Outdoor recreation has seriously BOOMED in the past year. And with another summer approaching, people are looking for new ways to get away from home, see something new, and spend more time outside. Flights to faraway lands may still be uncertain, but one thing we know for sure is that most of the country's National Forests and public lands are open for access (with restrictions, of course). What better way to travel than by spending some time in the woods, far away from strangers? It's the ultimate form of social distancing.
While some of us are all about roughing it in the woods, we understand that not everyone finds comfort in stepping away from their sofas, nice glassware and cozy bedding, no matter how much we try to convince ourselves — or others — that we enjoy camping. If that sounds like you, a glamping (glamorous camping) tent is the way to go.
How We Chose
We've been camping since we could walk, so we've slept in an impressive variety of tents. Which means we fully understand the pros and cons of every feature a tent could possibly have.
To help you decide on a luxurious tent for your glamping future, we combined our countless years of camping experience and knowledge with hours of research on new releases, unique features and surveys of user reviews. We considered comfort, construction quality, price, size options and packability, among other build features. There's something for every glamper — from knockout luxury to affordable glam — so there's something for every type of outdoorsperson.
Pick up one of our favorite glamping tents, fill it with your favorite home-away-from-home comforts — think air mattress, comfy bedding, portable heater or A/C and some mood lighting — and enjoy a night in the great outdoors without giving up your favorite luxuries. Outdoor newbies, there's zero shame in your #glamping game. What better time than now?
A note on availability: Due to increased demand, some of these products may fluctuate between in and out of stock. We will be frequently checking and refreshing the links to these products as they become available again.
2
Most Versatile Glamping Tent
Big Agnes Bunk House 4 Tent
rei.com
$499.95
Live in the lap of luxury on a National Park road trip with Big Agnes’ Bunk House. It’s much smaller than many glamping tents, but it’s a plenty-spacious car camping tent that won’t fill up your entire trunk. It’s aimed at people who really want to stand while changing in the tent, with vertical sidewalls and a gracious 81-inch peak height that Mom and Dad will appreciate.
The Bunk House is one of the more storm-resistant standup tents around, thanks to sturdy aluminum poles, adjustable guylines, a double-wall construction, and a waterproof floor and fly that keep the elements out.
Thoughtful details like eight total interior pockets, a fold-out welcome mat, and a pole-supported accessory vestibule make the $549 cost seem like a small price to pay for a lifetime of memories on the road.
3
The Best Value in a Bell-Shaped Tent
Whiteduck Regatta Canvas Bell Tent
amazon.com
$699.00
If you love canvas tents with the rounded floor plan (who doesn't?), but can't splurge for the Lotus Belle (shown here), this option is for you. It has an average of 4.8 stars from over 100 Amazon reviews.
The cotton canvas material is heavy and waterproof, the stove jack is ready for a wood-burning stovepipe, and the poly-vinyl zipped-in groundsheet is plenty durable and easy to keep clean, so your living quarters will stay cool, dry and clean in all four seasons — yes, even winter, if you dare.
Whether you pick the 10-foot, 13-foot or 16-foot option, this tent will turn into your own private luxury boudoir. There's ample space for a king-size air mattress, end tables, gear storage and even a foyer to leave muddy shoes. Just don't forget that most places have a 14-day limit on camping.
5
The Space-Conscious Glamping Tent
Nemo Wagontop 6P Group Camping Tent
rei.com
$699.95
Everything about Nemo’s Wagontop is well-planned to keep a large group of family or friends happy. Each of its four walls has a large screen window for better airflow and more of a “homey” feeling. The front vestibule, which resembles a foyer, keeps weather out and makes a great place for gear storage, but can be removed easily when the skies are clear for better views.
Get up, stretch out and do a little dance in this tent — it has standing-height ceilings that you'll love when it comes time to get dressed. Setup is a breeze, too, thanks to a single-wall construction (no separate rainfly) and two hubbed poles that pop up the tent in the blink of an eye.
When compared to other glamping tents, the Wagontop has a much smaller footprint, weighs much less, packs down smaller, sets up way easier and is more aerodynamic should the winds start whipping.