NEW AutoCamp Zion is Glamping Glory in Canyon Country

Autocamp Zion is a gated property, and a code is texted to you before your arrival to access the premises. The Clubhouse is at the epicenter of the glampsite, and the only building on the property. As you walk into the Clubhouse, a grand panoramic mountain view welcomes you with open arms. A ramp leads to the Clubhouse, making it accessible to push a stroller to check in from the parking lot. 

The Clubhouse is contemporary, spotless, inviting and open 24 hours. Communal tables are ready to be occupied, adorned with table games for family entertainment that range from Jenga to Scrabble. There’s a general store stocked with supplies, snacks, souvenirs, bags of ice, and the specific firewood to use in the fire pits—only compressed, smoke-free logs. I even spotted baby food fruit pouches.

From our experience, I recommend allowing extra time if you need something at the Clubhouse because it could take longer than you might anticipate. We always had to wait for someone to appear at the check-in desk. With the property recently opening, it seemed they were still figuring out some staffing, but everyone we interacted with was helpful and friendly. 

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Load your luggage into wagons to take to your Airstream site. 

We learned that the parking lot is as far as your car will go. All your supplies and luggage need to be loaded into wagons and pulled to your designated Airstream. Past a certain point right near the parking lot, AutoCamp Zion becomes pedestrian traffic only.

There were tons of wagons available, so we had no issue obtaining one, and they were large enough to carry a whole slew of our gear in one trip. With a one-year-old in tow, we probably had more supplies than the average person, so we needed two wagons on the initial trek. It didn’t take longer than five minutes to reach the Airstream from the parking lot. 

Airstream Amenities Galore

Upon stepping into our X Suite, the pristineness of the Airstream was apparent. Everything was shiny, new, and spotless. Details are well-thought-out, from the stocked pantries chock full of every utensil and pan you might need to a tray next to the door to put your shoes, so you don’t track in all that desert dust. 

It was compact yet spacious, full of amenities, and modern throughout. The AC will probably be your favorite feature, though we did use the heat at night when temperatures drastically cooled down. We loved that the Airstream had zoned temperature controls so we could have it colder in our room, and warmer in the living area where my son slept. 

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Reading books in the Airstream AC is a welcome luxury. 

I was grateful to step into cold-blasting AC after a hot day in the desert. Hanging out in the Airstream was a welcome break from the heat. My son enjoyed reading his books on the comfortable Airstream bed, surrounded by windows overlooking those famous red sandstone mountains, while Cocomelon took over the TV. There are many streaming option hook-ups to the TV. 

The shower in the Airstream was enormous, and hot water flowed. Another feature we appreciated was the sliding bedroom door. It proved very useful when my son went to bed much earlier than we did, as we could shut the door at night and watch TV. There are many USB and electrical outlets for anything that needs a charge. 

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Enjoy scenic views and s’mores. 

Although you probably want to unplug from technological devices and enjoy the stunning nature that surrounds you, sometimes fielding an inevitable work call on a family trip might happen. My husband had to use his laptop while at AutoCamp, and he was highly impressed with how good and fast the Wi-Fi was. So don’t worry because you can humbly share all those marvelous photos from Zion on your Instagram in real-time. 

Of course, a big draw of the Airstream is what sits outside of it. There’s a private, shaded picnic table, two Adirondack chairs, and a fire pit at each site. Sit back, enjoy the sunset, the stars, and s’mores. 

Glamping at AutoCamp Zion with Kids

It certainly was an adventure in itself to go glamping with a toddler for the first time! Sleeping quarters and the best place to eat meals in and out of the Airstream were all things we had to figure out on the fly. 

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A pack-and-play is a must-have when glamping with a toddler. 

We brought our pack-and-play from home, which comfortably fit inside the X Suite if the futon doesn’t extend. We still had plenty of room to slide by and go to the bathroom if needed. AutoCamp Zion does not provide pack-and-plays or cribs, so bring your own. 

Depending on the size of your stroller, you might be able to find a corner to stash it in the Airstream. Our stroller is large and takes up a lot of space when folded, so we opted to leave it in the car and carry our little guy to and from the site instead.

We have a portable high chair that attaches to the edge of a table which we got at Kid to Kid in Pasadena. We take this with us all over the place since it’s small and easy to transport and has immensely proved its value. Such was the case at AutoCamp Zion for mealtime. We attached the high chair to the outdoor picnic table. Not only did our little man enjoy his meals with a view, but it helped reduce potential messes on the floor in the Airstream. 

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Meals are even better with portable high chairs and gorgeous views. 

One amenity I would have liked to have seen was a changing table in the bathroom. Since we didn’t have this option, diaper changes took place on the futon or bed, and we crossed our fingers that no incidents occurred. Spoiler alert: thankfully, no incidents. 

Speaking of the bathroom, it is a shower only, so keep this in mind if your tot gets dirty and dusty from a day in the desert. A small portable tub that you could fill with water from the shower would probably be a good solution. We didn’t have this during our stay and improvised by holding him up in the gigantic shower for a quick rinse. 

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Climb, swing, glamp, repeat. 

While our son was too young, older kids will enjoy other amenities at AutoCamp Zion, like the wooden playground with climbing structures and swings (no baby swings, though), the table games in the Clubhouse, and cornhole. Plus, don’t forget to pack the kids’ bathing suits—there’s a pool at the property! If it’s too hot for hiking, a dip in the pool would surely be a perfect alternative. 

Playing card games and roasting s’mores around the fire will entertain kids of all ages. Complimentary mountain bikes are available to guests for use on the property. If kiddos need more entertainment, Fort Zion is a three-minute drive from AutoCamp Zion and features Old West buildings to explore, a petting farm, a souvenir shop, and ice cream.

Food Options at AutoCamp Zion 

The Kitchen offers food items at the resort. 

The Kitchen is an on-site quick-service cafe inside the Clubhouse offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. There are ready-to-cook grill kits too. 

We did not have the best luck when ordering food from The Kitchen. Items on the menu that we tried to get weren’t available yet, and staff stated items would take a while to make with only one person manning the Clubhouse and the food orders. We did manage to get some quick snacks of pretzel bites and potato tots one evening, both of which were sizable portions. 

Due to the inconsistency of The Kitchen that we experienced during our stay, you’ll probably be better off grabbing a bite to eat at one of the many nearby restaurants. Perhaps service will improve over time as it seemed they were still figuring things out, and staffing issues were apparent. 

One thing this always-tired mom appreciated, though, was the complimentary coffee that was provided in the Clubhouse every morning! Complimentary tea and granola are available too. 

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Too hot for hiking? Dive into the pool. Photo courtesy of AutoCamp Zion by Matt Kisiday

Good To Know Before You Go

• AutoCamp Zion is about a 20-minute drive to the Zion National Park Springdale entrance. 

• Free marshmallow sticks for s’mores are in The Clubhouse! Our family loved that they had these for the taking as we couldn’t find our skewers before the trip. 
• We stayed in an X Suite, which included a private bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, and living area. 
• An X Suite comfortably sleeps one to three adults; or two adults and two small children. There are other accommodation options, and larger families may want to look into staying in a Basecamp Suite. 
• All suites includes grill tools, mini fridges, sinks, and cookware. 
• Quiet hours are from 10pm to 8am, nightly. 
• AutoCamp Zion is open seasonally from April through October.

All photos taken by Gina Ragland, unless otherwise noted.