10 Top Glamping Destinations for a Luxurious Outdoor Getaway
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Love the idea of falling asleep under the stars with a fresh breeze, but not so keen on the whole rigmarole of setting up a tent, digging a hole when nature calls, and sacrificing creature comforts like a luxury mattress or a coffee machine? Enter glamping, the glamorous way to camp. At the top glamping destinations, you can enjoy Mother Nature's best amenities and the furnishings you'd expect to find at a luxury hotel. Glamping accommodations range from bubble domes to Airstream campers to safari-style tents, and the most luxurious digs come equipped with temperature controls, private bathrooms, and high-thread count sheets. Some even have their own soaking tubs and fire pits, not to mention once-in-a-lifetime views.
While it's more expensive than camping, glamping is more like an experiential hotel stay than a literal campsite stint. You should expect to pay for the luxury elements. In return, however, you get a much more personalized and memorable travel experience. The best places to go glamping include national parks and other remote areas that fully immerse you in nature. There's no better way to see fall foliage.
Top glamping destinations can be found almost anywhere. Fronting the beach, tucked away in wine country, near historically significant sites, and even a one-tank trip away from New York City are just a few of the incredible glamping destinations we've found. To spark your inspiration—and your wanderlust—we've gathered the 10 top glamping destinations around the world where you can enjoy the great outdoors in style.
Livingston, New York
Founder Keva Niver debuted Boheme Retreats in the Western Catskills with a mission to make the outdoors more inclusive. Located in a section of the Covered Bridge Campsite, the retreat's motto is "camping without roughing it." Each of Niver's five beautifully restored vintage campers from the 1960s and '70s are named after Black women who played influential roles in history. The outdoor spaces are furnished with cute tassel pool umbrellas and camping chairs. Inside, art created by Black women decorates the walls, and textured throw pillows, rattan pendants, and patterned wallpaper make design statements.
Salisbury, England
Sightseers setting out to Stonehenge—the mysterious, ancient stone circle constructed some 4,500 years ago in southwestern England—can spend the night nearby in a comfy glamping pod. Stonehenge Campsite and Glamping Pods is a one-acre campsite available on Pitchup.com with readymade petite glamping pods you can reserve as well as room for tents. Not only are the lodgings close to the Unesco World Heritage Site, but they're also within walking distance of eight pubs should you be up for a bar crawl.
Big Water, Utah
Under Canvas helped put glamping on the map, specifically in gorgeous destinations that draw droves of national park lovers. The custom safari-style tents with West Elm furnishings and wood-burning stoves provide respite for those exploring Acadia, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, Glacier, and other geographically blessed spots. But the Under Canvas Lake Powell-Grand Staircase retreat is a special one as it's been designated the first DarkSky Certified Resort in the world, making for the ultimate sleepover under star-studded skies. Marvel at the heavens while toasting s'mores around a campfire, then head back to your tent and crawl into a king-size bed.
Eleuthera, Bahamas
The Other Side is a solar-powered glamping site set on a secluded beach on Eleuthera, where the ocean provides a soundtrack better than any sound machine. The "sleeping tents" have hardwood floors, four-poster beds, open-air bathtubs, walk-in showers, and air-conditioning. Guests can nap on hammocks strung between palm trees, take in sunset views from seaside swings, turtle spot while paddleboarding, tend to the on-site salad garden, or max out on R&R lounging by the pool.
Little Racoon Key, Georgia
Imagine this: In Georgia’s Golden Isles, you can glamp in a luxury canvas tent on your own private island where pods of dolphins make cameos off the shore and hammocks invite you to nap and enjoy the salt-tinged breezes. Little Racoon Key is located off the Georgia coast on an ancient reef about 10 minutes from Jekyll Island. Glamping guests can fish, kayak, sign up for an oyster roast or low-country boil, stargaze, go out on a boat ride, and spot dolphins gliding in the water and pelicans diving for fish. The island takes only one reservation per night, so it's particularly well-suited for those wanting a remote vacation.
Wolcott, Colorado
Wake up with the sun at Collective Retreats Vail, and you might just spot horses grazing in front of your plush safari-style tent. The glampsite, located just outside Vail in Wolcott on a 1,000-acre ranch, also comes with complimentary mountain views. Guests can add on activities like yoga, ziplining, horseback riding, or a culinary-focused experience like "Bubbly and Branding," which includes a meat-and-cheese-loaded charcuterie board, Champagne, and a cutting board you'll sear with a branding iron. After toasting s'mores for dessert, hunker down under an electric blanket.
Tiwi Islands, Australia
For a remote glamping experience in Australia, secure a visitor permit and escape to the Northern Territory's Tiwi Islands. The ultra-luxe beachfront glamping tents at Tiwi Island Retreat have a soothing neutral color palette and natural textures with jute rugs, driftwood coffee tables, and wooden walls. The glampsites are outfitted with private decks and square hot tubs, which make the ideal perch for sunset watching. Guided tours introduce glamping guests to the rich indigenous culture and show them the way to remote swimming holes and secluded fishing spots.
Guerneville, California
Combine a wine country trip with an outdoor escape by glamping at AutoCamp Russian River Valley in western Sonoma County, where Airstream suites and canvas tents are set up among the majestic redwoods. Gourmand glampers can cook fire-grilled dishes with fresh herbs plucked from the property's "Sweet and Savory"'garden. Other ways to relax include slinking into a hot tub (they’re available to those staying in Airstream premium suites), swaying in a hammock, or signing up for a birdwatching walk. The camp also has programs like live music, wine tastings, yoga, guided kayaking, and forest bathing. AutoCamp Russian River Valley is close to Guerneville's cute downtown too.
Escalante, Utah
Midcentury modern with hints of road-trip nostalgia influenced the minimalist design of Yonder Escalante, a Southern Utah glamping site with vintage Airstreams, A-frame cabins with glass walls, and deluxe cabins with outdoor showers as well as campsites. This escape has an on-site general store that sells cocktail kits and picnic items as well as a food truck where you can grab soft-serve ice cream and a burger, plus a pool with lounge chairs. But the coolest amenity is the drive-in movie theater that plays flicks in the middle of the desert. Nine stationary classic cars are beautifully restored and equipped with sound and heaters for the most spectacular movie night. The retreat is a great basecamp for exploring the otherworldly hoodoos (aka stunning natural rock formations) in nearby Bryce Canyon National Park.
Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada
This unique glamping journey begins with a ride on a wooden boat to a private island. Glamping options at Out There, off leash include an eclectic yurt, an oceanfront tent cabin, or a treehouse. Located on U-shaped island off of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, trip highlights could include slurping oysters, exploring the 2,000 feet of shoreline, kayaking, paddleboarding, and, if you’re lucky, seeing bioluminescent waters.
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