Author
Katherine Englishman
Photographer
Photo courtesy Airbnb
Combine the best parts of being inside—comfy bed, running water and real toilet, food that isn’t freeze-dried, etc—with the best parts of being outside—do we really need to elaborate?—add a luxe touch here and there and you’ll get glamping. The term is shorthand for “glamorous camping,” and its popularity has skyrocketed over the past decade, with lavish, palatial tent sites cropping up in well-known outdoor recreational areas around the world. Also referred to as “boutique camping,” think of glamping as a more elevated way to connect with nature in an open-air setting; one that doesn’t require guests to sacrifice comfort in the name of adventure. Glamping makes an ideal weekend getaway for both indoorsy folk giving the outdoors a try, and seasoned outdoors lovers looking to take a break from roughing it.
If a spacious canvas glamping tent on a wooden platform is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of glamping, you’re not wrong, but there’s so much more to it than just that. Luxurious tent sites have a surprisingly long history that dates all the way back to the 16th century when the residents weren’t weekend warriors looking to chill around a fire pit with BBQ and s’mores, but Earls and Dukes and other monarchs living in actual opulence. The trend continued on centuries later when during the 1920s it was popularized by wealthy Brits and Americans looking to experience a romanticized version of an African safari.
Modern-day glamping has fewer monarchs, is much more accessible, and boasts a much wider spectrum of associated outdoor experiences—though the classic canvas safari tent remains. Along with the addition of vintage vans and Airstream trailers rentals, bell tents, yurts, treehouses, and more. It’s become a creative way to bridge good design and the great outdoors. And for new outdoorists, a less intimidating, more comfortable way to spend time in nature (in an admittedly bougie setting) among adventure destinations, like Texas.
The Lone Star state is known for its iconic wide-open plains, deserts, and skies, but there’s more than just tumbleweeds, honky-tonk bars, horseback riding and long stretches of empty highway. Go glamping in Texas and head to the southwestern corner during spring, when you can avoid the heat and explore Big Bend National Park, where the Rio Grande river flows through hairpin turns carved into the limestone canyons. Or road trip up to 4,800 feet in the nearby high plains of Marfa, a quirky, remote town popularized by artist Donald Judd that remains rich with culture and interesting geology located in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. The rolling grasslands of Hill Country is also a popular spot for outdoorists.
Texas glamping destinations from mid-October through November might even grant you the chance to see the fall foliage in Guadalupe National Park, which lies in North Texas near the border of New Mexico. Sensing a trend here? Shoulder seasons are the best time to go glamping in Texas, so you can experience the outdoors without the scorching heat.
Ready to pack your boots, bags, and head to glamp? The following are our top picks for the best Texas glamping options for your next weekend getaway.
Field Mag's Top Texas Glamping Spots:
- Best glamping in Texas Hill Country: Cypress Valley
- Best glamping in Texas with a full set-up: Yurtopia
- Best glamping in Texas with campsite vibes: Texas Yurt Haus
- Best glamping in Texas for a classic yurt experience: Freedom Yurt Resorts
- Best glamping in Texas for city-dwellers: Postcard cabins (formerly Getaway) Hill Country
- Best glamping in Texas near water: Kasita Glamping
- Best communal glamping in Texas: Eco-Glamping Resort
- Best bubble glamping in Texas: Daylight Dome
- Best glamping in Texas under the stars: El Cosmico
- Best glamping in Texas for couples: Safari for the Soul
- Best glamping in Texas for a wedding venue: The Cedars Ranch
- Best glamping in Texas with luxury accomodations: Walden Retreats
- Best glamping in Texas for families: Barons Creek Camp
- Best glamping in Texas with luxury accomodations: Wahwahtaysee Resort
- Best glamping in Texas for a group trip: Lucky Arrow Retreat
- Best glamping in Texas with a hot tub: Basecamp Terlingua
- Best conestoga wagon glamping in Texas: Silver Spur Resort
- Best glamping in Texas for a glamorous stay: Firesong Ranch
The 18 Best Spots for Glamping in the Lone Star State
Cypress Valley — Spicewood, TX
Vibe: Bougie treefort
Standout Amenities: Close to Austin, treehouse yurts, wraparound porch, bathhouse
Nightly Rates: $525
Less than an hour from downtown Austin, a 350-square-foot treehouse yurt built around an old-growth cypress tree near the Colorado River easily wins the title of most unique glamping spot in Texas. Although it’s tiny, the aerial yurt offers a wraparound porch, king-sized bed, and waterfall tub made from locally-sourced materials. Travel from yurt to kitchenette to bathhouse via a 40-foot suspension bridge, while enjoying a birds-eye view of the surrounding creek and ravine. That birds-eye view is also what makes the locale famous for its Cypress Valley Canopy Tours.
Yurtopia – Wimberley, TX
Vibe: Sweet and secluded
Standout Amenities: Private deck, outdoor firepit, hot tub, Mongolian-style yurts
Nightly Rates: $250
Each yurt at Yurtopia sits on a two-story deck with a hot-tub and firepit to boot. Inside, they feature a kitchenette, dining space and private bathroom, all underneath authentic Mongolian yurts with handpainted decor.
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Texas Yurt Haus — New Braunfels, TX
Vibe: Group trip, anyone?
Standout Amenities: King-sized beds, private bathrooms, large decks
Nightly Rates: $1,200
Texas Yurt Haus offers a comfortable stay throughout 5 yurts located just outside historic Gruene, TX, providing a unique hill country glamping experience with ample privacy and comfort. Perfect for large groups, these yurts feature king-sized beds, private bathrooms, and spacious covered decks, offering a relaxing getaway close to attractions like Gruene Hall and the Guadalupe River, while being a short drive from music venues, water activities, and local attractions in New Braunfels.
Freedom Yurt Resorts — Canyon Lake, TX
Vibe: Group glampsite
Standout Amenities: King-size bed, full kitchen, private hot tub
Nightly Rates: $200
Freedom Yurt Resorts offers 8 secluded yurts nestled beneath majestic oak trees with Spanish moss, for a serene Hill Country camping experience designed for privacy and relaxation. Ideal for romantic getaways, family vacations, or group trips, each yurt features a king-size bed, a full kitchen, and a private hot tub.
Postcard Cabins Hill Country — Wimberley, TX
Vibe: Unplug and enjoy
Standout Amenities: Nearby cities, full-bed bunk beds, kitchenette, prefab cabins
Nightly Rates: $129
With celebrity investors and Outposts in all corners of the country (and counting), Postcard cabins (formerly Getaway) is swiftly becoming a name known nationwide for its thoughtful approach to glamping. Each unique "outpost" features a few dozen tiny houses, each complete with one or two beds, kitchenette, bathroom, and private firepit and picnic area. Guest are encouraged to unplug and soak in the nature. With reasonable nightly rates and three Texas Outposts—nearby Getaway Hill Country near Austin, Getaway Piney Woods near Dallas, and Getaway Brazos Valley near Houston—to choose from, there's always a Getaway within reach.
(Use discount code FIELDMAG for $25 off any booking)
Kasita Glamping — Eisenhower State Park, TX
Vibe: Just the basics
Standout Amenities: Lakeside, AC, clawfoot tub
Nightly Rates: $139
Kasita’s one-room lakeside glamping cabin north of Dallas on Lake Texoma focuses on showing visitors the simpler side of luxury camping. Yes, there is AC (it’s Texas), proper beds with mattresses and fresh linen, and an outdoor kitchen, but it forgoes the clawfoot tub in favor of a more pure and uncomplicated time away in nature. Don’t worry, there is still a king-sized bed, bathrooms, and a hammock garden, but you'll have to bring the paddleboards and kayaks.
Eco-Glamping Resort — Lago Vista, TX
Vibe: Jetsons go glamping
Standout Amenities: Glamping pods, hot-tub, private deck
Nightly Rates: $215
Featuring eight luxury glamping pods overlooking Hill Country views, this somewhat alarming futuristic glampsite is for the folks looking for a little more "glamp" than "camp". Although pods range from 'Deluxe' to 'Deluxe Plus', each comes equipped with a hot-tub, plush bedding, an en-suite restroom, kitchenette, dining area, and a private deck. On the banks of the Colorado River, there's plenty of outdoors to explore, but wineries, golf courses, and more attractions are nearby, too.
Daylight Dome — Blue Ridge, TX
Vibe: Fishbowl fantasy
Standout Amenities: Indoor and outdoor lounge areas, spacious deck, glamping bubbles, fire pit
Nightly Rates: $325
Escape to Crescent Moon Domes for some serious star-gazing from the 'Daylight' and 'Twilight' glamping bubbles. Watch breathtaking sunsets, savor campfire-cooked meals, and gaze directly at the stars from bed. Each dome is comprised of several bubbles, which contain a sleeping area, living room and cooking set-up, plus access to a private bathhouse.
El Cosmico — Marfa, TX
Vibe: Area 51 meets woodstock
Standout Amenities: General store, outdoor kitchen, hammock grove, wood-fired hot tub
Nightly Rates: $85
Wander out to far west Texas and stay in one of El Cosmico’s futuristic bohemian glamping retreats that include yurts and safari tents. The property has a main store for provisions, outdoor kitchens for cooking up said provisions, a hammock grove, and wood-fired hot tubs to enjoy a luxurious soak under the Texas sky. For a memorable experience that blends indoor and outdoor, visit the Chinati Foundation contemporary art museum. And at night, keep an eye out for the famed and mysterious Marfa Lights.
Safari for the Soul — Old Ferry, TX
Vibe: Riverside relaxation
Standout Amenities: Riverside, AC, king-sized bed, hot tub, fireplace
Nightly Rates: $422
Located in a secluded cove on the Pedernales River, this fully air-conditioned canvas tent is riverside glamping at its finest. Highlights include the king-size bed, outdoor hot tub, fireplace, and a private deck set up with chairs and a hammock. Pace Bend Park is nearby for hiking, while multiple vineyards and small towns are within a half-hour drive.
The Cedars Ranch — Wimberley, TX
Vibe: Glamping wedding
Standout Amenities: Event venue, tiny homes, geodesic domes, pool, outdoor games
Nightly Rates: $5,395
Spread across 20 acres of lush live oak trees in Texas Hill Country, the Cedars Ranch features modern architecture and eco-friendly design. Although re-opening in 2024, it will boast an event venue for up to 250 guests, various glamping options including tiny homes, geodesic domes, and an eco-yurt, along with a range of amenities such as a resort-style pool, hiking trails, and outdoor games.
Walden Retreats — Johnson City, TX
Vibe: Rhinestone cowboy
Standout Amenities: Hill country, great views, wood-burning stove, luxury
Nightly Rates: $300
The perfect place not to rough it is in one of the large safari tent glampsites at Walden Retreats. Located between Austin and Fredericksburg in the heart of Texas Hill Country, this luxe accommodation is perched atop a bluff overlooking the Pedernales River and rolling green hills. Inside every air-conditioned, canvas-walled glamping tent is a wood-burning stove, so you can chop wood to make your own fire while wearing a fluffy white robe just steps from the mini-fridge. King-sized bed is also included.
Barons Creek Camp — Fredericksburg, TX
Vibe: Hippy hideout
Standout Amenities: Variety of accomodations, shared common space, outdoor shower
Nightly Rates: $751
Equidistant from Austin and San Antonio, just two miles from downtown Fredricksburg, this private glampsite offers up a casita and three restored vintage campers. Decked out in rustic, boho decor, each shelter is equipped with a host of amenities, while the shared grounds host fire pits, ample seating, and an outdoor shower.
Wahwahtaysee Resort — Kingsbury, TX
Vibe: Pass the mimosas
Standout Amenities: 100 acres, riverside, luxury accommodations
Nightly Rates: $350
Get all of life’s little luxuries with a splash of the outdoors at this resort-style luxury glamping spot. Rest assured, this 100-acre retreat on the San Marcos river will not force you to sacrifice any amenities that guests would find in a five-star hotel (except WiFi). Sit back and relax in this palatial hardwood-floor safari tent or pick some pecans in the property’s pecan orchard. No sleeping on the ground required at Wahwahtaysee Resort.
Lucky Arrow Resort — Dripping Springs, TX
Vibe: All the yurts are bigger in Texas
Standout Amenities: Queen-sized beds, private decks, heating and air conditioning, vinyls
Nightly Rates: $179
If you’re looking for a glamping site that has the most yurts in Texas, look no further than Lucky Arrow Resort, west of Austin in The Hill Country. The yurts have everything you need, like queen-sized beds, private decks, heating and air conditioning, and of course, a collection of vinyls with a turntable—just no private bathroom. #Roughingit. You’ll have to use the shared bathhouse that’s nearby the bougie Breezeway Cabins (those do have full bathrooms), and adjacent to the pool and beer garden. There's ziplining in the nearby town of Wimberley, should you want to crank up the adrenaline.
Basecamp Terlingua — Terlingua, TX
Vibe: Ghost town luxe
Standout Amenities: Bubble glamping, hot tubs, great views
Nightly Rates: $99
Why stay at a five-star hotel when you can stay in a bubble? Overlooking Big Bend National Park, the Basecamp Terlingua glamping experience offers everything from funky casitas to luxury tipis to exotic-looking lotus tents, and yes, your own private bubble. Perks include wide-open views of the landscape, endless stargazing, and on-site hot tubs.
Silver Spur Resort — Canton, TX
Vibe: Oregon trail
Standout Amenities: Conestoga wagons, king-sized beds, kitchentte
Nightly Rates: $109
Because this is Texas, of course, you can go glamping in an old-fashioned conestoga wagon. Combine the simpler times of Pioneer living with the modern-day amenities of a KOA and you’ll get what Silver Spur Resort has to offer, which obviously comes with a king-sized bed, kitchenette, and climate-controlled covered Conestoga wagon options for your glamping pleasure.
Firesong Ranch — Spicewood, TX
Vibe: Rustic Texas getaway
Standout Amenities: Indoor fireplace, soaking tub, outdoor hot tub, swimming holes
Nightly Rates: $450
Come for a tranquil escape in your very own canvas-walled safari tent in the heart of Texas Hill Country, but stay for the indoor fireplace, oversized soaking tub, outdoor hot tub, and Nespresso machine. Should you want to explore the outdoors, there are popular swimming holes nearby, tons of state parks to explore, and an elephant preserve…
What is Texas Hill Country known for?
Texas Hill Country is known for its stunning landscapes, including rolling hills and springs. It's a haven for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and water sports, with a burgeoning wine industry with vineyards and wineries to boot. Charming towns dotted throughout offer a glimpse into Texas history and visitors can also enjoy the unique culinary scene, live music, and festivals that celebrate the region's culture, which includes a significant German influence.
Published 12-17-2023
Updated 10-18-2024
