5 Best Luxury Glamping Spots For Your Next Outdoor Vacation

Spending a few days exploring the great outdoors doesn’t mean you have to compromise on comfort and modern luxuries. While some people enjoy roughing it in the wild and sleeping in a tent beneath the stars, there is no shame in wanting to cozy up in bed while still immersed in nature. 

Glamping, a popular term used to refer to luxurious or glamorous camping, allows outdoor enthusiasts to do just that. With onsite dining, tents with king-sized beds and ensuite bathrooms, and numerous guided activities, glamping invites everyone (including those not used to sleeping in nature) to experience the wilderness. Many of the sites are passionate about sustainability and environmental conservation too. While tent or hammock camping is the most eco-friendly option, glamping gives travelers who might otherwise be unable to sleep in a tent an alternative to hotels, lodges, and RVs—and we love that! 

For families, friends, couples, and solo-travelers alike, pack your suitcase—just leave the sleeping bags and tent at home. Here are a few of our favorite luxury glamping spots to stay at in the USA.


1. Treebones

Where To Find It | Big Sur, California
Amenities | Pool and hot tub, yoga and massages, eco adventure packages, restaurants with local, organic ingredients, breakfast included

For a unique camping experience on the California coast, book a stay at Big Sur’s family-owned glamping resort, Treebones. Founded in 2004 by the Handy family—they live onsite alongside guests and 20+ employees—the property boasts luxurious yurts, one-of-a-kind human nests and twig huts, and even a 500-square-foot solar-powered autonomous tent. An oversized and cozy cocoon, the tent boasts a king-sized bed, fireplace, ensuite bathroom with a clawfoot tub and composting toilet, as well as a private deck and outdoor fire pit. You can also bring your own tent for a more affordable, but equally incredible sleeping experience.

We especially love the Handy family’s passion for preserving and treasuring the natural landscape, as well as engaging with the local Big Sur community. At Treebones, honoring the environment is of the utmost importance. Meals are organic and garden-to-table; all scraps are fed to the resident chickens; onsite transportation is zero emission and electric; everything that can be recycled is recycled or composted, and a resort retail store sells Made in the USA products.

Price | Beginning at $320/night

Learn more about Treebones


2. Under Canvas

Where To Find It | Moab, Yellowstone, Glacier, Zion, Mount Rushmore, Grand Canyon, and Great Smoky Mountains
Amenities | Pool and hot tub, yoga and massages, hiking trails and eco adventures, restaurants

Escape to the great outdoors with a stay at one of Under Canvas‘s seven luxurious glamping resorts, located near some of the most scenic national parks in the United States. A variety of tents available to guests include luxuries such as king-sized beds, viewing windows, ensuite bathrooms, wood stoves, and adjacent ‘hives’ for larger groups. Under Canvas properties are also pet-friendly. 

As a responsible and sustainable travel accommodation experience, Under Canvas employs a minimal disturbance approach to the land and plans to be zero waste by 2020. Current efforts at the glamping sites include solar power, partnerships with Boxed Water and REPURPOSE to minimize waste, and water conservation initiatives that result in Under Canvas using 87 percent less water than traditional hotels.

Price | Beginning at $189/night

Learn more about Under Canvas


3. Dunton River Camp

Where To Find It | Cresto Ranch, Colorado
Amenities | All-inclusive, sauna, spa tent and private yoga classes, mountain bikes, nearby hot springs

Whether you want to sleep beneath a canopy of Aspen trees or near the shores of the Dolores River, glamping at Dunton River Camp is the perfect place for an opulent outdoor experience. The all-inclusive luxury resort, located on an 1800’s cattle ranch, boasts local farm-to-table cuisine (many of the ingredients are grown onsite and foraged in the nearby mountains) prepared by a talented team of chefs. In the mornings, coffee and tea are even brought to each tent to allow for slow and leisurely rising. 

At Dunton River Camp, guests can immerse themselves in Colorado’s great outdoors without forgoing modern comforts. During the day you can learn to fly-fish, participate in guided hikes, or explore the wilderness on horseback. And in the evening, after an elegant, community-style dinner, cozy up around the fire or relax in the tent’s ensuite soaking tub while sipping a glass of regional wine.

Price | Beginning at $1,200/night

Learn more about Dunton River Camp


4. The Resort at Paws Up

Where To Find It | Greenough, Montana
Amenities | All-inclusive, roundtrip transportation from Missoula International Airport, spa services, guided excursions, camp butlers, honeymoon tents

Planning a vacation to Big Sky Country? Consider staying in one of the luxurious tents at The Resort at Paws Up. With ensuite bathrooms, heated floors, fine linens, and even a personal camping butler to help with starting fires, making s’mores, and planning activities, this resort gives Montana glamping a whole new meaning.

There are six sites to choose from on the 37,000-acre land, each with similar amenities but distinct ambiances. Each camp also has its own dining pavilion with chef-prepared meals, as well as activities including archery, mountain biking, horseback riding, and river adventures. To get around the property, the resort has even created an app for scheduling transportation services. Whether you’re a couple seeking romance in the wild or a family wanting a one-of-a-kind camping experience, the Resort at Paws Up is the place to stay while exploring Montana. 

Price | Beginning at $520 per person/night

Learn more about The Resort at Paws Up


5. Sequoia High Sierra Camp

Where To Find It | Sequoia National Park, California
Amenities | All-inclusive, artisan furniture, open air yoga pavilion, sustainable design

Rugged meets glam at the Sequoia High Sierra Camp, a luxurious glamping site in the High Sierra wilderness, only accessible via a short hike. The short nature walk is worth it though—with 32 glamping tents nestled beneath the Sequoia and Redwood trees, you can sleep to the serene sounds of nature on a plush-top mattress, complete with fine linens and a cozy duvet. For sustenance, three meals prepared with sustainable and local ingredients are included with each stay. Guests particularly love the sumptuous five-course dinner served community-style every evening.  

The Sequoia High Sierra Camp prides itself on its sustainable design and ecologically-responsible architecture, known as “parkitecture.” The camp, built on old logging trails to minimize the environmental footprint, has utilized natural materials and sustainable elements for construction, and no trees were removed from the property. The canvas used for tent sidings, for example, is made from sustainable and natural cotton fibers. The camp is also off-grid and uses low-flow showers and toilets to conserve water.

Price | Beginning at $250 per person/night

Learn more about Sequoia High Sierra Camp


RELATED READING


Kayti Christian, a staff writer for The Good Trade, is a storyteller, creator, activist, and avid traveler hailing from Colorado, now living in London. With 30+ stamps in her passport, she is passionate about responsible tourism and is always looking for new ways to be a more conscious traveler. She is currently pursuing her MA in Creative Nonfiction Writing at City, University of London.