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Roasting s’mores around the campfire, dark skies filled with millions of stars and days spent hiking through redwood forests or red rock canyons. These are the nostalgic images that motivate travelers to plan a visit to one of the 429 parks in the U.S. National Park System.
Those who want to spend as much time in nature as possible find that glamping offers the best elements of camping, plus an actual bed to sleep in at night. Nearly 8 million people went glamping in the U.S. in 2023, according to a report by camping platform The Dyrt, and it has become a favorite for outdoor lovers of all ages.
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Among campers 50-plus, 13 percent tried glamping for the first time in 2023, and 32 percent were interested in trying glamping in 2024, according to Kampgrounds of America.
It is easy to see why this glamorous camping style appeals to older travelers. You don’t need all the gear that camping requires, and glamping facilities provide guided hikes and other ways to make visiting a national park easy. In addition, these properties appeal to multigenerational groups traveling together, so grandparents can share outdoor experiences with their grandkids.
Here are seven glamping properties near national parks, with an array of Airstreams, tree houses, geodesic domes, Conestoga wagons and cabins for your next outdoor adventure.
At Under Canvas Zion, you can visit the main lobby and tent grounds for a range of complimentary activities.
Credit: Bailey Made
Under Canvas Zion, Virgin, Utah
Imagine sleeping under the stars, nestled in a luxurious safari-inspired tent at Under Canvas Zion. Complete with king-size beds, sumptuous linens and cozy in-tent wood-burning fireplaces, these accommodations are glamping at its finest.
Under Canvas Zion, recently certified as a DarkSky resort, schedules a range of complimentary activities to ignite your sense of adventure. There’s something for everyone, from astronomy talks and star-bathing meditations to full-moon hikes and nightly s’mores. For a truly special experience, reserve one of the Stargazer tents, with a sky-viewing window directly above the bed.
Guests who want to visit Zion National Park can book private or group tours to the Narrows or Angel’s Landing, which include transportation, an expert guide and lunch. Prices at Under Canvas Zion start at $279 per night.
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.png?crop=true&anchor=10,97&color=ffffffff&u=2xkwh0&w=1887&h=1084 "Firefall Ranch features accessible cottages and villas, that are available for visitors with mobility restrictions")
