Glamping in California is one of my favorite ways to travel this state. I’m a country gal at heart and love when I can find a new cool glamping spot.
Whether it’s a tent in the middle of Yosemite Valley so I wake up under Glacier Point or perhaps a luxury glamping tent in Mendocino complete with heated blankets & s’mores kits, these are my favorite glamping options that I keep coming back to again and again.
>> Got a question about glamping in California that you need answered quickly? DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help!
Since starting my travel blog Whimsy Soul, I’ve been all over the United States but California will always be my favorite stomping grounds. One of the reasons I love this state so much are all the cool, unique Airbnbs and glamping resorts that are basically destinations in themselves.
These are the best glamping California rentals that I’ve personally stayed in OR have on my bucket list to visit one day (hopefully soon!) This list has ideas in Northern California and Southern California so you’re sure to find something magical within a short drive from your home.
Glamping California: 15 Super Cool Glamping Airbnbs, Yurts, Huts, Tents & More!
I love glamping California. These are my favorite California glamping Airbnbs, yurts, huts, luxury tents, cabins and more so you can have a fun adventure.
Location: New Cuyama
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $104 per night
If you're looking for the coolest central glamping California Coast Airbnb, this is it! I found this chic Shelton Hut glamping resort on Instagram a while back and while I haven't been able to visit personally yet, this is high on my list. Each of the 5 glamping huts in this resort are unique in shape. They have stunning views, electricity and common area in a separate building.
Location: Joshua Tree
Guests: Up to 4
Price: $215 per night
Looking for glamping in Southern California? Joshua Tree has some really cool cabins & glamping spots. I mean like so many yurts, but skip the yurts and instead go for this insanely cool UFO-inspired glamping Airbnb!
This tiny house is off the grid, has an outdoor shower, grill for cooking and tons of space to spread out after a day exploring Joshua Tree National Park.
Location: Los Gatos
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $234 per night
A few summers ago my husband and I stayed in this treehouse glamping spot that overlooks a vineyard and has sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Mountains. On a clear day you can see all the way to the ocean from the porch of this treehouse! This California glamping Airbnb was so dang unique. I was thrilled to climb a ladder to reach the top and I felt like a kid again.
The tent is heated and has electricity. The owners will also leave you water and breakfast to eat in the morning so you don't have ot rush yourself out of the tent come dawn. I recommend you spend a day wine tasting at local wineries and then bring back a bottle of wine and a picnic dinner to eat on this porch while watching the sunset below.
Location: Marina
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $107 per night
Located just 10 miles away from Cannery Row in Monterey, this cute glamping resort offers a unique escape from the crowds. Each tent site has its own picnic table, fire pit & BBQ and there is a common area that serves coffee each morning.
I recommend staying here as you explore Monterey and Carmel-by-the-sea. Hotels can get pricey in this area so this affordable glamping tent is a true gem!
Location: Mendocino
Guests: Up to 4
Price: $159 per night
This has to be one of the coolest glamping California Airbnbs we've ever stayed in! Located just a 2-minute drive from downtown Mendocino (our favorite little Northern California coastal town), Mendocino Grove packs all the details in their luxury tents that you could want. Heated blankets, s'mores kits, lamps for the night, chic chairs and porches for you to sit on with a good book.
Their shared bathroom facilities are chic AF, like I swoon over that bathroom title. There's a few shorts trails on the property you can hike in the mornings as well, but as I noted it's basically next door to the town of Mendocino so you can easily explore this whole rugged coastline while staying in the best luxury camping California site. Read more about my favorite things to do in Mendocino in this post!
Location: Yosemite National Park
Guests: Up to 4 in large tents
Price: $163 per night
Glamping Yosemite National Park was actually our first California glamping experience years ago and what got me hooked on exploring the state. These tent cabins are bare-bones with just the essentials (outlet, bed, blankets, bear locker, etc.) What I love about these tens are they are located in the heart of Yosemite Valley. Most tourists have to drive out of the park each night to a hotel, but at Half Dome Village you can fall asleep under Glacier Point and wake up already in the park, ready for hikes.
Glamping in Yosemite can get cold at night, even in the summertime, so I recommend "splurging" the extra $20 a night for a heated tent. If you can't snap one up, bring a ton of blankets to stay warm. Read more about my favorite things to do in Yosemite in this post!
PS - looking for a more secluded Yosemite glamping experience? Head to the Sierra Camp glamping tents.
Location: Goleta
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $271 per night
Tucked nextdoor to Santa Barabara, this yurt camping California property oozes all the cool amenities you want in glamping. Each bell tent is on a private area and decorated with chic decor elements to make the stay cozy along with a queen-size bed. You can walk to the beach from here to enjoy swimming or the sunset.
Since you'll be glamping Santa Barbara area, you can drive over in the daytimeto explore the cityhttps://whimsysoul.com/santa-barbara-travel-guide/. But the property has large greenhouses, an indoor skate park, lush walking paths and farm animals to keep you busy if you choose not to leave. Dogs are allowed, too!
Location: San Juan Bautista
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $206 per night
This California glamping Airbnb superhost listing is SO DANG cool you guys! Check it out: this luxury glamping tent is on a working cattle farm. It has a kitchenette, outdoor shower (!!!) an old-fashioned private outhouse that's chic AF, a covered front porch, and a fire pit for roasting marshmallows under the sky. Take me there ASAP.
Location: Big Sur
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $250 per night
Glamping California Big Sur should be on everyone's bucket list. For our 1st year wedding anniversary, Robin and I headed to Ventana Campground in Big Sur. We did actual tent camping but only because I didn't know they had glamping tents here!
I was so mad at myself for not booking a night at their chic tents. They're well decorated, have private fire pits and were next door to the bar airstream on site. Regardless, we still had a blast normal camping at Ventana as the campground is under towering Redwoods and in the perfect location in Big Sur for exploring. I recommend either site!
Location: Big Sur
Guests: Up to 4
Price: $170 - $350 per night
Another super unique glamping spot in Big Sur! Treebones Resort has yurts overlooking the ocean which are on my bucket list to spend a night in one day.
BUT, that's not all! They also have a nest you can go glamping in. Yes, a nest that you can sleep it! They look like the Bali Human Nests I've seen on Instagram, but no need to travel abroad to sleep under the stars and wake up to a front-row view of the best of Big Sur. Can't wait to see this in person one day!
Location: Sebastopol
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $175 per night
This super cool Sebasptol yurt comes with a detached bathhouse that has - wait for it- an outdoor tub!! I have a major soft spot for outdoor soaking tubs. I love to do a nighttime bath and stargaze with a glass of wine. Or, a morning bath with a cup of coffee.
This yurt is located in Sebastopol, which is nextdoor to Guerneville wine tasting spots. If you're looking for Bay Area glamping near vineyards, this is the yurt to book!
Location: Nevada City
Guests: Up to 2
Price: $105
Tucked in the Sierra Foothills near Lake Tahoe and Sacramento is the tiny old Victorian town of Nevada City and the Inn Town Campground Safari Tents resort. It's charming AF and I fell in love with it when I visited for their annual Victorian Christmas Fair last December.
It gets cold here so you have to be brave if you want to go glamping in the winter, so come here in the summer instead. This glamping resort has large tents, comfy beds, patio chairs and lamps for the evening. It's also close to some fun Auburn swimming holes!
Location: Captian / Santa Barbara Coast
Guests: Up to 2
Price: Starting at $170
El Capitan Canyon Safari Tents are probably some of the most tricked out glamping tents I've seen in California. Stocked with towels, linens, a bed, even a trunk to store things, these glamping tents are the perfect home base to explore El Captian State Beach park (which is on the ocean!)
Location: Weed
Guests: Up to 6
Price: $175 per night
Ahh - I love Mount Shasta! Much like Sedona in Arizona, Shasta has some lovely positive vibes all around it. This glamping yurt is huge and can fit up to 6 people, which makes it perfect for groups looking to go hiking or take a morning dip into McCloud Falls.
The yurt in on 10 acres with a private creek if you wanted to take a swim in that as well. There's also a cooking kit and outdoor showers.
Location: Soquel (Near Santa Cruz)
Guests: Up to 4
Price: $120 / per night
Looking for a dreamy glamping tent near Santa Cruz? You'll LOVE Sundance Meadows, a new glamping retreat with 3 beautiful tents, tons of romantic string lights, private firepits and grills. We spent a night here recently and let me personally attest - the beds are comfy AF. You'll sleep like a baby.
How To Glamping and Camping Differ? Is A Tiny House Glamping?
Glamping can be a loose term and I’ve found that glamping sites can vary, a LOT. Some, like Mendocino Grove, are fully equipped with lamps, chairs, even an outlet so you can charge your phone. And some are very bare bones. And then there are even tiny houses that may borderline as a “cabin” but maybe the house doesn’t have a bathroom in it or no electricity.
And camping of course is when you bring your own tent and gear. We just went camping in Lassen National Park and it so much fun. If you’re new to camping, it’s best to start by glamping so you can dip your toes into nature with some of the basic comforts of a hotel. And then graduate to camping when you’re ready!
I hope this helps you find the best glamping sites in California for you and your group! If you have a favorite glampsite that didn’t make this list, please comment below so everyone can see! Got questions? Drop a comment or DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’ll be happy to help.
Not sure what to pack for a glamping trip? Your items will vary a bit based on season and the tent (some are barebones, other are luxury glamping resorts.) Use my complete glamping packinglist to help you plan so you have an awesome adventure!
6 comments
Thanks for including the Inn Town Campground — the glamping isn’t open in the winter, but we promise for those who get cold, the heated mattress pads are lovely.
Love that you have heated pads! Such a game-changer. I hope to visit in-person one day, I’ve heard great things!
I live at the bottom on the mountain to the sequoia national park. Your tiktok showed a glass house air bib can I get where that was? The info? My husband and I rarely get to get away and that is someplace close that we could possibly pull off stepping away from the routine for a few days, but not being too far off Incase we are needed at home.
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