Destination: Convict Lake Most people don’t have a lot of time to go to far and obscure destinations during their Airstream road trip.  But I would be remiss not to write about this beautiful lake destination located on the other side of the Sierra Nevadas on the east side of California.  As much as I like Lake Tahoe, Silver Lake and Lake Nacimiento, I think Convict Lake is by far the most gorgeous California lake I’ve ever laid eyes upon.  You can see the bottom of the lake since the waters are so clear and when the sun shines, the water reflects like blue crystals.  Also that mountain backdrop is just breathtaking.  Don’t let the name fool you, there is nothing austere, bleak or prison-like about this place.  In fact it’s more like a little piece of the Swiss Alps on the west coast. Getting There Convict Lake is quite far from our San Jose Airstream garage and thus we advise making a stop if you are planning to explore the beautiful and rugged east side of California.  The quickest route there, which is about a 6 hour drive, is through Yosemite National Park.  Getting to Yosemite is about a 4 hour drive and you can read all about our experiences with the glamping at Yosemite here and here.  Since the mountain roads through the national park is quite narrow and windy, we recommend this route only for those taking a 23′ Airstream or smaller and only during the summer months when the pass is open.  When we took this road trip to Convcit Lake we went down to Death Valley National Park first and then came up the I-395 to Convict Lake. Glamping at Convict Lake Convict Lake Campground, which is within walking distance to the lake, has 37 standard non-electric back-up sites for RVs of various lengths.  The spots can be a tad narrow so we recommend driving carefully around the campground and always having a spotter when backing up.  Since there are no water or electric hook-ups at the campsite you might want to rent one of our generators to comfortable dry-camp.  Since sites are limited we highly recommend making reservations here before your trip.  There is a dump station and water filling station that is easily accessible right outside the campground if you need to empty or refill tanks.  The campground itself is nicely arranged with some trees giving you privacy between sites. What To Do There Within walking distance to the campground is the Convict Lake Resort, which conveniently provides boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals for a day out on the lake.  There are also a couple beautiful hikes around the lake for those who prefer to stay on land.  But Convict Lake is probably best known as a fishing destination for the avid fisherman.  Also for those who feel like eating something fancy for a change, the Convict Lake Resort has two fine dining restaurants: Restaurant at Convict Lake and Morrison’s Restaurant (name after the mountain peak surrounding the lake). Where To Go Next If you’re on a time constraint, the fastest way back to San Jose would be to go through Yosemite National Park again.  Or if you came up through Death Valley, going through Yosemite would be a nice roundtrip.  If you came up through Yosemite and want to go down to Death Valley I would advise caution for the inexperienced trailer driver because there’s a stretch of narrow mountain roads that can be quite nerve-racking (going up is no walk in the park either but it’s not nearly as scary as going down).  Lake Tahoe is about a three hour drive away if you want to continue the California mountain lake tour.

Destination: Azalea Campground, Kings Canyon National Park We love big trees.  That’s why Santa Cruz Redwoods RV Resort is one of our favorite local RV parks.  But a giant sequoia tree is the mother of all big trees.  They are the living dinosaurs of the plant world and something that everyone should see (or hug) once in their life.  Well we found the best campground for visiting these beautiful giants, Azalea Campground located in King’s Canyon National Park.  This year-around campground located in the national park is a little less than 4 hours away from our San Jose garage.  Since this is a campground there are no hook-ups so be prepared for some dry-camping.  There are dumping stations open during the summer months (though we don’t know how accessible they are since we went during the autumn).  Also there are some tight turns within the campground so we advise all Airstreamers to be extra careful when driving through the campground.     The campground has 110 sites, which are all first come first serve basis.  Sites 54-58 are popular spots because it’s a bit away from the rest of the campsites.  But we were in campsite 37 and still felt pretty secluded (see map at the bottom of the page here).  If not being able to make a reservation during peak season makes you nervous, then you can reserve sites at the neighboring Sunset Campground, which has 157 reservable sites open from May to September.  Both campgrounds are within King’s Canyon National Park and close to each other and Grant Grove Village where the Grant Grove Market and King’s Canyon Visitors Center are located.   The Grant Grove Market has groceries, beer/wine, firewood, and any other supplies you might have forgotten for your trip.  The Grant Grove Village also includes a restaurant and post office.  So you may be in a remote national park, but you’ll want for nothing! The best part of Azalea Campground is that it is within walking distance (0.8 miles or a 3 minute car ride) to the main attraction at King’s Canyon National Park: General Grant Grove, home to the General Grant Tree.  The General Grant Tree is the second largest tree in the world (we’ll get to the largest tree in a minute here) and is estimated to be 1,657 years old.  There are also several other hikes around General Grant Grove, which you can find listed here.   Another great thing about Azalea Campground is that it is only 40 minutes away from Sequoia National Park so you can visit 2 national parks in one day if you were so inclined (the entrance fee to Kings Canyon is also good for Sequioa National Park).   Sequoia National Park is home to the largest living tree in the world, the General Sherman tree.  Also in the area is the Lodgepole Visitor Center and the Giant Tree Museum.  There are also quite a few hiking trails in the area, that are listed here.   And if you wanted to make your Airstream road trip a National Parks tour, then the south entrance of Yosemite is about 2.5 hours away from King’s Canyon National Park.  There’s a lot of beauty on this side of California   So if you’re looking for some big beautiful trees or to check off some National Parks from your bucket list, then Azalea Campground is the place to go!

Burning Man Rental Packages Now Available There’s nothing quite like a beautiful silver Airstream shimmering in the open desert, am I right?  Well for those who want to rent an Airstream for Burning Man, an annual city built in the middle of the Nevada desert devoted to self-reliance and self-expression, you’ve come to the right place.  This year we are offering Airstream rental packages specifically for Burning Man (August 27- September 4, 2017). Now I’m sure you’ve noticed the pricing for these packages are nothing to sneeze at.  But that’s because having experienced Airstreams returning from Burning Man, we know that Playa dust is also nothing to sneeze at.  The bulk of the cost goes to the 10+ hours of preparing our Airstreams for Burning Man (including a full waxing of the exterior and the taping of all windows and vents) and the 30+ hours of cleaning required to fully remove Playa dust from every nook, cranny and compartment of the Airstream.  We also provide free grocery stocking, purchased by the customer through Instacart (ie have all the water you need for the week already stocked into your Airstream when you arrive) and free San Jose Airport pick-up and drop-off for out-of-town guests.  And of course we include all of our usual Elite RV amenities like a fully-stocked kitchen, all linens and towels, full propane tanks, and dumping of all tanks post-trip.  (For comparison, we’ve researched and have found that competitors like Cruise America rent their un-stocked and un-prepped class C RVs for $4500 for Burning Man, while Airstream2Go rents their Airstreams with tow vehicle for $12,000 for the week.)   We have also decided that we will not be doing Airstream deliveries to the Playa so all renters must tow their own Airstream to Burning Man.  We feel that since Burning Man is a community celebrating self-reliance, that guests going to the Playa should practice this Burning Man principle.  And if you want to practice towing before your drive to the Nevada desert, we will happily schedule a time to show you the basics and allow you to practice at our San Jose garage free of charge.  And of course all rentals are fully insured (which is included in the Burning Man package price).  Lastly if you don’t own a truck, we have partnered with our local Enterprise Commercial business and can arrange the rental for you.  We will also have the rental truck delivered and hitched up to the trailer ready to go on the day of pick-up.   So if you’re interested in renting an Airstream for Burning Man, you can start your reservation process on our Burning Man page here.

Lake Tahoe is one of the easiest big-scenery trips you can take in a rented Airstream: about 149 miles from our Lathrop shop to South Lake Tahoe, roughly two hours and forty minutes east on US-50, and under three hours to the Truckee side via I-80. The payoff is enormous. Tahoe is the second-deepest lake in the United States at 1,645 feet, per the U.S. Geological Survey, and the area is packed with nature hikes, mountain bike trails, lake activities, and even gambling on the Nevada side if you are so inclined. Campsites here mostly run without hook-ups, with a few full hook-up RV parks mixed in. Here is what we know first-hand, and what our customers recommend. The Lake Tahoe shoreline from above. Logger Campground, Truckee (north of Lake Tahoe) Logger Campground sits north of Lake Tahoe in the Truckee area. Two things to know. First, there are no hook-ups, so we advise experienced or adventurous RVers here (read our dry-camping post for what that actually means). Second, Google Maps will take you the wrong way. Follow the campground’s own directions instead: take I-80 to HWY 89, exit right at Hobart Mills Rd, merge left onto old HWY 89, take a right at the fork to stay on Hobart Mills Rd (also called E. Pasture Rd), then left onto Dog Valley Rd to the campground. Your reward is beautiful views of Stampede Reservoir directly behind the campground, where you can boat, water ski, swim, and fish. Lake Tahoe itself is a 45 minute drive, but the secluded spot means far more privacy than the busy lake. Sites come with a fire ring and picnic tables. Grover Hot Springs State Park, Markleeville (south of Lake Tahoe) Grover Hot Springs State Park is about 45 minutes from Stateline in South Lake Tahoe. You will be dry-camping here too, rewarded with trees outside your Airstream window and a 5 minute drive to the hot springs the park is named after, fed into a pool you can enjoy all day for a small entrance fee. There are hiking trails throughout the park and a trout creek. It is one of the few campgrounds open year-round, which makes it a great fall trip when the crowds thin out. We found this one by asking locals. The posted max trailer length is 24 feet, and we recommend experienced towers only, since there are some tight spots. Recommended by our customers Coachland RV Park (Truckee, 20 minutes from the lake): a repeat-customer favorite in the Tahoe area. If you want full hook-ups (water, electric, sewer, and cable) plus basic WiFi, this is your best bet. Read about Jason and Grace’s Airstream road trip here. Ice House Campground (near Kyburz, on the US-50 route): another customer recommendation on the way up to South Lake Tahoe. We have also stayed at one of our all-time favorite campsites in the greater Tahoe region: Silver Lake East on the Eldorado National Forest, which we wrote about here. Ready to go? Browse our Airstream fleet and check your dates here. Every rental comes stocked and trip-ready, and if you would rather skip the towing, ask us about delivery and setup. Here is how the rental process works.

Airstream Destination: Costanoa One of the most popular questions to us at GoSilver is “Where should I take my rented Airstream?”  And one of our favorite local Northern California spot (and a favorite spot for Airstream deliveries) is Costanoa.  Costanoa is the perfect place for those who love nature and that country life, but who don’t want to necessarily camp in the boonies.  This is glamping at its finest.  The resort is located on the California coast between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz (about 25 miles from each on Hwy 1).   The resort does have a lodge (for those who want the full hotel experience) and tent bungalows (with shared dorm style bathrooms), but of course our favorite way to stay at Costanoa is in one of our Airstreams (the comfort of home on wheels).  Plus, it is one of the few ways we can stay at Costanoa with our dogs (no dogs allowed in the lodge or the tent bungalows).   Have a BBQ with friends and family on the premises and play some competitive ladder golf (it’s surprisingly addictive and fun).  Costanoa also has a kids camp, mountain biking trails, and horseback riding for beginners.  And take advantage of Costanoa’s organic gourmet restaurant, Cascade.  All their ingredients come form local farms or their own organic farm, and their menu changes seasonally.  Last spring I had a really excellent kale and seaweed salad (trust me, it tastes way better than it sounds).  Where else in the world can you glamp/camp and have fine dining?   Each RV site allows for up to 6 people with the added wood platform for tent camping.  This is a super family friendly camp site where kids can play safely almost everywhere on the resort grounds.  For the adults, there’s a heavenly spa and even a free sauna at their comfort stations.   While staying at Costanoa, check out some of our favorite places near by: Pie Ranch: for delicious pie and fresh organic produce sold at their farm stand (plus it’s a teaching farm that helps future farmers learn the ins and outs of organic farming) Pigeon Point Lighthouse: the perfect spot for an awesome photo shoot with your DSLR or selfie stick Arcangeli’s: A bakery that’s been family-run since 1929.  Their garlic herb artichoke bread is famous and for good reason.  It’s not hype!  It’s delicious!  And if the weather is nice, grab some grub (including the bread of course) and head over to the beach to have a picnic in the sand. Pescadero Country Store: If you don’t feel like going to the beach for lunch and the famous artichoke bread is sold out, then equally wonderful is the Pescadero Country Store.  They have a space outside with picnic tables where you can drink an ice-cold beer and munch on some really wonderful fried artichoke hearts. Swanton Berry Farm: In the summer you can pick your own berries!  Don’t feel like doing the work?  You can still buy some at their farm stand when in season. Harley Farms:  A goat-lover’s paradise.  See the goats outback and buy some goat cheese and goat milk bath & body products at the farm stand.  They also host some fun dinners and tours, but check with their website for availability. Slow Coast Airstream store:  This cool Airstream store is chock full of local unique gifts, and even if you’re not in the mood to shop this store is definitely worth checking out (ok, I might be a little biased because I love all things Airstream). Butano State Park:  Hike amongst the giant Redwood trees Ano Nuevo State Park:  Hike along the ocean and spy on some elephant seals

Yosemite National Park is the single most popular destination for GoSilver Airstream renters, and it is an easy tow from our Lathrop shop: about 117 miles east on CA-120, roughly two and a half hours to the Big Oak Flat entrance and right around three hours into Yosemite Valley. You are on Highway 120 from the moment you leave Lathrop, one road nearly the whole way. The National Park Service counted 4.1 million visits in 2024, so the difference between a great Yosemite trip and a stressful one comes down to two things: taking the right road with the trailer, and reserving your campsite early. Here is what we tell every renter. Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View. The scale of these granite cliffs cannot be captured by photos, though of course we tried. The drive from Lathrop, and the one road to avoid Follow CA-120 East through Manteca, Oakdale, and Chinese Camp toward Groveland. As you approach Groveland, your maps app will try to send you onto Old Priest Grade. This is important: if you are towing, do not take Old Priest Grade. It is a steep shortcut meant for cars only. Stay on CA-120. We have had a couple of customers take Old Priest Grade anyway, and even though they made it, it was a white-knuckle experience we would not recommend to anyone. Highway 120 is not exactly a walk in the park either, but if logging trucks can make their way up and down this road, so can Airstream towers. Half Dome at Yosemite. Along Highway 120 from Groveland to the park, there are a handful of RV parks and campgrounds you can stay at. To make it easy, we have checked them all out. Our top recommendations: Yosemite Lakes RV Resort if you want hook-ups, and Dimond-O Campground if you can do without. RV parks with full hook-ups Yosemite Lakes RV Resort: We recommend this park for beginner Airstreamers or anyone who wants the glamping rather than camping experience, meaning no roughing it required. It is part of the Thousand Trails collective (membership), but they keep quite a few spots for non-members too. The spots are close together, but they come with full hook-ups and the resort is well maintained. The biggest bonus: it is the closest full hook-up RV park to Yosemite, only 9 minutes from the park entrance. It is popular with families and can be crowded in peak season. Yosemite Ridge Resort: Another great full hook-up option, quite a bit smaller with only 15 spaces, which means no big crowds. It has a pool, its own gas station, a general store, and a restaurant. In exchange, you are further from the entrance (about 17 minutes), and there are no fire pits. Yosemite Pines: Closest to Groveland and its restaurants, bars, and grocery markets, but the furthest from the park entrance (about 28 minutes). Around 200 sites with both full and partial hook-ups, plus a general store, pool, petting zoo, and family activities. Each site has a fire pit. We stayed here on one of our own trips and were not fans of how close the sites are, and there are quite a few long-term residents. Campgrounds with no hook-ups Dimond-O Campground: For the more adventurous, or anyone experienced with towing and backing up, we highly recommend this campground just 15 minutes from the park entrance. Only 38 sites, so reserve the moment you know your dates. One customer told us she booked the day her window opened, six months in advance, and that is normal for peak season (April through September). Most sites are back-in, so backing experience helps, though we will send you off with walkie-talkies if you and your travel partner are up for the challenge. There are no hook-ups here. Read what dry-camping in an Airstream actually means here, and we recommend renting a generator. In exchange you get a secluded, private campground surrounded by trees, quite possibly the most serene campsite on Highway 120. Sweet Water Campground: A good option if you are willing to rough it but not yet confident backing up the trailer. It is 13 minutes from the entrance with 14 sites, some pull-through. Space is limited, so reserve far in advance, and bring a generator. The sites sit in a large cleared area, so less privacy, but some have clear, beautiful views of the surrounding forest. The Pines Campground: The smallest and furthest from the entrance (21 minutes), set in the Stanislaus National Forest with its own hiking trails. Only 12 sites plus a group option that works well for large parties. Open year-round; reservations highly recommended. We do not recommend Lost Claim Campground due to the narrow, bumpy roads inside the campground. Camping inside the park Camping inside Yosemite National Park is also a great option. The NPS details for RV camping are here. RV sites (listed as RV non-electric and Standard non-electric) book up fast, so make reservations the moment they open, five months in advance. Reservation information is here. Ready to go? Browse our Airstream fleet and check dates here. Every rental comes stocked and trip-ready, and if you would rather skip the towing altogether, ask us about delivery and setup. Here is exactly how the rental process works.

Destination: Silver Lake East – El Dorado Campground We are so very lucky in this business that we not only get to take our own Airstream trip once a year, but we also learn about some of the best campground and RV parks from our awesome customers.  And well, we learned of Silver Lake East-Eldorado Campground from a repeat customer who repeatedly comes to this particular campground (and so we knew it must be special).  And it did not disappoint!   Silver Lake campground is a little over 3 hours away from our San Jose garage and is located near Kirkwood in South Lake Tahoe.  The roads getting there are all fairly wide and easy (if you take the CA-88) and isn’t hair-raising like most other mountain roads.   Because this is a campground there are no hook-ups and you are dry-camping.  The campground itself is very well maintained and each campsite comes with a picnic bench, fire ring, and bear bin.  And the campsite hosts were very welcoming and helpful.  The little roads within the campground are quite narrow so we recommend taking the 20′ Flying Cloud or smaller since these are the narrow-bodied Airstreams.  If you are experienced in towing and are extra careful, then you might be able to take one of the larger Airstreams.  If you do choose to take a larger Airstream we recommend taking site number 20 (and reverse into the spot without doing a full loop around the campground) or site number 29.  Like at almost all campgrounds in California, you’re going to want to reserve your campsites way ahead of time unless you’re doing a road trip in the fall or spring.  Also this campground closes after the first week of October.   What makes this campground so amazing is that it is a short hike (about 5 minutes) to Silver Lake, which is a beautiful mountain lake fed by snow melt.  Just carry a cooler and our camping chairs to the lake and have a lakeside picnic.     If you’re looking for a more active vacation, there are some of hikes around the area (or drive out a bit and there are many more hikes available as well).  If you have a fishing permit, you can spend sometime fishing at the lake.  Or go to the Kit Carson lodge (which is within walking distance if you head to the lake first and then follow the shore to the lodge’s boat house) to rent kayaks or canoes.  The Kit Carson lodge also has a restaurant and a small market for last minute supplies.   There is also little to no cell signal at the campground so if you need your internet fix, there is wifi available at the Kit Carson Lodge (pictured below).   Brian and I enjoyed our time at this campsite immensely and look forward to coming back.  If you’re looking for a lake-side retreat with your Airstream then we can’t recommend this campground enough.  We think it’s one of the best ones around the Lake Tahoe area!