NC ‘glamping’ destination ranks among the best in US — again. Why it’s special
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A North Carolina travel destination is tucked into the wilderness — but still offers the comforts of home.
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Sky Ridge Yurts has become a beloved place to stay in the Nantahala Gorge area. So much so, fans have helped the destination rank among the nation’s top places for “glamping” for the third year in a row.
“Glamping, short for ‘glamorous camping,’ marries the simplicity of traditional camping with the indulgence of modern amenities and creature comforts,” USA Today’s 10Best wrote in a report published Wednesday, May 13.
To create the list of the best places to “recharge in nature,” 10Best said travel experts nominated accommodations across the country. Editors narrowed down the options before allowing readers to spend a month voting on their favorites.
On the resulting list of readers’ choice award winners, Sky Ridge Yurts was the only destination in North Carolina. The site is in Bryson City, a roughly 65-mile drive southwest from Asheville.
Sky Ridge Yurts is home to cabins and circular tents called yurts. The location gives visitors a “glimpse into the splendor of Appalachia,” with spaces that are “equipped with cooking areas, full baths, and both heating and air conditioning,” 10Best wrote.
“You still get the sounds of the forest, campfires, mountain air, and the feeling of being tucked into nature — just without giving up the comforts most people secretly want when camping,” the accommodation wrote on its website.
For mid-June, rates start at roughly $185 per night. If you choose to stay in a yurt instead of a soundproof cabin, the destination warns that you may hear “chirping crickets, the occasional distant coyote howl, or a laugh from your neighbor.”
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The nationwide honor may not come as a surprise, given Sky Ridge Yurts has received recognition from 10Best in the past. It was crowned the nation’s No. 1 “glamping” destination in 2024, before sliding down to the No. 5 spot in 2025.
Bryson City also has been in the spotlight. In recent years, it has been named one of the best small towns in the South and one of the nation’s top small-town beer scenes. Both of the rankings praised the mountain town’s proximity to outdoor activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, CharlotteFive previously reported.
In the latest rankings, 10Best considered fan-favorite road-trip destinations across several other categories. Here are some North Carolina winners from the national lists:
Nationwide, 10Best said the No. 1 place for “glamping” was Nomad Ridge at The Wilds in Cumberland, Ohio, a roughly 75-mile drive southeast from the state capital of Columbus.
In the past, 10Best has told CharlotteFive it doesn’t reveal the number of people who vote in its contests.
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