If you love the great outdoors but not the idea of snakes in your sleeping bag, luxury camping may be the perfect getaway for you. The best luxury camping options may not guarantee your entire trip will be critter-free, but they’ll get you off the cold ground, letting you slip into something more comfortable, like a restored vintage Airstream or a yurt.
Luxury camping or “glamping” has dominated travel in the past several years because it combines the best of both worlds. It gets you close to nature in comfortable accommodations so that you aren’t too sore from sleeping on rocks to enjoy its majesty.
Here’s what you need to know before diving into the lifestyle and booking your getaway, including the gear you need and the best places to stay.
What Is Luxury Camping?
Luxury camping is a step above your average tent. The biggest upgrade is in your sleeping accommodations. You might rest your head beneath a fully-heated canvas on an elevated platform to keep critters at bay and a skylight for an uninterrupted view of the Milky Way.
Your accommodations may feature a king-sized bed, hot water, and even air conditioning. You’ll feel far more protected against bears and other creatures that may lurk in the forest. You may have a kitchenette for preparing meals when you grow tired of s’mores. Some luxury camping locations provide Wi-Fi for uploading those spectacular shots to social media, while others intentionally omit it to let you fully focus on the splendor surrounding you.
Benefits of a Luxury Camping Vacation
Luxury camping is much more than a simple escape. It offers a host of benefits for your body, mind and spirit. Consider these fabulous perks:
- Improved physical health: Spending time in nature improves several physical health markers, including lowered blood pressure and better sleep. Exposure to trees and plants boosts your immune system and may protect against nearsightedness in children. Furthermore, going outside often results in becoming more active.
- Decreased stress: Time spent outdoors also decreases stress levels and anxiety symptoms. It can also combat depression and help break the cycle of rumination. It may even reduce the risk of developing schizophrenia.
- Quality time: Luxury camping provides uninterrupted time with loved ones, often free from screen distractions, facilitating healthier relationships.
- Skill building: Luxury camping provides an opportunity to grow your skills, whether you’re starting a fire or identifying wild plants and animals. Adventurous sorts might even master the art of climbing with ropes or navigating rapids in a kayak.
The best luxury camping options leave you more refreshed than spending time at the spa. Plus, you add to your skill set and develop confidence.
Outfitting Yourself for Luxury Camping
Once you fall in love with luxury camping, you’ll want to head out every weekend. The right supplies make every trip more special, regardless of whether you invest in an RV or stay at a full-service facility that supplies your lodging.
A comfortable wardrobe selected for layering prevents feeling miserable from temperature extremes. Your innermost layer should consist of a wicking fabric like merino wool. Your mid-layers should insulate, and the outermost protect against the elements. Sturdy boots are a must for hikes, and a pair of water-safe shoes protect your feet from sharp rocks and unseen hazards when swimming or wading. Hats, gloves, and scarves complete your cold-weather ensemble, and be sure to bring a bathing suit for summer escapes.
Other supplies that every luxury camper needs include:
- A first-aid kit is necessary. Even though many sites provide a few basics, yours should contain your prescriptions and any specialty medical devices you use, like insulin syringes. There’s no guarantee of finding the right supplies in the gift shop. Plus, it’s always handy to have extra anti-itch ointment for bites and stings.
- A car kit is always crucial to carry on road trips. It should contain a jack, triangles, flares, a headlamp, a lug wrench set and other assorted tools. It’s wise to carry plenty of water in case of a breakdown. Additionally, you may wish to include oil and antifreeze, depending on the kind of vehicle you drive.
- Road and campfire games make family fun easier, so bring along your favorite board games. A deck of cards is a must, and coloring and activity books that only come out during vacation time can occupy young travelers.
- Comfort items, like your favorite special blanket, pillow or stuffed toy. Since you’ll be staying in upgraded accommodations, you won’t have to worry as much about it getting dirty.
Should You Invest in an RV?
Many people believe your best luxury camping option is to invest in an RV, and if you have the money, such a vehicle provides an instant weekend getaway — just pack up and go. You might not even need to hit the gas station first. Several models of electric RVs have hit the market to crush the perception of these rides as gas-guzzlers. They create no tailpipe emissions to harm the natural world you love so much.
The benefits of buying an RV include always having your luxury camping supplies ready to go when you are. Even seemingly minor details, like storing extra contact lens solution and a case in your medicine cabinet, make each getaway less stressful as you always have what you need. Pet owners can bring their four-legged friends along for the fun, and while someone might reserve your favorite camping spot, you can always find somewhere to get away.
However, RVs require ongoing maintenance. Those who live in cold regions need to winterize and still may lose a water pump when temperatures dip below freezing. Storing your RV can cost a small fortune if your HOA forbids you from keeping it in your driveway. Furthermore, depreciation strikes the moment you drive off the lot, as with any vehicle. Although some RVs may cost as much as a small house, they only lose value with time.
Best Luxury Campsites
Whether you bring your own RV or book on-site lodging, the following five best luxury campsites go above and beyond to ensure a fabulous stay in nature with many of the comforts of home.
1. KOA Resorts
Motorhome rental under the stars
KOA Resorts offers the ultimate getaway for the bring-your-own-RV crowd. Each luxury camping site includes a fully furnished patio, complete with two outdoor seating areas and a fire pit or ring for marshmallow-toasting fun. Deluxe sites also include a grill so you can throw some shrimp on the barbecue with ease.
However, those without RVs and choose between a traditional tent or on-site lodging. KOA Patio Sites also feature cabins, so home is only a few steps away from outdoor fun.
Many KOA Resort Campgrounds offer KOA Patio Sites and various other amenities for your family to enjoy. For example, some facilities have pools, dog parks, basketball and volleyball courts, and indoor and outdoor group facilities for hosting your reunion dinner or engagement party.
You can find KOA Resorts in 14 states, including:
- Arizona
- New York
- Tennessee
- California
- North Carolina
- Virginia
- Florida
- Ohio
- Iowa
- Oregon
- Michigan
- South Carolina
- Montana
- South Dakota
They also have a facility in Quebec. You’ll also find more of your best luxury camping options at KOA Holiday Campgrounds, with KOA Patio Sites in 45 states and several Canadian provinces.
2. Aloha Camp
Aloha Camp features an impressive variety of lodging options, from treehouses to yurts and even houseboats. With multiple locations across the Spanish and Polish countryside, a stay at one of their resorts is one of the best luxury camping options for folks from stateside who seek an overseas getaway.
For example, you could stay in a gorgeous heated treehouse in Niechorze, Poland, overlooking the surrounding forest. Each treehouse sleeps two adults and up to three children, although they are not suitable for four adults. Hear the sound of the sea and surrounding birds as you relax in your hammock on your terrace. Each treehouse comes equipped with books, board games, and bicycles to encourage disconnecting and relaxing.
Alternatively, book a stay on a Grand HT Houseboat in Mielno, Poland. Explore the waters of Lake Jamno, only 300 meters from the beaches of the Baltic Sea. Take a bath while gazing out across seemingly endless waters, pretending you’re a mermaid as you splash in the tub.
However, you need not spend all your time on the water. There are bicycles complete with seats for the littlest family members, a mini-rope park, tennis courts, and a playground. Hiking and biking trails abound on neighboring shores. Alternatively, you can spend the day fishing, then wind down in the evening with a bonfire and barbecue before heading back to your luxury camping boat.
Use our code aworldtotravel to get a €20 discount for your first trip with AlohaCamp when registering.
3. Huttopia
Huttopia originally began in France but now has locations in China, Europe, and North America. With over 65 destinations, this outfit is one of the best luxury camping options for seasoned globetrotters who also enjoy earning new passport stamps.
Their “ready to camp” concept means they provide everything you need to get close to nature — just bring your clothes and yourself. For example, you and your entire family could spend the holidays in a chalet with room for six, including a living room and two bedrooms, plus a fireplace for warming up after a day of outdoor adventures.
Those who prefer a warmer climate can head to Parque de Doñana in Andalusia, Spain. Here, you can explore several unique and varied landscapes, from dunes to forests to beaches and marshes. Spend the night in a trailer, a wood-and-canvas tent or a chalet. Relax in the resort pool or play a game of badminton, football, cornhole or molkky, a Finnish throwing game that’s similar to bowling with a stick.
4. Under Canvas
If you have a hankering to see America’s national parks in style and comfort, Under Canvas is perhaps your best luxury camping option. With locations in Zion, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, North and West Yellowstone, Yosemite, Acadia, and Glacier, you can get your fix of these impressive natural wonders while staying in a luxury tent suite that’s more properly a hotel room except, well, under canvas.
What sets Under Canvas apart is the ease of booking a full itinerary of luxury camping activities with your stay. Clicking on the Experiences link reveals a host of options for each destination. For example, you might book a pirate adventure cruise at Acadia National Park or a lobster ecology tour to learn about how fishers harvest these tasty treats from the sea.
Under Canvas also offers complimentary s’mores each night, cafe-style dining, and grab-and-go options with an emphasis on seasonal freshness and health. Reduce the amount of weight in your backpack by selecting from their dining options instead of carting bag after bag of trail mix.
5. AutoCamp
AutoCamp is the official hospitality partner of Airstream, so you know this luxury camping option is going to feature some sweet RV suites. Their most iconic model is the classic 31-foot Airstream, complete with a sitting area, private full bathroom, and kitchenette.
AutoCamp features locations in California, Utah, Texas, North Carolina, New York and Massachusetts. AutoCamp Zion lets you explore the majesty of this national park. Practice yoga among the spectacular rock formations at Joshua Tree National Park or go on a culinary adventure in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
This destination is also perfect for corporate or large group retreats like bridal parties with a 10-room minimum. Multiple studies suggest that being in nature improves your focus and concentration, making it easier to brainstorm ideas.
6. Collective Retreats
Collective Retreats is a new concept in luxury camping alternatives. It features locations in Colorado, New York, and Texas. If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in a glamorous tent while overlooking the Manhattan skyline, here’s your chance. Each private tent features accommodations like king-sized beds with overhead chandeliers and separate accommodations for the youngest travelers.
The experience offerings make Collective Retreats one of the best options for luxury camping for those who want a little of everything on their vacation. For example, travelers to the New York location receive a 10% discount on a full day’s entrance to QC NY, an indulgent Italian spa featuring multiple saunas, steam rooms, and water therapies designed to heal your body and soul.
Travelers to Vail can enjoy an expert lead horseback riding session from 4 Eagle Ranch, open seven days a week. Alternatively, they can spend the day fly fishing in one of the diverse and expansive waterways or dig into a healthy picnic lunch overlooking the Sawatch Range and Castle Peak.
The Best Luxury Camping Options
The best luxury camping options swaddle you in indulgent comfort while bringing you closer to nature. This style of getaway is perfect for anyone seeking the best of both worlds — time spent outdoors without the aches and pains that can accompany sleeping on hard ground.
Luxury camping is the perfect vacation for anyone from honeymooners to families. It’s also ideal for corporate retreats. Explore these destinations and get your glam on while enjoying the great outdoors.
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Jack Shaw is the Senior Outdoors Writer for Modded Magazine. Driven by his passion for writing, Jack loves to traverse the wilderness, travel, and explore the unknown. He has over six years of experience writing professionally and loves engaging in new projects. His works have been published in The Travel Magazine, EcoHotels, Trekaroo, and more.