If you love spending time in nature but balk at sleeping in a tent, glamping may be the perfect solution for you. This elevated camping option allows you to experience the outdoor aspect of camping with the comforts of a hotel stay. If you are ready to relax and recharge in luxury, book a glamping campsite at a Kampgrounds of America campground near you today.
What Is Glamping?
Glamping is camping with a bit of glamor. While glamping is relatively new, it has quickly become a popular camping method for many people who want to experience the great outdoors with comforts such as a mattress, running water and access to bathroom facilities.
Like traditional camping, glamping comes in many forms, like safari tents and cabins. While your exact amenities will change based on your specific lodging, you can expect a real bed, running water and electricity.
The Allure of Glamping
For many people, glamping is their preferred way to spend time outdoors. For example, with glamping, you can feel confident you will be comfortable while taking in stunning views. Other reasons why many people choose to go glamping include:
Convenience
Glamping enables you to immerse yourself in nature while staying in hotel-level lodging. Since the campground provides everything for your glamping site, you do not need to bring items like an air mattress or sleeping bags, which can save room when packing. Depending on how you choose to go glamping, you can also save money compared to staying in a hotel or a rental home for a convenient vacation option without breaking the bank.
Compromise
Instead of trying to choose between reconnecting with nature and having running water and electricity, glamping allows you to experience the best of both worlds. You can also select a glamping site in a unique location for a more immersive experience.
All Season Enjoyment
Depending on where you choose to camp, you may have to plan your trip within the spring, summer and early fall. With glamping, however, you can camp in all seasons. Most glamping options can sustain various weather conditions and may feature amenities like a fireplace or fans to help you stay comfortable throughout the seasons.
Ideal for the Whole Family
Glamping is great for children and adults, as you can have fun while still enjoying some simple luxuries. Since there are fewer items to pack and a shorter preparation checklist, glamping is an excellent spur-of-the-moment vacation, especially if you have younger children.
A New Challenge
Glamping is a fantastic way for individuals and families to challenge themselves in a new environment while still having some familiar things like running water and electricity. If you are unsure or have never been camping before, you can also use glamping to work up to staying in a tent.
Glamping Trends for 2025
As the glamping industry continues to grow in popularity, several trends have dominated the glamping landscape, with some of the latest glamping trends being:
1. Emphasis on Nature
Many people are turning to nature to disconnect from their devices and other technology. Glamping sites are meeting this trend through:
- Outdoor festivals: Outdoor festivals and glamping often go hand in hand. Many campgrounds advertise glamping as a way to stay during these multiday events.
- Dynamic spaces: Hotels have restrictions regarding where they can build. Glamping sites can set up tents, yurts or other lodging types in unique locations that may be closer to natural attractions and other one-of-a-kind spaces than traditional hotels.
- Eco-consciousness: Many people are looking to be more environmentally conscious in every aspect of their lives, making glamping, with its low carbon footprint, a great sustainable camping option.
2. Embracing Modern Technology
Since glamping offers an elevated experience, many people expect a comfortable and sleek experience. Many glamping sites are embracing modern technology, such as mobile check-in. Incorporating technology extends beyond just checking in, with many glamping sites using updated technology to create an elevated experience for guests. If you go glamping in 2024, you may find trendy devices such as:
- Smart cabins with voice-controlled lighting.
- Pre-set ambiance settings to help guests set the mood for stargazing or reading.
- Personalized recommendations for campground or local activities.
Other ways glamping sites embrace technology include making access to remote working opportunities available at each site. For example, many glamping sites have communal areas with amenities like Wi-Fi and hot desks so campers can keep up with work in a more relaxing location.
3. Unique Experiences
Many travelers are looking for one-of-a-kind vacations, which has caused many glamping sites to up their game in terms of aesthetics, identity and offerings. For example, many glamping sites partner with their local community to create a diverse identity. Others use their natural surroundings to inspire their building materials or decor.
As a way to meet this trend of providing unique experiences, many glamping locations appear in unexpected places. Some of the more unique glamping locations include:
- Rooftop jungles in major cities.
- Eco-tents on industrial sites.
- Floating glamping sites in city waterways.
4. Multigenerational Opportunities
As glamping continues to rise in popularity, more families are seeing the benefit of this camping option. Many glamping sites have begun to expand their offerings so campers of all ages can partake in the fun. For example, some sites have dedicated areas for children to play and learn, while others offer intergenerational activities, such as cooking classes and hikes.
5. Pet-Friendly Glamping Sites
The pet travel market takes up a huge portion of the industry, and many glamping sites have become pet-friendly to meet market demand. Some pet-friendly amenities many glamping sites offer include:
- Pet spas.
- Walking trails.
- Fenced-in areas.
6. Personalized Experiences
Many glamping sites have become hyper-personalized as more people look for experiences that cater to their specific interests. Some examples include:
- Dietary restrictions: Many campgrounds offer a range of food and catering options to meet various dietary needs.
- Preferred activities: Instead of a one-size-fits-all camping experience, many campgrounds enable campers to choose which activities they enjoy most, like hiking or swimming.
- Seclusion choice: Glamping sites allow guests to choose their level of seclusion by offering options ranging from isolated cabins to communal glamping.
Experience What’s New in Glamping at a KOA Near You Today
Immersing yourself in nature does not mean you have to leave comforts behind. When you camp at KOA, you have plenty of campgrounds to choose from that offer a glamping option, so you can reconnect with your surroundings while still having a comfortable place to sleep. Each campground offers something different, so you can choose Camping Cabins, Deluxe Cabins, Glamping Tents or other unique lodging options that match your style.
Regardless of what you choose for your glamping experience, all KOA locations offer access to clean bathrooms with hot water, laundry facilities and plenty of unique amenities ranging from jumping pillows to fishing ponds. Try something new when you book a glamping site at a KOA today.
About the Author: Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in Billings, MT in 1962, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – today serve more than a million camping families each year. KOA is dedicated to “connecting people to the outdoors and each other” by providing people with a variety of camping experiences and the information they need to make the most of their camping trip. Read more of their camping and travel resources by visiting KOA.com/blog.
