The Best U.S. Cities for Glamping [2022 Data Study]

If you love the outdoors but don’t want to squat behind a tree when nature calls, then glamping is the perfect alternative for you! Besides proper bathroom facilities, luxury glamping can offer air conditioning, kitchens, and private outdoor hot tubs. Glamping is an upgraded slice of camping paradise, whether you stay in a decked-out tent, yurt, or treehouse. 

Now that Americans are opting for Pinterest-worthy getaways and booking glamping trips through popular rental sites like Airbnb, we wanted to find out the best glamping places by analyzing 100 U.S. destination cities across the country. For a more elevated camping experience, keep reading to discover where you should book your next trip!

The United States of Glamping

Asheville, North Carolina, ranked first as the best city for luxury glamping with an overall city score of 41.08 out of 50.00. This area has a whopping 600 glamping listings on Airbnb and 539 miles of hiking trails nearby. Book one of Asheville glamping’s star dome tents that features a skylight roof for stargazing at night and unwind before bed with a dip in your private hot tub out back.

The Sin City of Las Vegas ranks second with a city score of 34.76 out of 50.00. If you want to avoid the expensive Las Vegas Strip, opt for a glamping stay, which is priced on average at $136 per night. Relax for the weekend at Neftali’s tent which is situated on its own private mountain, complete with over 10 miles of hiking trails and anti-gravity chairs for stargazing at night! 

The mid-century desert oasis, Palm Springs, California, ranks number 18 on our list. The area is currently home to 615 glamping listings on Airbnb and 18 nature and outdoor experiences on Airbnb — think sound baths, desert yoga, and rock climbing. You’re also guaranteed to experience beautiful days for your outdoor excursions as the area boasts an average percent chance of sunshine of 85%.

Just a 35-mile drive away from Palm Springs is one of America’s most coveted national parks, ideal for the luxury glamping experience. For $215 a night, you can call this newly remodeled 1963 airstream your new Joshua Tree home for a few evenings, complete with hammock swings, “epic sunsets,” and a cold plunge pool.

The Most and Least Affordable Cities for Glamping

With hotel prices on the rise, Americans are seeking budget-friendly options at an affordable rate. To avoid going into credit card debt this summer, consider booking a glamping trip to El Paso, Texas, for an average nightly price of only $64. Jacksonville, Florida, another Southern state, had the third-lowest glamping Airbnb listings at just $91 per night on average. Dip your toes into Jacksonville’s local beaches and Daniel’s spacious glamping tent that has BBQ grills and fire pits — toilet paper not included!  

As inflation continues to skyrocket, most travelers are tightening their purse strings and coming up with creative solutions to unwind in style. If you’re looking for a more modestly priced glamping trip, we recommend avoiding Honolulu, which has an average nightly price of $151. However, glamping companies like Honolulu’s With Love and Grace can customize glamping tents for any occasion. From a girl’s night in or a romantic date night out, we wouldn’t blame you if the island of O’ahu was calling your name!

Steer clear of Southampton, New York, which is the second most expensive city for glamping with an average overnight price of $149. Still, want to make the trip? Consider gathering a few friends to split the cost.

Glamping Hotspots by Ranking Factor

If you are a last-minute vacation booker, consider Asheville for your next trip, which stole the show for the most tree house listings (17) and the most yurt listings (36). Simms’ serenity yurt sleeps up to 4 guests and features modern amenities like indoor plumbing, a flat-screen TV, and a private Jacuzzi tub.

Another tranquil glamping option in Asheville is this canvas resort tent hosted by Redbud. Mountain lookouts, king-sized beds, and even fresh eggs from the property’s hens are all included!

For the best glamping places for the active wanderer, visit Tucson, Arizona, which is home to 296 hiking trails that make up 1,132 miles of trails. If you love alternative vacation stays, check out Taylor’s hippie-inspired yurt, which is situated on 10 acres for a one-of-a-kind soul-awakening experience in Tucson. 

To guarantee a sunny holiday, book a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, where it only rains 38 days out of the year!

Cities With the Most Glamping Listings on Airbnb

Malibu, California, ranked second with 630 glamping tents posted on Airbnb. For mountain and ocean views, visit Michael’s private RV which features a miniature golf course and outdoor grill. Or check out Bartolomeo’s Malibu glamping site overlooking the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Hiking trails and private horseback riding are a stone’s throw away!

To be a well-traveled glamping pro, you can’t leave Austin, Texas, off of your list, which placed seventh with 585 glamping tent listings on Airbnb. Visit Tad’s cabins for the ultimate luxury glamping vacation. Grill steaks on the fire pit outside or cool off from the heat with a dip in the state-of-the-art spa.   

Atlanta rounds out our list at number 10 with 571 glamping tents listed on Airbnb. Atlanta is one of the best glamping places to plan a trip, as you can stay close to the events in the city but retire to Katie and Peter’s secluded treehouse for some much-needed R&R — and did we mention it has a magical rope bridge?

Methodology

To conduct our analysis, we started with 100 destination cities around the U.S. with population sizes between 10,000 and 1,000,000. For each city, we collected data on 13 different factors within 3 categories––accommodation, recreation, and weather/climate. Each factor was assigned a weight based on its impact on providing the ideal glamping experience. From there, we converted the data into a score of 0 to 5, with 5 equating to the most favorable conditions. Those scores were multiplied by their factors’ weight and added together for a possible total score of 50. The factors are listed below with their respective weights and source data.

Ranking factors include:

Final Thoughts

That wraps up our study on the best destinations for glamping around the U.S.! If you enjoyed this read, check out our guide to the best glamping resorts in the world.

While some cities like El Paso were made for luxury glamping with an average listing of just $64 per night, places like Honolulu can still deliver amazing, albeit slightly more expensive glamping stays with an average cost of $151 per night.

Whether you want to soak in the views at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Asheville or live your homestead dream in Omaha, Nebraska, you can’t go wrong with one of these amazing Airbnb listings. To enjoy nature in comfort, book your next glamping trip today with one of these popular credit cards for Airbnb or Vrbo stays.