Small but mighty, New Hampshire boasts the perfect combination of recreational opportunities and charming small towns. Read on to discover five of the best glamping spots in the Granite State.
Photo: Lumen Nature Retreat
Glamorous camping, or “glamping,” is a style of outdoor exploration that appeals to several subsets of travelers. Some people are intimidated by the thought of pitching a tent, chopping wood, or hiking miles into the forest. Some may have health conditions that prevent them from doing so. Others want an outdoor space that’s communal and kid (or pet) friendly.
Glamping is the best of both worlds: you can still soak up all the outdoors has to offer and enjoy a few creature comforts. Many glamping locations provide running water, electricity, and even WiFi, while some offer fewer amenities and have a stronger emphasis on unplugging from the hectic pace of everyday life. From tipis to treehouses, campers to cabins, one’s imagination is the only limit to a fabulous glamping locale.
New Hampshire attracts thousands of leaf-peepers during fall, but with its large expanses of wilderness, friendly locals, and stunning landscapes, it is an ideal spot for outdoor exploration in any season. Here, we share five of New Hampshire’s most unique glamping experiences.
Photo: Lumen Nature Retreat
SLEEK NORDIC STYLE IN WOODSTOCK
Inspired by the property owners’ epic voyage from Boston to Argentina in a Toyota Land Cruiser—and their backgrounds in hospitality—Lumen Nature Retreat combines the New England landscape with Scandinavian and European design elements. Featuring sturdy safari tents, picturesque A-frame structures, and Nordic-style cabins, it offers an authentic “bedroom-in-nature” experience. All sites feature luxury bedding, smokeless firepits, Adirondack chairs, and picnic tables, and two-thirds of the sites are located directly on the water by a brook or pond. As an added treat, guests can reserve private time in two on-site saunas. A sleek, climate-controlled bathhouse with hot showers and designer toiletries is within a three-minute walk of every site.
From $115 per night / Book at stayatlumen.com
Photo: Hipcamp
THE HUMMINGBIRD CENTER IN DORCHESTER
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2023, The Hummingbird Center is an educational homestead and working organic permaculture farm in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Adjacent to the Green Woodlands Trail network, the property features miles of mountain biking and cross-country skiing trails that guests can use free of charge. Visitors can also access a farm store, kitchen, ponds, streams, showers, communal fire pit, and outdoor cooking areas. In addition to tent and RV sites (no hookups) that sleep up to 17 people, there are three indoor spaces: The Red Bus, which is perfect for a couple or a small family; The Library Loft, a cozy space that sleeps four; and The Yoga Room, a hostel-style indoor space that sleeps up to 10 people with a shared bathroom and common area.
From $30 per night / Book at Hipcamp.com
Photo: Hipcamp
WATERFRONT WOODSY GLAMPING IN BENNINGTON
This is a quintessential glamping opportunity, situated on 27 acres along the Contoocook River in Southern New Hampshire (and just 1.5 hours from Boston). With three exceptional sites—a “teeny tiny” home, a safari tent, and a revamped horse trailer—the theme is quality, not quantity. Each site has unique amenities, but all guests are welcome to swim, sun, fish, boat, bike, snowshoe, snowmobile, and hike around the entire property. Canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, and paddle boards are available to rent for a small fee. Complimentary games are available for guests to enjoy, and there is a park across the street with a playground area and ball field. Across the street, a small local store sells bait, snacks, and a respectable selection of craft beers. Bonus: this is an off-leash-friendly property, so feel free to bring your adventure-loving fur friend.
From $135 per night / Book at Hipcamp.com
Photo: Hipcamp
WIGWAMS FARM’S TREEHOUSE IN OSSIPEE
Kids of all ages will love this treehouse located in the heart of New Hampshire’s lakes region. The structure has an 8’x8’ deck, a fire pit with a metal grate to cook on (wood is provided), a picnic table, a porta potty, running water, a mini fridge, and a TV. The treehouse can fit up to two adults and three children, with swings and a twisty slide to the lower level. Guests are invited to fish, hike, bike, and swim on the property’s 12 acres, and there’s also a chest full of games for evening fun or gloomy days. A beautiful outdoor shower enclosed with wood planks beckons guests to commune with nature.
From $125 per night / Book at Hipcamp.com
Photo: Hipcamp
WHIMSICAL GLAMPING AT TOAD HILL
Retreat from the hectic pace of everyday life and return to nature at this remote 45-acre property in the heart of the White Mountains. A unique collection of on-site lodging options includes vintage buses, a refurbished ambulance, a tiny cabin, a yurt, a tipi, and a safari tent. Toad Hill has no running water or electricity, so guests must pack in their own supplies, but there is an outhouse with a composting toilet in the barn. Visitors can hike, bike, and snowmobile around the pet-friendly property, and nearby Province and Mountain Pond make good day trips for swimming and fly fishing. During the summer, the site is host to a music festival.
From $40 per night / Book at Hipcamp.com