No Tents Allowed: The Best Tepee Hotels and Camps in the Country

Camping has long been a summer tradition for most families. But if you’re looking to up the ante and perhaps get in touch with your inner spirit animal, say goodbye to a tent and hello to a tepee! From renovated historic properties to luxury tents with spas, here is a breakdown of the top seven places you can sleep in a tepee.

Bathhouse at dawn. (Photo: Dunton Hot Springs Resort)

What: Dunton Hot Springs Resort

Where: Telluride, Colorado

Look up the definition of “glamping” and you’ll see a picture of Cresto Ranch. Located four miles downriver from the main Dunton Hot Springs Resort, these eight luxury canvas tents go for $1,400 a night and feature gas stoves, spacious en-suite bathrooms, and private lounging porches. Get a taste of the rougher life by hiking or horseback riding, or stick to pampering with amenities like yoga, Pilates, and spa treatments.

Related: Spend the Night in a Tree House

The Tipi Village Retreat in Oregon
The Tipi Village Retreat in Oregon

The Tipi Village Retreat. (Photo: HomeAway)

What: Tipi Village Retreat

Where: Eugene, Oregon

Bring your own tribe to the Pacific Northwest for an overnight bonding session. With 11 structures, Tipi Village Retreat can accommodate up to 28 people and is an idyllic setting for group retreats. Tepees start at $150 a night, and you can rent through HomeAway.com to host a family reunion or wedding, or just to bring a group of friends to watch the famous Olympic Trials.

The Wigwam, in San Bernardino, California
The Wigwam, in San Bernardino, California

The Wigwam, in San Bernardino, California. (Photo: Wigwam Hotel)

What: Wigwam Motel

Where: San Bernardino, California

Long for those days on the open road away from technology and social media? Step back to a simpler time and stay at this classic Route 66 motel. One of only three remaining Wigwam Motels in the country, this 65-year-old property is home to 19 village-style tepees for $77 a night, and it is perfect for families and historians alike. The simple accommodations have been upgraded over the years with Wi-Fi, TV, and AC, but don’t miss out on the communal traveler nature of the property — try barbecuing in the common area.

Related: Stay in a Luxury Yurt and Other Crazy Rentals

Texas’s Teepee Motel
Texas’s Teepee Motel

Texas’s Teepee Motel. (Photo: Flickr/Robert E. Westin Jr.)

What: Teepee Motel

Where: Wharton, Texas

The Teepee Motel was shut down in the early ’80s after 40 years in business. Luckily, lottery winners Barbara and Bryon Woods decided to bring the property back to life and reopened it in 2006. They added bonus features like a 50-pad RV park, newly furnished rooms, and unique décor inspired by Native American art and culture — all for just $67 a night.

Tepees in Yellowstone National Park
Tepees in Yellowstone National Park

Tepees in Yellowstone National Park. (Photo: Airbnb)

What: Yellowstone Under Canvas

Where: West Yellowstone, Montana

Skip struggling over pitching a tent or hunting down dinner for the evening. This gathering of tepees situated just outside the entrance to Yellowstone National Park provides cots, sleeping bags, pillows, towels, and lanterns for your convenience. From $110 a night, you can forget about camping equipment and focus on seeing Mother Nature’s wonders.

Related: Camping in Awesome National Parks

Sioux Tipi on the Waterfall, in Woodstock, New York
Sioux Tipi on the Waterfall, in Woodstock, New York

Sioux Tipi on the Waterfall, in Woodstock, New York. (Photo: Airbnb)

What: Sioux Tipi on the Waterfall

Where: Woodstock, New York

Woodstock + teepee = one heck of an awesome hippie weekend! Stay in an authentic 18-foot Sioux tepee that overlooks a waterfall and has a two-mile walking trail, but be prepared to get a little groovy by using an outhouse. Available on Airbnb for $150 a night, this tepee and its circular stone fireplace will keep you warm and comfy during your rustic stay.

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Geronimo Creek Retreat. (Photo: Flickr/Macdon 512)

What: Geronimo Creek Retreat

Where: Seguin, Texas

Everything is bigger in Texas, even when it comes to their tepees. Larger (and probably nicer) than most Manhattan apartments, the tepees at the Geronimo Creek Retreat look traditional from the outside but have all the upscale amenities, such as a kitchen, a bathroom, satellite TV, and air conditioning, on the inside. With prices starting at $195 a night, you can get away from it all while still having all the comforts of home.

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