Discover Luxury Stargazing Domes for Romantic Getaways Near National Parks

Imagine a glamping tent. Now enclose it, give it 26-foot-high ceilings, 1,000-square-foot windows, in-room telescopes, swinging chairs, plush linens and towels, colorful murals, and deck hammocks. Make it dome-shaped, climate-controlled, and put it within a few minutes of your favorite national park.

Is this still a glamping tent? Or, is it a five-star hotel room? An upscale cabin? Clear Sky Resorts’ sky domes — located just outside Grand Canyon National Park — blur the line of traditional lodging, uniting nature buffs and splendor seekers under the same curved roof.

“Glamping today means a luxurious and unique place to stay with direct access to nature,” stated Hal Feinberg, one of the resort’s owners. “So, we definitely meet the definition of glamorous camping.” Clear Sky Resorts is expanding, if not redefining, this concept — it was the first and only resort of its kind in the country when it opened in 2021.

Located just a 30-minute drive from the park’s South Rim entrance, guests are close to the scenic trails of the Grand Canyon. However, high desert vistas are just one aspect of what surrounds the domes. Their structure and décor aim to bring the outdoors inside — one of the resort’s true appeals in the glamping experience. The property features 45 uniquely decorated domes (some of which accommodate groups of up to seven people) spread across the vast and otherworldly Colorado Plateau.

“This allowed us to have some fun and offer family-sized domes with themes such as Space Galaxy, British Secret Agent, and ’80s Video Game,” mentioned Feinberg. While there is a variety in themes, they maintain a uniform aspect that may reign supreme: Floor-to-ceiling windows allow panoramic views of the sunrise, sunset, and the night sky over Arizona’s endless high desert. The Stairway To The Stars Sky Dome elevates the experience, inviting guests to ascend a spiral staircase and stargaze from a bed suspended under a massive skylight.

While there is no shortage of nearby attractions (the historic town of Williams is located 30 miles south along the legendary Route 66), the property’s extensive list of activities mirrors the expansive vistas and family-friendly environment. Just outside your dome, you’ll encounter a glow-in-the-dark frisbee golf course, a lit sculpture park, and a 360-degree movie projection dome, in addition to yard games, s’mores by the fire pit, movie and astronomy nights, live music, sunrise yoga classes, and storytelling. This will surely keep your pod busy between canyon adventures. An on-site food truck offers breakfast and dinner, while the Welcome Sky Dome lounge hosts a daily happy hour — an ideal way to unwind after a day of exploration.

Moreover, if your national park plans bypass the Grand Canyon, know that you may soon find yourself in a sky dome setting as well. “We’re in the process of expanding and have plans to construct resorts at up to 15 more locations near some of the most beautiful state and national parks in the U.S.,” Feinberg noted. In other words, glamping in geodesic domes is not just a fleeting concept; it is indeed the present.

For more information, visit clearskyresorts.com. Rates start at $295 per night. Domes are available between May and December.