The 6 Best Glamping Getaways in Texas

Deep in Far West Texas, at the border of Big Bend National Park—and smack-dab in the middle of some of the most show-stopping desert scenery in the country—lies Terlingua. This “ghost town” is home to just a smattering of humanity and hundreds of miles of pristine, undeveloped natural beauty in the form of the Chihuahuan Desert and surrounding Chisos Mountains. And the best way to experience Terlingua is by staying in a bubble. (Yes, you read that right.)

At Basecamp Terlingua, travelers can book a bubble under the stars: a 225-square-foot inflated sphere that affords incredible views of the mountains by day, and the Milky Way by night. The bubbles are fully transparent, but they’re also carefully designed to be out of sight of one another, so you’ll have plenty of privacy during your stay. Each bubble is thoughtfully outfitted with a queen-size bed, indoor seating area, mini-fridge, an indoor bathroom, AC and heat, and a Keurig coffee maker. Just outside your front door are a communal fire pit and a luxe outdoor shower.

Basecamp also offers luxury tipisand Lotus Belle tents, but if you can manage to stay in a bubble (they’re highly popular, so you’ll need to book several months in advance), it’ll be an adventure you won’t soon forget.

Set along the banks of Geronimo Creek, in a peaceful grove of pecan trees, Geronimo Creek Retreat couldn’t be in a more picturesque setting. Nestled just outside of New Braunfels, in the quaint town of Seguin, this glamping retreat has it all: getaway cabins, treehouses, and tipis. The elegant cabins comfortably sleep four to five, the four elevated treehouses sleep six to eight, and the well-furnished teepees sleep four to six. Each lodging option offers its own unique rustic flair and set of amenities, although they all have a private charcoal barbecue grill, picnic table, and wicker furniture, so you can relax outside and soak up the fresh, cedar-scented air.

The property itself is worth the trip—visitors can kayak and paddle-board along the crystal-clear, jewel-toned Geronimo Creek, relax in the hot tub, enjoy s’mores by the fire pits, and play volleyball and corn hole on the lawn. Kids of all ages (and adults, too), will love rope-swinging into the spring-fed creek, especially on a steamy summer day. Thanks to its diverse amenities, Geronimo Creek Retreat is the ideal Hill Country getaway for families with children, honeymooning couples, and solo travelers alike.

It’s not every day that you can stay in a decadent tipi next to a lake, just a stone’s throw from fabulous local wineries, breweries, and restaurants. But that’s exactly the experience you get when you stay at the Sunrise Tipi at Sunrise Chateau, which is located in the lovely, quirky town of Marble Falls.

The “chateau” itself is a three-bedroom home with a sizable deck, but if you want a true glamping experience, book the Sunrise Tipi—an authentic, glamorous (and very private) tipi on the property, which is equipped with all of the amenities you could possibly need for a comfy stay: a queen bed, sofa, stocked kitchenette, small fridge, and a four-cup coffee maker. Outside the tipi, you’ll find an outdoor shower, propane grill, and a cozy fire pit.

Not to mention, you’ll have a front-row seat to the sunset over Hickory Creek and Lake Travis in the evenings, so you can watch the sky explode in pink, purple, and gold over the water as you sip a cocktail.

In artsy mecca Marfa, El Cosmico offers the ultimate glamping experience, with its array of candy-colored vintage trailers, Mongolian yurts, safari tents, and Sioux-style tipis outfitted with their own fire pits. The on-site amenities include wood-fired Dutch hot tubs, a communal outdoor kitchen, a shaded hammock grove, and a gift shop brimming with funky souvenirs.

El Cosmico also has bicycles for rent, which provide the perfect vessel for exploring the quirky, slow-as-molasses town of Marfa. Known for its famed paranormal occurrences—people have been seeing strange lights in a specific spot outside of town for well over 100 years now—Marfa also has developed a world-class art scene, including, most notably, Donald Judd’s Chinati Foundation. At El Cosmico, prepare to step back in time: Cell service is spotty at best, there are no TVs, and the desert setting is simply sublime.

Situated right on Lake Travis, The Firefly Room is a gorgeously designed safari tent that combines the comforts of home with woodsy, lakeside nature. Every detail is romantic, from the soft-lit mason jars hanging in the trees to the private outdoor shower to the vibrant, contemporary furnishings of the tent itself.

You’ll feel instantly at peace while drinking coffee from your private deck overlooking the water’s edge, as the waves gently lap against the shore. Take your Zen to the next level with a couple’s massage or yoga session, both of which are offered on-site. Inside the canvas-walled tent, there are plenty of amenities to keep you comfortable, including a king-size bed, AC, Keurig, fridge, microwave, electric kettle, and even a basket of snacks and drinks.

Picture this: Rows of giant, old-growth cypress trees, with clusters of old wild mustang grapevines dripping from their limbs. A clear, calm riverbank, snaking through the trees. A lush, wooded canopy, high above the jade-colored water. And in that canopy, your very own treehouse, perched amongst the leafy branches, with views of the lush Hill Country spilling out below.

If this sounds like a little slice of heaven, that’s because it is—at River Road Treehouses, you can make your childhood dreams of sleeping in a treehouse come true. Although it must be said, these treehouses aren’t exactly the rustic, patched-together treehouses you were familiar with as a kid. The six treehouses here are far from roughing it, as they’re all exquisitely furnished and decked out with a host of modern amenities, like TV with satellite, Wi-Fi, a full bath (some even have claw foot tubs), a stocked kitchen, AC and heat, and an airy dining area.

An elevated footbridge takes you to your peaceful retreat in the trees, and each treehouse even has its own spacious deck—talk about an idyllic setting for morning yoga or an evening glass of wine. This is nature-chic at its finest.