4 days ago
Pickleball Paradise: These 6 Resorts Are Great For Traveling Players
Rancho La Puerta hosts pickleball weeks for serious players. Rancho La Puerta / Scott Draper
From infinity pools to rooms with swoon-worthy views, every traveler has their go-to amenities when booking a resort. But for die-hard pickleball players? Access to a good court while on vacation is non-negotiable.
The pickleball obsession is still going strong: It remains the fastest-growing sport in the United States for the fourth year in a row. While it's long been beloved by retirees, the average player age is now 34.8, with younger generations picking up paddles and joining the fun. Pickleball-centric travel is even becoming its own thing, with travel agents booking court times, organizing tournaments, and yes, even planning pickleball cruises.
In honor of National Pickleball Day (it's Aug. 8), here's a half dozen resorts that serve up epic pickleball courts and are ideal for booking if you're the type who never leaves home without your paddle.
Casa de Campo Resort and Villas Casa de Campo Resort and Villas
As one of the Caribbean's premier sporting resorts, Casa de Campo Resort and Villas is a playground for active travelers who can spend their vacation golfing, sailing, fishing, playing polo. But the newly rebranded Casa de Campo Racquet Center makes the 7,000-acre stand out as it bills itself as the largest facility of its kind in the Caribbean. In addition to 11 fast-dry tennis courts and a hard surface tennis court, the center has four pickleball courts.
Pickleball-loving guests might also love to try out padel, a sport that's wildly popular in Europe and is garnering more interest in the United States.
The resort's team of 25 pro and junior instructors can lead private or group lessons catered to various levels. The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe in Rancho Santa Fe, California
The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe Angela Conners Treimer / The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
A high-design hideout in the country's ritziest zip code, there's many ways to enjoy a leisurely afternoon at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe. Lounge under green-and-white umbrellas at the tucked-away pool or enjoy lunch before a Mila Moursi spa treatment on the secret garden-like patio. Then, soak up some of that famous Southern California sunshine on the tree-lined pickleball courts that resort guests can reserve for free. The Scottsdale Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona
The Scottsdale Resort & Spa The Scottsdale Resort & Spa
Fresh off a renovation, The Scottsdale Resort & Spa added brand-new pickleball courts to accommodate the sport's boom in popularity. After a friendly match (or a competitive showdown), guests can tee off at the nearby McCormick Ranch Golf Club or wind down at Luna Spa with a Southwest-inspired cactus blossom body wrap or a knot-kneading massage that's perfect for post-pickleball recovery. Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico
Post-pickleball, retreat to your private plunge pool. Rancho La Puerta
Pickleball enthusiasts of all levels will find fun and competition on the courts at Rancho La Puerta, where you can play matches with your travel companions or sharpen your skills on outdoor courts with expert-led instruction. The courts' exterior lighting means p.m. pickleball matches don't have to stop when the sun goes down.
Serious pickleball players should especially put this Mexico resort on their radar in 2025. For players rated 2.5 to 4.0, the resort's Specialty Pickleball Weeks—running December 6–13 and December 13–20, 2025—offer an immersive experience with 15 hours of small-group coaching led by renowned pros Mario Boschi, Rick Witsken, and other guest instructors.
Pickleball weeks will include hands-on instruction, unlimited open play, three spa treatments, on-court refreshments, and a curated welcome gift bag. Bobby Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee
Rooftop pickleball at The Bobby in Nashville The Bobby
A boutique stay tucked in the heart of the city's buzzing Printer's Alley, Bobby Nashville brought back a second season of its Rooftop Lounge Dinkville Pickleball in collaboration with the city's popular Dinkville pickleball community.
The rooftop court with skyline views is open through October. In between rallies on the customized pickleball court, enjoy cocktails like aptly named Pretty Big Dill tequila drink with pickle brine and habanero. San Diego Mission Bay Resort in San Diego, California
San Diego Mission Bay Resort. San Diego Mission Bay Resort
Gather your fellow pickleball pals and plan a stay at San Diego Mission Bay Resort, where eight waterfront courts border Mission Bay and are surrounded by palms. The courts are open to resort guests and members on a daily basis. Pickleball fans can book the Paddle and Play package that comes with two custom resort-branded paddles created in collaboration with On Holiday, plus two fresh-pressed juices and two electrolyte mixes to help you recover from a day of play in sunny San Diego.
