Step off the beaten path. Sleep under the stars. Experience a nature-driven getaway without much—if any—discomfort. We’re talking about glamping, a combination of glamour and camping that’s become its own travel category.

tipi tent overlooking lake in grassy field

Of course, you can rent a tent and everything you need to go glamping, but then you wouldn’t experience the joy of expressing your personal style out in the middle of nowhere. If you love living with southwestern-style furnishings at home, you’ll love them just as much when you’re in a tent. The same goes for boho (see that look here), cottage, modern farmhouse or midcentury modern. You’re you wherever you go.

southwestern style tipi glamping tent

Express yourself by infusing your tent with southwestern style: desert colors, rough textures and handcrafted objects with a Native American influence.

southwest style glamping bed, wooden door headboard and nightstand

Here the bed stands ready to fight off chills with a vintage Native American blanket and a denim quilt that suggests the go-to clothes of long-ago cowpokes. Stitch a patchwork quilt or pillow top from worn-out jeans.

southwest inspired night stand

The rugged bedside table is made from pallets. A patterned cowhide rug adds texture at ground level.

tipi style tent on grassy field

Fake a porch with folding Adirondack chairs set up between the tent and campfire.

deer skull and plaid blankets and rustic lantern on top of wooden trunk

Nothing says “out west” like a display of a find from the range atop plaid camp blankets found at flea markets.

leather armed chair with hide drum side table

A hand-me-down armchair clad in buff-color faux ostrich leather stands by a drum handmade by a Taos Pueblo artisan. To create it, saturated elk hide is stretched over and under a hollowed-out aspen log, the top and bottom attached to each other with a rawhide thong. The hides shrink as they dry, creating a drum.

rocking chair on cowhide rug

Howl at the moon from the comfort of an old rocking chair softened by a striped pillow.

The decor includes an arrangement of arrows (pointy sides down) and a basket of birch logs for stoking the campfire.

bedsite table with rustic lantern, native american pottery and cowboy hat

Perched on the corner of a timeworn door, a leather hat adds character to a bedside scene that includes a Native American pot from South Dakota. This lantern—plus two hanging from the top of the tent—enhances the interior after dark. Just be sure to keep the space ventilated and turn off lanterns before sleeping.

woman laying on bed in southwest tipi style tent

Glamping: Take It Outside

Consider comfort, decadence and delight as you pack the SUV for your glamping trip.

glamping queen bed

SLEEP TIGHT

Choose an extra-deep queen-size air bed with an electric or battery-powered pump. Must-bring bedding includes a cozy topper, high-thread-count linens, blankets, a goose-down comforter (if weather demands) and favorite bed pillows.

throw pillows

REALLY RELAX

Upgrade the sleeping area with throw pillows, a bedside table and lantern or solar-powered lamp. Use floor pillows, soft area rugs and cozy throws to warm chilly corners.

Take a comfy chair and footrest if you plan to catch up on your reading. Extra chairs may be needed for fireside sing-alongs.

inflateable lights strung from a tree

LIGHT THE NIGHT

Mark campsite boundaries with solar-powered garden lights or LED flameless candles. Bring along campfire fixings. Take battery or solar-powered fairy lights to set the mood inside the tent.

meat and cheese tray

DINE WITH STYLE

Buy some great cheese and artisanal bread, and don’t forget a bottle of your favorite wine. Add gourmet chocolate, Nutella or flavored marshmallows to your s’mores for fantastic flavor.

Glamping tent in grassy field

Five-Star Tents

Create your glamorous home away from home within a nature-proof tent that offers enough room to relax.

Amazon dome tent

DOME TENT

A domed structure supported by multiple poles that arch over the top in a semicircle; has a detachable ground sheet.

Cabelas safari tent

SAFARI TENT

A large, cabin-like structure with a peaked roof held up by a pole framework; may include a platform or hard flooring.

bell tent

BELL TENT

A conical shape inspired by the tepee; side walls make space for more walk-around room.

Bass Pro tunnel tent

TUNNEL TENT

A tunnel-like structure supported by a series of curved poles; find one with a porch section to store gear or use for lounging.

 

© Caruth Studio

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