Glamping at Zion: A evaluation of Beneath Canvas and AutoCamp

There are dozens of lodging choices in and round Zion Nationwide Park, together with accommodations, cabins, tents and RVs. After all, tenting retains you closest to Zion’s towering crimson rocks and otherworldly starry nights, however you do not have to surrender creature comforts to commune with nature while you go to Utah’s oldest nationwide park.

Staying at one in all Zion’s glamping resorts presents the most effective of each worlds — and they are often booked utilizing factors. I not too long ago visited the realm with my household to take a look at two of the park’s outdoorsiest points-friendly choices, Beneath Canvas Zion and AutoCamp Zion. This is what you must find out about every resort earlier than your southern Utah journey.

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Beneath Canvas Zion

Beneath Canvas Zion opened in 2017 close to the nationwide park’s extra distant westerly edge in Virgin, Utah, and the Mr & Mrs Smith property joined World of Hyatt in 2024. The 196-acre, DarkSky-certified resort is surrounded solely by red-rock desert and countless skies for so far as the attention can see. Due to its outdoorsy nature, the resort closes annually between early November and mid-March.

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How far is Beneath Canvas from Zion?

Beneath Canvas Zion is a few 30-minute drive from the primary entrance to Zion Nationwide Park in Springdale, Utah. Its distant location means its environment are simply as lovely as what you will discover contained in the park, however it additionally means it is best to carry all of the provides you want on your stick with you, or decide issues up while you go by means of Springdale in your method to Zion. Notice that there’s a restaurant on-site, and the lodge does have some provides accessible for buy — extra on that under.

Beneath Canvas nightly charges

Beneath Canvas Zion is dwelling to 66 safari-style tents, together with 15 suites and 4 two-tent suites. Most World of Hyatt properties function utilizing a set award chart — outlined by Class 1 by means of 8 — that exhibits what number of factors per evening rooms will value. Beneath Canvas, alternatively, makes use of dynamic money and award pricing that fluctuates primarily based on availability and seasonality.

Pricing begins at round $362 or 28,250 World of Hyatt factors per evening for a Deluxe Tent that sleeps as much as two visitors, and $472 or 38,000 factors per evening for a Suite Tent that sleeps as much as 4. You can too go for a Stargazer Tent with a viewing window above the mattress for $439 or 35,250 factors per evening.

Deluxe and Stargazer tents can be found with an adjoining youngsters tent, beginning at round $967 or 88,250 factors per evening.

For bigger events like my household of 5, go for an Angels Touchdown Suite that sleeps as much as six visitors throughout two giant tents linked by a furnished deck. Nightly charges begin at round $967 or 88,250 World of Hyatt factors.

Beneath Canvas lodging

Every tent at Beneath Canvas Zion is outfitted with luxurious bedding, a non-public split-layout rest room, comfy indoor and outside seating areas, and a wood-burning range. I’ve carried out a number of tenting, however I virtually forgot I used to be in a tent when my head hit these plush pillows and the tender bedding felt like a heat embrace shielding me from the cool nighttime desert air.

Although the evenings had been chilly, the daytime temperatures had been nonetheless within the excessive 80s. The tents are outfitted with misters, which emit moisture into the air, simply inside and outside the door to assist cool them down.

I used to be additionally equal components shocked and impressed to seek out the marketed “sizzling water” within the bathe was certainly fairly heat. The sink temperature assorted primarily based on the surface temperature, however it was secure to drink, making it simple to replenish our bottles with out driving right down to the resort foyer tent.

To totally enable you join with nature (and untether your self out of your routine), there isn’t any electrical energy or Wi-Fi within the tents. Our tent had one fan, giant lanterns on all sides of the mattress and a smaller lantern hanging above the toilet mirror. All had been transportable, do you have to enterprise out after sundown. Every tent has two energy banks with USB-A and USB-C retailers that energy the fan, lanterns and any of your private units.

The tent additionally had loads of cupboard space. Our suitcases slid comfortably beneath the mattress, and there was a storage ottoman, baggage rack, coat rack and low desk for belongings we wanted simpler entry to.

The tents are unfold out and secluded, giving every visitor uninterrupted desert views and the quiet seclusion you’re doubtless craving while you go to a distant resort comparable to this.

Beneath Canvas facilities and actions

The foyer tent is the guts of Beneath Canvas Zion. Inside, you will discover the check-in desk, a bar and restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner, a grab-and-go foods and drinks space, a small reward store, and an actions concierge desk the place you may guide native excursions. Outdoors, there are a number of tables, garden video games and a little bit library.

There was additionally all-day tea, espresso, sizzling cocoa and water; a guitar; a number of board and card video games you would play on the foyer or take to your tent; strolling sticks you would use throughout your keep; and a cooler with limitless s’mores provides. You can even ship a postcard to pals or household again dwelling, and Beneath Canvas would handle postage.

Once we weren’t mountain climbing or sleeping, we spent most of our time on the foyer tent’s outside space. The children performed cornhole whereas we listened to stay music and sipped native brews within the evenings, after enjoying Slapjack or Scrabble whereas eating alfresco.

We had breakfast and dinner at Embers, the resort’s on-site restaurant. The menu included a number of hand-held and fork-and-knife choices, shareables, and a youngsters menu. Within the morning, Embers additionally served a full espresso, tea and espresso menu.

As soon as the solar set, we roasted (too many) s’mores, chatted with different visitors across the fireplace pit and stared up at an evening sky crammed with extra stars than I’ve ever seen in my life. It was so lovely that I struggled to peel myself away and go to mattress at evening.

Beneath Canvas suggestions

• Beneath Canvas has a strict “no meals in tents” coverage, which suggests no cooking or snacking in your tent. We stored nonperishable snacks in our automobile, and complimentary ice and coolers had been accessible on the foyer tent if we had objects we wanted to maintain chilly.
• Pack layers. It may be chilly within the morning and at evening, even when it nonetheless feels heat through the daytime.
• There are not any TVs within the tents and no Wi-Fi anyplace on the resort. Cell service was spotty, so be ready to go off-grid throughout your keep. Your coronary heart charge and stress ranges will thanks.
• Beneath Canvas areas, together with Zion, have wheelchair-accessible tents with ramps and roll-in showers.
• The resort is in a distant, secluded space. It is a few 30-minute round-trip drive into Virgin for provisions, so be certain you are absolutely stocked, for those who do not wish to depend on the restaurant, earlier than you head as much as the resort.

AutoCamp Zion

For those who assume, “I want I had an Airstream!” each time you go one on the freeway, your subsequent glamping keep must be with AutoCamp. AutoCamp presents a wide range of lodging sorts, however essentially the most iconic are the Airstream Suites, climate-controlled journey trailers outfitted with a midcentury design and fashionable facilities.

How far is AutoCamp from Zion?

AutoCamp Zion is in Virgin, Utah, solely a few 15-minute drive from Zion Nationwide Park. The resort is on the primary stretch of highway that runs by means of Virgin and on to Springdale, so it is a straight shot between AutoCamp and Zion.

AutoCamp nightly charges

AutoCamp Zion’s Airstream Suites sleep as much as 4 visitors and begin at $165 or 61,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening. For a Premium Airstream Suite that is extra secluded close to the again of the property, the nightly charge begins at $199 or 95,000 factors per evening.

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Bigger teams can guide a Basecamp Suite that sleeps as much as six visitors — as much as three within the Airstream and as much as three in an adjoining tent — beginning at $375 or 197,000 factors per evening.

Cabins, together with some which are wheelchair accessible, begin at $165 or 61,000 factors per evening.

AutoCamp lodging

My household has outgrown something resembling a typical lodge room, so we stayed in a Basecamp Suite. The children slept on the queen mattress and couch mattress within the AirStream, whereas my husband and I opted for the queen mattress within the giant canvas tent.

The Airstream was separated into three sections: the bed room, the dwelling and eating space, and the toilet. The bed room’s giant window let in ample mild and the attractive views. There was additionally a TV, bedside tables with commonplace and USB retailers and storage, and two extra storage drawers.

Outdoors the bed room was a galley kitchen with a small sink and all of the dishes and cooking utensils we wanted throughout our keep. There was additionally prompt espresso and tea, which I made within the offered electrical kettle. Reverse the sink, white cupboards hid the microwave and minifridge. There was additionally a settee mattress, a small desk and a conveyable USB-powered lantern.

The toilet was fashionable and practical, with a big sink and a tiled bathe with citrus-scented bathtub merchandise from Ursa Main.

Our Airstream had an adjoining tent with one other queen mattress and a settee mattress. There was a medium-size fridge, a fan and several other lamps, however solely the Airstream had a TV, rest room and kitchen space.

Between the Airstream and the tent was an out of doors seating space with a eating desk, chairs and a fireplace pit. We spent a number of our outing right here cooking dinner and stargazing by the fireplace.

AutoCamp facilities and actions

The resort had a big heated pool surrounded by loungers and umbrellas close to the primary foyer. There was additionally a basket crammed with balls and pool toys. (We spent a lot time enjoying volleyball within the pool that my forearms had been sore by the point we checked out.) The big garden exterior the foyer had a fireplace pit surrounded by chairs and garden video games like cornhole and ladder ball.

The Virgin River, which cast Zion’s fiery-red canyons, runs alongside the resort’s again edge and is accessible through a brief strolling path. We had been fortunate sufficient to be proper subsequent to the trail and visited the river’s sandy shores many occasions throughout our keep.

Most of these visits had been to seek for treasure. The children had been so excited when the employees member who checked us in gave us a treasure map with two spots marked by an “X.” Our treasure hunt took a little bit time, however we had been rewarded with a hidden geode pile and a treasure chest crammed with toys.

AutoCamp had different kid-friendly actions, too, together with a playground and board video games accessible to borrow within the foyer.

Different AutoCamp actions ranged from outside yoga to stay music and household sport nights.

The foyer additionally housed grab-and-go snacks and drinks, complimentary granola, milk, espresso, tea and sizzling cocoa every morning and an all-day restaurant.

Relatively than order off the menu, we bought one of many grill kits ($60). It got here with two steaks, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, asparagus and cornbread. Together with it, they gave us a cast-iron pan, grilling utensils and full directions. We cooked and ate exterior of our Airstream with the sounds of the Virgin River babbling alongside within the background.

Every night after dinner, we headed for the foyer. One evening, an area band was enjoying inside, so we listened alongside and performed video games like chess, tic-tac-toe and Sorry. The following evening, a guitarist was enjoying exterior, however the youngsters selected to take a seat inside once more and play extra video games.

Between the pool and the actions, I used to be impressed by how a lot AutoCamp catered to youngsters and households.

AutoCamp suggestions

• AutoCamp is a “car-free zone.” When you park your automobile within the parking zone, you should use a wagon or golf cart to move your belongings backwards and forwards to your Airstream or cabin.
• The situation and inclusion of Wi-Fi and televisions imply you’re extra linked to the surface world. It is also simple to pop right into a retailer or fuel station for something you forgot to carry with you.
• AutoCamp’s cabins have wheelchair-accessible ramps for visitors needing that possibility.
• The resort does sometimes host weddings and occasions which will make a number of the public areas unavailable to common visitors (although when this occurs, it does supply various actions like indoor music and video games).

Backside line

You actually cannot go flawed with any Zion resort when you think about the view exterior your window, however these two are among the many better of the most effective, particularly since you may earn and burn factors. Each supply upscale lodging and facilities, enjoyable actions impressed by nature, and top-notch service, and so they take part in main lodge loyalty applications.

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