Every year, millions of Americans set out to rest, play, and recharge in the great outdoors. And more than ever, they’re turning to glamping for the perfect balance of luxury and nature. Glamping, or “glamorous camping,” offers five-star hotel accommodations in wild spaces.
You can enjoy the unique splendors of the outdoors without sacrificing comfort. Glamping resorts do this by offering contemporary tent lodging with resort-style services.
Whether you’re starting a glamping business or enjoying the luxuries of glamping, these tent styles guarantee the best bang for your buck.
A good glamping tent needs to be durable, comfortable, and spacious. These five tent styles offer a balanced combination of all three, making them the best tents for glamping.
1. Wall Tents
Wall tents—sometimes called safari tents, sheepherder tents, or outfitter tents—are the most popular type of glamping tent. They’re sturdy, durable, and spacious, making them the ideal tent for glamping.
What is a wall tent?
A wall tent is a robust canvas structure with four vertical walls and a gabled roof. Wall tents are typically rectangular, with enough room to accommodate two to twenty people depending on size). With their sturdy frames, steadfast reinforcements, and flexible canvas structures, wall tents offer a balance versatility and strength.
Wall tents are made with heavy-duty canvas that can withstand extreme temperatures and weather conditions. The canvas is draped over an internal frame and secured to the ground with guylines. The provide generous living spaces, abundant headroom, and plenty of opportunities for luxury additions like wood-burning stoves and electrical outlets. Most glamping wall tents include desirable features like large storm doors and windows, weathertight flooring, and fire-retardant stove jacks.
Why are wall tents great for glamping?
Wall tents are exceptional shelters for glamping. There are a few things to consider when it comes to wall tents, all of which affect your glamping experience.
Their spacious design provides ample room for luxurious beds, comfortable living spaces, and well-stocked kitchenettes. The durable canvas and reinforced internal frames make them perfect for long-term use in any environment.
One of the hallmarks of a good glamping tent is climate control. Whether you’re soaking up the sun or taking advantage of crisp winter landscapes, wall tents keep you comfortable and relaxed for your entire stay. The thick cotton canvas and double-stitch sealing lock in the internal climate while allowing you to adjust the temperature at your convenience.
Wall tents are built to withstand any environmental condition, which is essential for enjoying yourself in nature. They keep you safe from wind, water, fire, mold, UV rays, and unwanted critters. Mesh windows and adjustable door flaps make it easy to enjoy your surroundings without inviting unwelcome visitors. And their simple, elegant design makes it easy to add glamorous light displays, homelike comforts, and attractive decorations.
Wall tents are one of the most sustainable types of glamping tents. White Duck’s popular Alpha Wall Tent is an environmentally-friendly option, as it’s made with natural, organic fibers that last a lifetime.
If you’re looking for a home-away-from-home, look no further than a well-built wall tent. Their houselike design creates a warm, familiar atmosphere no matter how rugged the outdoors. It’s easy to forget you’re in the wild until you step outside your tent and breathe in that fresh mountain air.
2. Bell Tents
Bell tents are another popular option for glamping. They’re the perfect cross between a teepee and a wall tent—a blueprint that’s been perfected over thousands of years. Their durable construction and elegant design make them a reliable and comfortable choice for glamping.
What is a bell tent?
A bell tent is a round canvas shelter with a tapered roof. The sides are draped around the center apex and secured to the ground with guylines for 360-degree stability and protection. Every once in a while, you’ll see bell tents shaped like dewdrops, providing extra interior space. Bell tents share a lot of qualities with wall tents, but they’re generally easier to set up and take down.
The bell tent’s design is reminiscent of the classic teepee, but it has an enclosed roof, tension-supported exterior walls, and a large a-frame doorway. The center height of the tent can reach twelve vertical feet, with a circumference up to twenty feet across. Depending on the bell tent, you can easily fit up to twelve people. Their simple, spacious design offers generous floor space for all the comforts you’d expect in a glamping tent—luxurious beds and furniture, wood-burning stoves and kitchenettes, showers, and air conditioning.
Due to their spherical shape, you’ll often see creative interior designs and lighting displays that maximize functionality and communal living.
Why are bell tents great for glamping?
Bell tents are an iconic choice for glamping that strikes a balance between classic luxury and modern comforts. Due to their versatility, some would argue they’re the best choice for glamping tents.
Like wall tents, bell tents are made with heavy-duty cotton canvas that’s durable and sustainable. The canvas is often treated to resist temperature changes, inclement weather conditions, UV rays, and fire hazards. No matter where you are or what the weather’s doing, you’ll stay comfortable throughout your entire trip.
No amount of rain, sun, snow, or wind will penetrate your glamping experience. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the natural elegance of your glamping bell tent.
Most bell tents are designed with comfort in mind. Large storm windows are equipped with mesh panels and door flaps to keep out unwanted critters while letting in the cool mountain breeze. And precision stove jacks allow you to attach a wood-burning stove that heats your space to perfection without energy loss. The single-pole design creates a sense of grandeur that’s inviting and comforting.
White Duck offers a few different models to accommodate glamping enthusiasts of all types. The timeless Regatta Bell Tent is a charming option for glampers who want to enjoy the contemporary comforts of luxury with a touch of yesteryear. And the spacious Avalon Bell Tent is a premium choice for glampers who want the very best glamping tents have to offer.
If you’re looking for an opulent glamping experience with a touch of tradition, consider staying in a bell tent. Their distinctive design is a graceful balance between antiquity and modernity, maximizing functionality and glamour for a memorable glamping experience.
3. Teepees
Teepees, or Tipis, have been used for hundreds (or thousands) of years by indigenous and nomadic peoples around the world. Their simple and effective design has been perfected over time, resulting in a durable structure that’s perfect for glamping.
What is a teepee?
A teepee is a round canvas structure with tapered sides and an open central apex. Teepees have provided the inspiration for more contemporary canvas structures like bell tents. But there are some notable differences between bell tents teepees.
The shape of a teepee is held taught with several wooden or metal poles tied together at the top. The poles create symmetrical 360-degree tension that maintains the structure’s shape over time. The roof of the teepee is open to allow for ventilation and smoke release. Most teepees include a large doorway and windows with mesh panels.
The spherical design of teepees was intended to foster sociability and communal living. They provide spacious indoor living areas with plenty of room for luxury furniture and modern amenities. Most contemporary teepees can fit up to twelve guests.
Glampers can expect to find wood-burning stoves or fireplaces, or possibly an open campfire ring. Modern teepees include storm doors and windows with protective flaps, giving you more control over your environment.
Why are teepees great for glamping?
Like many other modern tent structures, teepees are made with durable duck cotton or polyester-cotton (polycotton) that can withstand any weather condition. Their indestructible nature makes them an excellent choice for permanent or semi-permanent living, offering comfort in any environment. The tension created by the supporting poles allows the teepee to remain stable in windy conditions. It can move and sway in the wind without caving in or breaking apart.
The pyramid shape of the teepee maximizes climate control, allowing internal temperatures to equalize and remain steady no matter what’s going on outside. You’ll stay cool in the summer and toasty in the winter. Due to the teepee’s exposed roof, you’ll want to make sure it’s protected under a tarp, canopy, or other protective structure to keep the interior dry during a storm.
The teepee’s ingenuity comes from its traditional design. It keeps you safe from the elements while maximizing comfort and luxury. The vast interior provides plenty of space for furniture, creative lighting displays, kitchenettes, and storage space. All while harking back to a simpler time that emphasizes relaxation.
If you’re looking for a unique, unforgettable glamping experience, consider staying in a teepee. They’re a romantic nod to historical architecture, making them a novel and exciting choice for glamping enthusiasts.
4. Yurts
Yurts, like teepees, have been used for hundreds of years by nomadic groups. The interior walls and ceiling are lined with latticed or ribbed reinforcements, making them a remarkably durable option for glamping.
What is a yurt?
A yurt is a spherical dwelling with an angled, often pointed roof. Sometimes the roof’s apex will include a skylight or transparent dome so you can enjoy the night sky. The vertical walls are often held up by a latticed framework that maintains the yurt’s shape.
Ribbed wood or metal rafters reach from the walls to the ceiling’s apex, creating a sturdy internal frame for the top half of the yurt. Modern yurts are made of durable cotton canvas draped around the framework, for 360-degree protection. Some contemporary yurts are lined with extra layers of insulation for comfort.
The yurt’s roof (or crown) is usually made with cotton canvas, although sometimes they’ll feature more rigid materials like plastic or metal. The rafters and wall reinforcements work together with gravity to create balanced tension around the structure, maximizing durability and weather protection.
Yurts come in all sizes, comfortably sleeping anywhere from two to twelve people. They feature high ceilings, with a maximum height of up to fifteen feet. Most yurts include large picture windows and storm doors, with weatherproofing flaps and adjustable mesh linings.
Like their teepee counterparts, they emphasize functionality, with open, spacious interiors that can fit several pieces of furniture, wood-burning stoves, full kitchens, and communal living areas.
Why are yurts great for glamping?
The yurt’s design is simple and effective, taking advantage of natural materials and physics to maintain its stability. The symbiotic relationship between the framework and external fabric makes the yurt one of the most durable structures available for glamping. It’s virtually indestructible in even the most brutal conditions but versatile enough to transport and set up with ease.
Yurts are also one of the most environmentally-friendly glamping structures. It’s made almost entirely of natural materials: cotton canvas, wooden planks, and organic ropes. Their design makes the most of minimal materials, further reducing their carbon footprint.
Many modern yurts include natural wood flooring, full-sized fireplaces, air-conditioning, plumbing, and electricity. Modern humans have built upon their ingenious design to offer the ultimate luxury glamping experience. For shorter glamping trips, you can also find lightweight yurt-style tents that provide many of the same benefits with added mobility and versatility.
If you’re looking for an impenetrable structure that makes the most of glamorous camping, consider staying in a yurt. It doesn’t matter if you’re mountain glamping in the middle of winter or soaking up the hot summer desert. A glamping yurt is sure to keep you happy and comfortable throughout your entire stay.
5. Cabin Tents
Cabin tents are a great way to enjoy the comforts of glamping with the ruggedness of the great outdoors. Their lightweight design and spacious interiors make them an excellent choice for shorter glamping getaways.
What is a cabin tent?
A cabin tent is a versatile canvas structure that resembles the shape of a cabin, with four vertical walls and an expansive roof. The structure is held together with reinforced poles and guylines, often with an extra awning off one end. Most cabin tents come with large picture windows and tall, side-by-side doors, so the cool summer breeze can flow through your tent with ease. The openings include mesh panels to keep out unwanted visitors and control the interior climate to your liking.
They generally feature a lofty center height—between six and seven feet—making them a great option for taller glamping enthusiasts.
Cabin tents usually aren’t as large as luxury wall tents or bell tents, but they’re still spacious. Most tents can sleep up to eight people, leaving room for luggage and creature comforts. Even though they’re made with durable cotton canvas, cabin tents are lighter than traditional safari tents, making them a better option for glampers setting up their own luxury camp.
Why are cabin tents great for glamping?
Cabin tents strike a nice balance between spaciousness, functionality, and utility. They’re made with cotton canvas that keeps you comfortable in most weather conditions. But they’re light enough to transport, set up, and take down with ease.
The cabin tent’s cavernous interior and high ceilings make it ideal for large families, tall glampers, or groups with a lot of gear. You’ll have so much space you won’t know what to do with all of it. You can section off areas to create separate rooms, with a communal living space in the middle.
Cabin tents with awnings offer even more functionality for glamping. You can use the awning as a protective barrier against UV rays or set up a nice kitchenette outside your tent door. White Duck’s Prota Cabin Tent comes with a sizeable awning, large breezy windows, and the ability to hook up electrical outlets. The Prota Cabin Deluxe adds more space, oversized windows, and specially reinforced poles.
If you’re new to glamping and want to see what it’s all about, or a seasonal glamper who likes to create your own luxury space, then a cabin tent is right for you. Their lightweight, spacious design makes them perfect for extended trips to your favorite landscapes.
