Top 10 US Glamping Spots for First-Time Campers
A comprehensive guide to the best glamping destinations in the United States for beginners, highlighting options that provide real beds, hot showers, and heating while maintaining a connection to nature. The list includes Oregon's state park yurts, AutoCamp's Airstream suites near national parks, Under Canvas's safari tents, KOA's Deluxe Cabins, Curry Village in Yosemite, Postcard Cabins (formerly Getaway), treehouse rentals, Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts, state park cabins, and Hipcamp's private-land listings. The article emphasizes that discomfort, not cost, is the main barrier to camping, and glamping removes these barriers while preserving the outdoor experience. Key details include Oregon's pioneering yurt program since 1994, AutoCamp's locations near Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Zion, and Sequoia, Under Canvas's DarkSky certification, KOA's 500+ campgrounds, Curry Village's 1899 origins, Postcard Cabins' acquisition by Marriott in December 2024, and Hipcamp's aggregation of thousands of sites. The guide also notes pricing ranges, booking windows, and specific amenities for each option, aiming to help first-timers find a comfortable entry into camping.
Key facts
- Oregon pioneered yurt camping at state parks in 1994 and runs the largest yurt network in the country, with structures across roughly 30 parks.
- AutoCamp rents custom-built Airstream trailers, canvas tents, and cabins near Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Zion, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, plus Cape Cod, the Catskills, and California's Russian River region.
- Under Canvas operates safari-inspired tented camps near Yellowstone, Zion, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia, and Yosemite (as of 2026).
- KOA operates more than 500 campgrounds across the U.S. and Canada, with Deluxe Cabins available at most locations.
- Curry Village in Yosemite Valley has offered canvas tent cabins since 1899.
- Postcard Cabins, formerly Getaway, was acquired by Marriott International in December 2024 and is part of the Bonvoy loyalty program.
- TreeHouse Point in Fall City, Washington, offers seven hand-built treehouses by Pete Nelson of Animal Planet's Treehouse Masters.
- Hipcamp lists tens of thousands of camping and glamping sites on private land across the U.S., including yurts, geodesic domes, teepees, vintage trailers, and tiny cabins.
- Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts operates more than 75 franchised locations across the U.S. and Canada, featuring family activities and various lodging options.
- State park cabin systems beyond Oregon, such as Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee and Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio, offer heated rooms at lower prices.
Entities
Institutions
- Oregon State Parks
- AutoCamp
- Under Canvas
- KOA
- Curry Village
- Postcard Cabins
- Marriott International
- TreeHouse Point
- Treehouse Grove at Norton Creek Resort
- Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts
- Hipcamp
- Fall Creek Falls State Park
- Hocking Hills State Park
- Dead Horse Point State Park
Locations
- Oregon
- Pacific Northwest
- Bend
- Cape Lookout State Park
- Nehalem Bay State Park
- Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
- Yosemite National Park
- Joshua Tree National Park
- Zion National Park
- Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
- Cape Cod
- Catskills
- Russian River
- Yellowstone National Park
- Glacier National Park
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park
- Acadia National Park
- Lake Powell-Grand Staircase
- Moab
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Dallas
- Seattle
- Fall City
- Washington
- Gatlinburg
- Tennessee
- Spencer
- Ohio
- Utah
- Arches National Park
- Minnesota
- Illinois
- Michigan
Sources
- Quartz —