Glam Camping: Rethink the Pitched Tent

A streamlined teardrop trailer, hanging lanterns, mod shade structure set the scene at Sunset's former Menlo Park headquarters.

Table, chairs, and lanterns from Ikea. Cooler by Coleman. Umbrella by Brelli. Teardrop trailer by Vacations-in-a-Can. Turf by SYNLawn.

This little room on wheels is so easy to handle, it can be hitched to a Mini Cooper.

Its standard design includes a bed, kitchen, and cabinets, but custom add-ons get as crazy as espresso makers and solar showers.

Teardrops range from $3,500 for used to $12,000 for a custom model. Buy or rent them at Vacations in a Can (from $175 for two nights) in Penngrove, California.

A mobile kitchen pops up from the back of the trailer.

Tin dishware from Sundance Catalog. Cooler by Coleman.

The iconic Airstream is a mini hotel on wheels. Most have gas burners, showers you can actually stand up in, and an ingenious amount of storage space. It's smooth to tow, with a retro interior that conjures up a first-class train cabin circa 1955.

A good starter model is the 16-foot Bambi Sport, which can be pulled by a midsize SUV (from $30,000 used).

Chairs and table from DWR. Cooler from Coleman. Umbrella by Brelli. Perforated-paper banners from mexevents.com.

The kitchen and dining area in this 25-foot Airstream International has room for 4 to dine in style.

With this much room, you can "think about decorating the same way you'd decorate an apartment," says Sunset style editor, Miranda Jones.

A kitchenette with microwave, stovetop, refrigerator, and freezer lets you enjoy home cooking on the road, too.

Kick back outside your Airstream with chairs and table from DWR and an umbrella by Brelli.

Create a summertime fiesta with a table and chairs from Ikea.

The Brelli umbrella creates easy shade for any table. Just pop the handle in a vase filled with sand.

Colorful melamine plates from Ikea make it fun to set the table. Plastic glasses are sturdy enough for the dishwasher and reuse all summer. Plastic folding chairs pack away when not needed.

We borrowed this luxury tent from The Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, MT, where “roughing it” means canvas platform tents with oil paintings hanging above feather beds, terry-cloth robes as fluffy as Big Sky Country clouds, and elk-antler bedside lamps.

At the resort, the tent also comes with a camping butler who welcomes you back from a hike with frosty iced tea, fresh-baked cookies, and fresh fruit. From $1255.

Forget the air mattress. There’ll be no sore necks after a night on “The last best bed” in the luxury tent from The Resort at Paws Up.

A place to savor morning coffee or something to sip at sunset.