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Review: Autocamp, Sonoma County

Jo Stewart finds a slice of mid-century modernist magic at AutoCamp, a retro auto retreat in Sonoma County, California.

Ninety minutes north of San Francisco, the Russian River area is home to towering redwood forests, summer camps and hamlets filled with old-fashioned diners and small wine bars showcasing the Sonoma region’s finest drops.

It’s also the venue for a new luxury trailer park, AutoCamp, not afraid to lay the nostalgia on thick. Satisfying the growing thirst travellers have for recapturing the simpler times of America’s golden age of motor travel, modern-era trailer parks have sprung up across the USA everywhere from Texas to Arizona, and now California.

I make my way to AutoCamp’s clubhouse to check in. As a multipurpose space used as a reception and chill-out area, the clubhouse is clearly channelling the log cabin vibe with decorative wooden logs adorning the exterior and an indoor, smoke-free faux fire pit replacing the traditional camp fire.

Out the back of the property there’s a collection of luxe tents flanked by redwoods but the show-stopping rows of custom-designed silver Airstreams are the drawcard. The designers have cleverly taken the hip, mid-century modernist aesthetic to the limit without sacrificing functionality.

Contained within the iconic chrome shell is a warm and inviting mini-home complete with double bed, TV, lounge, kitchen and a generous bathroom (with shower and plush robes). Old school lighting from Schoolhouse Electric casts a warm glow while a memory foam mattress guarantees a good night’s sleep.

With rain pitter-pattering down onto the roof of my Airstream, I abandon the idea of taking one of the in-house pushbikes for a spin and head to the cosy clubhouse instead. Sitting by the indoor fire pit, I read a book while other guests use the unexpected rain to catch up on emails. The clubhouse also has a fridge full of local wines, craft ales and snacks for purchase, but AutoCamp is otherwise a self-catering affair.

From paddock-to-plate bistros to sleek oyster bars, there are plenty of places to eat along Guerneville’s main drag. I decide that Dick Blomster’s Korean Diner is the dinner spot I’ve been dreaming of.

Heading back to my Airstream for the night, I turn on the heating, pop on the kettle and trawl through the never-ending list of cable channels. I settle on an Alfred Hitchcock marathon – a fitting choice considering the director filmed many of his movies in northern California.

Dragging myself out of my award-winning mattress the next morning is a tough task but with a breakfast spot favoured by locals a short stroll away, I make the effort and am rewarded with eggs, bacon, and fluffy pancakes drowning in maple syrup. Coffee refills come courtesy of a cheery waitress who reminds me of an amalgam of all the wonderful American sitcom mothers I grew up watching in the ’80s.

Loaded up with carbs, sugar, caffeine and kindness, this is the ultimate way to end an all-American adventure. For one night only, I’ve lived the American Dream.

 

 

The details: AutoCamp, Sonoma County, California

AutoCamp, 14120 Old Cazadero Road, Guerneville, California, USA.

  • The IT Verdict: A retro retreat deep in the heart of California’s wine country is a taste of the Great Outdoors for travellers who like to adventure in style.
  • Location 7.5 / 10: Found off the main highway at the end of a gravel road, Airstreams are nestled between clusters of redwoods.Style/character: 10 / 10 The American summer camp-meets-lumberjack vibe works.
  • Service 8 / 10: Friendly, approachable staff make the check-in process simple.
  • Rooms 9 / 10: Spotless Airstreams kitted out with comfy beds and luxe soft furnishings? Yes please!
  • Food and drink: 7 / 10: Snacks, local beers and wine available for purchase in the clubhouse. Best to head into town for meals.
  • Value for money: 7.5 / 10: Cheaper accommodation could no doubt be found elsewhere but nothing as unique (or fun) as this place. From $363 a night.

 

All IT reviews are conducted anonymously and our writers pay their own way – so we experience exactly what you would. 

 

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12 grand journeys throughout North America

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    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

    Travelling with: Ricky French

    Sunset on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert.
    Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)

    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

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    Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)

    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

    3. Museum-hop in New York City

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiralling exterior, a highlight of North America Epic Adventures.
    Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)

    Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.

    4. The USA’s music scene

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    The Seattle skyline at night, aglow with city lights on North America Epic Adventures.
    Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)

    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

    5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

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    Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)

    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

    6. Cruising Alaska

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Explora Journeys ship cruising in Alaska.
    Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.

    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

    7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

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    Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.

    For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

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    Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)

    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

    9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia

    Travelling with: Katie Carlin

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    Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)

    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

    10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

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    Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.

    The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.

    11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada

    Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

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    Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)

    No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.

    12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

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    The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.

    Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.