15 Luxury Campsites for People Who Love the Outdoors — But Not Everything That Comes With It

For some people, camping means roughing it. For others, nature is more attractive with a side of luxury.

Habitas Tulum
Photo: Adrian Gaut

For some people, camping means roughing it — bringing as little as possible, maybe just a backpack, and sleeping on the ground in a small tent or under the open sky. Eating food from a can, or maybe potatoes and vegetables cooked on the campfire, and visiting an outhouse or digging a hole in the ground when nature calls.

But there's another way to approach camping, sometimes known as "glamping," that involves creating as luxurious an environment as possible, often with giant tents, real beds, electricity, and private bathrooms. The food is gourmet, cooked on a fancy camp stove, with cocktails and wine.

If you like the sound of glamping, but don't want to do all the planning yourself or deal with packing, there are a number of campsites throughout North America that will cater luxury and comfort to your liking. Here are a few of the best places to go glamping in the USA and beyond.

01 of 15

Sandy River Outdoor Adventures, Virginia

Sandy River Outdoor Adventures
Courtesy of River Outdoor Adventure

Stay in a luxury tipi with heated floors, air-conditioning, a full bathroom, and a kitchenette. Each tipi has a king or queen size memory foam bed and comes with luxury linens. During the day, you can try out canoeing on the Appomattox and Sandy Rivers, hike or bike in High Bridge Trail State Park, or visit the Adventure Park, with 60 obstacles and 20 zip lines.

02 of 15

Andelyn Farm Yurts, New York

Yurt in Upstate New York
Courtesy of Glamping Hub

Choose from four yurts on the Andelyn Farm property: a 700-square-foot yurt, a 490-square-foot yurt, or two 315-square-foot yurts. Each has a kitchen area equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave, a coffee maker, and dinnerware, plus beds, a firepit, a sofa, and Wi-Fi.

03 of 15

Glamping Dome in the Appalachian Mountains, Georgia

Appalachian Mountain Dome, Georgia
Courtesy of Glamping Hub

This luxury geo dome fits up to five guests — there are three beds and a private bathroom, an outdoor bathtub, and an outdoor shower. While the dome gets warm inside during the summer, it comes with a series of fans that create a cool evening breeze. The outdoor "cowboy kitchen" has a two-burner gas camping stove, a charcoal barbecue, a toaster, a coffeemaker, pots and pans, plates, cups, utensils, and a picnic table.

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Eco-Cabin in Texas Hill Country, Texas

Glamping Hub - Texas Hill Country Cabin
Courtesy of Glamping Hub

This cabin near Austin, Texas, was built by environmentalist and architect Marley Porter, and sports a queen-sized bed, a detached bathroom, a garden bathtub, and a private deck. Amenities include a small flat-screen TV, mini-fridge, coffee maker, microwave, toaster oven, and two grills.

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The Tree Houses at Primland, Virginia

The Tree Houses at Primland, Meadows of Dan, Virginia
Courtesy of The Tree Houses at Primland

This resort in Virginia offers three treehouses that overlook the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Dan River. The cabins are built around branches of trees at an elevation of 2,700 feet. And unlike your typical treehouse with a "no grownups allowed" sign on the door, these are the reverse: kids and pets are not allowed and occupancy is limited to two people.

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Wahwahtaysee Resort, Texas

Wahwahtaysee Resort, Texas
Courtesy of Wahwahtaysee Resort

This resort, located about 50 miles outside Austin on the San Marcos River, has seven luxury tents guests can use for a full glamping experience. Each comes with a free standing tub, walk-in shower, outdoor shower, mini-fridge, king bed, queen sleeper sofa, air conditioning, and heat. During your stay, you can also make use of the complimentary golf cart at each tent to explore the nearby beaches and trails.

07 of 15

Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge, Canada

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Tolfino, Canada
Bryan Stockton

This eco-safari resort, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island in Canada, is accessible only by seaplane, helicopter, or boat and sits in a UNESCO-designated protected Biosphere Reserve. Guests at the resort stay in white canvas prospector-style tents with amenities that (depending on your tent) can include cast iron stoves, ensuite bathrooms with heated floors, private decks, antique furnishings, and linens.

08 of 15

North Bank Camp, Montana

North Bank Camp, Montana
Courtesy of Paws Up

This camp sits on a bluff overlooking the Blackfoot River and has several options for tents, including three-bedroom/two-bathroom tents. The camp also has a dining pavilion with a personal camping butler, plus ensuite bathrooms with heated floors and plush bedding.

09 of 15

Sandy Pines Campground, Maine

Sandy Pines Campground
Courtesy of Sandy Pines Campground

This campground was founded by hoteliers Tim Harrington and Debra Lennon, who constructed 18 safari-style Glamp Tents, each one created with a unique design. You can also stay in other types of glamping accommodations, such as deluxe Airstreams and Conestoga wagons, hideaway huts, and camp cottages.

10 of 15

Habitas Tulum, Mexico

Interior of guest bedroom with ocean views at Habitas Tulum

Courtesy of Our Habitas Tulum

Located between the jungle and the Caribbean Sea in the beachside town of Tulum, Mexico, Habitas Tulum offers secluded beach and safari tents on a site built in collaboration with local carpenters and artisans.

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El Capitan Canyon, California

Lifestyle image of glamping tent at Sun RV Resorts at El Capitan
Courtesy of Sun RV Resorts

El Capitan Canyon, part of Sun Uncharted, is a camping spot unlike any other. Located along the Santa Barbara coast, the site offers 360-degree views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. Guests can choose between sleeping in cedar cabins, safari tents, or yurts, all nestled inside the 350-acre property that's dotted with oak and sycamore trees. Guests can also partake in hikes on private trails, take out complimentary beach cruiser bicycles, and visit nearby vineyards for wine tastings before spending the night under the stars.

12 of 15

Camp LeConte, Tennessee

Camp Leconte clamping tent
Courtesy of Camp Leconte

Live like a kid again with a camping getaway in Camp LeConte in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The luxury family resort comes with almost too many accommodation options to choose from, including RV sites, retro campers, safari tents, camping spots, and a treehouse. The resort is also in close proximity to a plethora of entertainment options in the area — Dollywood, the Arts and Crafts Community, and the Ole Smoky distillery are just around the corner. Of course, Great Smoky Mountains National Park is right around the bend as well, which means endless hiking trails, stellar scenery, and animal spotting are all in your camping future.

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Yonder Escalante, Utah

Cabin at Ofland Escalante

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

The ultra-chic Yonder Escalante resort, located near Bryce Canyon National Park and within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, comes with several accommodation options — RV sites so you can bring your own rig, cabins, and Airstreams — all set up so you can simply pack and leave when you're ready. It also has a hot tub to soothe away aching muscles after a day of hiking, and a pool to cool off in on warmer days. The entire resort is built on the grounds of an old drive-in movie theater, so Yonder also offers screenings of serious classics. Bring your own chair or blanket, or rent out a vintage car and watch them old-school style.

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Eastwind, New York

Lushna Suite at Eastwind hotel
Lawrence Braun

Eastwind provides the perfect places for city dwellers to go and get away from it all. With three locations throughout the Catskills and Adirondacks in Windham, Lake Placid, and the Oliverea Valley, these boutique hotels are prime destinations for leaf peeping in the fall and excellent spots to find some peace and quiet all year long. While there are hotel rooms at each of the properties, guests can also choose to glamp in style in one of the well-appointed Scandinavian-inspired cabins. Each exposed wood cabin comes with a queen or king bed, Frette linens, and wool blankets. Inside, you'll also find Pendleton robes to help you stay extra warm. All guests also have access to the hotel's wood barrel saunas for some bonus hygge vibes.

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KitFox, New Mexico

Sunset view of KitFox glamping site in Santa Fe, NM
Ian Beckley/KitFox

Want to get even farther away from society? Head to KitFox, a glamping spot that's surrounded by rugged rock formations that will make you feel more like you're on Mars than in New Mexico. A stay at KitFox means a stay inside a gorgeous bell canvas tent, where guests will find a cozy bed, a cooler, and plenty of seating. You'll also have access to shared bathrooms, board games, and more Instagrammable nooks than one feed can handle. The area is chock full of outdoor activities to try, including hiking, horseback riding, and fishing. And, with its proximity to Santa Fe, popping into town for a quick visit is a snap.

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