Where are the best places to glamp in Texas?

Texans seem to go big on everything—that includes camping and the great outdoors. When you combine rugged variety and luxury camping, you get the ideal state to enjoy a glamping getaway.  

You can find desert plains and mountain ridges, flowing rivers and remote trails—many within just a short drive from major cities. Learn where and some tips to help plan your next outdoors-ish adventure.

 What you’ll learn:

• Glamorous camping, glamping for short, is a way to experience the great outdoors while keeping amenities that are traditionally associated with hotels and vacation rentals.

• Glamping sites and experiences can be found throughout Texas, including near major cities such as Dallas, Austin and Houston.

• Glamping destinations can take different forms, from luxury treehouses to safari-inspired tents.

• Capital One has travel cards to help make your glamping adventure more rewarding.

Glamping is short for glamourous camping. It’s essentially camping combined with the comforts of luxury amenities often found in hotels. That might mean Wi-Fi, electricity, running water, private bathrooms and more. In other words, glamping combines the best of camping and modern-day luxuries, while camping simply involves forgoing such comforts. 

And because glamping puts camping on easy mode, it could be worth trying—even if camping has never been your thing. 

Whether you’re out in Texas Hill Country or near cities like Austin or Dallas and planning a vacation to a glamping site, one specifically tailored to your likes and needs can be found easily anywhere throughout Texas. 

Some glamping sites offer ideal settings for a romantic getaway, while others are perfect for bringing the whole family along for a luxurious retreat to unwind from the city life. You might find accommodations in luxurious treehouses, pods, safari tents, cabins or yurts—many with air-conditioning or heaters, depending on the season. 

If you want to do glamping right, why not do it with style? Many glamping sites offer unique luxury experiences that you can’t get in any plain old camping site. As you search for sites, consider what’s most important to you:

Are you looking for private decks and hot tubs to relax? Do you want king-size beds and sheets with sky-high thread counts? Maybe private dining and massage services between meals?

Some sites that offer luxury glamping in Texas include: 

• Wahwahtaysee Resort: Located 50 miles south of Austin, this resort on the San Marcos River offers lavish safari tents stocked with all sorts of luxuries like a king-size bed, a kitchenette, air conditioning, heating, a large shower and a spa bathtub. 

• Walden Retreats: Head west of Austin to find 500-square-foot safari tents designed as private studios or suites. Some units offer private hot tubs and wrap-around decks with gas grills.

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy some more privacy with a special someone, many glamping sites offer romantic packages or date ideas that can help set the mood just right. For a romantic glamping getaway in Texas, consider searching for some of the following topics:  

• Romantic packages 

• Couples massages 

• Stargazing 

• Wineries 

Some glamping sites that offer the right romantic setting include: 

• StarStruck Glamping: This site in the Big Bend region has glass geometric domes that allow you to sleep under the stars in the world’s largest Protected Dark Sky Reserve. 

• Sinya on Lone Man Creek: This one-unit destination promises peace and privacy—all from a luxurious safari tent in the treetops. The structure includes a deck, hammocks and a private spa. 

Budget-friendly glamping sites offer unique amenities that can accommodate and entertain just about everyone, including the dog. If you’re hoping to have activities to keep the kids busy, look for sites with fire pits, swimming pools, basketball courts and water excursions.

You might start your search with these:

• Country Woods Inn: A short drive from Dallas and Fort Worth, this 40-acre farm property features remodeled RVs and train rail cars. It also has amenities perfect for the entire family like fire pits, a basketball court, canoeing, golfing and fishing. 

• The Hideaway Ranch: This ranch, about halfway between Glen Rose and Stephenville, features 150 acres full of roaming wildlife like horses, llamas, goats and buffalo. There’s also Buffalo Gulch, an old-timey photo op with activities and games to bring everyone together.

When it comes to planning your glamping trip, you can consider the types of accommodations and activities you would like to enjoy before you decide on the details. Here are some broad steps you might take as you start planning:

1. Choose your accommodations. When deciding which glamping site to book, first decide what kind of accommodations you, your partner or your family would be most comfortable staying in. Accommodations like a safari tent may feel more open than a cabin. If fear of heights is a thing, you might avoid treehouse accommodations. If you’re after a unique experience, consider a converted train or RV.

2. Pick your preferred activities and amenities. Many glamping sites offer activities and excursions, such as kayaking, hiking and horseback riding. Some accommodations even offer lots of activities for every person in your family like swimming pools, fire pits, outdoor grills and even nearby towns for music festivals and shopping. 

3. What to bring. Glamping accommodations should mean you can leave your tent and other camping gear at home. But depending on your destination, you might need to bring other travel basics: toiletries, bug spray, sunblock and hiking boots. 

Glamping offers a unique and safe way to enjoy the charm of camping without the hassle of forgoing modern comforts. And Texas landscapes make a compelling backdrop. 

Capital One offers travel rewards credit cards with exclusive benefits and elevated rewards that can help make your travel experience more enjoyable.

• Explore travel rewards cards with unlimited miles you can actually use. 

• Earn a one-time 75,000-mile bonus and receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary, with the Venture X card.

• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day, and earn a one-time 75,000-mile bonus with the Venture card.

• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day with the VentureOne card.