Camping has boomed in popularity in recent years. And with the increase in popularity of camping has been the increase in popularity of glamping. Glamping provides much of the serenity and beauty of the great outdoors but with some of the luxuries and amenities of a resort. Trade your small tent and sleeping bag for a full bed in a cozy yurt, treehouse, dome, or minimalist cabin. This elevated camping trip experience in many ways is the best of both worlds, providing the serenity, privacy, and connection of nature while offering access to amenities you don’t often have when car camping. In some cases it’s an upgrade from your typical camping trip with more amenities and nicer accommodations, while other times it’s straight-up luxury camping.
Increasingly, cool glamping properties have been popping up in or near popular mountain destinations. What’s more, some ski areas, like Mount Bohemia, have even added glamping accommodations, like yurts, to their resorts. So we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite glamping resorts in North America.
North America Glamping Destinations
Getaway, New England (and many other destinations)
Look no further than Getaway, which has outposts across the U.S., if you want the experience of camping without having to set up a tent. In New England, Blake Brook is just 90 minutes from Boston, and just an hour from ski resorts like Gunstock and Mount Sunapee. Other New England outposts include an Eastern Catskills location that’s just 30 minutes from Windham Mountain Club. Getaway’s tiny cabins are fully equipped with a shower, AC and heat, kitchenettes, a comfy queen bed, and an outdoor patio area with a fire pit, grill grate, picnic table, and chairs. Unlike campgrounds, where campsites are typically on top of one another, Getaway’s cabins are spaced out, often surrounded by trees, and providing space and privacy.
Lumen Nature Retreat, New Hampshire
Lumen Nature Retreat, in Woodstock, New Hampshire, is home to 35 Nordic cabins and A-Frame tents. In the summer spend your day hiking in Franconia State Park and taking in the beauty of the White Mountains. In the winter, ski at nearby Loon Mountain (located 8 miles away). After a long day of adventures, take advantage of Lumen’s private saunas and settle in for a truly relaxing evening. Cabins come with cozy bedrooms, seating areas, and kitchenettes, while each site also comes with a private “smokeless” stainless steel fire pit. Lumen Nature Retreat is located about two hours north of Boston, and just over an hour from Manchester.
Hub North, New Hampshire
Hub North, a glamping vacation property complete with yurts, tents, and a full lodge, is located just south of the Maine border in Gorham, New Hampshire. The lodge, featuring a spacious kitchen, dining area, and living space, can sleep up to 10 people, making this the perfect spot year-round if you’ll be traveling with a big group. Travelers in the summer have the choice of A-frame tents or fully-insulated yurts with queen beds. The campground also has an outdoor kitchen, dining space, and fire pits.
Hub North is 13 miles from Wildcat Mountain, while Black Mountain, Attitash, Bretton Woods, Sunday River, Cranmore, and Cannon are all within 30 miles. In the summer Hub North is also a prime spot to stay for access to great mountain biking and hiking, thanks to its location in the Northern Presidential Range of the White Mountains.
Terramor Outdoor Resort, Bar Harbor, Maine
In 2020, KOA opened its first glamping experience in Bar Harbor — Terramor Outdoor Resort. Terramor Outdoor Resort is conveniently near one of the East Coast’s best national parks, Acadia National Park. Terramor’s glamping tents (sleep 2-5) are spaced out to provide privacy, while offering a selection of great amenities like an electric kettle, local pour-over coffee, portable heater, a fire pit and complimentary firewood, lantern, and other comforts of home. Terramor offers a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast each morning, and also has an on-property restaurant and bar, Kitchen [207], which is open for dinner. There is also a lawn for games, a refreshing pool, morning yoga in the pavilion, and lobster-to-table cookouts.
While the most popular time for the area is summer, there is still fun to be had in the winter, with ski areas such as Camden Ski Bowl nearby.
Autocamp Catskills, New York
Autocamp has outposts across the U.S., combining the comforts of a resort with the spirit of a nature retreat. Its Catskills location offers a variety of lodging options, including custom-designed Airstreams, luxury tents, and cabins. The airstreams are ideal for couples, featuring a private bedroom with a panoramic window for lying under the stars, a comfortable sitting area, and kitchenette that’s perfect for cooking dinner together. Airstreams come with walk-in rain showers and enough space to give you all the comforts of home amidst the beauty of nature. Spring for one of the cabins if you want more space and added amenities. All airstreams and cabins have flat-screen TVs, heat, and air conditioning.
The Catskills location has outdoor spaces with fire pits, WiFi throughout the property, and a fully-equipped clubhouse with food, drinks, and games. There are also complimentary bikes on the property along with music performances, yoga classes, scenic hikes, and art classes. If you’re checking out the region’s ski resorts, Plattekill and Hunter Mountain are within an hour of Autocamp Catskills.
The Resort at Paws Up, Montana
Everything is bigger in Montana, even the glamping properties. The Resort at Paws Up spans 37,000 acres of wilderness, with 10 miles of the Blackfoot River running through it. Its 28 luxury homes range from smaller 2-bedroom vacation homes up to larger estates and ranch styles. Paws Up has six camps with safari-style luxury glamping tents that cater to a variety of travelers. Moonlight Camp is the most secluded, and features one and two-bedroom luxury tents. North Bank Camp (pictured below), dubbed Glamping 2.0, takes it up a notch with its two and three-bedroom tents. All of Paws Up tents come with their own camping butler.
For an even more unique and upgraded experience, check out The Green O properties at Paws Up Ranch. Described on their website as the “perfect blend of adventure and serenity,” these ‘hauses’ are tucked away in the forest for the ultimate sense of privacy. The Tree Haus, Green Haus, Light Haus, and Round Haus all have unique amenities. The Tree Haus is an elevated space with floor-to-ceiling windows to appreciate the foliage. The Light Haus and Green Haus are inspired by different elements of nature with large windows and skylights that let you appreciate the beauty in the comfort of a modern home. And The Round Haus features curved, floor-to-ceiling windows that offer 180-degree panoramic views.
If you’re in Montana to ski, then you’ll find Montana Snowbowl just 45 minutes from Paws Up. Montana Snowbowl has nearly 1,000 skiable acres and 2,600 vertical feet of terrain, making it a great ski area for every type of skier. The Bowl is open during the summer for zipline tours and chairlift rides. Paws Up also offers tons of activities closer to home, including hiking, horseback riding, climbing, and much more.
Dunton Hot Springs and Dunton River Camp, Colorado
Dunton Hot Springs glamping getaway, in Southwest Colorado, is truly a western experience. This restored ghost town can be rented in full for large parties, while log cabins are available to rent nightly. The hand-built cabins are beautifully furnished, and feature ranch-style details to the backdrop of stunning views. The property also has an authentic saloon and a spa with a beautiful hot spring, perfect for r&r after a day of adventures.
Dunton River Camp is just a few miles downriver from Dunton Hot Springs. Its indulgent tent accommodations (available only in the summer), located on a former cattle ranch from the 1800s, combine a bit of the wild west with a beautiful alpine setting. Amenities include en-suite bathrooms with 6-foot soaker tub/showers, on-demand hot water, double vanities, and towel warmers, while guests have two mountain bikes available to use during their stay.
In the winter, Dunton offers dog sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, backcountry ski excursions, heli-skiing, ice climbing, snowmobiling, nordic skiing, and more for purchase for a half or full day.
Ulum Moab, Utah
Moab is without question one of the best places for outdoor recreation in America, and so it’s only fitting that it would be home to such an extraordinary glamping destination. Enter Ulum Moab, which takes inspiration from its desert surroundings to create a lodging experience like no other. Named one of AFAR’s ‘Best New Hotels of 2024,’ Ulum offers suite-style tents spread out across the expansive Moab desert.
Ulum’s suite tents sleep up to four and are fully equipped with king-sized beds, heat and evaporative cooling units, rain showers, private decks, electricity, in-suite coffee and tea, fresh linens, and upscale furnishings. Ulum Moab has cozy common spaces with indoor and outdoor seating, and fire pits to enjoy when the sun goes down and the stars come out. Hot and cold soaking pools are complete with stunning views of the iconic Looking Glass Arch. Ulum Moab also has scenic culinary experiences where you can dine on regional, sustainable food with views of Canyonlands National Park. World-class hiking trails, rock climbing, rafting, and mountain biking is nearby.
Desolation Hotel Hope Valley, California
Desolation Hotel, a 165-acre property in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, offers an expansive glamping experience for those looking to unplug and get outside. Each of its 26 cabins has a full wood-paneled design with cozy fireplaces and kitchenettes primed with everything you need for a night staying in to cook. Dog-friendly accommodations are also available. Desolation Hotel’s luxury yurts, which sleep four to six, are insulated and include king-sized beds, partial bathrooms, and deep soaking tubs for the ultimate natural relaxation. Skylights offer the opportunity to cozy up and take in the natural beauty of the California night sky. Desolation Hotel also an off-grid option with no electricity and running water. Finally, its retro modernized trailer, called the Spartan Glamping Trailer, has a double bed, pull-out couch, and private front deck.
Desolation Hotel’s property has tons of room for hiking, mountain biking, swimming, fishing, canoeing, cross-country skiing, and more. It’s just a 30-minute drive to two of Lake Tahoe’s top ski resorts, Heavenly and Kirkwood Mountain Resort, which also have a ton of great summer activities.
Klarhet, Lusten, Minnesota
Look no further than Klarhet to sleep under the stars but from the comforts of a king-sized bed in a geodesic dome. Klarhet’s extraordinary property is tucked away amidst 25 acres of regenerative food forest land on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Its name means “clarity” in Swedish, which is exactly what guests feel when they experience the calming qualities of this glamping experience. Klarhet offers tours of the farm and forest to educate guests on its regenerative food forest, where animals and numerous edible plants create a natural ecosystem.
Klarhet has four domes, the Raidho, Dagaz, Laguz, and Berkanan, all of which have beautiful domed windows with full views of the enchanting night sky. Each dome has a king or queen-sized bed, rainfall showers, toilets, fancy linens, and bathrobes. On the property, there is a communal fire pit, games, and complimentary snowshoes. In the summer you can kayak on Lake Superior and in the winter you can enjoy skiing at nearby Lusten Mountains.
Huttopia Sutton, Quebec
Huttopia, with locations across North America, is open for glamping in the late spring through fall. Its Sutton property is located near Mont Sutton, which is a popular ski destination for Eastern Canadians in the winter, and great for hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities in the summer. Huttopia Sutton offers 160 acres of beautiful forest and a wide range of accommodation options, from campsites to large safari tents to full-scale wood canvas structures to full-blown chalet cabins. This provides a lot of variety, offering something for just about every type of traveler. Highlights include yoga classes, private fire pits, a swimming pool, herbalist workshops, badminton, ropes courses, and the convenience to Mont Sutton.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, British Columbia
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is a five-star all-inclusive remote island getaway for those who want to getaway, but enjoy the comfort, conveniences, and amenities of a luxury hotel. Rates start at $2,900 (CAD) a night, however Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is all-inclusive, including meals and snacks, a selection of premium drinks, guided experiences, a massage, and more. Note that due to its remote location, guests must book either three- or four-night stays, and can only check in/check out Thursdays and Sundays. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is only accessible by seaplane or boat.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, remotely located on Vancouver Island, is self-described as a “symbolic departure from the every day.” And it’s just that. Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge’s 25 Canvas tents, featuring forest and Clayoquot Sound views, are luxuriously appointed, and come with a king bed and fold-out sofas. This makes it a great destination for couples and families (children over the age of six). Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge’s signature experiences (which are part of guests’ stay) include canyoning, half-day boat trips in search of whales and bears, hiking excursions, and water sports like kayaking. Unwind at the Healing Grounds Spa or take in the views with the forest canopy tree climb.
The luxuries continue with Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge’s food and drink experiences. Menus change daily, featuring mostly sustainably produced, foraged, and harvested ingredients. Breakfast and lunch may include things like a foraged forest mushroom and jack cheese omelet and freshly caught fish ceviche. Dinner is what the lodge calls a “celebration every evening,” highlighted by a menu full of seafood from local waters. Post-dinner, enjoy a drink at the SS Ivanhoe Bar, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows expertly designed so guests can appreciate the wonder of the Canadian natural landscape.
Dômes Charlevoix, Charlevoix, Quebec
Dômes Charlevoix, located in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François with beautiful views of the St. Lawrence River, is a four-season glamping destination near Quebec City. It combines the comforts of a luxury hotel with the unique experience of being out in nature. Their domes, which sleep up to four, are fully equipped with a cozy fireplace, hot tub, WiFi, AC, a full kitchen, bathroom, and a large private terrace. Spend the day hiking around the property’s pristine forest before returning for some R&R in your own private hot tub. As their website states, Dômes Charlevoix provides “an eco-luxurious tourist experience in perfect symbiosis with nature and the environment.” Dômes Charlevoix’s rates start at $395 (CAD) a night.
Bigger parties and those who want a little bit more room can take advantage of Dômes Charlevoix’s two Réflexion retreats. These modern cabins are an architecture marvel, offering a little bit more room and amazing panoramic views.
Read More About Unique North America Accommodations
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Header image ©Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge
July 16, 2024
