AutoCamp: Top 25 Major Metro Areas

We frequently quote Neil Dipaola, AutoCamp Founder and CEO, who said earlier in 2022 that there are 15 new AutoCamp locations in the works on top of the original 5 locations: Catskills, Cape Cod, Joshua Tree, and Yosemite. AutoCamp plans to have locations within a half day’s drive of the top 25 major metro areas across the U.S. 

So, as we look to see where AutoCamp might be going next after the Coming Soon camps open, that begs the question…what are the Top 25 Major Metro areas in the US?

Top 25 Major Metro Areas in the US

1.	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	19,261,570
2.	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	13,211,027
3.	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	9,478,801
4.	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	7,451,858
5.	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	6,979,613
6.	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	6,250,309
7.	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	6,129,858
8.	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	6,092,403
9.	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	5,947,008
10.	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	4,860,338
11.	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	4,854,808
12.	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	4,709,220
13.	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	4,600,396
14.	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	4,317,384
15.	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	3,928,498
16.	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	3,605,450
17.	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	3,323,970
18.	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	3,152,928
19.	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	2,928,437
20.	St. Louis, MO-IL	2,806,349
21.	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	2,800,427
22.	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	2,595,027
23.	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	2,560,260
24.	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	2,510,211
25.	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	2,472,774

You can see that once you move from the top 10, the rest of the Top 25 Major Metro Areas aren’t too, too far apart. So let’s look at each area and see the potential for AutoCamp.

New York City / Philadelphia

We’re lumping New York City and Philadelphia together because they are geographically so very near each other. Even Philadelphia is under 4 hours to AutoCamp Catskills. However, given that these 2 locations account for almost 26 million people, we think there should be another AutoCamp location at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Los Angeles

LA has AutoCamp Joshua Tree, which we’ll be visiting in April!

Chicago

No AutoCamp nearby, and none in the works, as far as we know. However, given the lake, this could be an attractive area for AutoCamp

Dallas/Fort Worth/Houston

In the fall of 2023, AutoCamp Hill Country will open up. However, at 250 miles and 4+ hours away that distance is really pushing the limit of the “half day drive.” Houston, however, is just under 4 hours, so they certainly fall within the drive time.

Washington DC Metro Area

No AutoCamp nearby. This is an interesting location. First, getting in/out of DC with a car stinks. However, the metro is fantastic. So, an ideal location would be not far from a metro station. However, would someone who wants to see DC really stay at a campground outside the city? This doesn’t seem like a good fit here. Outside of DC, there is rich Civil War history, American history in general, and gorgeous countryside. AutoCamp is going to have to do extensive research in figuring out the best location in this area. Our money is on there not being a DC metro AutoCamp in the near future.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale

No AutoCamp nearby. Like DC, this area doesn’t feel like a great fit for AutoCamp. A campground would be quite a distance from the beaches. However, this is near the Everglades. But will people be flocking to a luxury campground near the Everglades. We’re not taking that bet. Not in the near future.

Atlanta Area

No AutoCamp nearby. Wow, this is a tough location to assess. There is terrific history and countryside in Georgia. Both Charleston and Savannah are under 5 hours away. The coast and beaches are fantastic. If there ends up being an AutoCamp, we think AutoCamp will push their “1/2 day” guideline and head far east, towards Charleston, Savannah, and the beaches.

Phoenix/Mesa/Chandler

AutoCamp is working to acquire an existing campground. They’re running into problems, but they’re trying.

Boston

Boston has AutoCamp Cape Cod very nearby. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if there ended up being another AutoCamp in either southern Maine or in the heart of New Hampshire for the hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, and more.

San Francisco

San Francisco has the original AutoCamp – Russian River!

Riverside/San Bernardino/Ontario

The Riverside/San Bernardino/Ontario area is under 2 hours from AutoCamp Joshua Tree, which we’ll be visiting in April!

Detroit

Detroit and “glamping” don’t seem like a likely marriage. However, within a half day of Detroit are many very attractive locations, most notably the “U-P,” or Upper Peninsula. Great year-round outdoor recreation along with a very good selection of local attractions make the U-P a great location near Detroit.

Seattle-Tacoma

Where oh where to begin? Actually, there is no point in beginning. The Seattle area is one of the best outdoor wonderlands in the United States. See for yourself.

Minnepolis

State slogans are usually only known by people who live in the state, so most won’t know that Minnesota is known as “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” When you’ve got lakes, you’ve got camping, hiking, boating, paddling, fishing, hunting, and more. Slam dunk – outside Minneapolis will be a great AutoCamp location.

San Diego

Ah, San Diego. Coronado Island. Pacific Coast Highway. LA. Mexico. And, of course, the Pacific Ocean and all the outdoor recreation that oceans offer. However, remember, San Diego is not far from Joshua Tree, so it’s not likely another AutoCamp will show up in SoCal all that soon.

Tampa

Tampa is only 90 minutes from Orlando. Our money is AutoCamp would be more likely to put an AutoCamp near Disney in the Orlando area.

Denver

Other than Seattle, the suburbs of Denver seem like a no-brainer for AutoCamp.

Saint Louis

Missouri is a state rich in parks, hunting, fishing, and more. We just aren’t familiar enough with it to say that this would be a likely AutoCamp area.

Baltimore

See Washington DC Metro Area, above. The East Coast is flush with Top 25 Major Metro Areas.

Charlotte

Charlotte area is getting their AutoCamp in Fall 2023 when AutoCamp Asheville opens up.

Orlando

As mentioned, above, it would seem that AutoCamp might want to put an AutoCamp near Orlando, which is in the center of Florida, making many of the big ticket Florida destinations within reach for visitors including Disney, Kennedy Space Center, the beaches of both coasts, and more.

San Antonio

San Antonio is getting their AutoCamp at AutoCamp Hill Country later in 2023.

Portland/Vancouver

North of Portland would be ideal. Perfectly situated between Portland and Vancouver. Right up with Seattle and outside of Denver, this is some of the best outdoor recreation in the US. We would be surprised if they weren’t high on the AutoCamp expansion list.

If We Were Taking Bets…

We are so fortunate that we have so many absolutely wonderful locations in the United States for outdoor recreation. Given the population centers, our money is on the following as the next AutoCamp locations:

• Another New York – and Philadelphia – location near Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (soon to be National Park?)
• Seattle
• Denver
• (North of) Portland

We’re keeping our eyes on the news for AutoCamp’s expansion into the op 25 Major Metro Areas in the US. What are your thoughts on potential AutoCamp expansion beyond what is already in the works? Share your thoughts – and news – with us!