Camping Made Easy: A Tentrr Review
What is Tentrr?
As the website describes, “Tentrr is your private camping experience. We connect adventurers like you with private landowners who want to share their land so you can experience new places.” Like Airbnb, Tentrr allows you to book a site as a means for accommodation. There are different levels of Tentrr experiences.
Tentrr Signature - Camp at an erected canvas tent atop a wooden platform with minimal equipment needed. It’s a ready-to-go experience perfect for those who don’t own gear, or are unfamiliar with camping.
Tentrr Backcountry - Pitch your own tent, but with a private land experience. No worries about finding a park and campsite.
Tentrr Partners - A curated list of related specialty camping experiences. These may offer additional amenities.
Where did we stay? And for how long?
We booked our Tentrr through Airbnb, although you can book directly through the Tentrr site itself. I noticed that some listings were crossposted, while some were solely only available via the official Tentrr site. We stayed at Mountain View in Ellenville, NY, which is a Tentrr Signature site. It’s about a 1.5 hour drive north of Manhattan. Since my boyfriend and I weren’t familiar with camping, we only booked it for one night — just in case we hated it. We also wanted to stay in another town that was closer to some of the other things we had on our itinerary for our long weekend.
What should I expect at the Tentrr site?
Our Tentrr experience included a lot. When we pulled up onto the property, we immediately saw the canvas tent that sat atop an elevated wooden deck facing a beautiful view. The actual tent is about a 10’x12’ space that was tall enough that didn’t require any crouching. Inside, there was a queen bed, 2 folding chairs, a small table that had a guide to the Tentrr, and another table that had some cleaning supplies (water jugs, soap, sanitizer, etc). I read that some Tentrrs provide air mattresses, but we lucked out with a real one. Additionally, some may provide a queen bunk bed, perfect if you have kids. Additionally, many require that you bring your own bedding, but this Tentrr host also provided bedding and few pillows. We brought additional blankets just to make it cozier. Because we booked for October, the Tentrr also had a propane space heater. In some Tentrrs, once the temperature regularly dips below a certain number, they outfit the tent with a wood burning heater. In the warmer months, this heater is removed from the premise. Unfortunately, our propane heater didn’t last the entire night, but it was fine.
Outside, there was a picnic table with an umbrella and several Adirondack chairs (2 on the deck and 2 by the firepit). There was also an additional bench by the fire pit. The fire pit was in a steel drum and came with a campfire grill. There was ample firewood, fire starter, and lighters (more on that later). We were surprised because the site also came with a separate charcoal grill. The Tentrr experience can vary in that each site can decide what extras are added, so while all Signature sites will include a tent, bed, etc., some may offer firewood, smores supplies, hiking sticks, fishing poles, etc at a surcharge (on the Tentrr site).
There was also a drum of water to be used to put out the fire, designated trash and recycling, and a “camp loo”. Our camp toilet was located in some sort of out house, but you do your business in a compost bag. While it was similar to a porta potty situation, it was definitely clean and they provided ample toilet paper. I didn’t notice any alarming bugs, nor did the toilet smell, but it was very dark inside. In the evening, I made my boyfriend flash his light into the loo because it was scarily dark. As part of Tentrr rules, you should pack and dispose of everything properly, so my boyfriend tidied up the bathroom situation before we left. Some Tentrrs will also provide a sun shower, but ours did not have one, nor did we plan to shower there anyway.
Our site was also outfitted with a few bonus items, like a deck of playing cards and aluminum pans for cooking. There was a binder in the tent that provided Covid-19 guidelines, travel guides, and local restaurant menus.
The host provided us a binder of guidelines and tips.
The tent has screened openings on all sides.
We weren’t expecting this little wash-up station in our tent.
What did you do?
We accidentally drove past the site initially, not realizing we had to go down someone’s private dirt path. We pulled past their property and drove over the grass to a field where our camp was. We checked in at about 4:00 giving us some time to settle in and explore the site before sunset at 6:10pm. Our Tentrr overlooked a large field and the beautiful peaks that we’re highlighted in almost-peak fall foliage.
Unfortunately, it had rained a few days before our trip, and the firewood wasn’t well covered, so it took awhile for the wood to catch since they were damp. Eventually, we started up the grill and campfire and made dinner. We had brought our own snacks, but stopped by the Shoprite in New Paltz to buy burger patties and produce. We forgot to stop by the liquor store, but ideally we would have had some nice local ciders too! The stargazing was amazing. We both are used to light-polluted skies in New Jersey, so it’s amazing how different the sky looks just a few hours away. The big dipper was so clear. Did we get a good nights sleep? Not exactly. We were fairly comfortable with the temperature of the tent, but the combo sounds of nature and eventually erratic rain woke us up a few times, but we’ve had worse nights sleep. We intended on waking up for the 7am sunrise, but we knew it was raining outside, so there was no real urgency to actually get up.
Are Tentrr’s “accessible”? Kid and/or dog-friendly?
I can’t speak for all sites, but I believe most Tentrr sites are raised on a wooden deck/platform that come with a small set of steps. For our site in particular, we had to drive on the grass and through the trees to access the open field where our tent was located. My boyfriend’s sedan was able to navigate, but it may have been more difficult if the terrain was steeper or very muddy. Be sure to check with your CampKeeper or Host if you have concerns about accessing the site. As you browse different listings, you will notice how many people each site can accommodate, as you can pick a site that had a bunk bed, and additional dome tents you can set up. Our site could have accommodated more people, but due to Covid-19, they limited it to 2 people. I’ve also seen listings that offer dog beds. Your kids, family, and friends can enjoy this new way of camping that still offers unique views and environments, while also providing a great sense of privacy.
Is there anything you would have changed?
Communicate with your host. I wish we had brought some of our own supplies rather than rely on what the site provided. We relied on the firewood, lighters, and grill tools that were said to be provided, but I wish we had brought a few logs, matches, and our own tongs or spatula. As mentioned earlier, it had unfortunately rained a few days before our visit and the firewood was still a bit damp and took awhile to light. The Bic lighters were helpful, but sometimes it’s easier to strike a match. Luckily, we also brought our own lantern and flashlights because the lantern provided wasn’t working consistently. We could have gone back out to get these supplies, but we didn’t want to get caught in the dark. And finally, totally out of our control, I wish mother nature was on our side because it was rainy and foggy when we woke up. The sunrise would have been a spectacular view.
Our site included a separate charcoal grill and an outhouse.
The sun didn’t set in this direction, but it was still a beautiful view.
We’re very glad we came mid-October.
Was it worth it?
For us, it was worth trying out. We paid $165 for the two of us. Neither of us own camping gear besides a stray lantern and some old sleeping bags, so having the ability to enjoy an overnight camping experience without worrying about all the gear and equipment was very convenient. Having the propane space heater was definitely a plus, especially since it dropped to the 40s. I think we would have had a better experience if we had stayed an extra day and got to explore more. It was rather quick to settle in and then check out first thing in the morning, but I’m glad we didn’t have to worry about pitching a tent and whatnot in the first place. It was also very private.
I think Tentrr is a brilliant, and overall well-executed concept for any families, groups, or individuals who value the idea of camping and the experiences it provides, but maybe don’t have the skills or patience to set up a campsite. If you are familiar with camping, the Signature sites might be “too glam” for you, but you can still utilize Tentrr to find private land that wouldn’t have been available otherwise. Be sure to check reviews before booking, just as you would with any other short-term vacation rental service.
Tips
Bring bug spray and always do a tick check!
Pick up some extra firewood along the way. Some CampKeepers provide firewood, and even if they do, it’ll be good to have extras on hand. Stick to local sources along the route to avoid inadvertently spreading disease or insects!
Bring extra water!
Double-check the listing and reviews for how easy it is to access. If in doubt, ask your CampKeeper or Host. You’ll want to make sure your vehicle can get to the site.
Some sites are closer to town than others, but for the most part, you’re going to be in relative seclusion, so pick up what you can prior to your arrival.
