I haven’t come across any reviews of AutoCamp on this forum yet. It’s a luxury camping experience that falls into the higher price bracket—honestly, a bit too pricey for my taste. That’s why I used 75,000 points to book a night—it softens the blow a bit. I heard that since partnering with Hilton Honors, their occupancy rates have improved, although many guests now book with points and take advantage of the “fifth night free” benefit.

I can’t say for certain, but a billing error made me suspect that AutoCamp receives just over $100 per night when bookings are made with points. Availability is limited, though—you have to act fast to snag a standard reward night, as the premium ones cost significantly more.

I think I could’ve easily stayed five nights, thanks to the laid-back vibe of the park, the unexpected luxury of the Airstream, and the beautiful weather. I knew ahead of time that it would be about an hour’s drive to Yosemite National Park, but the route along the Merced River is incredibly scenic.

My main goal was simply to experience AutoCamp at least once. Initially, I spotted a great opening deal for the new AutoCamp Sequoia—around 33% off—but by the time I tried to book, it was already gone. I figured a brand-new location might feel a bit too freshly developed anyway, so I opted for Yosemite instead. One of the staff members mentioned that AutoCamp Russian River is actually the most beautiful of their locations. That’s good to know—I probably wouldn’t have chosen it on my own.

In the end, it was all about the experience of spending a night in an Airstream, something I’d always wanted to try.


At the entrance, there’s a small turnaround area—that’s where the YARTS bus stops. It only comes by at this stop twice a day and requires an online reservation in advance.
(https://www.yarts.com)

The park sits right off CA-140, just about a ten-minute drive from Mariposa. I didn’t get a chance to visit that village, which is a shame—it’s said to be a lovely little town, and this trip was really about exploring places like that. You could probably find better prices on camping supplies in Mariposa compared to the AutoCamp Clubhouse store, though the prices at AutoCamp were pretty much in line with what you’d expect at a Hilton. Looking at the photo, you’ll notice about half a dozen Airstreams positioned close to the road. I wouldn’t like staying in those, as the traffic noise could be a bit too much. Most of the Airstreams and tents are tucked away on the other side of the hill, where it’s much quieter and more peaceful.


Cars aren’t allowed inside the park itself—you’ll need to park in a gravel lot (there’s a concrete section available for wheelchair users). From there, you can borrow a wagon to transport your luggage to your accommodation. I think that is part of the fun—especially if you’re traveling with kids. I saw quite a few parents filming the process, children pulling the carts. As long as the weather is ok, it adds to the fun.


Each Airstream came with a sturdy stone picnic table (sorry, no built-in heating). And yes, the license plates are real—these Airstreams are fully street legal.

As a Hilton Diamond member, I received a goody bag that included canned water (tasted surprisingly good!), a s’mores kit for roasting over the fire, and a small bundle of approved firewood. You’re not allowed to bring just any firewood due to local regulations—it has to be specially treated to be safe and pest-free.

(Honestly, I described those s’mores somewhat differently, but the AI-rephrase took that away.) If they aren’t your thing, you could use the firewood for grilling instead. The camp store sold BBQ kits with marinated steak, chicken, or sausage—each package serves two people and costs around $20. A bag of Goodwood firewood was priced similarly, possibly a bit larger than the one included in the welcome bag.

My Airstream was parked perfectly level. All the doors and drawers stayed open or closed just the way they should, as if I were in a solid, well-built house. Just to the left of the door, there was a covered outdoor double power outlet, though in this setup it was slightly too far from the picnic table. The layout varies from site to site, so in other spots it probably would’ve worked fine—but if you can, bring an extension cord just in case. On the plus side, I was lucky enough to get an Airstream with cell phone coverage, which isn’t guaranteed throughout the park.


Each site came with a BBQ grill, and the Airstream kitchen was stocked with the necessary tools for grilling, along with tableware for four people. However, the fire ring at my site didn’t offer much privacy—though that likely varies depending on the location of your site.

I’m not sure what the open field below was used for—maybe outdoor yoga? Weddings? Either way, it was wonderfully peaceful, and sitting there in the dappled shade felt like the perfect way to spend a day off. Luckily, it was a weekday, no noisy weekenders. Or does the high price point naturally keeps noisy guests away? I really lucked out with this suite (for some reason they called them “suites,” but honestly, it was well-deserved). It was conveniently close to the Clubhouse, which was great since I was only staying one night—I didn’t have to haul my luggage all the way to the far end of the campground.


Just some word of wisdom on the inside of the door.I had been checked in by an incredibly friendly Ms. who took the time to explain everything thoroughly, since it was my first time staying here. In the morning, you could grab a complimentary granola breakfast with coffee or tea—or order something from the menu or buy items from the fridges.She also gave me a heads-up that cell phone reception is spotty in many areas of the park, so if I needed to access the internet or make a call, it was best to do it right then.

It was honestly impressive how those two young women managed the entire Clubhouse on their own all of the afternoon and night: checking in guests, handling purchases from the store, running the bar, preparing meals for the small restaurant (salads, pizzas, paninis, and the like), paging help for guests who had locked themselves out or other problems, and even organizing the evening entertainment. That night’s activity was Bingo—with some fun prizes to be won.


Points off for the instant coffee—and the breakfast coffee wasn’t great either. On the plus side, I really appreciated the box of matches. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to safely light the bag of Goodwood firewood.

The couch, I assume, is a sleeper sofa. And I’m guessing that blanket was meant for outdoor use, since the cabin could be heated in several ways—via the air conditioner, electric heat, and possibly other options. Still, having a cozy plaid blanket—or maybe even two—added to the thoughtful, upscale feel of the place. Another great touch: the air conditioner had a “low noise” mode for the outdoor unit. You couldn’t hear it at all, which I’m sure your neighbors would especially appreciate.


I opened all the curtains just for the photo, but I’d recommend keeping the upper ones closed—they didn’t open and close very smoothly.



The bed is, at most, a double, but it was extremely comfortable. Both sides of the bed had power outlets, which was convenient. There’s a TV in the bedroom only—not visible from the living area.

The light switches worked very mechanical, and if your neighbors use them at night, you can actually hear the clicking sound. Most of the windows could be opened, even in multiple positions.


The shower was surprisingly spacious and very comfortable. Aside from needing to be mindful of water usage, it really felt like staying in a first-class hotel. I didn’t try the AutoCamp-branded toiletries (except for the hand soap).

I believe they’re open in winter as well, and it looked like the shower could be heated using the ceiling fan. In my case, I just cracked the windows open a bit after showering—during the shower itself, you might have had some visibility from outside.


They even thought to include a makeup/shaving mirror. You can really tell that the people who designed AutoCamp are used to staying in luxury hotels.

I’m not including photos of the fridge—it wasn’t very large—and the trash bins (which were tucked away in a separate cabinet. Actually two separate bins, I now see it in the photo—one for recycling and one for regular waste. Again, a well-thought-out detail. There was even a spare roll of paper towels.

The unit had a Torrid Marine water heater (6 gallons, I think), so you do need to be mindful of water use when showering.

There was also a rechargeable outdoor lamp, perfect for placing on the patio table. It had adjustable brightness levels and could switch between warm and cool light. Another thoughtful touch. I had brought something similar myself, since I also camped in a tent during this trip—but most people probably wouldn’t have one with them, it can add such a nice touch to you table at night.


For those who know about hookups...

The pool is noticeably heated and is open roughly from April through October. You can also tell that the resort fee covers the towels—they’re readily available throughout the day. And this waved fee highlights one of the few remaining advantages of earning and redeeming Hilton points these days.

The pool went from 3 to 8 feet deep. Open from 8 am - 10 pm.


A few months ago, I picked up some 12-packs of BrewDog Hazy Anti-Freeze at a discount store—they were already past their sell-by date. In my experience, non-alcoholic beer usually just gets better with age. They were only €0.33 each. But anyway, that’s just a side note.

The camp store had a wide selection of T-shirts, hats, and similar items you tend to find in such places, but also carried other essentials that could come in handy during your stay.



View from the Clubhouse terrace during Happy Hour, with guests on their way to their suites.

In the distance, you can see two people sitting in some kind of swing pod. I understand that the little lake can completely dry up in the summer. That’s just nature, I guess—kind of like the waterfalls in Yosemite.


Gas fireplace at the Clubhouse at dusk.

By the way, the Clubhouse is open 24 hours a day—which I hadn’t expected. But it makes sense: if you step outside at night to shoo away a bear and accidentally lock yourself out, someone needs to be there to let you back in.

So, what’s my final verdict?I truly enjoyed my brief one-night stay and honestly wouldn’t have minded staying longer. The weather was perfect—though that’s not something you can always count on, and my Airstream suite couldn’t have been better.

On this same vacation trip, I also stayed a couple of nights in a small tent at a campground inside Joshua Tree National Park for less than 10% of the cost. That site had no water, no electricity, no cell service, and no flush toilets—and yet, I think I may have enjoyed that one just a tiny bit more. But this time there was no wind, no aggressive bees, just chipmunks trying to steel your food and run away with a whole banana. No wind and no bees, that's a long time ago.

That said, as long as you don’t end up in a suite too close to CA-140, a stay at AutoCamp feels every bit as luxurious as a five-star hotel. Everyone I met—kids included—seemed genuinely happy, and the staff were welcoming and very helpful.