What Advisors Should Know About AutoCamp Luxury Camping

One of the travel industry’s coolest brands celebrates nature and the great outdoors with luxury camping in sleek, modern Airstreams.

AutoCamp was founded ten years ago with a small property in Santa Barbara, California. Three years later, in 2016, it opened its flagship property, AutoCamp Russian River, in Guerneville, California. Today, AutoCamp has locations in Yosemite National Park, California; Russian River, California; Falmouth (Cape Cod) Massachusetts; Saugerties (Catskills), New York; Joshua Tree, California; and, most recently, Zion, Utah, New locations will open in Asheville, North Carolina, Hill Country, Texas and Sequoia, California.

“AutoCamp makes experiencing the outdoors accessible, especially for those who are not experienced campers,” says Julie Saunders, chief marketing officer, AutoCamp. “Outdoor hospitality has been experiencing a growth in popularity as younger generations take to the outdoors.”

The inspiration behind AutoCamp is simple. “Airstreams are iconic to American travel,” says Saunders. “They represent wanderlust and adventure, which is what we want people to experience with AutoCamp. We’re also very partial to mid-century modern design and the sleek Airstream is a perfect complement to that.”

Not all about Airstreams
Airstreams are the Cadillacs of camping, and AutoCamp’s “silver bullet” Airstream-designed accommodations include memory foam beds, pull-out futons, private bathrooms with rain showers, flat screen TVs, fully-functional kitchens, Bluetooth audio systems and outdoor fire pits and grills.

And, while Airstreams are at the heart of the concept, the AutoCamp properties go beyond Airstream accommodations.

Premium X Suites, modern stand-alone structures, feature private bedrooms and living areas with flat-screen TVs and fold-out sofas.“Spa-inspired” bathrooms include walk-in showers with Ursa Major organic bath products, and kitchens are equipped with electric stovetops, microwaves, mini refrigerators, tableware, and barbecue utensils. Private outdoor fire pits and dining areas are also featured.

Most locations also feature Luxury Canvas Tents (bathrooms located in nearby clubhouses). The spacious custom-made canvas tents have sitting areas and feature memory foam king beds, high-thread-count linens, and electric lighting.

And there are also AutoCamp’s rustic-meets-modern, chic pine cabins with porch swings, small kitchens, and dining areas, private bedrooms with Tempur-Pedic beds, bunk beds, and pull-out sofas.

Playing Around
“AutoCamp selects amenities and activities that align with our ethos of making it easier for people to be outdoors, and also highlights the natural beauty of the surrounding area,” says Saunders.

Take AutoCamp Cape Cod, for instance. The property is located next to the Cape’s celebrated 10.7-mile Shining Sea Bikeway that hugs the coast and winds through woods to Woods Hole. Guests can jump on one of the complimentary cruiser bikes, or walk the path.

Also, there are communal fire pits, perfect for stargazing, and outdoor yoga classes take place on the lawn outside the clubhouse.

Firewood and a s’mores kit are also available at the clubhouse, as are ready-to-cook grill kits, and meal options are available from a popular local Cape chef at the on-site The Kitchen (think Cape Cod chowder). The property also hosts monthly events like an upcoming fireside clam-and-oyster roast and shrub-making class with a visiting celebrity chef.

Happy Campers
AutoCamp’s guests stream from all walks of life. “We have families, as well as younger adults without children who are traveling together,” says Saunders. “We host seniors who may have spent years hiking and camping and are ready for a slower-paced outdoor experience.”

Saunders says AutoCamp is also “very popular” with international travelers who are visiting America’s national parks and want a unique lodging experience.

The Outlook
“Outdoor hospitality will only continue to grow,” says Saunders, noting that AutoCamp occupancies have grown annually. “According to the 2022 North American Camping Report, 40% of leisure travel was outdoor hospitality and this is a number that’s increased steadily for the last decade,” says Saunders. “We have seen times when air travel costs spike that individuals and families focus on road trips closer to home and we expect this trend to continue as well.”

AutoCamp offers a 10% commission on certain rates, and offers travel agent discounts for the agents themselves, says Saunders.