Cool Spots to Camp in North America

Key Takeaways

• Camping experiences range from traditional tent sites to luxury and glamping-style accommodations.
• High-end camping trips may involve significant upfront costs, transportation challenges, and limited refund options.
• Travel protection with assistance services can help safeguard camping investments when plans are disrupted for covered reasons.

Many travelers like the idea of camping. They just don’t like the idea of sleeping on the earth in a campground where 500 of their fellow campers are hanging out in RVs that can sometimes cost more than most homes.

Campers who want an elevated experience should start by elevating their aching backs off the ground. And then they should check out the following upgraded camping experiences.

Sedona, Ariz.

The areas around Sedona’s enchanting red rocks and enthralling sunrises are home to many upscale and alternative camping experiences. Want to sleep in a railroad caboose? Got it right here.

That’s really just the tip of this particular camping iceberg. In the deserts and hills around Sedona, you can spend the night in:

• A yurt;
• A bell tent (bring your own bell);
• A treehouse;
• An Airstream;
• And more.

Glacier View, Alaska

If you’re looking for a cool place to camp, it doesn’t get much cooler than camping on an actual glacier.

Alpenglow Luxury Camping offers that experience with its upscale tents located on the Matanuska Glacier, northeast of Anchorage on Alaska’s Highway 1.

The campsite offers a common area with a large firepit, a cedar hot tub and a much-welcomed hot breakfast.

The tents themselves are elevated both ways and very chic, if not 100% mosquito-proof.

(It should be noted that Alaska and the area around the Matanuska Glacier have many non-glamping camping areas that are equally cool – at least in a temperature sense.)

Airstream Rentals

There’s temperature cool and there’s comfortable cool, and when it comes to camping, the latter is exemplified by the Airstream trailer.

There’s something about the shiny exterior with the Art Deco-inspired streamlining that makes an Airstream the epitome of camping cool.

Owning one is a lifestyle choice. Renting one is a possibility.

Sites like LivMobil and Outdoorsy will rent you an Airstream, and in some cases a tow vehicle. They are not cheap at all – figure up to $500 a night, exclusive of tow-vehicle rental – but if that’s your dream experience, that’s what you pay.

And truth be told, there is no better way to explore the western U.S. than pulling an Airstream. It just might be worth every penny.

Polihale State Park, Hawaii

The bad news: You need a legit four-wheel-drive vehicle to get to the camping beach at this wilderness park on Kauai’s Napali Coast. The road is sandy, rutted and currently partially washed out due to recent rains.

But assuming you can get there, you’ll be rewarded with incredible sunsets, wave-like sand dunes, lots of seclusion, and unbelievably starry skies.

Be sure to check the park’s site if you’re heading there soon, as the park is in the midst of debris cleanup. But absolutely bookmark it for your next bucket-list camping trip.

Also Read: Hawaii Vacation Tips

Assateague State Park, Maryland

If you grew up reading Misty of Chincoteague you’re a perfect match for this marshy park on a barrier island on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where horses roam wild and shorebirds wake you each morning.

The park is adjacent to Assateague Island National Seashore, so you’re assured a strong measure of wildness. Water on either side of a long, sandy spit of land, ensures great birdwatching and hiking.

In addition to your tent, bring a kayak for more exploring and tackle if you want to try your hand at ocean fishing. However you choose to experience the park, it’s an experience like no other.

Also Read: Camping Tips For Camping Trips

Polar-bear camp, Churchill, Manitoba

This is a Parent Trap-style camp in that the camp structures are cabins. They need to be cabins for two reasons: because it’s awfully cold in northern Manitoba just about all the time, and because polar bears are on the other side of the cabin walls.

The cabins are where you stay when you’re not in “tundra buggies” – vehicles that take you out on the frozen wastes in search of the massive bears.

There are multiple camps and lodges and tours to choose from; pick the one that gives you the best chance of seeing bears and/or the best experience. Most tours include a day visiting Churchill, which is fine but would be much more interesting if there were actual bears in the souvenir shops.

Also Read: Awesome Travel Destinations That Are Hard to Get To

As you can see, camping trips don’t have to be budget trips; they can be budget-busters, too! For that reason, travel insurance with assistance services from Generali Global Assistance is a must.

Our plans are designed to help protect your camping trips, no matter how deluxe they get, and both getting a quote and filing a claim is quick and easy, with most claims being resolved within 13 business days.

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