Under Canvas | Travis Burke
FOLLOW THAT MOOSE FIELD GUIDE
GLAMPING IN UTAH Follow That Moose
Under Canvas | May Lilley (Under Canvas)
Arches National Park
EDITORS NOTE Hello and welcome to the Follow That Moose Field Guides. In this edition we’re going to talk about Glamping in Utah.
If you're looking for an adventure as well as a vacation then glamping in Utah and the American West is the perfect combo.
Glamping in Utah is a fantastic way to experience its stunning state and national parks.
It's also a chance to get back to a time when things were simpler, but with home comforts thrown in too.
For me; the main draw of glamping is feeling connected to nature. Not to mention the lifeaffirming feeling you get sipping your morning coffee on your private deck.
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If you like the idea of waking up to stunning views in comfortable surroundings you’ll have no shortage of options in Utah. Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Zion National Parks all have glamping close by. Lake Powell, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument and neighboring Grand Canyon are also covered. Safari-style tents, the type that originated in Africa, are the most commonly associated with glamping but the options in Utah also extends to classic Airstreams, teepee, conestoga wagons, yurts and cabins. At Zion alone you can wake up to Utah’s iconic red-rock landscape in a classic Airstream or a safari inspired tent with all your home comforts and the finishing touches of a boutique hotel. Glamping isn’t just about fire pits and S’mores. King size beds, luxury linens, coffee makers, private bathrooms with showers and flushing toilets are all common features at the best glamping sites. If you’re looking for LUX as well GLAM from your camping experience, Open Sky at Zion even has heated bathroom floors.
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Under Canvas | May Lilley (Under Canvas)
Under Canvas Lake Powell | May Lilley (Under Canvas )
Autocamp | Matt Kisiday
Under Canvas Moab | May Lilley (Under Canvas)
Autocamp | Matt Kisiday
From a practical point of view, most glamping sites come fully equipped with everything needed. So you put away that camping checklist and just just hit the open road. That’s great if you’re looking for a quick getaway but it’s also a massive advantage for international travellers. It’s worth mentoning that many glamping sites are seasonal and close during the colder months so check before making travel plans. A couple of noteworthy glamping operators in Western USA are Under Canvas & AutoCamp.
Under Canvas are leading the way in traditional safari-inspired tent glamping. At the time of writing Under Canvas have multiple glamping sites in Utah including; Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Lake Powel and Moab which serves both Arches & Canyonlands National Parks. Hot on the heels of Under Canvas with their modern Airstream suites and luxury tents are AutoCamp. At the time of writing AutoCamps Western USA portfolio includes sites at Zion National Park, Yosemite National Park, Russian River, Joshua Tree and Sequoia National Parks.
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Sunrise in Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park near Moab, UT
With so many glamping options Utah is prime territory for a glamping Utah road trip. If you’re feeling adventurous Utah’s Mighty Five is a glamping road trip just waiting to be done. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, Utah's Mighty Five is a collection of five national parks, all within Utah. They are: Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion, and Bryce Canyon. Under Canvas alone have four of these parks covered and a night or two glamping in Capitol Reef Resort’ teepee's, and conestoga wagons completes the set. If you’re short on time, glamping at Arches National Park and glamping at Canyonlands National Park is a good place to start. Arches and Canyonlands National Parks can both be explored from Under Canvas Moab. Canyonlands Field Airport is just a 10 minute drive from the site or Salt Lake City International Airport is about 3.5 hour drive. Allow at least two full days to see the main highlights of both parks but more time if you plan to hike some of the trails. Outside of the parks there’s also plenty to do. Nearby Moab has long been a favorite place for adventure enthusiasts like mountain bikers and climbers.
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Under Canvas | May Lilley (Under Canvas)
Bryce Canyon National Park
Zion National Park
Under Canvas | May Lilley (Under Canvas)
For a slightly longer multi-site road trip you can combine a stay at Under Canvas Moab with glamping at Bryce Canyon. Under Canvas has a site at Bryce Canyon and driving time between the two is about four hours so you’ll still have time for a morning hike or bike ride before hitting the road. You can see all the major highlights of Bryce Canyon in just one day. If you plan to do some of the longer hikes or explore Dixie National Forest, it’s nice to have an extra day or two. If you’ve made it all the way to Bryce Canyon it would be a shame not to go glamping in Zion National Park too! Driving time is about two hours and you’ll have a choice of safari style tent glamping at Under Canvas Zion or an Airstream Suite at AutoCamp Zion. If you really want to splurge, add Open Sky at Zion to the list as well.
Combining just Bryce Canyon and Zion is also a good combo for a shorter twin centre glamping road trip. Las Vegas is only about a 2.5 hour drive from Zion making it easily accessible for domestic and international travellers. For a longer glamping road trip, glamping at the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Moab, Bryce Canyon and Zion can all be covered with manageable driving times on a single itinerary. I’d allow at least two weeks for this trip which makes it more suitable for international travellers who want to see as much as possible in a single visit.
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