But unlike most "glamping" sites that offer the conventional canvas tents or cute cabins, I stayed inside one of Autocamp's Airstream trailers that was converted into a hotel room.
The kitchen, living room, and bathroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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The experience was so enjoyable, I've recommended the chain's plush glamping quarters to all of my friends, including the avid campers who prefer slumbers in sleeping bags over mattresses.
The bedroom looking out into the kitchen.
Brittany Chang
Think of luxury campground chain Autocamp as the halfway point between RVing and camping.
Autocamp specializes in the accommodation I stayed in: Airstream trailers that have been converted into hotel suites with a bedroom, kitchenette, living room, and bathroom.
Outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
The company used to convert old trailers. Now, it uses custom trailers directly from Airstream, which also doubles as an Autocamp investor, Tim McKeough reported for the New York Times.
Despite this planned expansion, like any other hotel or hospitality business, the COVID-19 era has proved to be difficult for the Autocamp business.
A seating area by one of the cabins.
Brittany Chang/Insider
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Last year, the Yosemite location had to close three times: twice because of COVID-19, and once because of an encroaching forest fire, Jason Brannan, the general manager at Autocamp, told Insider.
This year, the Yosemite site was closed in January and didn't reopen until February 1.
Autocamp Yosemite's general store.
Brittany Chang/Insider
But by the end of the first quarter, Autocamp had been "doing well enough as if it had been open the whole year, bouncing back even better than [it] budgeted for," according to Brannan.
During the months the Yosemite location has been able to stay open during COVID-19, the company has "exceeded expectations" despite challenges with staffing and lack of corporate group bookings.
The bathroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
"Now, we're trying to keep up with how many guests there are," Brannan said. "We don't have enough suites to keep up with the pace of the reservations at some point."
The Airstream trailer is Autocamp's most iconic accommodations, but its cabins and tents are also often booked up.
Outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
"People book Autocamp because they want to come to Autocamp, not because they need a place to stay," he said.
Cooking outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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Now let's take a tour around the Yosemite site and my Airstream suite to see how the chain has appealed to hordes of visitors.
Autocamp Yosemite's general store.
Brittany Chang/Insider
Upon arrival, visitors can park their car and pick up their room key and a wagon. The latter replaces the need for a bellhop.
A wagon with my overnight bags.
Brittany Chang
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I stayed in Airstream suite 49, just up a short hill that was only moderately inconvenient for my little wagon.
Outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
The outdoor space of my Airstream suite had a dining set, lounge chairs, and a grill-lined fire pit, perfect for sunset dinners and quiet morning breakfasts.
Outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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Heading inside, the trailer includes more than enough amenities for a stay in the woods.
The entryway inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
I was immediately taken aback by the number of windows, which provided plenty of natural sunlight during the day.
The bedroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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The natural light helped make the 31-foot long trailer seem spacious and bright, more than any hotel I've ever stayed in.
The bedroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
Now let's take a look around the amenities.
The kitchen inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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The air conditioning kept my trailer cool throughout the beating afternoon sun despite the lack of overhead tree coverage.
The living room inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
Moving on, the suite's bathroom sits just past a sliding door, and came with the typical vanity, toilet, and glass panel-lined shower.
The bathroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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All of the Ursa Major bathrooms products are stored in matching amber bottles, a visually satisfying and clean touch.
The bathroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
And unlike most hotel bathrooms I've been in, the one inside my trailer suite was lined with windows.
The bathroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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This, combined with the clean black, grey, and white color scheme, made the bathroom feel modern and luxurious.
The bathroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
The living "room" is just outside the bathroom. The space is simple and comes with a couch (which also folds out into a bed), blankets, pillows, and two side tables.
The living room inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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Nothing too glamorous, but it was more than I was expecting from a trailer hotel room.
The living room inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
This living room space flows directly into the kitchenette.
The kitchen inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the kitchen space, which proved large enough for me to prepare a full meal without running out of counter space.
The kitchen inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
The trailers all come with the basic necessities needed to prepare a meal over a campfire. This includes a cutting board, cast iron skillet, and knife.
Cooking outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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All I had to do was bring some of my own fresh produce and tortillas to create a plate of perfectly mediocre breakfast tacos.
My mediocre breakfast taco.
Brittany Chang
The trailers also come with dishes, utensils, and glassware, so I didn't have to bring any single-use cups or plates, saving both money and waste.
Cooking outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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The dishware and glasses are stored in the same cabinet as the microwave and mini refrigerator.
The kitchen inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
One of the cabinets over the kitchenette holds a full coffee station with a water kettle, French press, and pre-ground coffee beans.
The kitchen inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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Now onto the bedroom, which is just past the kitchen. It's simple, but like the living room, it gets the job done.
The bedroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
The space has a queen bed, nightstands with charging ports, and plenty of lights to brighten up the curtain-lined space.
The bedroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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There's even a television for a movie night in the woods.
The bedroom looking out into the kitchen.
Brittany Chang
A night's stay at the Autocamp Yosemite property includes access to any on-site amenities, such as the swimming pool ….
Autocamp Yosemite's pool and clubhouse.
Brittany Chang/Insider
I opted to cook over the fire, but I could've purchased a microwaveable meal instead.
Cooking outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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But cooking outside my trailer was more convenient than cooking at a traditional camping site.
Outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
Instead of tediously starting and tending to a fire, I was able to purchase firewood at the general store. All I had to do was set the bag of logs on fire using some complimentary matches, and I was ready to make my meals.
The kitchen inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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And having a good-sized kitchen countertop made preparing my mise en place easy and bug-free.
The kitchen, living room, and bathroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
But be prepared to pay more for a stay at Autocamp Yosemite than you might ever need to for a campground reservation or hotel.
Autocamp Yosemite's lake.
Brittany Chang/Insider
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The Yosemite site ranges from $175 to $475 per night depending on the season and day.
Yes, it may seem ridiculous to pay almost $500 to sleep in a trailer.
The bedroom inside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
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But Autocamp combines the experience of being outdoors with the convenience and comfort of being in a hotel. Plus, it's as private and quiet as your typical campground.
Outside the Airstream.
Brittany Chang
I didn't have to worry about setting up a tent or bringing cookware and camping gear. It's like paying for the luxury and convenience of an "all-inclusive" glamping experience.
The air conditioning unit.
Brittany Chang
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In my opinion, it's a great way for city people to get outdoors while still enjoying the benefits of modern luxury like WiFi and mattresses.
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