Are there hotels near Sand Valley Golf Resort?

A few. Sand Valley has its own lodge rooms and cottages on site. Off the resort, there are a handful of small inns around Nekoosa and the Town of Rome, like The Lakes Inn on Lake Sherwood, and more chain hotels in Wisconsin Rapids, about 15 to 20 minutes from the Rome area. Most groups rent a house in Rome or Nekoosa instead.

Are there hotels in Nekoosa, WI?

Only a few small ones. Most visitors stay at Sand Valley, in a hotel in Wisconsin Rapids, or in a vacation home in Nekoosa or Rome.

How do most people get to Sand Valley?

Most drive. Our guests mostly come from the Milwaukee area (2.5 to 3 hours), the Chicago area (4 to 4.5 hours), the Twin Cities (about 3.5 hours), and Iowa. If you fly, Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee is the closest, roughly an hour away, and you'll need a rental car.

How far is Rome, WI from Sand Valley?

Very close. Our homes in Rome and Nekoosa are 2 to 10 minutes from Sand Valley by car.

Can you play Sand Valley without staying at the resort?

Sand Valley sells golf-only tee times to players staying off site. Availability and booking windows change by season, so check sandvalley.com or call the resort before you plan your rounds.

What's the best lodging near Sand Valley for a golf group?

For 6 or more golfers, a vacation home usually wins on space and cost per person. For 16 or more, book two homes, like Archer Place and Tomahawk Trail, which hold up to 29 together.

Is it cheaper to book directly?

Yes. Our direct rates are lower than booking the same home on Airbnb or VRBO. How much depends on the platform and dates. See how booking direct works.

Where to Stay Near Sand Valley: Resort, Hotel, or Vacation Rental?

October 12, 20268 min read

Short answer: you have three choices. Stay on the resort, stay in a hotel, or rent a house in Rome or Nekoosa, Wisconsin, 2 to 10 minutes from the first tee. Couples who want to walk everywhere usually stay on site. Groups of 6 or more usually rent a house. Hotels work for a solo trip or a tight budget, with a 15 to 20 minute drive from Wisconsin Rapids.

We run The Rome Collective, a group of vacation homes in Rome and Nekoosa, WI, every one of them 2 to 10 minutes from Sand Valley Golf Resort. So yes, we're biased toward option three. We'll still tell you straight when the resort or a hotel is the better call.

Option 1: Stay on the resort

Sand Valley has its own lodging: rooms and suites in the main lodge, cottages from 2 to 8 bedrooms, Crenshaw's Cabin by the 18th hole, and larger estate homes for groups. Details are on Sand Valley's lodging page.

Best for: couples, small groups who want to walk to the clubhouse, bar, and courses, and anyone who doesn't want to drive at all.

The tradeoffs: on-site lodging fills early in peak season and usually costs more per person, especially for bigger groups. You get rooms and cottages rather than one shared house, so a group of 12 often ends up split up.

Option 2: Stay in a hotel

Hotel options right around Nekoosa and the Town of Rome are limited to a few small inns. The Lakes Inn on Lake Sherwood, on Highway 13 in the Town of Rome, is one of the closest. The bigger selection of chain hotels is in Wisconsin Rapids, about 15 to 20 minutes from the Rome area.

Best for: solo travelers, a couple on a budget, or a one night stopover.

The tradeoffs: for a group, you're paying for several rooms, eating every meal out, and driving back and forth every day. There's no place to hang out together after the round, which is half the point of a golf trip.

Option 3: Rent a vacation home in Rome or Nekoosa

Rome and Nekoosa sit right next to Sand Valley, around the three Rome lakes (Lake Arrowhead, Lake Sherwood, and Lake Camelot) and near Petenwell and Castle Rock lakes. Our homes are 2 to 10 minutes from the resort.

Best for: golf groups, families, reunions, and company outings. Basically anyone traveling with 6 or more people.

Why groups pick this:

Everyone under one roof, with a full kitchen for big breakfasts and a living room for the stories after.
Hot tubs, game rooms, and fire pits, plus a sauna at some homes and a private putting green at Archer Place.
Lake access at many homes, and several sit right on the water.
Usually a lower cost per person than multiple resort or hotel rooms.
Some homes allow pets. Rules and fees vary by home, so check each listing.

The tradeoffs: you drive a few minutes to the course, you handle your own groceries, and each home has its own house rules and quiet hours.

Quick comparison

	Sand Valley resort	Hotels	Rome / Nekoosa vacation home
Drive to the first tee	None, it's on site	15 to 20+ min from Wisconsin Rapids	2 to 10 min
Best group size	1 to 8	1 to 4	6 to 37
Shared space for the group	Limited	None	Full house
Kitchen	Limited	No	Full kitchen
Hot tub, game room, fire pit	Shared resort amenities	Rarely	Private, at many homes
Pets	Check with the resort	Some hotels	Some homes, rules vary
Cost per person for groups	Usually highest	Varies	Usually lowest

Which of our homes fit which trip

Biggest groups: Archer Place sleeps 17 with 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, and a private putting green, about 2 minutes from Sand Valley. Tomahawk Trail sleeps 12 with 5 bedrooms. For 16 to 35 people, see our big group lodging guide.
Groups of 10 to 12: Wildwood Retreat has a hot tub, infrared sauna, and game room. Westwind Pines has a game room and deeded lake access.
Two couples or a foursome: Hidden on the 17th Hole has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms on the 17th hole of The Pines at Lake Arrowhead. Birdie Bunkhouse has a king in every bedroom, so a foursome gets four kings and nobody shares. Brown Bear Cabin adds a hot tub and indoor putt putt.
On the water: Sunset Getaway on Lake Arrowhead, Sherwood Shores Cabin on Lake Sherwood, Ashley's Hideaway on Petenwell, and Queensway.
Couples and small groups: Timber Nook, a woodland cabin with a hot tub and sauna, and Ashley's Hideaway.

Or browse every home near Sand Valley.

What to know before you book anywhere out here

Driving in. Most of our guests drive from the Milwaukee area, Illinois, the Twin Cities, or Iowa. Rough drive times: Milwaukee 2.5 to 3 hours, the Chicago area 4 to 4.5 hours, the Twin Cities about 3.5 hours, and Iowa 3.5 to 6 hours depending on where you start.

Flying in. Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee is the closest, roughly an hour away. Madison, Appleton, and Green Bay all work, at about two hours of driving. Rent a car at the airport.

You need a car. Rome and Nekoosa are rural. There's no reliable Uber or Lyft, so plan a driver for nights out no matter where you stay.

Groceries. The Kwik Trip in Rome has basics, and Rome Country Meats & Deli in Rome's town center has fresh beef, pork, chicken, and deli meats for the grill. For a full grocery run, the Walmart in Wisconsin Rapids is 15 to 20 minutes from our homes. Bigger stores are in Plover or the Wisconsin Dells.

Eating out. The Branding Iron Supper Club in Wisconsin Rapids for steaks, Cal's Corner in Nekoosa for Friday fish fry, and Hoozel's at the Lakes for pizza, a big patio, and live music. More in where to eat near Sand Valley.

FAQ

Are there hotels near Sand Valley Golf Resort?: A few. Sand Valley has its own lodge rooms and cottages on site. Off the resort, there are a handful of small inns around Nekoosa and the Town of Rome, like The Lakes Inn on Lake Sherwood, and more chain hotels in Wisconsin Rapids, about 15 to 20 minutes from the Rome area. Most groups rent a house in Rome or Nekoosa instead.
Are there hotels in Nekoosa, WI?: Only a few small ones. Most visitors stay at Sand Valley, in a hotel in Wisconsin Rapids, or in a vacation home in Nekoosa or Rome.
How do most people get to Sand Valley?: Most drive. Our guests mostly come from the Milwaukee area (2.5 to 3 hours), the Chicago area (4 to 4.5 hours), the Twin Cities (about 3.5 hours), and Iowa. If you fly, Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee is the closest, roughly an hour away, and you'll need a rental car.
How far is Rome, WI from Sand Valley?: Very close. Our homes in Rome and Nekoosa are 2 to 10 minutes from Sand Valley by car.
Can you play Sand Valley without staying at the resort?: Sand Valley sells golf-only tee times to players staying off site. Availability and booking windows change by season, so check sandvalley.com or call the resort before you plan your rounds.
What's the best lodging near Sand Valley for a golf group?: For 6 or more golfers, a vacation home usually wins on space and cost per person. For 16 or more, book two homes, like Archer Place and Tomahawk Trail, which hold up to 29 together.
Is it cheaper to book directly?: Yes. Our direct rates are lower than booking the same home on Airbnb or VRBO. How much depends on the platform and dates. See how booking direct works.

The short version

Two people who want to walk everywhere: stay on the resort. One person on a budget: a hotel works. A group, a family, or anyone who wants a hot tub and a kitchen: rent a house in Rome or Nekoosa, a few minutes from the first tee.

Browse our homes near Sand Valley or book direct for our lowest rates.