When you think “family camping trip,” your mind probably goes straight to soggy tents, bored kids, burnt marshmallows, and at least one adult quietly Googling nearby hotels by nightfall. However, the new wave of glamping isn’t about roughing it — it’s about stepping into nature without sacrificing comfort or great design. We’re talking soaring canvas tents with hardwood floors, copper bathtubs, private plunge pools, and thoughtful touches that make the whole experience feel both adventurous and indulgent.
Here are five places where the tents are as stunning as the scenery — and where, against all odds, everyone from toddlers to teens to tired parents might find their happy place.
Under Canvas Acadia (Acadia National Park, Maine)
Set on 100 acres of Maine waterfront near Acadia National Park, Under Canvas Acadia feels like the summer camp you always wanted but never got: breezy, stylish, and stocked with organic bath products. Families should spring for the Cadillac Mountain Suite — two canvas tents joined by a big deck, with a king bed in one and three twin beds in the other. There’s also a queen-size sofa bed, in case a sibling truce is needed. Sure, the bathrooms have pull-chain showers, but they also have hardwood floors, wood-burning stoves, and a private fire pit where you can toast s’mores under the kind of night sky you just can’t get in the city.
And if you’re feeling more “my kids, my rules,” the Suite with Kids' Tent sleeps up to four adults plus two kids and offers its own pint-sized twin tent for junior campers. Bonus: you’re 15 minutes from Bar Harbor, where you can bribe everyone with lobster rolls.
Wild Coast Tented Lodge (Sri Lanka)
Wild Coast Tented Lodge sits at the edge of Yala National Park, where jungle meets Indian Ocean in a sweep of sand and tangled green. The Family Cocoon Pool Suite is as over-the-top as it sounds: a king bedroom of 55 square meters, an adjoining twin room of 20, teak floors, copper bathtub, outdoor shower, Sonos audio system, and — crucially — a private plunge pool facing a watering hole.
By day, you’ll explore the park with naturalist guides, looking for elephants, leopards, and monkeys. By night, you’ll tuck into modern Sri Lankan dishes in the bamboo-wrapped restaurant and wonder why you ever thought family vacations had to involve a waterslide.
The Resort at Paws Up (Montana)
Paws Up is where rugged Montana wilderness meets “Wait, we have a butler?” At River Camp, you stay in 830-square-foot, two-bedroom safari tents that come with a king bed, two twins, a heated floor in the bathroom, and Wi-Fi, because let’s not get crazy. The Last Best Bed (yes, that’s what it’s called) lives up to its name, especially after a day spent riding horses, fly fishing, or pretending you know how to drive an ATV.
What seals the deal is the camping butler, who handles everything from lighting your campfire to delivering a proper cocktail to your private deck. While the kids run feral across 37,000 acres, you’re sipping something cold, wondering how you’ll ever explain “Montana glamping” to your coworkers without sounding insufferable.
The Retreats at Namiri Plains (Tanzania)
If your kids have ever looked up from a screen, Namiri Plains will blow their minds. You’re in the eastern Serengeti here — two hours from the nearest airstrip, deep in big-cat country. The Retreats are chic, safari-style compounds perfect for families or small groups: two bedrooms, open-air living spaces, plunge pools, and the distinct possibility that you’ll hear lions at night.
Days are built around game drives and walking safaris, where you might spot cheetahs, servals, or caracals, while evenings can include cocktails by the fire or a fascinating talk with conservationists from the Serengeti Cheetah Project. If you want a trip your kids will talk about for the rest of their lives, this is it. Just brace yourself for the reentry to regular life.
Nayara Tented Camp (Costa Rica)
At Nayara Tented Camp, your welcome committee may well be Tony, the resident sloth who drapes himself near the entrance like a celebrity pretending to avoid the paparazzi. Families can book a Family Tent — two tents connected by an outdoor living space and sharing a private pool — or go big with a Grand Tent, where you get two queen beds, two daybeds, a full kitchen, indoor and outdoor lounges, and a massive infinity pool aimed at Arenal Volcano.
There’s zip-lining, jungle treks, hot springs, espresso machines in the rooms (thank you, Illy), and plenty of chances to spot toucans or monkeys overhead. The best part? Watching your kids forget their phones long enough to marvel at a volcano.
