Don’t get bogged down by the cringeworthy buzzphrases: restored camper, renovated Airstream, van life … glamping.
We think your next Airbnb stay should be in a vintage trailer, and we’ll give you five reasons why:
- They’re affordable: Almost every stay here is $100 or less a night. Comes with the territory.
- Someone worked hard on it: It’s not easy to gut a 40-year-old VW Westfalia and outfit it with enough creature comforts to get dozens of 5-star reviews. Many of the campers here were given a level of work and focus not afforded to traditional stays in apartments and homes.
- You’re unlikely to linger in them all day: Sprawling Airbnbs are exciting — hell, we’re the ones who told you to stay at a castle — but sometimes, when they’re too luxurious, they can become a distraction from the place you’re actually there to see. I once stayed at a Chicago Airbnb where the TV was too massive, and we nearly didn’t make it out for drinks.
- They come with outdoor options: Usually in unheralded towns just outside of major cities (it’s urban folk, after all, listing many of these), these Airbnbs come with mountain views, backyards, firepits, beach access, and space to read miles away from upset Uber drivers, jackhammers or lawn mowers.
- And they photograph nice: Maybe you don’t do Instagram. But you definitely have a phone that takes photos, and you definitely talk to people at social functions, so, same thing.
Plus — they’re all over, and they come in different forms. In our deep dive, we found old VWs, transit buses, Airstreams, and teardrops trailers dating back as far as the ’60s, on backcountry acres from the Hudson Valley to Joshua Tree. While we can’t help you decide which to book for a weekend this summer, we can help you narrow it down.
Peruse our ten selections below.
Weaverville Bus
Weaverville, Tennessee
Lady Bluebird Converted Bus
Portland, Oregon
Senorita Mojave
Terlingua, Texas
The ‘60s Camper
Savannah, Georgia
Desert Camper
Borrego Springs, California
No. 9 Trailer
Ashland City, Tennessee
Rustic VW Van
Portage Des Sioux, Missouri
The Land Yacht
Joshua Tree, California
Hudson Highlands Base Camp
Cold Spring, New York
Hot Tub Airstream
Los Angeles, California
All images via Airbnb
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