In recent times, the concept of camping has evolved from an outdoor recreation activity involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. However, you can now immerse yourself in the serene beauty of nature while enjoying the amenities and luxuries of a hotel. You can enjoy it through a new outdoor adventure called “glamping.” In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best glamping destinations in the US. We’ll also discuss what glamping is and what the benefits of glamping over traditional camping are. You can now step out of your comfort zone and discover these incredible glamping destinations that will redefine your notion of travel.
What is Glamping?
Glamping is a combination of “glamorous” and “camping”. It refers to travel, allowing you to experience great outdoor activities without sacrificing comfort. Unlike traditional camping, glamping involves accommodations and facilities that are more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping. In simple camping, you might sleep in a basic tent and cook over an open fire, while in glamping, you have accommodations and amenities similar to those of high-end hotels.
Glamping may have different forms, from safari-style tents and yurts to treehouses and eco-lodges. These unique and amazing accommodations often have comfortable beds, private bathrooms, hot tubs, or private pools. Glamping sites also offer a range of activities and experiences. These may include guided hikes, wildlife tours, and spa treatments. These sites provide the guests plenty of options to choose from.
Benefits of Glamping Over Traditional Camping
Several advantages offered by glamping make it a more attractive and adventurous option. It is usually preferred by those who want to experience the outdoors without compromising comfort. Here are some of the benefits of glamping that make it a preferable option:
- Comfort and Luxury – Glamping accommodations offer all the comfort of a hotel room. These comforts include beds, private bathrooms, and often, luxurious amenities like hot tubs or private pools. Here, you can enjoy the beauty of nature as well as get all the comfort you ever wish for outdoors.
- Unique and Memorable Experience – Glamping destinations offer unique and memorable experiences not usually available with traditional camping. Glamping lets you create amazing memories, whether you want to stargaze from a hot tub, dine with your family under the stars, or participate in guided wildlife tours.
- Easily Accessible – Sites for glamping are often easier to access than remote camping spots. Most glamping destinations are near popular tourist attractions or within easy reach of major cities. It makes this glamping convenient for travelers who desire to combine adventure with cultural exploration.
- Environmental Sustainability – Glamping sites prioritize sustainability and eco-friendliness. This benefit is now attracting more people around the globe toward glamping. Glamping destinations use renewable energy sources to implement recycling programs. It shows a smaller environmental footprint glamping has compared to traditional hotels.
All the above benefits make it more reliable for those who do not want to maintain their comfort.
Also Read: How To Make The Most of A Day In Zion National Park? A Comprehensive Guide
What Are The 10 Best Glamping Destinations in the US?
The following are some of the best glamping destinations offering a comfortable and highly attractive environment for you:
The Resort at Paws Up: Greenough, Montana
Enveloped by 37,000 acres of Montana wilderness, The Resort at Paws Up is one of the pioneers of modern-day glamping experiences. The Resort offers six exclusive glamping camps, each one offering a different experience. Solo travelers and couples have the two-story Tree Haus at the resort’s adults-only retreat, called the Green o. North Bank Camp. Large families have three-bedroom, two-bathroom tents at the Paws Up. You can book an individual tent or, if traveling with extended family or friends, even an entire camp. Guests coming with their furry friends are also welcome.
Amenities & Features:
While the scenery here might be rugged, the accommodations and experience are worthwhile. You can enjoy luxury tents with en-suite bathrooms, private camping, chef-prepared cuisine, and spa treatments by the babbling brook and horse whispering workshops. The Resort at Paw is an all-inclusive resort. You can enjoy a dedicated camping butler and three gourmet meals with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages daily. On-site transportation and shuttle service to and from Missoula Montana Airport, 35 miles away, are also included in your stay. Activities such as mountain biking and snow tubing are covered at nightly rates.
Location: 40060 Paws Up Road, Greenough, MT 59823
Website: https://www.pawsup.com/
Backland: Williams, Arizona
Backland is located less than 15 miles from downtown Williams, Arizona. It is close to some of the best places to visit in Arizona. These places include:
- Flagstaff (40 miles away)
- Grand Canyon National Park (less than 6p miles)
- Sedona ( almost 60 miles from Backland Resort)
Opened back in 2022, Backland is a remote resort in Arizona. It has four glamping options that include:
- Backland Suit
- Grand Suite
- Sky Suite
- Grand Sky Suite
The latter two glamping sites feature a view of the stars from a 16-foot skylight over the bed. The four sites have panoramic windows for breathtaking views of the Arizona wilderness.
Amenities & Features:
The luxury tents of Backland accommodate up to four or six guests and two pets. Each tent has king-sized beds, a full en suite bathroom with a shower, luxury linens, housekeeping services, and some toiletries. Other accessories include electricity, automatic climate control, an outdoor patio with a coffee maker, and a mini-fridge. Backland purposefully doesn’t offer Wi-Fi in the tents – only at the reception – as guests here are encouraged to unplug during their stay and enjoy nature. Instead of doom-scrolling on social media, you’re encouraged to enjoy bird-watching, stargazing, and roasting s’mores on a campfire.
Location: 6929 E. Rosilda Springs Road, Williams, AZ 86046
Website: https://www.travelbackland.com/
Terramor Outdoor Resort: Bar Harbor, Maine
Terramor is a designated stop for the Island explorers. A free shuttle service transports visitors to Acadia National Park in Maine, downtown Bar Harbor, and other nearby areas of interest on Mount Desert Island. This Island Explorer operates seasonally from mid-June to mid-October. You will love the nature-forward experience here that doesn’t feel rough and tumble. Days at Terramor start with pancake breakfasts and are filled with yoga, hiking, and massages. Evenings are spent gazing at a sky full of stars and falling asleep to the sounds of chirping bullfrogs.
Amenities & Features:
It is a family-friendly resort with abundant amenities that travelers love. Terramor Outdoor Resort offers weather-proof canvas tents with electricity, Wi-Fi, comfy beds, Pendleton blankets, heaters, and screened windows. The tents vary based on capacity, ranging from two to five guests. Other features include a pool and hot tub, lawn games, live entertainment, evening campfires, and an on-site restaurant and bar.
Location: 1453 Maine state Route 102, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Website: https://terramoroutdoorresort.com/
Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo: River Ranch, Florida
The Sunshine State (Florida) is synonymous with theme parks and beaches. It might be surprising to learn you can also go glamping in Florida. This glamping site is located at Westgate River Ranch & Rodeo near Kissimmee. Here, you can spend the night in various luxury glamping accommodations, each featuring a private bathroom and kitchenette. You can opt for one of the climate-controlled luxury tents or the Luxe Conestoga Wagon, having space for up to six guests. River Ranch is also the largest dude ranch in Mississippi.
Amenities & Features:
The top features at River Ranch include airboat and swamp buggy rides, horseback riding and archery range, a petting farm, a weekly rodeo, an on-site steakhouse, and much more. Resort activities, including VIP tickets to the Rodeo, are covered in rates for glamping guests staying in any of the two luxe accommodations. You can enjoy perks such as coffee and pastry deliveries each morning and access to a personal concierge. If you opt for one of the luxury glamping options, a golf cart will be another spectacular amenity. This feature makes it nearly all-inclusive. According to previous visitors, River Ranch is a fun alternative to the nearby theme parks in Orlando.
Location: 3200 River Ranch Blvd., River Ranch, FL 33867
Website: https://www.westgateresorts.com/hotels/florida/river-ranch/westgate-river-ranch-resort/
Camp Long Creek: Ridgedale, Missouri
This resort is named for its location on Table Rock Lake at Big Cedar Lodge. Camp Long Creek offers a glamping site near Branson, Missouri. It has glamping units with wood floors and chandeliers onto a Canvas tent. Each unit offers an outdoor bathtub, a fire pit, a table and chairs, a small fridge, and coffee makers. The amazing tents are scattered, so views range from the lake to the forest. All units in Camp Long are dog-friendly and feature a private bathroom.
Amenities & Features:
Camp Long Creek has refreshing pools, a beautiful Amish-built pavilion, and plenty of outdoor seating. Other amenities include hot tubs, a fitness center, a laundry bathroom and showers, and a canteen with grab-and-go bites and beverages. You will be amused with the indoor playground, shuffleboard table, and comfortable lounge to enjoy movie nights with loved ones!
Location: 1358 Long Creek Road, Ridgedale, MO 65739
Treebones Resort: Big Sur, California
Treebones Resort offers yurts with king beds, modern furnishing, and accommodations you’re not likely to find elsewhere. The rugged coastline views at Treebones Resort, Big Sur, rival many others in the area. You can explore the beauty of Big Sur through guided excursions while glamping at Treebones Resort. Treebone Resort offers two Autonomous Camp Collection units. These units can best be described as an entire apartment fit into a tent, taking your glamping experience to the next level.
Amenities & Features:
Treebones Resort is a solar-powered upscale glamping option with a bedroom, en suite bathroom, lounge area, and outdoor deck. The Resort’s Wild Coast Sushi Bar features an amazing dining experience with patrons sitting face-to-face with the chef. Other on-site amenities at Treebones Resort include a massage studio and yoga.
Location: 71895 California state Route 1, Big Sur, CA 93920
Website: https://www.treebonesresort.com/
ULUM Moab: Moab, Utah
ULUM Moab is a perfect place to recharge amongst breathtaking Utah scenery. Glamping at ULUM Moab takes it to new levels of luxury. Being featured with all these amenities makes ULUM Moab a perfect home base for explorations in the nearby city of Moab, Arches, and Canyonlands National Parks. This glamping site is one of the top favorites for people searching for the ultimate luxury-meets-camping experience.
Amenities & Features:
The Suite Tent at ULUM Moad features a plush king bed with Parachute linens, a living area with a queen bed and chairs, an en suite bathroom with a rain shower, a private deck, Aesop toiletries, and Turkish Cotton bathrobes. Other unique features include on-site dining, three dipping pools, a yoga deck, sound bath meditation, and more. All accommodations here are pet-friendly.
Location: 147 Looking Glass Road, Moab, Utah 84503
Website: https://www.ulumresorts.com/moab/
Mendocino Grove: Mendocino, California
Mendocino Grove is one of California’s most spectacular small towns, sitting within a forested bluff adjacent to the town. You can afford stunning views of the camp’s towering trees and the cast. Most glamping tents here are for two guests. However, some sleep up to four or six.
Amenities & Features:
Other on-site amenities include two shared bathhouses with eco-friendly products (plus a dog wash), hammocks, a bocce ball court, and yoga. Enjoy your moments with coffee, tea, and cocoa at The Meadow Commons. It also offers Wi-Fi and lends out books and games. Beds vary in size and come with down comforters and wool blankets, while adult beds feature heated mattress pads. All tents feature fire pits, live music, picnic tables, and limited electricity (having USB ports). Tents have approved devices, including CPAP machines.
Location: 9601 California state Route 1, Mendocino, CA 95460
Website: https://mendocinogrove.com/
Sandy Pines Campground: Kennebunkport, Maine
Sandy Pines is tucked away in a maritime forest that’s a one-mile walk from the beach. Kennebunkport is known for its beaches and quaint downtown areas, which making visitors overlook nearby green spaces. Sandy Pines Campground allows travelers to experience these underrated areas in Kennebunkport. You can choose from various unique accommodation options, including Airstreams, Conestoga Wagons, and cottages. Huts and traditional glamping tents are also the options.
Amenities & Features:
At Sandy Pines, the tents for couples are decorated well. Some are decorated with chandeliers and outfitted with a king-sized bed, air conditioning, a small heater, a seating area, a private deck, a mini fridge, lightning, and bath amenities. The family tents here have similar features but come with either a daybed in the main tent or a smaller tent with twin beds. Besides the glamping tents, Sandy Pines offers RV sites, hideaway huts, and camp cottages. These include a heated saltwater pool, laundry facilities, a general store, a snack bar, lawn games, and a playground.
Location: 277 Mills Road, Kennebunkport, ME 04046
Website: https://sandypinescamping.com/
Firelight Camps: Ithaca, New York
Firelight Camps enjoy a scenic location in a wooded area not only minutes away from local state parks, including Buttermilk Falls. It is also less than 4 miles south of Ithaca’s popular Collegetown neighborhood. This amazing location makes this destination more accessible to reach than most. Firelight Camps, in Upstate New York offers cozy accommodations on a leafy site right by Upper Buttermilk Falls hiking trails. Experience the natural beauty of Upstate New York with a stay at Firelight Camps!
Amenities & Features:
The well-appointed tents at Firelight Camps offer heat, electricity, comfy beds, hardwood floors, and porches with rocking chairs. The other features include a communal bath house with hot showers, toilets, eco-friendly toiletries, communal campfires, bocce ball, and a board game library. Upgraded tents have shared bathrooms with eco-friendly products. You can also enjoy artisanal spirits at the on-site bar and delicious breakfast each morning.
Location: 1150 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
Website: https://firelightcamps.com/
Final Thoughts
Glamping offers you a unique and unforgettable travel experience. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or cultural immersion, these 10 best glamping destinations in the US have something to offer every traveler. These luxurious glamping sites in the United States allow you to immerse yourself in nature without sacrificing comfort and style. From the rugged beauty of Montana to the coastal charm of California, these top 10 glamping destinations cater to a wide range of preferences and provide unforgettable experiences. Step out of your comfort zone and discover these incredible destinations that will redefine your notion of travel!
