Let’s start with a question today: do you love camping, or do you love the idea of camping? I think the majority of people are quick to state that they love camping, but I think a lot of people (myself included) don’t consider all the other aspects of camping that go hand-in-hand with being embedded in nature.
We love disconnecting from work, but we dislike sleeping on hard and uneven ground. We enjoy lazily floating down rivers all day, but we hate that there’s no way to shower afterwards. We like to binge s’mores before bed, but we hate waking up in the middle of the night covered in Daddy Longlegs spiders (true story, that actually happened to me).
There’s no question that camping is an absolute blast, but there are a lot of aspects of camping that make it unenjoyable for many. After all, not everyone wants to pitch their own tent or dig a latrine.
Fortunately for all of us, even the hardcore outdoors-y types, glamping exists. It’s the perfect way to experience the majesty of nature while still accessing luxurious creature comforts like private bathrooms, hot showers, king-sized beds, and expertly crafted food and cocktails.
So, whether you’re a city-slicker who’s never spent a night under the stars, or you’re a seasoned wilderness expert, these eight boutique hotel glamping experiences are sure to deliver access to nature like you’ve never dreamt possible.
1. Dunton River Camp
We’re kicking off our list of the best glamping experiences with one of our all-time favorites from the Dunton Destinations portfolio of properties: Dunton River Camp. Why do we love it so much? For starters, the scenery is astounding—Dunton River Camp sits on 500 acres of sprawling fields, lazy meadows, wild forests, and soft rivers.
Every year, from June to mid October, the land is transformed into a pop-up glamping experience that features eight safari-style tents (talk about exclusivity). Whether you’re waking up with the sun, enjoying a lazy afternoon, or gazing at the star-lit night sky, the boundary between you and nature is a small piece of canvas.
This is, however, a glamping experience and on the other side of the canvas you have all the amenities you’d expect to find in a luxury hotel. Each tent comes with a private bathroom, complete with soaker tub and shower, towel warmers, on-demand hot water, and airy beds.
Each tent also comes with two private mountain bikes for you to head out and explore the San Juan Mountains, the West Fork of the Dolores River, or something off the map. Oh, and did we mention the on-site sauna, craft cocktails, and organic meals prepared from the bounty of the land?
2. AutoCamp
AutoCamp is another one of our longtime favorite glamping experiences here at Luxpitality. They’re known for their design-forward accommodations, like the shining silver airstream trailers, embedded directly into the great outdoors: everything they offer is built to connect you with nature through exceptional experiences.
Part of the exceptional experience at AutoCamp properties comes from human to human connection. While your campsite is private, there are central lodges on each property where everyone comes together to share food, drinks, laughter, and good times.
AutoCamp provides a perfect combination of exciting adventures, engaging designs, and warm hospitality. Plus, they make great road trip destinations for anyone who wants to hit the road.
Yosemite (check out our full blog on glamping in Yosemite with AutoCamp):
Or Sonoma County’s Russian River:
And for all you East Coasters, AutoCamp will also be adding a location in Cape Cod Spring 2021.
3. Under Canvas
The only thing that can be frustrating about exploring America’s national parks is trying to figure out where to sleep. Not everyone enjoys roughing it in a campground, and the nearby hotels are almost worse than sleeping on dirt (sorry, not sorry).
Thankfully, the world has been blessed with Under Canvas to put this issue away once and for all. At Under Canvas Zion and Under Canvas Grand Canyon, you can fully immerse yourself in one of their outdoor glamping experiences on the doorstep of the most breathtaking locations and wild landscapes in the U.S., all while maintaining the comforts of home. Each glamping tent has optional en suite bathrooms, king size beds, modern furnishings, daily housekeeping, and wood-burning stoves.
Aside from the truly astounding experience you get with Under Canvas, we’re huge fans of their commitment to sustainability. They work diligently to reduce the environmental impact and remain water-conscious, use solar panels, and eliminate single-use plastics. In this way, you can enjoy the brilliant scenery and leave it just as gorgeous for the next generation of travelers.
If you’re heading to Zion, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Moab, Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, or Great Smoky Mountains and you’re not staying in an Under Canvas safari-style tent, you’re missing out big time.
4. Collective Retreats
Collective Retreats was born from the idea that all of us are inherently tied to each other, and to the world surrounding us. Further, they believe that travel is a way that we can experience, understand, and deepen our connections. In that light, each of their five retreat options becomes more than just a glamping experience: it’s a way to intimately connect with people, places, and ourselves.
Some of their retreats are only minutes outside a major city, while others are embedded directly into vast swaths of natural landscapes. All of them prioritize sustainability, environmental stewardship, and ultimate luxury for you.
Collective Governors Island, for example, is an eight-minute water taxi ride from Manhattan:
Collective Hudson Valley goes a bit deeper upstate in New York:
In Wimberley, Texas, you can enjoy Collective Hill Country overlooking Montesino Ranch:
Head to Vail to explore the first glamping site Collective Retreats created at Collective Vail:
Or bask under the endless blue of Big Sky, Montana at Collective Yellowstone:
5. The Resort at Paws Up
Speaking of Montana, The Resort at Paws Up is one of the best destinations for those who want to truly get off the grid. In fact, they guarantee that you’ll be “a million miles from the rest of the world” as you enjoy horseback riding, fly fishing, hiking, ATV tours, wellness, and almost anything else you imagine on 37,000 acres of land.
You can stay in the luxury homes on the property, but for truly unfiltered glamping experiences in nature, you should stay at the luxury glamping tents. There are six different options to choose, from resplendent tents that sit on the banks of a rushing river to ones embedded into the woods.
Glamping tents are open from mid-May through mid-October each year, and they’re the epitome of roughing it, redefined. Their staff says it best: “There’s nothing like sleeping under the stars, listening to nature and calling your butler when you need an extra pillow.”
6. Seneca Sol
Seneca Sol is uniquely situated in the New York Finger Lakes region, sitting between Seneca Lake and the Finger Lakes National Forest. That translates into one hell of a smooth glamping experience, surrounded by vineyards, farms, abundant wildlife, and forests on 25 acres of densely forested land.
You can choose to stay in a luxury safari-style tent or tipi, which serve as a great home base from which to explore the surrounding area by day. Meander through manicured hiking trails, bask on the shores of the lake, or spend the day enjoying the Seneca Lake Wine Trail (there are over 30 wineries, a distillery, several breweries, and a hard cider maker—sign me up).
When you’re ready to head home, you’ll have campfires lit and waiting. Grab some s’mores (and maybe some more wine)—it’s the perfect way to end your day.
7. FireLight Camps
Each accommodation pitched by FireLight Camps is setup with four main elements in mind: land stewardship, local culture, connection, and immersion. This way, as you enjoy a comfortable and revitalizing glamping experience, you can rest easy knowing you’re maintaining the integrity of the natural landscape, supporting the local travel economy, discovering yourself on a new level, and honoring the roots of a true outdoor experience.
However, while you’ll fall asleep to the sounds of bullfrogs, wake to birds chirping, hear the slap of rain on canvas, and stargaze by a warm fire, you’ll be doing it in pure style. Each tent is furnished with hardwood floors, plush beds (king or queen), a tented porch, rocking chairs, lanterns, and unprecedented access to the beautiful landscape of Ithaca, New York.
8. Sandy Pines Camping
We’ve dished up some hot boutique and lifestyle hotel options in Kennebunkport, Maine recently, so we had to include a glamping experience for the area as well. Sandy Pines Camping is a great way to experience the tranquil coastline without the yachts and pool parties that typically come with an East Coast stay.
Don’t take that to mean it’s a snooze-fest though. With the secluded beach forest, salt marsh, and ocean nearby, there’s no shortage of exciting adventures to embark on. Plus, if you want to head into the heart of Kennebunkport you’re only about a mile away. And the accommodations are super fun, ranging from retro trailers to old fashioned Conestoga Wagons:
For the record, we don’t think there’s anything that makes glamping inherently better or worse than traditional camping with your own gear. It’s simply a different way to experience nature, one that makes it a bit more comfortable and accessible for all.
If you’re interested in booking any of these glamping experiences, reach out to us today and we’ll help hook it up.