconry, skiing, dress-up dinners, the Jefferson Pools |
| Bedford Springs | A quieter, closer escape — a 1905 spring-fed pool, a Donald Ross course, trails to eight springs |
| Both | Fall color in the Alleghenies at its best in mid-October |
If you want the full grand-resort experience and have a long weekend, The Homestead is still the one. If you want the springs, the history and the quiet without the drive, Bedford Springs is the smart pick — and one more reason the Alleghenies are the DC area’s best escape.