Caravan Outpost: Ojai, CA

If you’re in Southern California looking for a little getaway, Caravan Outpost in Ojai might be the place for you. It’s a super cute, camping style, micro-resort where you stay in different themed airstreams, make s’mores by the fire, ride bikes around town and can get a total escape not too far from Los Angeles. It’s definitely not a luxury experience but it’s got a total throwback feeling and friendly atmosphere worth checking out for a night!

When Michael and I stayed here last summer they were newly open and we were doing a little glamping research to see how the market was expanding. They are still going strong and I thought this would be a perfect little spot to share. We loved the kitschy Americana feeling that the airstreams give to the park and that it’s still enough of a camping and out of the way feeling without being in a tent all night without a bathroom.

The airstream we stayed in was the “Mali Mish” which had really cute, tropical vibes while still keeping the traditional feeling of airstreams. There are 11 different airstreams each hosting a different look and different sizes. About half of the trailers are  dog friendly which is something awesome because you can bring your furry friends along. This is something I am super conscious of now that we adopted a doggie this year and love to take him everywhere!

Caravan Outpost is settled in a converted junk yard tucked away in Ojai. It is super small but the landscaping makes it feel like you’re in a little desert oasis instead of an old lot. The staff is incredibly friendly and hands on and the owners live on sight. When we arrived we went into the hangar building to check in ad check out their shop. They’ve got a lot of cool swag, books and local products. We got the lowdown on the grounds, and checked out a schedule that included morning yoga and night time campfire sing alongs. We got the wifi code, some water and escorted to our trailer.

We didn’t have any groceries with us and decided to go get some supplies for snacking and drinking while we hung out. They sell some snacks in the main shop and there are restaurants within walking distance, but if you want to chill onsite for the night definitely bring some food. Especially since the trailers have little kitchens! (We ended up walking to get takeout from a nearby Italian restaurant and enjoying it outside in our little seating area once the sun was setting.)

Once we settled in we were pleasantly surprised by the record collection and player in the kitchen that we played while we got used to our new living quarters. The bedroom was really adorable but the bed wasn’t particularly comfortable. When it cooled down a bit we went outside to check out the games and settled on a round of cornhole. They had bikes to take off the property and explore the town, board games and later that night a campfire with s’mores.

The main downside to the place is the heat. It was almost 100 degrees in the middle of summer out in Ojai and when we arrived the airstream was all closed up and needed to be aired out and have the air conditioning on a bit before  it was comfortable. This is probably something they do now before people check in but it definitely wasn’t the best feeling walking into a sauna-like trailer that you want to relax in. This is definitely more of an experience driven getaway than a comfort or luxury one. The bed’s aren’t super comfy and the in-trailer air conditioning is pretty loud but the friendly owners and the overall vibe of Caravan Outpost make it worth visiting.

Check them out online, and you can also follow them on instagram @caravanoutpost.

Has anybody gone here before? What’s everyone’s experience with glamping or airstreams? I’d love to know since Michael and I are considering renting a little caravan for an upcoming road trip!