Dan Wagner

Twelve Awesome Camping & Lodging Resources

Planning where to stay when traveling these days can be stressful and finding the right place can prove challenging at times. To help make things a bit easier we've created a list of alternatives to Airbnb, each with their own unique approach.

Hipcamp

If tipis, yurts, cabins and treehouses are your cup of tea then this is your go to. Hipcamp is king in the glamping world. The site offers some of the coolest glamping spots in the country on private lands. Want to spend a night in a yurt on a mountain? How about a treehouse on the beach? Maybe a tipi in the desert or a nectar farm in New Hampshire? They have it all. The search options are great as well. You can search for stays near a lake, pet friendly, fires allowed, under $50, etc. Hipcamp services all of the US and some areas of Canada

Glamping Hub

A luxury glamping site with some seriously cool stays. Converted silos, dome treehouses, ecopods, safari tents, tipis, a converted vintage caboose, A-frames, yurts and so much more. This site offers some of the most unique stays you'll find all over the world.

Home Camper

This site offers inexpensive tent camping options on private lands as well as whole home stays. We've found tent camping options as low as $5/night in some pretty cool areas. They service the US, Canada and some South American countries.

Tentrr

Tentrr offers campers two options. Tentrr Signature offers no equipment needed glamping stays while Tentrr Backcountry offers campers a classic, bring your own tent camping experience on private lands. The site is heavily focussed around the Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina, but they do support other areas across the country in much smaller patches.

The Dyrt

A website built by campers, for campers. The Dyrt has the largest database of campgrounds in the US and calls themselves the Yelp of campground reviews. If you're looking for a campground of any type you'll find it here. Cabins, RV, campsites, etc.

Getaway

Getaway offers gorgeously designed tiny cabins about two hours away from major cities. Equipped with ovens, stoves, bathrooms, showers, really comfortable beds, seating, refrigerator, cooler, fire pit, etc. they have all the bases covered. While on the pricier side of things they are truly beautiful stays. The window alone will leave a lasting impression.

Vrbo

Vrbo is the refined Airbnb and offers more polished stays than its biggest competitor. The homes listed here are often higher quality, larger in size and have a backyard making it more attractive for families. Maybe best of all, you're not sharing the rental with anyone else, including the property owner.

The Plum Guide

This is the top luxury stay company out there right now. If a $35,000 night in Aspen is in your wheelhouse, this is your go to.

Booking.com

They've been leading in online hotel bookings for years and now you can book vacation rentals and apartments as well. They have a high property inventory which helps drive costs down and there is less interaction with the property's host than say an Airbnb.

Sonder

Private apartment rentals that require very little interaction with the owner. These are geared towards larger cities like New York City, New Orleans, Chicago etc. and are more modern than most other site offerings.

Outdoorsy

Campervan, RV and camper rental options is the theme with these guys. If you've always wanted to rent a teardrop trailer and hit the road for a week, this is your go to.

Bureau of Land Management Land

Public lands operated by the Bureau of Land Management offering developed campsites to throw a tent down on and sleep under the stars. They often come with vault toilets, a picnic table and fire ring, but that's about it most of the time. A small fee is usually required and they tend to fill up fast in many areas. Non-reservable. You're also able to camp on these lands in undeveloped areas for free. Check out their website for maps on the areas available.