Cross Country AutoCamp Road Trip

A few months back, I shared a post about trying to figure out the most efficient way to organize a California AutoCamps Road Trip. That has now become our Cross Country AutoCamp Road Trip!

There has been extensive thought, much planning, a PITA hiccup, and now, we’ve got our plan!

Let me say, right up front (because I hate when articles make you scroll and scroll to find what you’re looking for) – we’ll be visiting AutoCamp Joshua Tree and AutoCamp Russian River.

What about AutoCamp Yosemite?! AutoCamp Zion in Utah? Now you do have to read on because I have to explain how the Cross Country AutoCamp Road Trip has transpired!

Cross Country AutoCamp Road Trip

Some logistics: We’ll be taking our 2014 Toyota Highlander. 92,000 miles. This is prime of life for a Toyota, and if you don’t know, it’s kind of like a comfy sofa on wheels with tons of interior room. We will be leaving from and returning to New Jersey, so this truly is a Cross Country AutoCamp Road Trip. We’ll be on the road 5 weeks with our dog. We’ll be living out of hotels and two Airbnbs in addition to the two AutoCamps.

I had every intention of including AutoCamp Zion on this Cross Country AutoCamp Road Trip. I had a spreadsheet with an itinerary. We are scheduled to leave March 19 (6 days from now!). AutoCamp Zion was scheduled to open “early 2023”. EARLY. Is May 1 early? I don’t think so! Hell, it’s half way into spring! So, unfortunately, no Zion for this trip.

Yosemite? We’re saving Yosemite for when Sequoia opens in “late 2023”. We will likely just fly out and visit those 2 parks on a “standalone” kind of trip and will not plan a second cross country AutoCamp road trip. (See below about National Parks not being dog friendly).

Likewise, we’ll fly to Vegas and go to Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley, and Durango (I’ve always wanted to see Durango).

So, what’s left? I now have 3 trips (yes!!), only 1 of which is now the Cross Country AutoCamp Road Trip. So here’s the plan…

We’re going through Tennessee – first, just one night in Knoxville to make tracks. Then, we’re going to Memphis (just got tickets for Graceland!). There will be another big driving day through the panhandle of Texas, with an overnight around Amarillo. We’ll make our way towards Santa Fe, NM. From there, we’re spending time in Sedona and then visiting friends in Apache Junction, AZ. Then…on to California.

First, we go to San Diego because I’ve never been. Have to. Then we zig to AutoCamp Joshua Tree for 3 nights! We have friends from Palm Springs joining us. We’ll hike – outside of Joshua Tree National Park. Why? Joshua Tree National Park is NOT DOG FRIENDLY. Planning this trip has been a huge eye opener for me. We loooove to hike with our dog, but there are very few parks that allow dogs. I guess because they’re so crowded. BUMMER. Good news: there is lots of hiking nearby, and yet another friend is joining us for daytime hikes. He’s got us planned for a hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Awesome! I am very much looking forward to daytime hikes and then cooking over the open fire at AutoCamp at night!

After AutoCamp Joshua Tree, we zag back to the coast – through LA to Santa Monica, where we’ll be driving the Pacific Coast Highway, also on my “must” list. We have 5 nights “free” to go/do/see whatever we want, including just relaxing at beautiful places.

Then, we arrive at AutoCamp Russian River for just 2 nights. Why just 2? Honestly, AutoCamp Russian River is tiny. Like really tiny, and it’s the oldest of all the AutoCamps. I’m not sure I’d want to be there more than 2 nights. I might regret it, but I’m going with my gut.

While in Guerneville, we will see some of Sonoma County, but we’re going to stay for another 3 nights in the Sonoma/Petaluma/Napa area to drink… I mean SEE…more. 😀

At this point, we’ve turned east, the eastbound trip has begun. From Napa, we’ll buzz through Salt Lake for a night en route to Denver for 3 nights. I’ve never been to Denver! Fingers crossed the weather cooperates! From Denver, there will be one night on the road in Kansas City. Then… MAGIC.

We’re going to the Airstream factory and museum in Jackson Center, Ohio! We’ll be taking the Airstream factory tour followed by visiting the Airstream Heritage Museum.

So many people have asked me – why aren’t you buying an Airstream? Why aren’t you taking this trip with an Airstream? There are many answers, but #1 is that I don’t think I can make enough use of it to justify owning one. Instead, we found AutoCamp because we were interested in their Airstream rentals. Honestly, AutoCamp Airstreams are not really Airstreams other than the shell, but I’ve fallen in love with the whole AutoCamp experience, so here I am…now an AutoCamp fan, taking a Cross Country AutoCamp Road Trip.

Follow me on Instagram. I’ll be posting lots of updates en route, and of course, I’ll be covering AutoCamp Joshua Tree and AutoCamp Russian River very extensively both during the trip and after.

Please hold good thoughts for good weather and safe driving for us!