Budget-Friendly Glamping Destinations in North America
You don’t have to be a celebrity to afford unforgettable glamping destinations. There are tons of budget-friendly glamping options throughout North America, places where incredible outdoor experiences are right next to plush hideaways. You just need to know where to look to find them.
After traveling extensively across 9 countries in search of the best glamping destinations in North America, some of our favorite outdoor getaways were those under $150 a night. Packed with character, natural beauty, and unconventional experiences, these affordable picks will make you feel like you’ve struck it rich.
Cassiar Cannery, British Columbia
Take the train through the Canadian Rockies and along the Skeena River to the secret stop: Cassiar, the former metropolis of the BC fishing world. Over the course of 107 years, tens of thousands of workers from around the world ran 22 different canneries along these shores. The last one standing and longest consecutively operating cannery on the West Coast was none other than Cassiar. Walking the historic grounds with the owners, this forgotten world comes into focus.
With their vivid descriptions, you can imagine the expansive dock, net loft, machine shop, and general store bustling with life. The five jewel-colored cottages with waves lapping beneath their porches, once the homes of the cannery managers, are now yours to enjoy. Take a jet boat to see the remnants of fellow canneries, or catch some salmon of your own. For those interested in the area’s history, ecology, or meditative qualities, multiday retreats are available.
Note: as of June 23, the restrictions on non-essential travel between the US and Canada have been extended to July 30.
Luna Mystica, New Mexico
What do you get when you cross Airstream trailers, a brewery, a music venue, and snowcapped mountains with an art colony? Glamping heaven. Taos Mesa Brewery was built on 24 acres to relish the stunning scenery of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and have ample space for festival camping. Seeing people enjoy themselves at multiday concerts, brewery cofounder Dan Irion had the brilliant idea to create Luna Mystica.
Each camper has been renovated with the stories of their original owners and travel history in mind. You’ll meet Ralphie, the Airstream who spent 55 years cruising the valleys of New Mexico, and Rosie, a trailer from a traveling circus, decorated to reflect her gypsy flair. Staying next to the hottest music venue in Taos affords a rare combination of being in nature and the heart of the action. Moreover, you’re just 15 minutes from downtown art galleries and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Taos Pueblo.
Honaunau Farm, Hawaii
With the opportunity to watch the lava flow at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, stargaze from the tallest mountain in the Pacific, and stroll green sand beaches, anyone would want to stay on the island of Hawaiʻi. However, savvy travelers know a big-box hotel isn’t the way to experience its natural beauty. Stay at Honaunau Farm and you’ll have pristine forest all the way from your ocean-view cottage to Mauna Loa volcano.
At this organic farm, you can easily access the tourist attractions while having local insights and hands-on access to Hawaii’s bounty. See the landscape through the eyes of a permaculturist, learn the latest in medicinal hemp, take a class on regenerative farming, and harvest tropical fruit to enjoy back at your safari tent or tea house. Honaunau brings the Big Island back to its purest form.
Note: travelers to Hawaii must undergo a 14-day self-quarantine, paid at their own expense.
The Cozy Peach, Arizona
Planting seeds since 1941, the Schnepfs are excellent farmers, nationally renowned for their peaches. However, their ambitions were always bigger than stone fruit. Looking to celebrate the farming heritage of Maricopa County, Arizona, they have restored the area’s historic farmhouse buildings and created a U-pick veggie patch, hosting nearly 100 days worth of festivals each year. To further immerse guests into their 300 acres of orchards, forest, and fields, they opened Cozy Peach glamping, featuring 10 vintage travel trailers.
Just the right blend of nostalgic and contemporary, each camper has been polished like a gem. Take one of the complimentary bicycles for a ride among 5,000 peach trees, and join the farm happenings, including gardening, cooking classes, or one of their multiday festivals with live music, vintage amusement rides, and crafts.
Dreamsea Surf Camp, Costa Rica
Tamarindo, Costa Rica, is known as one of the world’s best beaches to learn surfing. Dive in with a seven-night stay at Dreamsea’s surf-camp-meets-yoga-retreat. Settle into your bell tent, complete with a private deck to enjoy the jungle’s tropical birds and acrobatic howler monkeys, while meeting your professional instructors and new surf buddies. Try the breaks at any of their four neighboring beaches, then unwind each evening with some yoga. The chefs promote a healthy lifestyle and embrace Costa Rica’s tropical bounty with global recipes.
Stay for a one- or two-week session at this all-inclusive retreat for less than $100 per person per day, or make it a true Endless Summer by applying to volunteer in exchange for free room and board.
Mendocino Grove, California
Many city folk like the idea of a nature getaway but may feel more comfortable knowing that top-notch restaurants, art galleries, and Pilates studios are nearby. When the founders of Mendocino Grove spotted a property on the wooded bluffs of the Pacific, just a quarter-mile from downtown, they thought, “This is the yin and yang we all need.” Mendocino was once a prosperous logging town; today, the 19th-century buildings house bookstores, coffee shops, organic markets, and fantastic restaurants.
From Mendocino Grove, access hikes into the grand fir forest, vegan meals, and award-winning theater without even getting into a car. With such a seductive camp, you might never make it to town. Breakfast is served in the meadow, with weekend yoga, and your tent has ocean views.
Good Knights, Alberta
Inspired by fanciful architecture, decor, and pursuits of medieval European nobility, Good Knights is a place where you can play princess and feel like a king. After decades of hosting a Renaissance fair-style festival on their property in the Alberta countryside, they decided to keep the fantasy alive for guests all summer long with lavish tents built in the 14th-century style.
They constructed a feast hall, longbow archery range, tournament field, and classical arts studio. The wooden gates opened in 2017 and became an instant hit. Skeptics like us initially came for the novelty, but after seeing everyone dressed up and learning new skills, we were enchanted by the magic of this place.
Great Huts, Jamaica
After decades of working as a physician around Jamaica, Dr. Paul Rhodes envisioned a resort that would celebrate the country’s West African roots and assist his humanitarian work. Collaborating with local architects and artists, Great Huts built African-inspired structures showcasing motifs from various tribes from which most Jamaicans descend. Their property features bamboo huts, almond treehouses, stone towers, millet silos, and royal-themed rooms adorned with African art and antiques.
Moreover, the seaside location hosts various cultural events, including four-day art and film festivals throughout the year. A portion of each guest’s stay supports a local homeless rehabilitation center, co-founded by Dr. Paul. If you’re looking for more good vibes at Great Huts, you can practice yoga overlooking the Caribbean Sea, soak in the cliffside pool, or dance the night away to live reggae.
Asheville Glamping, North Carolina
Joanna Cahill doesn’t just own Asheville Glamping; she lives it. While dreaming up the concept for this ultra-hip glamp camp, Joanna lived in a yurt she built herself. When she acquired the rolling hills just 10 miles north of downtown, she moved into a vintage trailer to save up for geodesic domes. Today, the 18-acre property is a glamper’s paradise, with five completely different structures, from bell tents to treehouses.
Having started this glamping business in her 20s, Joanna knows what millennials want—a two-story dome with a corkscrew slide from the living room. Guests can enjoy the opportunity to chill around a firepit with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and hop an Uber to local concerts in “Beer City,” USA. Thus, whether you’re a hipster or a hiker rolling through North Carolina, you know where to stay.
