If you’re planning your next getaway, a trip to the great outdoors is a fantastic idea. After settling on spending some time in nature, your next step will have to be figuring out camping vs. glamping. Specifically, should you go on a camping trip or a glamping trip?
We’ve got the information you need to answer this important question. Keep reading to learn all about camping and glamping and what makes both of them great options for your next vacation!
Camping vs Glamping
Before diving into what makes both camping and glamping unique, you need to know what each of these terms even mean in the first place!
Simply put, camping is defined as the experience of spending time outdoors for an extended period of time in a movable, short-term dwelling. This often consists of staying in a tent, but it also includes sleeping in an RV or car.
Two of the most common forms of camping are car camping and backpacking. For a car camping experience, you usually drive your car to the campsite and park nearby. On the other hand, backpacking involves carrying all your equipment with you and traveling on foot to the campsite.
The word “glamping” is a combination of the words “glamourous” and “camping.” Glamping also takes place in or near nature, but it usually consists of staying in a permanent, non-moving structure like a hotel or yurt.
Camping and glamping can occur in generally the same location, given that the main objective of both activities is to spend time in nature.
However, the biggest distinction lies in the type and amount of equipment you have with you while camping vs. glamping.
All About Camping
Overall, camping is a fun and relatively inexpensive way to get up close and personal with nature. However, if roughing it isn’t your idea of a good time, this may not be the option for you.
Benefits of Camping
The biggest, and probably most obvious, benefit of camping as opposed to glamping is that you’ll really be able to get the authentic outdoors experience.
Camping allows you the literal proximity to be as close to nature as possible that glamping can’t always guarantee.
In the debate between camping vs. glamping, camping generally wins the award for being the more cost-friendly option.
Because you have to limit your gear to what you can carry or fit in your car, there’s less of a need for you to bring along too many gadgets and gizmos, especially if you’re a beginner.
Furthermore, camping offers a broader selection of sights and sounds as well as engagement with unique natural resources.
In other words, there are some animals, landscapes, and other aspects of nature that you simply can’t see unless you set up your tent in the middle of the woods far away from people and buildings.
Finally, camping enables you to rough it in a way that’s not available pretty much anywhere else.
With no technology and few modern distractions, you might find that you have the space and time to better connect with the people you’re with or engage in an activity you don’t usually do.
Drawbacks to Camping
There are a few potential drawbacks to camping vs. glamping that may make it more difficult or less enjoyable for some campers.
For one, camping can be hard physically depending on the person. Activities like sleeping on the ground or chopping firewood are demanding and sometimes painful for many.
Similarly, camping can be less comfortable because it lacks the amenities of glamping. Depending on how you camp, you might be without heat, electricity, and running water, which makes some tasks a lot trickier or even impossible.
In addition, camping is a lovely experience when the weather’s nice, but you might be stuck in an unpleasant situation if the weather gets bad and you don’t have anywhere to go besides a tent.
Camping also requires more knowledge of the outdoors than glamping does. You’ll need to know information like how to start a fire and where to set up a tent, knowledge that isn’t relevant most of the time in a glamping scenario.
All About Glamping
Glamping will probably save you lots of stress and energy when it comes to trip logistics. However, if you’re looking to save money, glamping likely isn’t the way to go.
Benefits of Glamping
Importantly, glamping tends to require a lot less work and energy on your end than camping does because you’re paying to stay at a facility where things like sleeping arrangements are prepared for you.
Additionally glamping provides many amenities that will keep your comfort levels high. Things like medical equipment, indoor plumbing, and technology are likely closer by and easier to utilize.
When it comes to camping vs. glamping, glamping facilities are generally sturdier and more permanent than their camping counterparts. Therefore, you’re able to go glamping all year, even at times when the weather conditions make it not particularly safe for campers of all skill levels to be outdoors.
Ultimately, glamping can be a good compromise between getting out into nature while not leaving everything behind.
Drawbacks to Glamping
Although there are certainly outliers in the camping vs. glamping debate, glamping is generally the more expensive choice.
Also, glamping tends to limit you to a specific area geographically because you have to remain relatively close to the hotel where you’re staying. This proximity may not allow you to explore as much as camping would.
A final drawback is that glamping may not offer the complete disconnect from everyday life that many people look for when they want to stay in nature. You’ll likely still be surrounded by technology, which could make it difficult to truly unwind.
Things to Consider
When making your final decision about camping vs. glamping, here are a few helpful factors that you might want to keep in mind!
Budget
Determining how much money you want to spend on a camping vs. glamping experience should help you narrow your options.
If you’re on a tight budget, glamping may not be for you; at the very least, you should probably be on the hunt for the cheapest glamping options.
The cost of tents and campsite fees combined are often less expensive than the lodging costs for glamping, which is why camping tends to be the more budget-friendly alternative.
Camping does require some equipment that will cost money, but if you’re not a hardcore camper, you don’t have to pay for particularly fancy gear.
Abilities
Because camping requires a lot of physical labor for tasks like putting up and taking down equipment, cooking food, and chopping wood, you may want to consider glamping depending on the ability of your group to complete these tasks.
Some factors you may want to think about when it comes to your camping vs. glamping abilities are your group size, the ages of people you’ll be with, and how much manual labor you and your companions actually feel like doing while on vacation.
Convenience
If you want to have access to a wide variety of equipment and products during your trip, especially items like a microwave or a television that are hard to carry with you, then glamping is the right choice for you.
The camping experience can feel very freeing because you’re not bogged down by lots of stuff. This feeling is one thing that lots of people love about camping vs. glamping!
However, if convenience is your top priority, then glamping is the best path forward for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still have lingering questions about the camping vs glamping experiences, hopefully this FAQs section will give you the answers you need!
Is camping cheaper than glamping?
Generally yes, although the question of camping vs glamping costs ultimately depends on how much money you want to invest into either experience.
Specifically, if you want to buy lots of specialized gear, then your trip might be on the pricier side. However, glamping is more expensive on the whole because you’re paying for amenities that are often impossible to bring with you on a regular camping trip.
Is glamping less immersive than camping?
Not necessarily! Camping and glamping will both offer you a front-row seat to the great outdoors.
If you really want to experience the nitty gritty of what nature has to offer, though, then your best bet is probably to go camping.
Is camping suitable for all ages and abilities?
Yes, people of all ages and abilities can go camping! However, it’s smart to tailor your camping activities accordingly depending on the make-up of the group you’re camping with.
For example, if chopping your own firewood isn’t an option for you, you can always buy firewood and carry it with you to the campsite.
Car camping is another great way to get the full camping experience without having to rough it to the extreme!
Choosing Your Camping vs Glamping Experience
The glamping vs camping debate is a tricky one because both are such fun travel options for people who want to be near nature. Hopefully the information we provided here will help make the decision less difficult for you the next time you want to get out and about.
If you enjoyed this article and want to dive deeper into the worlds of camping vs. glamping, check out our Camping page for lots of tips and tricks.