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Timberline Glamping at Lake Martin is located inside Wind Creek State Park, Alabama.
Alabama Tourism Department/Chris Granger
Campfire Chic
From safari tents in state parks to mirror cabins in the mountains, glamping is on the rise in America’s great outdoors.
By Amity Moore Joyce
More than ever before, travelers seeking rejuvenation in the great outdoors want their dose of nature served with a side of comfort—a king-sized bed, fresh sheets and air-conditioning. They want to camp, but they don’t want to rough it. Enter glamping, the etymological mashup of “glamorous” and “camping” that’s redefining outdoor stays across the United States. What began as a niche novelty has gone mainstream, with luxury tents, furnished domes, deluxe treehouses and tiny homes expanding the options for camping beyond RVing and primitive tents. People want soft adventure with creature comforts, and they’re finding opportunities near national parks and natural landmarks, inside state parks and on private property.
National Parks and Landmarks
Earlier this year, Under Canvas, a leader in upscale outdoor hospitality, expanded its under-the-starry-sky offerings by adding two new destinations: Under Canvas Yosemite in California and Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge in Washington. Nestled within about 80 acres of towering black oaks and Ponderosa pines, the Yosemite outpost features 71 safari-style tents situated about 10 minutes from the national park’s Big Oak Flat entrance. Each canvas shelter is outfitted with a king-size bed, soft linens, and that holy grail of outdoor accommodations: a private en suite bathroom with a sink, hot shower and flushable toilet (yes, really).
Guests find a similar experience at the company’s first location in the Pacific Northwest. Perched on 120 scenic acres in the White Salmon River Valley, the Columbia River Gorge camp offers sweeping views of Mount Hood and the forested slopes of the Cascade Mountains right from your tent’s private deck. Charming kids’ tents—complete with twin beds, wooden floors and string lights—add family-friendly flair. These additions complement Under Canvas’ existing locations near other national parks: Yellowstone and Glacier in Montana; Moab, Zion, Lake Powell–Grand Staircase and Bryce Canyon in Utah; Mount Rushmore in South Dakota; Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee; Grand Canyon in Arizona; and Acadia in Maine.
Gulf State Park Outpost
Alabama Tourism DeptARTMENT/Chris Granger
State and County Parks
Not to be outdone, many state parks (and at least one county park) across the nation also are seeing cushy changes as local agencies apply state and federal monies to adding glamping options. In some cases, state and county parks are leveraging relationships with private companies to introduce upscale camping to their public lands. Agencies in Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Virginia, for example, have partnered with Timberline Glamping to bring fully furnished safari tents to guests at Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City, Alabama; Unicoi State Park outside Helen, Georgia; Collier-Seminole State Park in Naples, Florida; and Chickahominy Riverfront Park in Williamsburg, Virginia. Glampers can look forward to canvas accommodations that could include a king bed and two bunk beds or two queen beds, or one queen and one bunk bed. The high-end tents are ideal for families who want a rustic experience but also desire home-like amenities, such as a Keurig-made coffee, a ceiling fan, a mini fridge, electrical outlets and more. Most Timberline glampsites also come with outdoor hammocks, a fire ring, camp chairs and a picnic table.
While safari tents are a popular glamping option in state parks, they are not the only option. Bell tents, appreciated for their bell shape and spacious interiors, are part of the mix at many of Florida’s state parks, including Topsail Hill Preserve and Alafia River. Topsail Hill’s are decorated for luxury while also being located near the beautiful, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico); freshwater dune lakes and pristine, white-sand dunes. Alafia River State has a 20-foot bell tent that can sleep up to eight people, which is perfect for the groups of mountain bikers, hikers and horseback riders who frequent this state park’s trails.
Colorado, with a strong legacy of camping, has embraced the glamping trend by offering yurts in state parks, including Golden Gate Canyon near Golden, State Forest in Walden and others. While electricity, wood-burning stoves and beds are part of the experience, campers still need to bring their own linens (evidently Coloradans want to retain a bit of camping’s original rustic spirit).
Luxury treehouses at ReTreet Resort & Spa
ALABAMA TOURISM DEPARTMENT/CHRIS GRANGER
Private Lands, Private Companies
Discover premium glamping experiences on private lands that are as beautiful and distinct as those found on public lands. North Shore Glamping in Minnesota, for example, shows off the best of Lake Superior from a treed ridgeline. The walk-in, platform tents, known as talts, Swedish for tent, were designed to embrace the Scandinavian love of nature, comfort and convenience. Each of the five tent (or talt) options comes with everything you need for an excellent glamping vacation—from warm bedding to dishes to cookware to lanterns—plus access to all the fun of being at one of the Great Lakes.
ReTreet Resort & Spa
In Nebraska, wake up inside a safari tent with vineyard views. That’s what awaits at Slattery Vintage Estates, where glamping comes with a glass of wine, privacy and an outdoor shower. Meanwhile, Asheville Glamping elevates the camping experience—literally. It features a treehouse, accessed via a rope suspension bridge, that lets adults revel in the privacy, and romance, of a child- and pet-free vacation among the leaves. If you want to bring your youngsters along for a glamping good time in a treehouse, ReTreet Resort & Spa in Scottsboro, Alabama, presents a child-friendly resort with luxurious treehouses, plus cottages and bungalows tucked among the trees.
For glamping stays that make you wonder if you came for the nature or the architecture, check out Bolt Farm in Tennessee and Glamping Wild in Creston, North Carolina. Both promise bespoke getaways, marked by privacy and luxury—but with something extra. At Bolt Farm, the mirror cabins have a camouflage effect because the mirrored exteriors reflect the natural surroundings around them. Essentially, they’re tiny houses, catering to your every overnight need, and designed to immerse guests in nature.
Glamping Wild
Glamping Wild presents a retreat in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where geodesic domes have been erected to bring guests a sense of peace and calm, thanks in part to the clean, continuous curved lines of the style. Each one sits on a private deck, and comes with an en suite bathroom and scenic views that help bring you closer to nature.
Whether you’re watching the sun set over Mount Hood, sipping wine under the stars in Nebraska or waking up in a geodesic dome in North Carolina, today’s glamping options prove that nature and nurture don’t have to be at odds. With comfort-driven campsites cropping up across public lands and private retreats, it’s never been easier—or more luxurious—to get away from it all without giving up the things you love.
Find popular campgrounds and get TripTiks, maps and more at AAA.com/TripCanvas.
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