Camping, but make it glamorous. And make it New England.
While we all love the outdoors (that’s why we’re here, right?), we can also appreciate the finer things in life. You know, like toilets, comfy beds, and hot showers. Now imagine a camping experience where you can enjoy all of these creature comforts, together— that’s the glamping experience.
Glamping mashes up the best of the outdoors and the indoors in a way that’s comfortable and cozy, typically in a secluded, tranquil, and sometimes hard-to-reach setting surrounded by nature. Places like California and Texas sure know how to glamp. Washington State, too. Now glamping in New England, that’s a whole nother level of awesome. For proof, scroll on for our top picks for the best places to glamp in New England. Or keep reading for a deeper dive into what makes the New England region worthy of proper adventure daydreaming.
Located on coastlines and private islands, on hilltops and hidden deep within forests, next to babbling creeks and tucked between the serenity of the cedars, hemlocks, maples, and sycamores that grow in the region, New England's best glamping sites are something to see and experience, in any seasons (not just when the foliage is popping).
For instance, at Acadia National Park, one of the most popular in the country, you can discover more than 1,100 plant species while hoping to encounter one of the 40 species of mammals or more than 330 types of birds, not to mention an abundance of fish, as you explore the park’s wetlands, marshes, lakes, ponds, and intertidal zones, as well as it’s sprawling forests and mountains (pro tip: there's more than the famous Cadillac Mountain). Good luck choosing where and what to explore here first—there’s no shortage of ways to spend your days luxury camping here.
The region is full of smaller state parks and state forests that are less clogged with tourists though. For somewhere less discovered and a bit wilder, for example, check out Maine's Mahoosuc Mountain Range, if that’s more your speed.
There’s also the Appalachian Trail, the 2,180-mile footpath that makes its way through New England before ending with an ascent up Maine’s Mount Katahdin. Take on parts of the trail while you’re in the area and high-five the AT thru-hikers who have been on the trail for nearly five months by this part of their journey. They could use the encouragement (and a solid meal or snack if you have one to share).
While the glamping experience in New England includes beds, kitchens, rainfall showers, and fire pits, it’s still the exploring that puts any trip to these northeastern states above the rest. From Connecticut and Rhode Island and up through Massachusetts to Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, there are plenty of places to camp, and this list has them all covered. (Don’t forget to read about the best northern Vermont cabins while you’re at it.)
Enjoy the following 16 New England glamping locations for the best of what the region has to offer.