The idea is far from new — African safari camps have offered room-sized tents with carpeted floors, real beds and en-suite facilities for decades. Until recently, however, that style of camping hadn’t gained much traction outside the savannah. Europe embraced the concept first, and from France the Huttopia brand expanded into the United States, opening its first glamping resort near Conway in New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
We visited two weeks after the resort opened and enjoyed the experience for different reasons. I appreciated not having to spend days locating and packing camping gear. My husband Tim was relieved not to worry about missing tent poles or stakes, and not to wrestle with wet canvas at the end of the trip. We both welcomed electric lights and the comfort of sinking into a real bed after a long day outdoors.
Our children, Mary, 16, and Jordan, 13, enjoyed not having any setup duties and loved the pool and hammocks under the pines. Our tent faced the lake, a short walk from the beach, and they spent hours using the resort’s kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.
Mornings were pleasant walks to the poolside terrace for freshly made French crepes from a polished Airstream stand, and afternoons meant handmade ice cream. Evenings offered a selection of custom-made pizzas, or we could cook on our tent’s porch on a reliable Coleman stove that never let us down mid-meal.
Each campsite includes a picnic table (we also had an indoor table and chairs in case of rain) and a fire ring, so we still enjoyed campfires and toasted marshmallows at night. It felt like all the best parts of camping without the heavy labor.
Our accommodation was the Trappeur tent, the largest and most appointed option. It featured a king-sized bed plus a double bed and a single bunk. Curtains created separate sleeping areas on either side of a compact bathroom with a shower. The kitchen area offered counter space, a sink, a small refrigerator, cooking utensils, dishes and real glassware. Little touches — a French press coffeemaker, a salad spinner and wine glasses — reflected Huttopia’s French roots. A pétanque court near the terrace provides evening entertainment, from casual games to live music or magic shows for children.
Other tent types include the Canadienne, similar to the Trappeur but without an indoor bathroom (shared bath houses offer fully equipped private stalls), and the smaller Bonaventure, which includes a king-sized bed, electricity, a refrigerator and a Coleman stove. For traditional campers who bring their own gear, there is a section of conventional campsites with tables and fire rings. Huttopia’s manager, Justine Pancin, explained the resort is intended for many styles of camping—except RVs, which are not permitted.
Huttopia is New Hampshire’s first glamping resort, but glamping appears across North America in many forms and levels of comfort, from pre-pitched tents with inflated air mattresses to luxury safari-style tents like ours. In Kennebunkport, Maine, Sandy Pines Campground offers several luxury tents, and near Acadia National Park an Airbnb advertises a luxury tent on an organic farm.
There are also glamping options near popular western parks and monuments. Treebones Resort in California features Mongolian-style yurts perched on a Big Sur bluff, and El Capitan Canyon, opposite El Capitan State Beach in Santa Barbara, offers both tents and rustic cabins. Huttopia operates another campground in Sutton, Quebec.
Not every destination labeled “glamping” uses tents — many listings are cabins, cottages or fully outfitted RVs. Treehouses, tiny houses and other unconventional accommodations are also often marketed as glamping. Make sure to review each listing carefully to confirm what is included, since amenities and levels of comfort vary widely.
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