Don’t get me wrong, I love a good campsite. But sometimes after a big day of adventure, I crave the comfort and ease of a great hotel with a friendly staff, farm-to-table meals, gear rentals, and maybe even a sauna and cold plunge. Both in the U.S. and abroad, a plethora of brands are catering to guests who love the outdoors, such as glamping masters Under Canvas and community-centric LOGE camps.

　　But we all have limited vacation time and need to pick our getaway stays thoughtfully. As someone whos on the road half the year, I can assure you that these are worth traveling for.

　　Looking for more great travel intel? Sign up for Outside’s Destinations newsletter. The newest outposts that excite me most are popping up in perfect locations, from the doorsteps of popular national parks  to some urban gems bringing nature indoors with innovative biophilic design. Here’s my hotel hot list for 2025.

　　Snow Peak Campfield Long Beach Long Beach, Washington

　　I’ve long been a fan of the Japanese gear company Snow Peak, not only for its design-minded outdoor equipment, but also the creative ways it brings its brand to life. For example, the company flagship in Portland, Oregon, features an excellent, wood-fire-focused Japanese restaurant, Tabiki.

　　Across Japan you can stay overnight at 13 Snow Peak campgrounds, but last summer the company debuted its first North American glamping experience on Washington’s rugged Long Beach Peninsula, 110 miles west of Portland near the mouth of the Columbia River. The 25-acre site—no surprise—feels like an outdoor concept store, showcasing Snow Peak products like folding chairs and fire pits. Book one of 48 campsites and bring your own gear (or rent theirs), or glamp it up in spacious tent suites or minimalist wooden Jyubako cabins (the latter for up to two adults and two kids) designed by Japanese starchitect Kengo Kuma.

　　The area is full of adventure options, like kayaking Willapa Bay and hiking in Cape Disappointment State Park. My plan is to visit this winter specifically to enjoy long soaking sessions in the camp’s onsen-inspired Ofuro Spa.

　　Price: Campsites from $77, tent suites from $119, and Jyubako cabins from $219

　　Check availability at Snow Peak Campfield

　　Populus Denver

　　Populus may be downtown, but the property’s biophilic design is meant to make guests feel as if they’ve entered a large grove of aspens (Populus tremuloides), with 365 eye-shaped windows that allow light to filter in. The nature immersion continues at every step: the front desk is crafted from fallen cottonwood trees, the soundtrack of birdsong recorded in nearby Estes Park plays in the elevators, and the lobby bar is adorned with hanging reishi mushroom skins.

　　The hotel opened in October as the nation’s first carbon-positive hotel. It boasts 100 percent renewable-energy, eco-friendly materials, like low-carbon concrete and leather made from reishi mushrooms, and a biodigester that composts all of its food waste, which is then returned to local farmers. Moreover, the property plants a spruce tree in Colorado for every night booked.

　　Its sustainable initiatives convinced me to stay, and the friendly service, stellar farm-focused food, outpost of Little Owl Coffee, and welcoming coworking space and gym have given me many reasons to return. The Populus also overlooks Civic Center Park, where the Outside Festival and Summit will take place from May 30 to June 1, and ticket holders get special deals on rooms booked here through theoutsidefestival.com.

　　Price: From $299

　　Check availability at Booking.com

　　Under Canvas Yosemite Near Groveland, California

　　Scoring camping reservations in Yosemite can feel like winning the lottery. Don’t want to gamble? Treat yourself to a cushy stay at the new Under Canvas Yosemite, slated to debut May 15 with 71 tents just ten minutes from the park’s west entrance on Route 120.

　　The upscale glamping brand is known for hotel-worthy touches like West Elm furnishings in its spacious safari tents and daily programming that might include yoga classes or nightly s’mores sessions. This 85-acre site is no exception.

　　You don’t even have to deal with the stress of taking your car into the park itself—this Under Canvas location is across from a Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) stop with regular park service to three major destinations.

　　Return at day’s end to a menu of California cuisine served beneath soaring black oaks and live music by the campfire. Families will love the El Capitan Suite— two connecting tents, each with ensuite bathrooms; it can sleep up to six people.

　　Price: From $319

　　Check availability at Booking.com

　　Firefall Ranch at Yosemite Near Groveland, California

　　The Yosemite area has never had more choice for boutique accommodations, and this is another property on Route 120 I’m eager to recommend. The 300-acre Firefall Ranch opened last summer and is made for the active crowd. You can look forward to a spacious saltwater pool (complete with shave-ice service), forest disc golf, bouldering, and beach volleyball.

　　Pick up picnic supplies at the on-site general store or dine at the casual tavern or more ambitious restaurant, YOVA, which features dishes like salmon and caviar and boar chops, complimented by an impressive wine list.

　　For families, roomy accommodations include 55 standalone one- and two-bedroom cottages or three-bedroom villas with private decks and indoor-outdoor gas fireplaces.

　　Fun fact: this property was a stop on the original stagecoach route to Yosemite in the 1870s.

　　Price: From $650

　　Check availability on Expedia.com

　　Yellowstone Peaks Hotel Island Park, Idaho

　　Wyoming and Montana are most often associated with America’s first national park. But 1 percent of Yellowstone’s 2.2 million acres lies within Idaho (an underrated state for adventure, in my humble opinion). The park’s west entrance is just 30 minutes away from the small town of Island Park, which  recently welcomed the family-owned Yellowstone Peaks Hotel.

　　The property’s 19 Scandi-inspired accommodations are the epitome of cabin porn. Each A-frame cabin can accommodate up to six guests and has its own cedar-wood-fired soaking tub. There’s also a communal area with saunas and cold plunges.

　　While proximity to the park may lure you here, its location across the street from the fly-fishing mecca that is Henry’s Fork River will appeal to anglers. Nearby but off-the-radar attractions include the Caribbean-esque Wade Lake and the 114-foot-tall cascades of Mesa Falls.

　　Price: From $440 per night, two-night minimum

　　Check availability on Booking.com

　　Cascada Portland, Oregon

　　Portland is home to plenty of nature fixes, but the newest is the underground thermal-springs experience at the recently opened, 100-room Cascada (pronounced cascade) hotel in the Alberta Arts District. The Conservatory, the heart of the thermal-springs area, was designed by landscape experts, including members of the Portland Botanical Garden, and features a with a 25-foot-tall living wall and rare flora planted throughout the space.

　　Soak and socialize in the mineral-infused vitality pool, or complete a sauna, steam, and ice-bath hydrotherapy circuit in the silent sanctuary space. If you’re passing through the city en route to a wilderness adventure, you can still enjoy a soak, but you’ll need a reservation ($100 for two and a half hours). You can feel good about knowing that Cascada is committed to using ethically sourced spa products. Rounding things out are an excellent restaurant, Terra Mae, that fuses the flavors of Portugal and Japan (think: tonkatsu and linguica croquettes), as well as zero-waste kitchen practices.

　　Guest rooms feature kitchenettes, balconies, and floor-to-ceiling windows.

　　Price: From $299

　　Check availability on Tripadvisor.com

　　Edgecamp Pamlico Station Outer Banks, North Carolina

　　One of my goals this year is to improve my kiteboarding skills, and I can’t imagine a better place to get back on the water than the Outer Banks. With steady winds, an abundance of sandy beaches, and calm, shallow sounds, it lives up to its nickname as the kiteboarding capital of the East Coast.

　　Professional kiteboarder Rita Arnaus takes off in Pamlico Sound. (Video: Courtesy Edgecamp Pamlico Station)

　　Thanks to the recent debut of Pamlico Station, a 14-suite boutique hotel at Edgecamp Sporting Club on windswept Hatteras Island, travelers finally have a stylish base that offers everything from an on-site kiteboarding school with equipment rentals and lessons to a wellness deck boasting a sauna, cold plunge, and hot tub.

　　I love that the suites feel like residences, each with a full kitchen, washer and dryer, living room, wood-burning fireplace, and work desk. And after a day of kiting, you’ll appreciate having in-room amenities like a Therabody massage gun and foam roller at your disposal.

　　Price: From $189

　　Check availability on Hotels.com

　　Trailborn Grand Canyon Williams, Arizona

　　I’m embarrassed to admit that, for as much traveling as I do, I still haven’t visited the Grand Canyon. I really have no excuse now that Trailborn, a new outdoorsy-focused hotel brand, is opening its fourth location in the town of Williams. The 96-room hotel is just down the road from the Grand Canyon Railway, the train that deposits visitors at the South Rim entrance of the national park.

　　Trailborn has partnered with hiking outfitter Wildland Trekking to run guided excursions in the park, like a private day hike along the challenging, eight-mile round-trip Grandview Trail ($600) or a group excursion that takes in the South Rim’s greatest hits, like the South Kaibab Trail ($340).

　　On property, a saloon-style Great Hall hosts free concerts, movies, and bingo nights, and for $35 families can have their room transformed into a camping-inspired slumber party. This spring the property will open Miss Kitty’s steakhouse and bar.

　　Price: From $175

　　Check availability on Expedia.com

　　The Wildbirch Hotel Anchorage, Alaska

　　For years I viewed Anchorage as nothing more than a gateway to epic wilderness adventures. When a cancelled flight stranded me in the city for 24 hours, I discovered that, actually, Anchorage was a destination in its own right, home to seriously great restaurants, a cool urban-arts scene, and a 500-plus-mile trail network that connects some 200 green spaces.

　　In  April, the city will get its first true boutique hotel when the Wildbirch opens in the Mushing District. The 252-room property will showcase works by local craftspeople, such as carved topographic maps that double as headboards, and an art collection curated by the nearby Anchorage Museum. An on-site brewery, outdoor decks with fire pits, and sweeping views of Mount Susitna and Knik Arm are sure to attract just as many locals as visitors.

　　With the world-class salmon fishing of Ship Creek steps away and guest rooms that overlook the ceremonial starting line of the Iditarod sled-dog race, held each March, you can’t ask for a better address.

　　Price: From $199

　　Check availability on WildbirchHotel.com

　　LOGE St. George, Utah

　　During the height of the pandemic, I rooted for a few fledgling brands. LOGE, which is pronounced “lodge” and stands for Live Outside, Go Explore, is one of them. The original LOGE Camp launched in 2017 in coastal Westport, Washington, and I loved its adult-summer-camp vibes and affordability.

　　There are camp or RV sites, or choose from a variety of room configurations. All the gear and amenities you could wish for are available to rent, from Traeger grills to Wave Bandit and Lib Tech surfboards. The brand launched similar concepts in mountain towns in the Pacific Northwest, and I’m stoked to see it expanding into the Southwest in 2025. I’ve marked my calendar for early February, when LOGE St. George starts taking bookings for its April opening.

　　The hotel will be a sweet base camp less than two miles southwest from the heart of the city. Perks include a hot tub, pool, and mountain-bike rentals, and the trails of nearby Zion National Park and Snow Canyon State Park are a short drive away.

　　Later this year, LOGE will open a handful of East Coast properties. Host towns include Asheville, North Carolina; the Catskills of New York; Mount Snow, Vermont; and Southport, Maine.

　　Price: From $137

　　Check availability on LodgeCamps.com

　　Foreign Properties I Have My Eye On The Caribbean and Mexico

　　Salterra Resort and Spa On February 15, American Airlines will introduce direct flights twice a week from Miami to South Caicos in the Turks and Caicos. Around the same time, this up-and-coming island will welcome Salterra, a sustainably minded hotel that will offer adventures like kiteboarding, bonefishing, kayaking, and diving. But it doesn’t come cheap.

　　Price: From $1,300

　　Check availability on Salterra.com

　　Hotel Humano I’ve been plotting a surf mission to Puerto Escondido and am hoping to base myself at the new Hotel Humano, located steps from famous Zicatela Beach (a.k.a. the Mexican Pipeline).

　　Price: From $190

　　Check availability on Tripadvisor.com

　　Amet On a recent trip to Cabo San Lucas, a guide clued me in to Amet, an intimate new nature retreat in the town of Santiago on Baja’s Central Cape. You can choose between suites or glamping tents, and excursions range from hikes to nearby hot springs to ATV drives to waterfalls.

　　Price: From $315

　　Check availability on Tripadvisor.com

　　Argentina Glamping Los Palmares El Impenetrable National Park in northern Argentina is a wilderness mecca, home to giant anteaters and jaguars, as well as a swath of Gran Chaco, one of the world’s fastest disappearing forests. These glamp grounds recently opened on the park’s northern border with just four tents overlooking the Bermejo River.

　　Price: From $359, all-inclusive

　　Check availability on Tripadvisor.com

　　Finland Kotona Manor

　　If you’ve jumped on the cool-cation travel trend, you should have Finland on your travel list and Kotona Manor in particular. The family-owned, 11-suite waterfront property will  debut in the Lakeland region this summer. Seasonal activities range from bear watching to snowmobiling and sailing.

　　Price: From $1,530

　　Check availability at KotonaManor.com

　　Madagascar Voaara One of my favorite far-flung places is Madagascar, and not just for the mind-boggling amount of biodiversity but also for the amazing, crowd-free adventures, like kiteboarding, freediving, snorkeling, and hiking. I visited last December and got a sneak peek at the newly opened Voaara, a barefoot luxe hotel on idyllic Isle St. Marie, just off the country’s northeast coast. Guests can snorkel the vibrant house reefs, whale-watch with the resident marine biologist from June to September, and learn to wing foil with pro surfer Willow Hardy.

　　Price: $1,230

　　Check availability on Voaara.com

　　Jen Murphy is an Outside magazine correspondent and frequent contributor to Outside Online. (Most recently, she wrote a guide to maximizing winter fun in Colorado’s mountain towns and reviewed the best compression socks for long-haul flights.) Murphy has been lucky enough to stay in some of the world’s best hotels, both rustic and luxe, and believes that warm service truly makes a stay.