As we make our way through the US National Parks, we’ve experienced many park-adjacent accommodations. We’ve stayed in Holiday Inns, boutique lodges and tents we’ve pitched ourselves — but our favorite place to stay near a National Park is definitely a glampsite.
Luxury camping (or glamping) is the perfect way to feel like you’re camping without dealing with any of the work or inconveniences that typically come with camping. Think camp-like fun with hotel-like amenities — like roasting marshmallows over a fire but then sleeping on an actual mattress.
If you’re thinking about adding glamping to your National Park itinerary, we’ve got three resorts you definitely have to add to your list. In this post, we’re sharing our favorite glampsites near US National Parks. We’ll briefly explain the accommodations, share why we loved it, and add some tips for planning your next trip.
Let’s meet the luxury camp sites that will completely change how you feel about camping.
P.S. If you already know that camping — even the fancy way — isn’t for you, be sure to check out our review of this luxury National Park hotel instead.
Under Canvas Zion — Zion National Park
Distance to National Park: 20 miles (30 minutes) to Zion Canyon Visitor Center
Under Canvas Zion was our introduction to luxury camping. It was our first dedicated National Park trip, and it immediately turned us onto this world of pseudo-camping. Under Canvas remains one of our all-time favorite stays. It is chic and comfortable, while still feeling very outdoorsy and off-grid. It is the most quintessential “glamp” site on this list.
Under Canvas offers tent style lodging, with a cabin interior. The tents feature canvas roofs and walls stretched over a wooden log structure and a zippered entry way. Though still subject to the weather outside, the tents are largely waterproof an include fans in the summer and wood-burning stoves for the cooler months.
Other than the canvas that makes it technically a tent, the interiors feel more like a high-end cabin. The exact details vary, but they include features such as beds, wood floors, pull-out sofas, nightstands, and even full bathrooms with sliding doors. The most notable modern amenity you’ll find missing is electricity. Instead, everything inside (like lanterns and fans) is powered by USB battery packs.
The real highlight of Under Canvas Zion, though, is what’s outside your tent. The lobby area — which is also a tent complete with West Elm furnishings — is the energy hub of the resort. It brings people out and together. This is where you’ll find communal (gas) fire pits, hammocks, bags (or corn hole, depending where you’re from), board games and more. They also have a rotating schedule of live music, crafts for kids and other nature activities.
Under Canvas Zion also has a restaurant on property. They offer full-service breakfast and dinner, plus grab-and-go lunch options. AND! Complimentary s’mores are available nightly.
What We loved About Under Canvas Zion
Under Canvas has many locations across the country, and we’ve stayed at three of them. We’ve loved all of them, but Zion is our favorite so far — particularly because of the on-premise dining, which not all locations have.
I love that Under Canvas Zion allows you to be isolated but not inconvenienced. It’s amazing to be able to sleep in a tent in the middle of nowhere, but also order french toast and a latte for breakfast without leaving the grounds or making it myself. It’s great to enjoy bags and board games and s’mores, without having to actually pack those things.
Despite the long drive to the National Park entrance, we kind of loved the secluded location. The resort is just in the middle of nowhere, and you can see Zion’s striped rock formations rising up in the distance. The views are stunning by day, and by night, lit up by the light of a million stars.
Another small thing that we appreciated about Under Canvas Zion versus their other locations, was the parking. We could park at our tent, versus a main central parking lot. That made it really easy to pack/unpack, as well as store and access food items. (Food and drinks are not allowed inside the tents.)
The thing I love most about all Under Canvas locations is that they offer comfortable accommodations, but still provides a rustic experience. Notably, there is no wifi and there are no TVs in the rooms or the lobby. I love that it forces us to play card games for hours and fall asleep tying friendship bracelets instead of doomscrolling. We could do this anywhere, but we don’t.
There’s lots to love about Under Canvas, and that’s why we keep seeking out their locations as we make our way to the different National Parks.
Tips for Planning Under Canvas Zion
Under Canvas Zion is a seasonal resort. They typically operate from mid-March through early-November.
The best time to stay at Under Canvas Zion is late-spring or early-summer (May or June.) This is the start of peak summer travel season, so you’ll beat some of the summer heat and miss the cool nights of late spring.
Now, fall is typically considered a great time to visit Zion National Park. However, I it’s not great for staying at Under Canvas. I made the mistake of asking an employee about the wildest thing that has gotten into someone’s tent, and she very quickly said tarantulas. (They’re actually very docile, but I would still absolutely panic finding one on my bed.)
The fall (August – October) is mating season for these spiders, and the males are often out and about seeking females. The tents are Under Canvas are not completely sealed, and they can accidentally make their way inside. This is not a common problem, but it’s also not uncommon that time of year. Stick the spring and you’ll be perfectly fine.
Terramor Outdoor Resort — Acadia National Park
Distance to National Park: 6 miles (12 minutes) to Hulls Cove Visitor Center
Acadia is New England’s National Park and Terramor is New England’s answer to luxury camping. Think twinkle lights, pour-over coffee, Adirondack chairs. Everything about Terramor is cute, cozy and aesthetic. Located just a short drive from the park, this glampsite is as gorgeous as it is convenient.
Everything about Terramor feels upscale — from premium furnishings to the elevated amenities to the equisite on-property dining.
Step inside a Terramor tent, and it’s easy to forget that you’re in a tent at all. Like Under Canvas, they are tents by definition because the walls and doors are made of canvas, but that’s where the similarities stop.
These charming tents feature mounted lighting and fans, luxurious bedding and seating, and a cafe cart with an electric kettle and Chemex coffee maker. The rooms have electricity, with standard outlets and a space heater. They have different styles, but many tents include ensuite full bathrooms and some even have outdoor showers.
Terramor prioritizes a more intimate experience. The tents are spread out among the forested area and each one includes a private fire pit. You can also reserve grill packages, which include all the food and tools for a private family bbq or an elevated lobster boil.
That doesn’t mean they have completely eliminated the social experience, though. The central lodge — a true building, not a tent — is warm and inviting. Inside, there is a camp store, full restaurant and bar, and even a quiet library area. The lobby area has televisions, and wifi is available throughout the resort.
Outside there is a communal fire pit and bags as well, but with the private fire pits at each site, the outdoor space is not typically very lively. They also have a heated pool, but we didn’t have the chance to experience that during our autumn visit.
Terramor is absolutely stunning, from the natural views to the interior design. It’s camping in so far as the walls are made of canvas and the door is a zipper, but it is the furthest thing from roughing it. (Did I mention they have a spa on property that does massages?) They truly put the glam in glamping.
What We Loved About Terramor Outdoor Resort
The thing I remember most about Terramor was feeling like I was staying in a fairy tale wood. The charming tent, cozy fire pit, and dazzling central lodge all set below a canopy of trees just recently kissed with the glow of autumn was just such a delight.
The second thing I remember was the dips — yes, like sauces for fries. During our visit, they had waffle fries with a variety of dips including a maple aioli and blueberry bbq sauce. I ordered these nightly. That is my way of saying that restaurant on property was incredible. The menu does change regularly, but everything we ate there was delicious. As of publication, all stays include a complimentary breakfast, too.
Terramor makes it easy to feel like you’ve slipped away into your own private cabin in the woods, while also just being steps away from a craft beer and the football game. It offers privacy, but not isolation. It doesn’t feel off-grid or disconnected, and yet it does feel like nature is giving you a hug. (That’s New England for ya.)
We loved that Terramor had private fire pits at each tent, where you could build an actual fire. (They had wood and fire starters available.) We even picked up some of the rainbow fire packets from the lobby shop, which were way cooler than I expected.
My 4-year-old was also a huge fan of the bunk beds. (Many of Terramor’s tents sleep 5 people and include bunk beds.) Speaking of kids — I would say Terramor is family-friendly without being for kids. They have a pool, but there are family hours and adults-only hours. There is no playground, but there is plenty of space to explore and play.
Overall, we loved Terramor. It was nicer than many hotels we’ve stayed at, we felt engulfed by the beauty of nature, and it was very convenient for accessing the national park.
Tips for Planning Terramor Outdoor Resort
One word: fall.
Autumn at Acadia National Park is stunning, and pairing that with a stay at Terramor is the perfect way to experience as much fall magic as possible. The New England fall foliage tends to peak around mid-October, and the entire landscape burns with a tapestry of warm colors.
Terramore is typically only open through mid-October, so I would suggest a stay a few weeks before the end of their season. You can hopefully catch the start of fall colors and avoid most of the cold.
Oh, and one final tip! Be sure to finish those s’mores! We made a mistake and brought our leftover s’mores packet inside our tent. A chipmunk definitely got in and got to it. That is why they say no food in the tents.
Capitol Reef RV Park & Glamping — Capitol Reef National Park
Distance to National Park: 14 miles (20 minutes) to Capitol Reef Visitor Center
I’ll admit, this is the furthest from actual camping, but I still think it belongs on this list. This location also has an RV parking area, but for this post we’re talking about their darling A-frame cabins. (They also have a new covered wagon lodge, which looks very cute, too, and would definitely fall under glamping.)
These A-frame cabins are an absolutely perfect introduction to glamping. They are fully indoors with actual walls, air conditioning and a locking door. However, they do not have private bathrooms (See? Rustic!) and they have stargazing windows that make you feel like you’re sleeping under the stars.
The cabin interiors are minimalist, with just a bed (or beds) and a mini fridge inside. Each one has a small back patio space and personal fire pit, which is perfect for an evening s’mores session. (However, during our visit, they didn’t sell s’more kits at the camp store.)
Just steps away from the cabins is the shared bathroom facility. Each private stall has a toilette and full shower. In our experience, the bathrooms were kept extremely clean and the showers were real, hot showers with good pressure. (They did have a 10 minute timer on them, though.) They also had a laundry room available for guests.
This resort is perfect for families — and it’s only getting better. The central community area features a hammock bay, yard games, and they recently added a giant bounce pad for kids. I chatted with the staff, and they shared that they have ongoing construction to add a pool, hot tub and gym to the property.
The resort does not have a restaurant, but there is a small camp store that sells a few grab-and-go or quick-cook items. They also sell hand-dipped ice cream and K-cup coffee is complimentary for A-frame guests.
Capital Reef might be our least favorite of Utah’s five National Parks, but pairing it with a stay in the A-frames really elevated the experience. These cabins alone are reason enough to add Capitol Reef to your itinerary.
What We Loved About Capitol Reef RV Park & Glamping
While the A-frames might feel the furthest from camping, the resort experience felt the most like camping. Maybe it was the communal bathrooms or maybe it was the RV park nearby, but the energy felt like a true campground. It was very casual and wholesome and pure. It felt like summer.
I loved that I could open the door to our cabin and let my 5-year-old run out the door to play without worry. There were no cars, nowhere to get lost — just an open space, giant bounce pad and other barefoot kids. We got lucky and my child immediately made a friend, and they played every chance they had.
The other thing I absolutely adored about these A-frames were the stargazing windows. I woke up at 1 AM one night, and decided to peak out the window. The stars here were unreal! I woke up my whole family and my kid got to see the Milky Way for the first time. It was magic.
Having a fridge and air-conditioning didn’t suck either. It was so hot and it was really nice to sleep in AC and have cold iced coffee in the morning.
Capitol Reef RV Park & Glamping is a perfect place to have the camping experience, but with more hotel-like amenities.
Tips for Planning Capitol Reef RV Park & Glamping
The biggest thing to know about this glampsite is that there are only a handful of A-frame cabins. It’s a good idea to book as early as you can to secure your cabin. (They also have a pretty flexible cancellation policy in case your plans change.)
I’d recommend planning your trip over the summer months of July and August. The days will be hot, but the evenings will be comfortable (and you’ll have AC.) It’s the busiest time at the park, and this is a place where a full house can actually really elevate the experience.
Honorable Mention: Ramble at Mesa Verde
This is for anyone who is thinking, “Well, these glampsites aren’t really camping.”
If you want actual tent camping but want to make it easier and elevated, I’d like to highlight Ramble at Mesa Verde. This is a traditional campsite where you need to bring and pitch your own tent for sleeping, but basically everything else is provided.
At Ramble, the campsites include things like fire pits with chairs, grills, covered picnic tables and running water. There are private bathrooms with real, hot showers. In our experience, they even bought as a gas fire pit insert during a fire ban so we could still roast s’mores safely.
The grounds are filled with fun for the whole family. Their Mesa Verde location has an outdoor movie area, splash pad, and playground. It’s also run by the nicest couple on the planet, who are truly exquisite hosts. (We celebrated our child’s birthday there, and they could not have made it more special.)
Ramble is camping for people who don’t have all the gear for camping. It makes camping accessible for anyone who has a tent. This is particularly great for anyone flying to the area and can’t bring all the accessaries. We were able to check a bag with a tent, sleeping bags and sleeping pads, stop at a grocery store for some food, and then Ramble pretty much handled the rest.
If you want to graduate from glamping to camping, Ramble is the perfect way to do that.
In Summary
Glamping is the ultimate way to level up your National Park experience. You get the thrill of camping with the comfort of a hotel room. There are some incredible glampsites out there, and these are just three of our favorites.
- Best Overall: Under Canvas, Zion | Go here for an off-grid experience that is still comfortable and convenient.
- Best for Couples: Terramor Outdoor Resort, Acadia | Go here for elevated amenities, privacy and east-coast vibes.
- Best for Families: Capitol Reef RV Park & Glamping | Go here for true campground energy with a thermostat and a side of stargazing.
Have you been glamping at a National Park? Let me know your favorite spots in the comments so I can add them to my bucket list!
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