Grand Canyon Glamping Resort, near the West Rim of the Grand Canyon in Meadview, Arizona, just announced a new lodging option for guests following a trend sweeping the glamping world: geodesic “Stargazing domes,” with views of the west rim of the Grand Canyon. The new domes are among the priciest lodging options at the resort, with rates starting at $250 on Tuesday nights and going up to $450 per night on weekends. Domes without showers are a bit cheaper, starting at $200, though campers can also rent a totally unfurnished, unheated dome, if they have their own camping gear and are just looking for a bit of sheltered privacy for the night. The resort is spread across 10 acres, allowing for mostly unobstructed views from each dome
The Grand Canyon Has Some of the Coolest Glamping in the US
Geodesic domes are becoming an extremely popular choice for modern, outdoor-focused hotels, likely for several reasons. Aside from their aesthetic appeal, domes are fairly eco-friendly, with a small footprint and a stable, heat-and-cooling-efficient design that doesn’t require significant construction or alterations to the landscape. They’re also much less expensive to install, and as they’re always individual units, they bring a sense of privacy and space not usually offered by traditional hotel rooms with shared walls.
Photo: Grand Canyon Glamping Resort
For most travelers, the biggest draw of domes is the ability to connect with nature. Most dome hotels have large, panoramic widows, if not entire walls of windows, and skylights and stargazing windows are de rigeur in higher-end glamping hotels. Domes can also withstand elements like wind, rain, and snow extremely well, allowing hotel owners to install them in remote places — and giving guests floor-to-ceiling view of some of the prettiest landscapes in the world.
Bucket-list-worthy as the new glass-walled dome in the desert at Grand Canyon Glamping Resort are, what’s even cooler is that the resort isn’t the first to make geodesic domes available to Grand Canyon visitors. And if domes aren’t your thing, one of the other extremely unique glamping options near the Grand Canyon below may be.
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Grand Canyon Glamping Resort: teepees and vintage wagons
The resort has a variety of unique glamping options, including teepees. Photo: Grand Canyon Glamping Resort
Grand Canyon Glamping Resort sits about 10 minutes from “Grand Canyon West.” Grand Canyon West isn’t an official park entrance, but rather, a name for the area run and managed by the Hualapai Tribe just west of the national park. Attractions at Grand Canyon West include the famous Skywalk, as well as heli-tours, river rafting, and much more. If you’re staying at Grand Canyon Glamping Resort, you can opt for a brand-new geodesic dome, or other glamping options like traditional canvas tents, furnished wagons with air-conditioning and heat (inspired by the chuckwagons of yore), or teepees with private bathrooms. The most affordable rooms are the empty geodesic domes (for campers), followed by the glamping wagons without a shower or bathroom. Those start at $125 night.
The closet official park entrance to resort is the South Entrance, but it’s still pretty far away — 228 miles from the gate.
Clear Sky Resorts: themed stargazing domes
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If you’d like to be a bit closer to the Grand Canyon, the geodesic domes at Clear Sky Resort Grand Canyon could be a good fit. It has several unique glamping dome options, including one with an outer space theme, one with a bed hanging from the ceiling directly under a huge stargazing window, domes with lofts, and romantic domes for two. The resort closes in winter, so it’s an only option if you’re visiting between April and November. The resort is about 25 miles south of the South Rim in Valle, Arizona, and rates start around $400 per night. So while it’s closer to the national park, it’s definitely pricier than the new domes at Grand Canyon Glamping Resort.
Backland: luxury domes
Photo: Backland Luxury Camping
Backland Luxury Camping is an elegant glamping resort near the Grand Canyon opened in August 2022. Rooms on offer include luxury dome suites, many of which have giant skylights above the beds. The resort also has a glass-walled, farm-to-table restaurant and is surrounded by national forest (so be aware that the drive to the resort is on a rough forest service road). There’s even a private beach, thanks to the on-property lake. Backland is in Williams, AZ, about 90 minutes from the Grand Canyon South Entrance at the South Rim.
The Desert Pearl: a renovated school bus
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The Desert Pearl is a unique Grand Canyon Airbnb rental, offering the chance to sleep in a converted school bus 35 minutes from the Grand Canyon. It’s pet-friendly, and renters get a full acre to themselves complete with yard games, a trampoline and firepit, and a large wooden deck, among other perks. With a starting rate of about $100 a night, it’s fairly affordable, but runs on solar power — so don’t plan on using a blowdryer every day while you’re there. It’s near the North Entrance, which is only open between mid-May and the end of November.
Under Canvas Grand Canyon: stargazing tents
Photo: Under Canvas Grand Canyon
Under Canvas is perhaps the brand that made glamping a household word, and naturally, there’s one near Grand Canyon National Park. The Under Canvas Grand Canyon has glamping tents, including stargazer tents with a big window under the bed. Like Clear Sky, it has a seasonal schedule (open mid-April through the end of October) and is about 25 miles from the South Entrance to the Grand Canyon.
As with all Under Canvas Resorts, it has a “summer camp for adults” vibe, with complimentary daily s’mores at a group campfire, frequent live music and evening chats, and on-site activities like yoga classes, guided hikes, or even bingo. Stargazing tents start around $349 per night, though regular glamping tents are more affordable, at about $219 per night. 