When most people think of camping or even “glamping” they don’t necessarily think of it as a luxury experience.  Tents and campers are not glamorous, right?  Wrong!  Camping at the AutoCamp Russian River is pure relaxation and luxury–from the linens on the bed to the fresh squeezed orange juice, to the heated blankets.  Come take a look at our heavenly luxury glamping experience at AutoCamp Russian River!

AutoCamp Russian River

Nestled among the towering Redwoods, in the heart of Sonoma County near the little town of Guerneville, California, AutoCamp Russian River is a unique glamping experience in Airstream campers and canvas tents.   About two hours north of San Francisco, the camp is located close to white river rafting, country farms, over 50 Russian River wineries, and the rugged (and breathtaking) California coast.  Airstream campers are available year round, and canvas tents are seasonal from March – October.

The Tents

On our first trip to AutoCamp Russian River, we stayed in one of the canvas tents.  Each tent is outfitted with a queen size bed with luxury linens, fluffy robes, and towels for the group showers.  The tent also has lighting and electricity, including USB outlets and electric blankets.  Outside the tent are an individual campfire/grill, outdoor patio with seating, cooking equipment, camp lanterns and everything else you need to “rough” it glamping style.

We were also provided with three food-grade camping logs to create a campfire for roasting hot dogs or s’ mores.  (S’mores kits are available for purchase at the camp store in the clubhouse.)   There are no bathroom facilities in the tents, but they do provide fluffy bathrooms to use in the group bathroom facilities at the clubhouse, which were surprisingly lavish.  The spa-inspired bathrooms have private toilet facilities and marble showers with luxury toiletries by Malin & Goetz.

The Airstream Campers

The Airstream suites are made for larger families or couples who want to stretch out a little more.  Each suite has a queen size bed in the bedroom and a comfy full-size futon in the living room area. The Airstream campers have a large private bathroom with toilet, walk-in marble shower, and full-size vanity.  The kitchen area in the center of the Airstream has a sink, microwave, and kitchen dishware, utensils, and glassware.  Guests can purchase groceries from the camp store (including local wine), or grab groceries from the local Safeway about three miles away.  Outside the Airstream campers are a large deck area, fire pit, picnic table, and four chairs for outdoor dining.  Guests are issued a private security code to get in their Airstream, and the code can be customized.

The Clubhouse

The clubhouse is decorated mid-century modern, with indoor fire pit, lounge areas, board games, and spa bathroom facilities.  The clubhouse has a small camp store with non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (including local wines and beers), snacks (cheese and crackers, candy, etc), s’ mores kits, and souvenirs.  Water is available 24 hours a day in the lounge area, and gourmet coffee and tea are available in the morning.  A nice bonus?  Fresh cut orange halves with an old-fashioned hand juicer so you can squeeze your own fresh orange juice!

Our Thoughts

AutoCamp Russian River was wonderful!

The grounds were gorgeous–gleaming Airstream campers and canvas tents surrounded by majestic Redwoods.  This is the perfect stop for a summer family road trip along the coast of California, a couple’s getaway, a girl’s weekend, or a small company retreat.

There were several families at the resort while we were here, but everyone was respectful of each other space.  By the time we went to bed, the whole camp was peacefully quiet, with a million stars twinkling overhead.    After dark, we roasted s’mores and played cards by the fire before turning in. So relaxing! The night air was invigorating but chilly, so we appreciated the adjustable heated blankets.  As coffee snobs, we were surprised to find fresh-brewed coffee available for guests in the morning as well as the fresh oranges for orange juice.

Though are only two toilets and two showers in each bathroom, we never had to wait to use the facilities, and though rustic looking, they were clean and well-maintained.  The camp has a security gate that remains closed at night so guests are issued a passcode to get back in the camp if they go out for the evening.  The staff was friendly and accommodating.  The only complaint we had during our stay was that half our graham crackers in our s’ mores kit were broken. Yes, this was our only complaint…seriously!

We enjoyed our first stay so much, I canceled another hotel reservations we had at another nearby hotel for our return trip through the area just so we could come back to the AutoCamp Russian River.  When we returned a week later (with my husband) we stayed in one of the Airstream campers. We did not stay long enough to truly appreciate the wineries and river activities, but will next time, as this is a place to just sit and recharge for a few days.

A Few Tips

• Rates average $189 – $319 per night, depending on the season and camping experience (Airstream or tent).
• Bring your own s’ mores supplies;  a small 2-4 family kit at the AutoCamp is $12.
• Cruiser bicycles are available for guests to bike into town.
• The Guerneville Taco truck, parked in the Safeway parking lot in town, has delicious to-go Mexican food.
• The Coffee Bazaar in Guerneville has tasty breakfast burritos, pastries, sandwiches, and salads to go.
• The group campfire in front of the clubhouse is a great way to meet other campers.
• Inn at the Tides, in nearby Bodega Bay, has delicious fine dining along a breathtaking stretch of Rt. 1 on the coast.

For more information about AutoCamp Russian River, please visit their website.  They also have an AutoCamp location in Santa Barbara and a new location that just opened in Yosemite.