There are vacations for sightseeing, vacations for adventure, and vacations for doing nothing but turning pages under a big, beautiful sky. And then there are the best kind: trips that combine all three! Whether you’re planning a book club retreat, a solo reading weekend getaway, or a BookTok-inspired escape with your favorite literary crew, a reading retreat at Under Canvas brings together books, outdoor adventure, and comfort in style. With upscale, safari-inspired tents, extraordinary landscapes, nightly s’mores, and cozy spaces to curl up with a book, you’ll find everything you need to get lost in a story and found in the great outdoors.
Why Reading Retreats Belong Outside
When books and nature come together, a reading retreat becomes a story-filled escape with plenty of room to unwind. Unlike a traditional hotel stay, a glamping reading retreat invites you to step away from screens and settle into the rhythm of the outdoors without sacrificing comfort. At Under Canvas, you can read on your private deck, gather in shared indoor and outdoor lounge spaces, explore nearby trails and scenic landscapes, and end the day talking books around the campfire. With adventures just outside your tent flap, every chapter feels a little more memorable.
The Perfect Setting for a Book Club Retreat
Every book club knows the magic is only partly about the book. It’s also about the people, the snacks, the opinions, and most importantly, time spent together.
A book club retreat at Under Canvas turns your meetup into a full-on literary escape where, instead of gathering in someone’s living room, you can gather beneath the stars. You can build a whole weekend around connection, conversation, and a shared sense of adventure.
Start the morning with guided yoga, then retreat to read at your leisure. When it’s time to stretch your legs, head out for a group hike, a scenic drive, or a guided adventure before meeting back up for dinner, drinks, and discussion by the fire. Add in nightly s’mores, spectacular views, and fresh air, and you have all the ingredients for a memorable reading weekend getaway.
With locations across the U.S., Under Canvas makes it easy to choose a backdrop that fits your group’s page-turning vibe, from Moab’s desert sunsets to the Smokies’ misty mountains and New England’s craggy coastline. Each camp offers plenty of room to gather, wander, and read without interruption.
Plan a Reading Weekend Getaway That Feels Effortless
The beauty of a reading weekend is that it doesn’t need to be complicated.
Pack a book stack, invite your favorite people, and let the setting do the rest. Spend a day exploring nearby national parks, trails, or attractions, then reserve the rest of the weekend for reading time indoors or out, lounging by the fire, sipping local wines, and swapping book recommendations with friends.
For a low-key reading weekend itinerary, try this:
Arrive Friday afternoon, settle into your tent, and kick off the weekend with dinner and s’mores. On Saturday, start slow with coffee and quiet reading time, then choose an outdoor activity. Later, gather for a casual book discussion around the campfire. On Sunday, enjoy one final morning chapter before heading home feeling refreshed, inspired, and maybe already halfway through your next read.
It’s the kind of getaway that feels both restorative and memorable. No rigid schedule. No over-planning. Just pages, places, and people you enjoy spending time with.
Take a Page from Camp Unwritten
Created with World of Hyatt and Reese’s Book Club, Camp Unwritten brings book lovers together for curated outdoor reading retreats in unforgettable settings. Think summer camp vibes, all grown up. These one-of-a-kind book retreats combine genre-themed programming, best-selling authors, upscale outdoor stays at Under Canvas camps, shared adventures, and the joy of gathering with fellow readers.
They’re a beautiful example of what makes a reading retreat so special. Stories aren’t just something you read alone – they’re something that brings people together, whether you’re discussing a twist ending under the desert stars in Moab or trading favorite moments after a day in Yosemite.
For the BookTok and Bookstagram Crowd
Of course, no modern book retreat is complete without a little BookTok and Bookstagram inspiration.
At Under Canvas, the aesthetic comes naturally: stylish canvas tents tucked into spectacular landscapes, morning coffee with mountain views, a well-loved paperback on a king-size bed, cozy West Elm furnishings, golden hour reading sessions on your deck, campfire conversations, and starry night skies. It’s all camera-ready, but more importantly, it feels authentic.
For an even more immersive reading weekend, let the landscape shape the reading list. Head to a local bookstore and pick up a new read: think desert gothic in Moab, national park romance in Yosemite, mystery in the Great Smoky Mountains. Just remember to leave room in your bag for what you find and for book swaps with friends along the way!
What to Pack for a Reading Retreat
Packing for a reading retreat should feel easy. Start with the essentials: a few books, comfortable layers, slippers, sunglasses, adventure-ready clothes, and something to mark up pages with. Add a reusable water bottle for daytime exploring and a tote bag for carrying your current read around camp or out into the wild.
For your own book club retreat, consider bringing discussion questions, themed snacks, or a small book swap. Everyone can bring a favorite title to trade to keep the plot going after you return home.
Under Canvas makes it easy to pack light, with lanterns for ambient reading by night, cozy Pendleton blankets for curling up in comfort and style, wood-burning stoves, plush bedding, organic bath products, and hotel-like amenities you would expect from an outdoor resort.
Explore the differences between Glamping vs. Camping.
Turn the Page Outdoors with Under Canvas
A reading retreat at Under Canvas is more than a weekend away. It’s a chance to slow down, reconnect, and remember how good it feels to be fully present: in a story, in the great outdoors, and with the people around you. Whether you’re planning a book club retreat, a solo reading weekend, an escape inspired by the setting of one of your favorite reads, or joining us for Camp Unwritten, glamping at Under Canvas invites you to get outside together and write your own next chapter.