Glamping comes to Pa. state parks: Reservations are being taken for 2026

Love the idea of camping but not the setting up of the tent, sleeping on a sagging air mattress or lack of climate control?

Pennsylvania state parks have a solution: glamping.

Officials this past week introduced glamping — a portmanteau of glamorous and camping — at eight state parks, and reservations are being taken for 2026.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says it invested $400,000 in improving these parks’ campgrounds where glamping is available, including restroom upgrades and new utilities.

The department is offering 61 glamping sites through a partnership with Timberline Glamping Co., under a five-year contract. It’s the first venture in the northeastern United States for the private company that offers glamping franchises, and Pennsylvania will now host more Timberline glamping locations than any other state, according to DCNR officials.

“This new offering is another way we’re ensuring that our state parks remain welcoming and enjoyable for all Pennsylvanians,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “By transforming underused campsites into beautiful glamping experiences, we’re expanding overnight options in a way that’s affordable, sustainable, and beneficial to local communities.

“These are truly places where adventure feels like home.”

How it works is outdoor enthusiasts, or maybe the outdoor curious, reserve a site through DCNR’s “Stay the Night” webpage or go directly to timberlineglamping.com.

Under this collaboration, DCNR says it will receive a flat rate plus a share of revenue from Timberline’s operations, generating funds for additional park improvements.

Guests can expect safari-style tents with real beds, heat and air-conditioning, lighting, décor and outdoor seating. Each park with glamping sites will include one tent accessible to people with disabilities — ensuring access for all visitors.

Guests can book one-night weekday stays or two-night weekend and holiday stays, with check-in at 3 p.m. and checkout at 10 a.m. Nightly stays range from $130 to $200 a night depending on the time of week, with weekdays running cheaper than weekends, DCNR spokesman Wesley Robinson told lehighvalleylive.com.

Add-ons include local experiences, firewood bundles, games and gourmet s’mores kits, connecting visitors with local communities and businesses, according to the DCNR.

The new amenities are in response to the department’s “Penn’s Parks for All” plan developed with extensive public input that included a call for this type of overnight accommodations, Robinson said: “So we expect them to be popular.”

Glamping reservations are now open at the following eight state parks, with availability based on each park’s season:

• Poe Valley: March 27–Dec. 12
• Hills Creek: May 1–Oct. 17
• Laurel Hill: April 10–Oct. 17
• Pymatuning: April 10–Oct. 31
• Codorus: April 10–Oct. 31
• French Creek: March 6–Dec. 31 on the park’s Loop A and April 24–Oct. 31 on Loop B
• Hickory Run: April 10–Oct. 17
• Promised Land: May 1–Oct. 11

Pennsylvania state parks offer a wide range of overnight accommodations, including tent and glamping sites; RV full-service sites; yurts; rustic cabins with fireplaces and modern cabins with heat and bathrooms; and the eco-lodge The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle in Centre County.

“We believe that time spent in the great outdoors with family and friends can create some of life’s most meaningful memories,” said Timberline Glamping Co. co-owners Nathan and Rebeka Self. “We are passionate about creating beautiful, truly unique, and unforgettable spaces, where people can explore our incredible State Parks, without sacrificing comfort, luxury, and style. We believe in the traditional camping experience happening outside while the convenience of modern amenities happens inside our accommodations. Each of our locations offer add-ons and experiences unique to that location, which means each guest can truly customize their stay.”

DCNR officials note all Timberline glamping tents are made in the U.S., using materials crafted by American manufacturers in Denver.