The short version
- 148 yurts across 35 states in this directory — the biggest counts are Utah (16), California (14), Colorado (11), Maine (9), Oregon (9).
- Public-land yurts book through state park systems (often ReserveAmerica) or Recreation.gov for national forests. Private glamping yurts book direct.
- Budget roughly $40–$100 a night for a public yurt; book prime dates the day the window opens.
Why yurts are the smartest first glamping trip
A yurt is a round, lattice-framed tent-cabin — a design borrowed from Central Asia and rebuilt for American parks with a wooden platform, a domed skylight and, very often, a heater or wood stove. Public-land versions strip glamping down to its best parts: a real bed and a solid roof for close to the price of a campsite, in places that are usually gorgeous. For a first glamping trip, they’re hard to beat. Browse the full yurt category to see every one we track, public and private.
How public yurt reservations work
There is no single national yurt booking site — which is exactly why people find it confusing. Which system you use depends on who owns the land under the yurt:
State park systems
Many states run their own portal (Reserve California, Oregon State Parks, Washington Parks) or use ReserveAmerica. This is where the classic 'state park yurt' lives.
Recreation.gov
Yurts on national forest and federal land are reserved here, on a rolling six-month window. It's the same system used for federal cabins and lookouts.
Book direct (private)
Privately run glamping yurts take reservations on their own website or a marketplace. Pricier, but with hotel-style comfort and no lottery.
The catch with public yurts is the booking window. State parks typically release nights on a rolling schedule six months to a year ahead — some on fixed dates — and federal yurts open six months out on Recreation.gov. Because the yurts are cheap and few, summer weekends and holidays disappear fast. Find your target yurt’s operating agency, learn its exact release rule, create your account ahead of time, and book the morning the window opens.
Yurts by state
Every state we track that has yurts, ranked by total count. “Public” shows the yurts bookable on public land (national-forest / Recreation.gov inventory in this directory); states with public yurts are the easiest place to start.
Public yurts you can reserve now
These 21 yurts sit on public land and take reservations through federal and state systems. Each links to its full listing; the state name links to all glamping in that state.
Utah
8 yurts| Yurt | Nearest town | Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson Cove (Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Ut) | Huntsville | Recreation.gov |
| Aspen Grove (Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Ut) | Heber City | Recreation.gov |
| Little Mill | Provo | Recreation.gov |
| Lost Creek Campground | Kamas | Recreation.gov |
| Payson Lakes | Salem | Recreation.gov |
| Spruces - Big Cottonwood | Salt Lake City | Recreation.gov |
| Sunrise Campground | Garden City | Recreation.gov |
| Timpooneke | Provo | Recreation.gov |
Oregon
5 yurts| Yurt | Nearest town | Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony Lake | North Powder | Recreation.gov |
| Crescent Lake Yurts | Crescent | Recreation.gov |
| Fish Creek (Or) | — | Recreation.gov |
| Link Creek | Sisters | Recreation.gov |
| Trillium | — | Recreation.gov |
California
4 yurts| Yurt | Nearest town | Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Kernville | Recreation.gov |
| Mary Smith Campground | Redding | Recreation.gov |
| Quaking Aspen | — | Recreation.gov |
| Redwood Meadow | — | Recreation.gov |
Washington
2 yurts| Yurt | Nearest town | Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Coho Campground | Quilcene | Recreation.gov |
| Swift Creek Campground | — | Recreation.gov |
Montana
1 yurt| Yurt | Nearest town | Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Yurt | Troy | Recreation.gov |
North Carolina
1 yurt| Yurt | Nearest town | Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Powhatan Glamping | Asheville | Recreation.gov |
Tips for landing (and enjoying) a yurt
Book the day the window opens
For popular state and forest yurts, prime summer weekends are claimed within minutes. Know the exact release date and time for your target, be logged in early, and have backup dates ready. Midweek nights are far easier.
Off-season is the secret
Many yurts are heated, which makes fall, winter and early spring genuinely comfortable — and far less competitive. Snow-country yurts double as ski and snowshoe basecamps. Just confirm the access road stays open for your dates.
Know what's included
Public yurts vary: some have electricity, heat and bunks but shared campground bathrooms; others are more basic. Read the amenity list, then pack accordingly — bedding, water, a stove or cookware, and a headlamp are common must-brings.
Frequently asked questions
- How do you book a state park yurt?
- It depends on the state. Many state park systems use ReserveAmerica or a state-run reservation portal (for example, Reserve California, Oregon State Parks, or Washington's Parks system), while yurts on national-forest and federal land are booked through Recreation.gov. Find the park or forest that operates your yurt, then use its reservation site to pick dates and pay.
- How far in advance can you reserve a yurt?
- Booking windows vary by system. State parks commonly open a rolling window of six months to a year ahead, and some release on fixed dates. Federal yurts on Recreation.gov typically open six months out. Because public-land yurts are limited and inexpensive, prime summer and holiday weekends often book out the moment the window opens.
- How much does a yurt cost per night?
- Public-land yurts are among the best value in outdoor lodging. State park yurts commonly run from roughly $40 to $100 per night, with coastal and deluxe yurts at the higher end. Privately operated glamping yurts range higher — often $100 to $300-plus a night — because they add hotel-style amenities.
- What is the difference between a state park yurt and a private glamping yurt?
- State park and public-land yurts are basic and affordable: expect a solid platform, bunk or futon beds, electricity or a heater in many cases, and shared campground bathrooms nearby. Private glamping yurts are hospitality businesses — think en-suite bathrooms, real linens, kitchens, hot tubs and concierge touches — at a premium price.
- Are yurts heated? Can you stay in one in winter?
- Many public-land yurts include electric heat or a wood/propane stove, which makes off-season and winter stays genuinely comfortable — snow-country yurts are popular for skiing and snowshoeing. Always check the specific yurt's amenities and confirm the access road stays open, since some higher-elevation yurts close or become ski-in only in winter.
- Which states have the most yurts?
- In this directory the largest yurt counts are in Utah, California, Colorado, Oregon and Maine. Utah and Oregon in particular have strong inventories of publicly bookable yurts on national-forest and state land, which makes them among the easiest states to land a yurt for a first trip.
Keep exploring
See every yurt in America
Browse all 148 yurts on the map — public and private, coast to coast — or explore the wider directory.
Reservation systems, prices and seasons change — always confirm with the operating park or Recreation.gov before you travel. Last reviewed July 2026.