For a step above sleeping bags and pup tents but a step below cushy hotel mattresses and HDTV, try glamping in New England.
By Yankee Editors
Sep 06 2022
Classic Airstream travel trailers are reimagined as luxury suites at the new Cape Cod glamping destination, AutoCamp.
Photo Credit : Matt KisidayAre you the type of person who enjoys the comfort of a hotel but the rustic outdoors experience of camping? Enter a recent craze in lodging: “glamping” (glam + camping). At glamping sites, there’s no pitching flimsy tents or walking miles into the woods to use an outhouse. Instead, you have all the creature comforts (without the actual creatures); sturdy, tentlike lodging; real beds; furniture; decor; (often) electricity; and more. Intrigued? Here’s where you can try glamping in New England.
While the sight of gleaming Airstreams may evoke simpler times pre–Route 6 gridlock, these aren’t your grandparents’ recreational vehicles. The 83 iconic metal trailers are tricked out with Tempur-Pedic queen beds, heat and air-conditioning, bathrooms, mini fridges, and more. There are also some sleek cabins and tents on offer, all anchored by the midcentury modern clubhouse where you’ll find a bar—with wine and kombucha on tap, naturally—and a store offering BBQ fixings and s’mores kits. But our favorite perk at this glamping destination? Location, location, location. A five-mile ride on the nearby Shining Sea Bikeway brings you past multiple beaches to Woods Hole and the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.
Forgo the Mount Desert Island crowds for this serene site, which hugs more than 1,200 feet of Patten Bay coastline. Each of the 63 spacious, safari-style tents boasts West Elm furniture, a wood-burning stove, and organic toiletries—plus daily housekeeping. A café serves breakfast and dinner, and outdoor adventures await at Acadia National Park (a 35-minute drive away) or at the campsite’s dock, where famed swordfishing captain Linda Greenlaw and her crew take guests on lobstering, sunset, and night-sky cruises. Of course, you could just book one of the “Stargazer” tents and catch the twinkling display via the viewing windows above your king-size bed.
Escape the crowds of Boston or Cape Cod at this luxury camping site nestled deep in the woods. Here, you can bring your own RV or tent, or rent one of the “deluxe” cabins or yurts (both include queen bed, pull-out couch, fireplace, bathroom, kitchen, and appliances). Pop-up trailers and safari tents are also available. Plus, you can vacation here without even leaving the resort, thanks to the bike park, creative arts center, disc golf course, dog park, fitness center, laundry facilities, playgrounds and recreation areas, swimming pools, and tennis courts.
This coastal Maine glamping destination includes three lodging options: cottages (king-size bed, cooler, outdoor seating, fire pits), huts (full-size bed, fire pit, lighting), and tents (king-size bed, seating area, deck, shared bathhouse). Bedding, mini-fridges, small heaters and fans, and bath amenities are included. Every option has its own theme and fun decor, from “Wanderlust” to “Nautical Nights.”
Read more: We Toured the Ultimate Glamping Tents at Sandy Pines Campground
Located on a scenic pond among 100 acres of Maine wilderness, this campsite has the feel of a peaceful forest retreat (think kayaking, fishing, hiking) but offers a fully furnished yurt to rest in at the end of the day. Perfect for a family, each yurt has a wood and gas stove, kitchen, bunk beds and futons, and a composting toilet. They’re pet-friendly, too, so there’s no need to leave behind your four-legged friend while on vacation.
From a tent to a chalet, you’re surrounded by the beauty of the White Mountains at every level of lodging here. The sturdy canvas tents include real bathrooms, mattresses, and kitchenware and appliances, while the large wooden chalet has a mezzanine, kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a gas heater. Drinks and fresh-made pizza are readily available at the Airstream caravan, and campers can enjoy swimming in the nearby lake or the heated swimming pool. There’s also a recreation area and a range of family-friendly scheduled activities.
Looking for a classic New England vacation that’s equal parts campground and farm? This Midcoast camping destination on the banks of the Medomak River includes 10 tasteful tents and A-frame log cabins, both options with two beds, linens, lights, a fire pit, and a grill. Plus, there’s a pristine bathroom, an electronics charging station, and a communal yurt for dinners, yoga, or board games. And don’t miss out on custom vacation add-ons, like outdoor skill lessons, massages, foraging, or archery.
If you’re planning a visit to Acadia National Park this summer or fall, this Bar Harbor “outdoor resort” has five tent styles to suit every stay – from cozy and romantic for two to family-friendly for groups up to five. Each comes with plush bedding, an outdoor shower, Pendleton blankets, an overhead fan, free WiFi, and outlets for plugging in. Most also have their own bathroom. Beyond the tents, there’s a gleaming lodge with an onsite bar and restaurant, a heated swimming pool, a fenced-in dog park, and an outdoor grilling area where you can prepare a meal from one of their foolproof grilling meal kits.
With its network of tiny houses tucked into forests across America, Getaway House is a popular option for those seeking a solitary, romantic, or small family/friend getaway. In New England, that includes a collection of cabins in Epsom, New Hampshire, a little over an hour north of Boston. Each cabin is equipped with comfortable beds, panoramic window, private shower, stocked kitchen, temperature controls, and an outdoor area with a fire pit, picnic table, and chairs for socializing or enjoying nature. Dogs are welcome for an additional fee.
Let us know your favorite New England glamping spot in the comments below!
This post was first published in 2019 and has been updated.