If you love the outdoors but aren’t into all the roughing it, or simply prefer to get your fresh air fix after a night of sleeping in a queen bed and not a sleeping bag, glamping, my friend, is for you. Commonly referred to as “boutique camping”, glamping is shorthand for “glamorous camping,” which is a more elevated way to reconnect with nature without sacrificing comfort for the sake of outdoor adventure. Over the last few years, glamping’s popularity has skyrocketed with more cozy and stylish Safari canvas tent camping sites cropping up all over the world.
This fancy manner of escapism has evolved from a trend to a well-known form of outdoor adventure travel, but in actuality, today’s glamping is really a modern spin on a centuries-old tradition. Take for example, the wealthy colonizers of Britain and the United States who would stay in these classic canvas tents while on safari in Africa. Dig a little deeper, and you can find records of monarchs who traveled the world in lavish, palatial-sized tents.
However, for the modern day glampers, a weekend away in a fully-furnished, heated tent might just suspend reality long enough to let you feel like royalty for a day or two, — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Overtime, the definition of a glampsite has even expanded to include novel architecture like yurts and treehouses. It’s a creative way to combine good design with the great outdoors that can feel less intimidating for new outdoorists who want to spend time in nature (in an admittedly bougie setting) among adventure destinations, like New York’s Adirondack Mountains.
Home to more than six million acres of mountains, lakes, valleys and local communities, the Adirondack region is the largest protected natural area in the lower 48 of the United States. Climb Mt. Marcy, elevation 5,334 feet, the highest peak in New York, ski the world-class trails at Whiteface Mountain, or dive deep into relaxation mode at a cozy glamping hub. The best time to visit the Adirondacks is May through August, which won’t help you avoid the crowds, but will provide primo conditions for outdoor adventure.
Ready for a luxe glamping getaway? The following are the 5 best places to glamping in upstate NY. Sure to please any nature lover looking for some good old Adirondacks glamping.
Camp Orenda - Johnsburg, NY
Vibe: Backcountry Bliss
Orenda’s Adirondack luxury camping retreat hasn’t missed a thing: canvas safari tents that are spacious yet cozy in a private wooded setting. Home cooked meals with ingredients sourced from the camp’s heirloom garden and local farmers. Adventure on land and water right outside your doorstep, plus, a bathhouse fully-stocked with amenities that even includes toilets with heated seats because, well, it’s glamping.
Rate: $265/night
Adirondack Safari - Warrensburg, NY
Vibe: All-Inclusive Glamping
From your ready-made canvas tent, fully furnished with a queen bed, cozy carpeted floors, and charcoal fire pit to the live music, yoga classes, and fly fishing lessons on nearby Schroon River. Adirondack Safari has more of an all-inclusive resort vibe than a rustic-camp-in-the-woods feel. Yet, it’s perfect for the glamper who hates being bored.
Rate: $149/night
Huttopia Adirondacks - Lake Luzerne, NY
Vibe: Parlez-vous Français?
Turns out the French-Canadian fur trappers and traders of the late 1700s were some of the first to pitch canvas glamping tents in New York’s Adirondack region. Huttopia puts a French-Canadian twist on glamping, with their unique wood frame tents, called trappeurs and Canadiennes, provide modern comfort, communal vibes, and plenty of fresh air.
Rate: $85/night
Adirondack Loj & Campground at Heart Lake - Lake Placid, NY
Vibe: Haven in the High Peaks
Run by the Adirondack Mountain Club, this rustic campground sits at the entryway of the Adirondacks’ famed High Peaks Wilderness. In addition to established campsites, guests can also glamp in a pared back yurt, one of six canvas glamping tents, or the historic Loj (pronounced lodge), all with easy access to hiking trails, Heart Lake, and downtown Lake Placid.
Rate: $50/night
Lake George Glamping - Lake George, NY
Vibe: Home on the Range
Decked out with wooden furniture, fresh linens, toiletries, and of course, a strong Wi-Fi signal, this luxury camping getaway offers an authentic ranch experience in the heart of the Adirondacks. Horse pastures and sprawling green meadows are visible from the glamping tent, and guests can choose their own adventure of hiking, horseback riding, or tennis (well, it’s glamping, right?) during the day before kicking back in front of a fire at night.
Rate: $164/night
Published 11-10-2021
Updated 08-29-2023
