At last, it’s fall. If you’re looking for vacation ideas, why not try glamping? That’s a portmanteau of “glamorous camping,” if you’re not familiar! Glamping provides all the beautiful scenery of the outdoors and immersion in nature without sacrificing modern amenities.
Luckily there are tons of “glampsites” around New England, while some require long car rides away from the city, the trek will absolutely be worth it. Here are our top picks for glamping outside of Boston.
1. Getaway: Epson, New Hampshire
Just 1.5 hours outside of Boston, Getaway’s tiny cabins boast enormously beautiful views. Each one of Getaway’s simple yet spacious cabins are located within walking distance of Northwood Lake, Bear Brooks State Park, and a local and restaurant. All cabins come fully equipped with a hot shower, a small kitchen, outdoor furniture, and a fire pit. With just the right number of modern amenities, these cabins are minimal but comfortable—perfect for a secluded weekend to destress and relax.
2. Normandy Farms: Foxborough, Massachusetts
Normandy Farms is less than an hour outside of Boston, but it still provides a wonderful natural experience with resort-level amenities. This luxury campsite has been active since 1971, and it offers a wide range of sleeping arrangements for all levels of camping expertise. You can bring your own tent or RV, or try a cabin or yurt rental on the property. Plus, the facilities at the recreation lodge include a swimming pool, gyms, spas, and arcades. Whatever camping experience you’re looking for, you can find it here!
3. Maine Forest Yurts: Durham, Maine
The Maine Forest Yurts are ideal for anyone looking to experience some outdoor fun. Located around 2 hours away from Boston in Durham, Maine, this campsite spans over 100 acres of wilderness. You can stay in a fully furnished yurt for an overnight, a weekend excursion or a weeklong retreat. At the campsite, you can kayak, canoe, fish, hike, or simply kick back and relax in nature!
4. Tops’l Farm: Waldoboro, Maine
Looking for a comfortable camping experience with a vintage flair? Tops’l Farms in Waldoboro, Maine, makes sure you’re comfortable while you have an authentic campsite experience. Your stay in one of their A-frame cabins comes with breakfast and dinner included, and you can use the canoes on site to take a ride on the river. Even better, if you’re planning to host a party or wedding, they have more than enough space and amenities to host it. They even have an elopement package for couples looking for a casual wedding! While this campsite is 3 hours away from downtown Boston, it’s well worth the experience.
5. Sandy Pines Campground: Kennebunkport, Maine
A little over an hour and a half away from Boston lies Sandy Pines Campground on the coast of Maine. These campgrounds have room to bring your own tents and RVs, but Sandy Pines also has yurts and readymade glamping tents to rent—some as unique as sleeping in a covered wagon! At the Grand Lodge, the hub of activity at the campground, a well-stocked general store and a snack bar covers all your camping needs. There’s a saltwater pool on the property as well, but you’ll also have to check out the beautiful Goose Rocks Beach right next door!
Fun fact, Sandy Pines recently ranked among the top 10 glamping sites in the country, coming in at number 9!
6. Huttopia White Mountains: Albany, New Hampshire
Huttopia’s White Mountains location is less than a 2.5 hour drive from downtown Boston and conveniently located near the trailheads, scenic views, and swimming holes of the White Mountain National Forest. Whether you’re looking to hike up the mountains or take a dive in Iona Lake, this campground provides a perfect escape into nature. On the campsite, you can take a dive in the heated saltwater pool (if the lake’s too cold!) and enjoy home-cooked meals at the bistro. The best part about the bistro? It’s in a converted Airstream trailer that has a fully equipped kitchen and a flatbread pizza oven!
7. Autocamp Cape Cod: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Speaking of Airstreams, if you want an authentically vintage glamping experience, look no further than the AutoCamp in Cape Cod, where you can stay in an airstream for the night. Just an hour and a half away from downtown Boston, this campsite lets you choose whether you’d like to stay in a readymade tent or an Airstream—and both options conveniently include deluxe bathrooms. Located 5 minutes away from the local beaches, the campsite also has a mid-century modern Clubhouse with a lounge and a General Store to stock up on amenities. With all-day dining and free WiFi on the campsite as well, what’s not to love about this darling camping experience?
8. Lumen Nature Retreat: Woodstock, New Hampshire
New England’s newest glamping destination sits in New Hampshire’s White Mountains and just opened for the season after 2 years in the making! The 20-acre property is just 1-hour 50-minutes from Boston and well worth the trip. With a barrel sauna offering a panoramic view on the pond, smokeless firepits, and a property encircled in water, Lumen has everything you’d ever need in a glamping trip!
The Nordic-style nature retreat offers stays in Danish cabins called Hygge (the Danish word for cozy) or Lykke (the Danish word for joy and happiness)! Cabins offer pristine views of nature with floor to ceiling windows that truly make it feels like you’re sleeping in nature, while still providing the glamorous security of a relaxation nook, full kitchenette, along with a luxury, hotel-quality queen bed. More experienced campers can stay in an A-frame tent or the Safari tent open to the starry sky and breathtaking waterfront views!
9. Under Canvas: Acadia, Maine
Is there a more perfect spot for glamping than 100 acres of waterfront property at the first place the sun rises in America? Talk about a natural experience! These glamping tents run from May through October each year and provide a stunning overnight stay in Maine. The tents have hot showers, wood-burning stoves, private bathrooms and private decks with unobstructed views. The tnets are just a 35 minut drive from the park so you can spend each day exploring. The glamping tents are open through Northern Maine’s peak foliage season, making this glamping trip great for leaf-peeping.