Go off the grid in style at these solar-powered glamping destinations
These destinations check a lot of boxes for eco-minded travelers who want optimal dark sky viewing far from city lights—but with some modern perks.
The best way to see the stars is by getting away from city lights. These glamping (or, luxurious camping) destinations are ideal for stargazing, and also rely on solar power, meaning they have additional perks like lighting, maybe an indoor bathroom, and even a fan or space heater, depending on the conditions.
Solar-powered glamping destinations check a lot of boxes for eco-minded travelers who want to be sensitive to their surroundings while making choices that hopefully help preserve the destinations for future generations. Staying in a glamping tent is also a chance to feel more connected to nature, as you can’t block out the natural sounds of crickets, owls, and other creatures as you doze off to sleep. You might also wake up with the sun.
“Solar energy can be part of that experience, but what matters most is the broader philosophy behind it, demonstrating that hospitality can operate with a lighter footprint,” says Céline Bossanne, co-founder of Huttopia, a glamping company that began in France and has since established locations in the United States and Canada.
Check with each solar-powered destination about what to bring before you go, so that the environment can remain as pristine as possible and expectations are aligned about what is provided.
(10 incredible glamping experiences near U.S. national parks)
Huttopia: Europe, Canada, and the United States
Huttopia, founded in 1999 in France, is striving for nature-based hospitality as they expand their camping and glamping options into the United States. Five of their 68 global sites operate primarily on solar power, with other locations exploring solar solutions to heat water and bathhouses.
“If a location already has access to an existing electrical network, it often makes more environmental sense to use that infrastructure rather than building an entirely new solar installation that would require additional materials, construction, and land impact,” says Bossanne. “That said, solar energy plays an increasing role across our sites.”
Huttopia Lake George-Adirondacks, opened in 2021, is where Huttopia began integrating solar energy into their North America locations.
Huttopia Wine Country, opened in 2024, was designed to be completely off-grid so that solar energy powers the entire property—from accommodations to main lodge with restaurant—as no infrastructure existed previously. Guests here aren’t roughing it, though, as there is a pool, a pizza oven, an indoor dining area, fans and lights in the tents. Yes, it’s also possible to charge devices here.
This location is also expanding night sky-viewing programming, including Astronomy Weekends with family-friendly guided “Solar System Hikes” that lead people on a dusk walk through a replication of planet distances from the sun. Once darkness falls, settle into lounge chairs for a two-hour stargazing experience with telescopes and storytelling.
During the day, Huttopia guests can go for an e-bike ride, lounge by the pool, play yard games like horseshoes, and adults can take a guided hike before wine tasting at the neighboring Six Sigma Ranch and Winery.
“Visitors can experience a different rhythm of living, where comfort and nature coexist with a lighter environmental footprint,” says Bossanne. “The value of the stay comes less from the technology itself and more from the experience it enables.”
Under Canvas: Near select national parks
Under Canvas started in 2012 in West Yellowstone and now has 13 locations in proximity to national parks. Under Canvas Bryce Canyon's signature safari-inspired glamping set-ups are fully off-grid and 100 percent solar-powered.
“Energy use at our camps varies by location as we work to minimize our footprint in each unique ecosystem,” says Sean Rush, chief operating officer of Under Canvas. “By opting to exclude power in the guest tents and focusing on energy-efficient amenities like battery-powered fans and lanterns, we significantly reduce our reliance on the local grid to help keep these landscapes pristine for years to come.”
The Under Canvas sites benefit from their relationship to national parks where light pollution does not exist. Five of their camps are Dark Sky certified—Lake Powell-Grand Staircase; Grand Canyon; Zion; Moab; and Bryce Canyon—giving guests a front row seat some of the best stargazing around. “Staying at Under Canvas is an invitation to put your phone away, connect with each other, to extraordinary places, and to the planet,” says Rush.
(Glamping with the stars: These 7 retreats are perfect for night-sky watching)
Arapaho Valley Ranch: Granby, Colorado
Arapaho Valley Ranch is tucked up in the Indian Peaks Wilderness of the Rocky Mountains, about a two-hour drive from Denver, Colorado. It’s clear this won’t be a typical experience as the final leg of the journey is nine miles down a dirt road.
This off-grid and self-sustaining ranch offers a mix of historical and modern cabins, yurts, a ranch house, tent and RV sites, and several glamping tents with views of the property's small lake. Guests bring their own provisions.
“Arapaho Valley Ranch has operated off grid for generations, long before sustainability became a trend in hospitality,” says Hayden Hughes, ranch manager. “Our solar and battery system allows us to maintain the ranch’s remote character while still providing modern comforts for our guests.”
On select nights, listen to live music outside of the main lodge or pop into the Red Dog Saloon for a drink, billed as "Colorado’s Smallest Bar." Activities include kayaking, hiking, and fishing; Wi-Fi is spotty, at best.
Hughes says that their events calendar will soon include night sky-viewing programming, but for now the wide-open views far from city lights are best at the nearby lakes: Lake Granby, Monarch Lake, and the property’s Little Indian Lake.
Glamping Canyonlands: Utah
Glamping Canyonlands, exclusively located in southern Utah, is an off-grid property near the tiny town of Monticello. Accommodations are found 40 minutes from Moab (close to Arches National Park) and 40 minutes from the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park.
With broad skies as part of the appeal here, some of the nine lodging options (including safari-style tents and small wooden cabins) on their 22 acres reflect this, including the “Stargazer Lotus Tent,” the “Stargazing Barrel,” and the “Skylight Casita.” Perhaps the most unique spot for stargazing here is from within the shower in one of the communal bathrooms. This is a shared kitchen (no freezer) and bathroom set up.
Glamping Canyonlands offers bi-monthly astronomy tours with an expert and a telescope, or an audio-guided stargazing experience for when the skies are clear. During the day, there are several activities available to explore the desert environment.
Shash Diné EcoRetreat: Arizona
The Shash Diné Eco Retreat is on a private family ranch just outside of Page, Arizona. Here, you can truly unplug from modern life as there is no electricity or Wi-Fi available. Solar power is used for lights after dark, and the property cleverly describes themselves as a “five billion star hotel” to let people know just how excellent the night sky viewing is.
Accommodations include canvas tents, restored sheepherder wagons, Navajo hogans, and a “Kyoob," and all food must be kept out of the lodging spaces. The Kyoob is an elevated glass and metal cabin that affords views of the landscape from the indoor comforts.
(These summer star parties offer the best Milky Way views of the year)
