I stayed in a luxury tent near a national park that costs $520/night. It felt more like a hotel room and made me feel connected to nature.
![I stayed in a luxury tent near a national park that costs $520/night. It felt more like a hotel room and made me feel connected to nature.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-101871782%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-372358%2Fnight-it-felt-more-like-a-hotel-room-and-made-me-feel-connected-to-nature-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
- Camping in the Great Smoky Mountains feels like luxury at Under Canvas, a glamping resort.
- I recently booked a stay at the resort in a tent with a king-sized bed valued at $520 a night.
When I planned a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains, I wanted two things: nature and comfort. In April, when I spent a long weekend in the area, I found both while staying in a luxury tent close to the national park.
Under Canvas is a glamping resort that has locations near national parks around the country, from Zion and Moab to Glacier and Yellowstone. I spent one night at the resort's Great Smoky Mountains location and preferred it over my other stays during the trip in cozy cabins that I found on Airbnb.
I booked a Stargazer tent for $400 with a media rate. Without the rate, it was priced at $520 — making it more expensive than all of my cabin stays. But I thought it was worth it. At Under Canvas, I felt more connected to nature than I did in the cabins — all while sleeping in a king-sized bed. Here's what it was like.
I think the Great Smoky Mountains is an excellent location for a nature getaway — especially if you're glamping.
![I think the Great Smoky Mountains is an excellent location for a nature getaway — especially if you](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872473,width-700,height-525,imgsize-478574/i-think-the-great-smoky-mountains-is-an-excellent-location-for-a-nature-getaway-x2014-especially-if-youaposre-glamping-.jpg)
I recently visited the national park for the first time. I spent three nights in cozy cabins and one night in a tent at a glamping resort.
![I recently visited the national park for the first time. I spent three nights in cozy cabins and one night in a tent at a glamping resort.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872457,width-700,height-525,imgsize-330166/i-recently-visited-the-national-park-for-the-first-time-i-spent-three-nights-in-cozy-cabins-and-one-night-in-a-tent-at-a-glamping-resort-.jpg)
I thought I'd prefer the comforts of cabins over a tent since they were full of relaxing amenities like covered patios and gas fireplaces that ignited with the touch of a button.
![I thought I](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872438,width-700,height-525,imgsize-357002/i-thought-iaposd-prefer-the-comforts-of-cabins-over-a-tent-since-they-were-full-of-relaxing-amenities-like-covered-patios-and-gas-fireplaces-that-ignited-with-the-touch-of-a-button-.jpg)
But I was wrong. I enjoyed the luxury camping experience so much that I wished I'd booked it for at least two nights.
![But I was wrong. I enjoyed the luxury camping experience so much that I wished I](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872417,width-700,height-525,imgsize-781760/but-i-was-wrong-i-enjoyed-the-luxury-camping-experience-so-much-that-i-wished-iaposd-booked-it-for-at-least-two-nights-.jpg)
I knew I wanted to go camping on this trip, but I wanted to do it comfortably with a luxury feel. That's why I chose Under Canvas, a glamping resort with locations near national parks from Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon.
![I knew I wanted to go camping on this trip, but I wanted to do it comfortably with a luxury feel. That](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872400,width-700,height-525,imgsize-305158/i-knew-i-wanted-to-go-camping-on-this-trip-but-i-wanted-to-do-it-comfortably-with-a-luxury-feel-thataposs-why-i-chose-under-canvas-a-glamping-resort-with-locations-near-national-parks-from-yellowstone-to-the-grand-canyon-.jpg)
Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains is just north of the park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
![Under Canvas Great Smoky Mountains is just north of the park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872382,width-700,height-525,imgsize-124178/under-canvas-great-smoky-mountains-is-just-north-of-the-park-in-pigeon-forge-tennessee-.jpg)
I took a cab from downtown Pigeon Forge to the 182-acre resort and headed to a communal tent where guests can check-in, dine, and hang out.
![I took a cab from downtown Pigeon Forge to the 182-acre resort and headed to a communal tent where guests can check-in, dine, and hang out.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872358,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1039048/i-took-a-cab-from-downtown-pigeon-forge-to-the-182-acre-resort-and-headed-to-a-communal-tent-where-guests-can-check-in-dine-and-hang-out-.jpg)
Inside the communal tent, there were tables and chairs beside shelves of games and books for guests to enjoy. I thought this gave the resort a community feel.
![Inside the communal tent, there were tables and chairs beside shelves of games and books for guests to enjoy. I thought this gave the resort a community feel.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872339,width-700,height-525,imgsize-752752/inside-the-communal-tent-there-were-tables-and-chairs-beside-shelves-of-games-and-books-for-guests-to-enjoy-i-thought-this-gave-the-resort-a-community-feel-.jpg)
Once I checked in, an employee invited me to hop into a golf cart and we drove to my tent.
![Once I checked in, an employee invited me to hop into a golf cart and we drove to my tent.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872323,width-700,height-525,imgsize-2244242/once-i-checked-in-an-employee-invited-me-to-hop-into-a-golf-cart-and-we-drove-to-my-tent-.jpg)
I stayed in a Stargazer tent. At the time of booking, it cost $520 a night — more than any of the cabins — but Insider got a media rate of $400.
![I stayed in a Stargazer tent. At the time of booking, it cost $520 a night — more than any of the cabins — but Insider got a media rate of $400.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872297,width-700,height-525,imgsize-400418/i-stayed-in-a-stargazer-tent-at-the-time-of-booking-it-cost-520-a-night-x2014-more-than-any-of-the-cabins-x2014-but-insider-got-a-media-rate-of-400-.jpg)
Source: Under Canvas
Inside, the tent included a full bathroom and a skylight above a king-sized bed that I found extremely comfortable.
![Inside, the tent included a full bathroom and a skylight above a king-sized bed that I found extremely comfortable.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872278,width-700,height-525,imgsize-906926/inside-the-tent-included-a-full-bathroom-and-a-skylight-above-a-king-sized-bed-that-i-found-extremely-comfortable-.jpg)
The bathroom was at the end of the tent behind a wooden wall for privacy.
![The bathroom was at the end of the tent behind a wooden wall for privacy.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872259,width-700,height-525,imgsize-418828/the-bathroom-was-at-the-end-of-the-tent-behind-a-wooden-wall-for-privacy-.jpg)
While showing me around my home for the night, the employee informed me of practices in place to reduce energy consumption, including a pull-chain shower that saved water by running only while the chain was down.
![While showing me around my home for the night, the employee informed me of practices in place to reduce energy consumption, including a pull-chain shower that saved water by running only while the chain was down.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872245,width-700,height-525,imgsize-422290/while-showing-me-around-my-home-for-the-night-the-employee-informed-me-of-practices-in-place-to-reduce-energy-consumption-including-a-pull-chain-shower-that-saved-water-by-running-only-while-the-chain-was-down-.jpg)
They also showed me how to heat my tent with the indoor, wood-fired oven.
![They also showed me how to heat my tent with the indoor, wood-fired oven.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872222,width-700,height-525,imgsize-329290/they-also-showed-me-how-to-heat-my-tent-with-the-indoor-wood-fired-oven-.jpg)
Making my own fire to keep warm was challenging, but it made me feel more connected to nature than I did in the cabins.
![Making my own fire to keep warm was challenging, but it made me feel more connected to nature than I did in the cabins.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872207,width-700,height-525,imgsize-518230/making-my-own-fire-to-keep-warm-was-challenging-but-it-made-me-feel-more-connected-to-nature-than-i-did-in-the-cabins-.jpg)
Walking around the campsite, I felt a sense of community among guests and employees.
![Walking around the campsite, I felt a sense of community among guests and employees.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872191,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1476780/walking-around-the-campsite-i-felt-a-sense-of-community-among-guests-and-employees-.jpg)
Like neighbors, we said hello when passing by, and I even struck up a few conversations in communal spaces like the firepit.
![Like neighbors, we said hello when passing by, and I even struck up a few conversations in communal spaces like the firepit.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872174,width-700,height-525,imgsize-960776/like-neighbors-we-said-hello-when-passing-by-and-i-even-struck-up-a-few-conversations-in-communal-spaces-like-the-firepit-.jpg)
I stayed out exploring and socializing until the sun went down. At night, the tents glowed and walking by you could hear campers whispering inside.
![I stayed out exploring and socializing until the sun went down. At night, the tents glowed and walking by you could hear campers whispering inside.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872148,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1402308/i-stayed-out-exploring-and-socializing-until-the-sun-went-down-at-night-the-tents-glowed-and-walking-by-you-could-hear-campers-whispering-inside-.jpg)
When I returned to my home for the night, I thought my tent felt more like a hotel room. I got cozy and fell asleep with ease.
![When I returned to my home for the night, I thought my tent felt more like a hotel room. I got cozy and fell asleep with ease.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872126,width-700,height-525,imgsize-579598/when-i-returned-to-my-home-for-the-night-i-thought-my-tent-felt-more-like-a-hotel-room-i-got-cozy-and-fell-asleep-with-ease-.jpg)
In the morning I woke up cold, as my fire went out in the night. So I sparked up a couple of logs before checking out. I was surprised by how much better I was at getting the fire started than the day before.
![In the morning I woke up cold, as my fire went out in the night. So I sparked up a couple of logs before checking out. I was surprised by how much better I was at getting the fire started than the day before.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872104,width-700,height-525,imgsize-588994/in-the-morning-i-woke-up-cold-as-my-fire-went-out-in-the-night-so-i-sparked-up-a-couple-of-logs-before-checking-out-i-was-surprised-by-how-much-better-i-was-at-getting-the-fire-started-than-the-day-before-.jpg)
Once my feet were warm enough, I left my tent for my next Smoky Mountain adventure. I loved my Under Canvas experience so much that I want to try the locations near other national parks.
![Once my feet were warm enough, I left my tent for my next Smoky Mountain adventure. I loved my Under Canvas experience so much that I want to try the locations near other national parks.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-101872086,width-700,height-525,imgsize-895396/once-my-feet-were-warm-enough-i-left-my-tent-for-my-next-smoky-mountain-adventure-i-loved-my-under-canvas-experience-so-much-that-i-want-to-try-the-locations-near-other-national-parks-.jpg)
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