What Is Glamping? Meaning, Types, Costs and Glamping vs. Camping

Glamping is camping with the hard parts already done for you. You still sleep outdoors, hear the wind in the trees and sit by a fire at night, but someone else has set up a real bed, a sturdy shelter and often a bathroom. If you've wondered what glamping is, whether it's worth the price and how it compares to regular camping, this guide covers it.

What Is Glamping? The Meaning of the Word

The word "glamping" is a blend of glamorous and camping. The term caught on in the UK in the late 2000s and later spread worldwide, and it now appears in major English dictionaries. The definition of glamping is simple: outdoor accommodation with hotel-style comforts, usually a pre-pitched structure with furniture, linens and some amenities included.

The idea is much older than the word. Royalty on the move and wealthy travelers on African safaris slept in elaborate furnished tents long before anyone posted a bell tent on Instagram.

Why Is It Called Glamping?

Because it removes the parts of camping many people find unglamorous: pitching a tent in the rain, sleeping on the ground, hauling gear and walking to a shared bathhouse at 2 a.m. What's left is the scenery, the fresh air and the campfire.

Types of Glamping

Glamping covers a wide range of structures. The most common are:

• Bell tents. Round canvas tents with a center pole, a raised bed or mattress and rugs. The classic glamping look.
• Safari tents. Large rectangular canvas tents on a wooden deck, often with a porch, real furniture and sometimes an en-suite bathroom.
• Yurts. Round, semi-permanent structures with a lattice frame and a domed roof. They hold heat well and often have a wood stove.
• Geodesic domes. Clear or insulated domes known for stargazing, common at resorts in the mountains and desert.
• Treehouses. Elevated cabins or platforms in the trees, usually with stairs rather than ladders.
• Cabins and tiny homes. Small hard-sided buildings with beds, power and sometimes a kitchenette.
• Airstreams and vintage trailers. Restored travel trailers parked on a site and rented by the night.
• Tipis. Cone-shaped canvas shelters, often furnished like a bell tent.

Do You Get Your Own Toilet When Glamping?

It depends on the site, and it's the first thing to check before you book.

• En-suite. Many safari tents, cabins, Airstreams and domes have a private bathroom with a flush toilet and shower.
• Private but separate. Some sites give each unit its own bathroom hut a few steps away.
• Shared bathhouse. Budget glamping, and many bell tent setups, use a shared bathhouse like a campground.
• Composting toilet. Off-grid sites often use composting toilets, private or shared.

Listings usually say which type they offer. If yours doesn't, ask the host before you pay.

Is Glamping Expensive?

Usually, yes, at least compared to a tent site. A standard campground site might cost a modest nightly fee, while glamping often costs about as much as a hotel room, and luxury sites can cost far more. What drives the price:

• Structure. A shared-bath bell tent costs much less than a decked safari tent with a private bathroom.
• Location. Sites near national parks, beaches and popular wine regions charge a premium, especially in peak season.
• Inclusions. Meals, guided activities, hot tubs and linens all add to the rate.
• Season and day of week. Weekends and summer cost more, and many sites have minimum stays.

To save money, look for weekday or shoulder-season dates, or a state park cabin or yurt. Many public parks rent them for much less than private resorts. Our free camping guide covers the opposite end of the budget scale.

What Is the Point of Glamping?

Glamping makes the outdoors easier to get to. It's a good fit if:

• You're new to camping and want to try it without buying a full kit. See our camping tips for beginners when you're ready to try a tent.
• You have small kids and want a real bed and a nearby bathroom. Our guide to camping with kids has more ideas.
• Someone in your group has limited mobility or doesn't sleep well on the ground.
• You're short on time and don't want to spend half a weekend packing, pitching and cleaning up.
• You're celebrating: anniversaries, birthdays and girls' trips are common reasons people book glamping.

Glamping vs. Camping

Neither is better; they suit different trips. Many campers do both: rugged trips like dispersed camping in summer, and a heated yurt for a cold-season weekend. If you love the outdoors but hate cold nights, glamping can be a gentle way into winter camping.

How to Plan a Glamping Trip

1. Choose the structure first. Decide whether you need a private bathroom, heat or air conditioning, then filter by those.
2. Read what's included. Check for linens, towels, cooking gear, firewood, power and Wi-Fi.
3. Check the cancellation policy. Glamping sites often have stricter policies than campgrounds.
4. Pack light, but don't pack nothing. Bring layers, a headlamp, camp shoes and food unless meals are included.
5. Plan for the weather. Canvas tents can be hot in summer and cold in winter even with a heater. Ask about climate control.

Recommended Gear

Even when the bed is provided, a few pieces of your own gear make a glamping trip more comfortable, and they'll carry over if you try regular camping later:

• GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker XL. Many glamping sites have a fire pit but only a couple of basic chairs. A comfortable rocker you bring yourself is a real upgrade for long evenings by the fire.
• Teton Celsius Sleeping Bag. Useful for unheated bell tents and shoulder-season trips, and a solid starter bag when you graduate to tent camping.
• Coleman Sundome Camping Tent. If a glamping weekend convinces you to try the real thing, the Sundome is an easy, affordable first tent. Our guide to how to set up a tent walks you through it.

Whether you choose a safari tent with a clawfoot tub or a two-person dome in the backcountry, the goal is the same: more time outdoors and fewer reasons to stay home.