The American getaway experience is one of extremes. There’s a glut of over-the-top rural retreats—Blackberry Farm, in Tennessee; the Point on Saranac Lake, in upstate New York; the Resort at Paws Up, on a 37,000-acre cattle ranch in Montana—where the price of a week-long stay could easily rival that of a gently used Jeep Wrangler. And then there are the thousands of charmless, featureless roadside motels that have little in common with the smartly conceived, 50s-era stopping points such as Howard Johnson, which initially begot them.
The joy of an old-school, lo-fi getaway is maddeningly elusive, which explains why so many urbanites have taken up glamping. But AutoCamp has an even better solution. By investing in beautiful stretches of land and hundreds of vintage Airstream trailers—and then using clever design to integrate the two—the San Francisco–based company has pioneered a new type of indoor-outdoor hotel.
AutoCamp’s first outposts opened around five years ago in California, near the Russian River in Sonoma County and, a few years later, in Yosemite National Park. The incarnation in Falmouth, Massachusetts, consists largely of Airstream-based accommodations, which sleep one to three adults and two children. Each 31-foot trailer contains a queen-size bed situated under a panoramic window, a kitchenette, high-quality linens, a modern bathroom, outdoor dining area, firepit, and private patio. More luxurious options include kitted-out tents and even a few small cabins.
By investing in beautiful stretches of land and hundreds of vintage Airstream trailers, the San Francisco–based company has pioneered a new type of indoor-outdoor hotel.
The AutoCamp doesn’t operate a restaurant, but there’s a fully stocked general store and even a midcentury-modern “Clubhouse,” which includes a catering kitchen. It can be rented and customized for private events such as weddings and family reunions.
On the activity front, AutoCamp’s staff can help arrange kayaking, sailing, cycling, and deep-sea fishing expeditions around Cape Cod. But the real beauty of this experience is the invitation to retreat into the past and experience nature, with minimal hassle and discomfort. The concept has already caught on—this fall, AutoCamp will open another resort, near Joshua Tree National Park, with locations in Zion National Park and the Catskills to come in 2022.
Ashley Baker is the Style Editor for AIR MAIL