These days, Airstreams don't mean slumming it on a barren strip of land. They're now the first choice of glampers and Instagram influencers – think stylish, cosy and comfortable.
We reveal the story behind the brand and take a look at the best Airstream refurbs and designs to inspire you to take the road in your own tiny home on wheels. Click or scroll on for more...
Airstreams have been a favourite home-on-the-road for vacationers for almost a century. Back in 1929, Wally Byam built the first Airstream trailer – a teardrop-shaped canvas and Masonite shelter attached to a Ford Model T chassis – mainly for his wife Marion, who was fed up camping in draughty tents.
A year later, Byam published a DIY guide to building a trailer, which was followed by floods of requests to construct RVs. To cope with the demand, Byam rented a factory in Culver City, California, officially founding his trailer manufacturing company in 1931.
The fledgling firm completed its first factory-produced model, the Torpedo (pictured), in 1932, and launched two larger models soon after: the Silver Cloud and the Airlite.
A couple of years later, Wally Byam adopted the name "Airstream", a perfect moniker for the company's teardrop-shaped trailers, which cruised down the road "like a stream of air".
During the early 30s, William Hawley Bowlus, an engineer who had worked on Charles Lindbergh's famous Spirit of St Louis aeroplane, created the Road Chief, an aerodynamic Streamline Moderne-style trailer in gleaming aluminium. But Bowlus' aircraft-inspired RVs failed to sell.
In 1936, Byam stepped in, buying up Bowlus' inventory. Byam reconfigured the Road Chief, creating the iconic Airstream Clipper, pictured here, and put his marketing and advertising skills to good use.
Sales of the Clipper went through the roof, despite the trailer's hefty $1,200 price tag – a lot of money in Depression-era America, the equivalent of around $25,560 (£20.4k) today.
While this Airbnb showcases a well-preserved 1950s interior, its predecessor, the 1936 model, was similarly designed to be cosy and comfortable, with leather seating, solid cabinetry and a cocoon-like ceiling.
Production ceased during the Second World War, so Byam closed his business and focused on making aeroplanes instead of trailers, teaming up with aeronautical firms Lockhead and Curtis Wright.
Once the war had ended, Byam re-established Airstream. Applying the aeroplane design skills he learned during wartime, Byam created the Curtis Wright Clipper in 1948. The upgraded Clipper was an overnight success, selling in the thousands. In 1950, Byam created the Flying Cloud, which is still produced today.
The firm outgrew its Californian HQ by the 50s, and in 1952 Byam opened a larger factory in Ohio.
With sales buoyant throughout the decade, Byam further refined his RV lineup and launched the Airstream International, "the world's first self-contained trailer", in 1958.
Byam died in 1962, leaving behind a super-successful trailer company that had become known worldwide.
America's most luxurious trailers, Airstream RVs of the time featured the latest modern conveniences, from air conditioning to refrigerators.
The Airstream trailer was redesigned in 1969 with smoother edges that resemble a silver bullet.
Such was its renown, that same year the company was chosen to design and build a mobile quarantine pod for the returning Apollo 11 astronauts.
As interest in tiny home living continues to grow, the brand has started to attract a younger, cooler clientele. This army of loyal fans – who like to call themselves "Airstreamers" – share a passion both for the timeless, classic Airstream design and for customising and renovating their vehicles.
Let's take a look at some of the most amazing Airstream renovations to inspire your next project...
Perfect for a luxurious romantic getaway or even a family adventure, these Cape Cod Premium Airstream Suites are the height of decadent comfort in the midst of the great outdoors.
Design and durability meet, with beautifully designed interiors enclosed in that classic aluminium shell.
The spacious 31-foot Airstream can sleep up to three adults, or two adults and two children.
The interior is bright and airy, with a neutral white colour scheme and pared-back furnishings. Outside, the outdoor patio includes a firepit and a dining area.
This cute Tiki Airstream is 26 feet long and has one full bed, a bathroom and a small kitchenette.
The overhauled Airstream has been designed to keep its owners cosy and comfortable, with air conditioning fitted for the warmer months and a space heater for winter.
The characterful design inside is full of colour and quirky tiki-themed accessories designed to get you in the holiday mood.
We love the bold, colour-blocked ceiling and walls, which draw the eye further down the trailer and impart plenty of personality to the snug space.
These snazzy homes on wheels are popular purchases for celebrities as well as civilians. Just take a look at Tom Hanks’ bespoke Airstream trailer, which he bought back in 1992.
Tired of living in uncomfortable trailers with ugly furniture during longer movie shoots, Hanks acquired this 35-foot-long home-away-from-home and had it outfitted to his specifications.
Though far from glamorous when compared to some of the other renovated models, the Airstream did include a cosy fake fireplace and a dressing room-style illuminated mirror.
The trailer served Tom well for nearly two decades, and when he did finally part with it in 2021, he managed to sell it for a whopping $235,200 (£188k).
Airstream restorations don't get much more stylish than this. Situated in New Mexico on the El Mistico Glamping Ranch, this retro residence, known as the Silver Bullet, offers a truly unique spot to lay your head.
Outside, there's a barbecue deck, while inside, you'll find a pretty spectacular living space.
Monochrome walls frame a beautifully curated interior, from the mid-century-inspired bed at the rear of the Airstream, to the handy built-in breakfast bar, complete with copper-effect industrial-style bar stools.
Meanwhile, the compact bathroom squeezes a lot into a tight space, including a walk-in shower clad in monochrome penny tiles and a floating vanity.
Just outside of Joshua Tree National Park, a campsite of luxury Airstreams offers guests the chance to sleep under the stars, surrounded by the stunning desert landscape.
Available to rent, the stunning trailers are a beautifully updated homage to the original Airstream design.
Each spacious 31-foot Airstream can sleep up to three adults, or two adults and two children, and boasts a fully functional kitchenette and a comfortable seating area.
There's also a stylish and surprisingly spacious bathroom with a walk-in rain shower for the ultimate glamping experience.
This funky retro Airstream in Mundham, England is available to rent on Airbnb.
The 1957 trailer is parked in a quiet clearing in picturesque woodlands and is fully kitted out to accommodate a comfortable stay for a couple or small family.
The Airstream has been lovingly restored to combine modern amenities with retro touches.
Key features include a vintage but fully functioning kitchenette, a bathroom consisting of a toilet and shower, a cosy double bed and a cute seating area that looks like it was lifted straight out of a 1950s diner. These benches can also double as two extra twin beds if the kids are along for the ride!
An adventurous couple purchased this 1976 Airstream Sovereign for just $10,000 (£8k) and spent a full year lovingly renovating it, creating their own dream home on wheels.
At only 200 feet in length and packed full of dated 70s furniture and bulky plastic cabinetry, the couple had to get creative with their renovations to make the space work for them.
Though engineered for maximum practicality and functionality, the space is still both charming and elegant in its design.
The interior features rustic details – including a deep farmhouse sink, copper accessories and reclaimed wood countertops – while also boasting plenty of creative storage solutions, and not one but two king-sized beds.
Tucked away in a leafy spot with its own private meadow in Hereford in the UK, this beautifully restored 1956 Airstream boasts an unusual shabby-chic interior.
The rustic exposed roof and vintage yellow cabinetry add a quirky feel to this unique Airbnb space.
For lovers of cottagecore, this vintage-inspired Airstream will be a dream come true.
Complete with a cosy sleeping nook, a fully equipped galley kitchen, a small dressing room and a comfortable seating area, what this caravan lacks in space it more than makes up for in charm.
Within easy reach of Yosemite National Park, these mid-century modern Airstreams from Autocamp offer the chance to sleep within the wilderness, while enjoying the luxury of a five-star hotel.
Beautifully kitted out for modern living, we love the organic materials and earthy hues incorporated across the interior.
With rich cherry hardwood flooring and matching cabinetry, luxury linens and towels, a flatscreen TV, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, central heating and AC, these 31-foot Airstreams offer all the comforts of home in the heart of some of the most stunning wilderness in the US. We'll pack our bags now...
Big Bertha, as this 1973 Airstream has affectionately been dubbed, truly lives up to her name with a sleeping capacity of up to six people.
Situated in the English countryside overlooking Croglin Beck, the Airstream Airbnb has been sleekly renovated to afford all the comforts of a true ‘glamping’ experience.
The Airstream includes a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and dining area, which also converts seamlessly into another bed if required.
The interiors are finished to a high standard, with cosy soft furnishings which complement the light wood panelling that runs throughout the space.
Nestled in the French countryside, this authentic 1969 airstream is located on the outskirts of the Avaugour forest and the Meur wood.
With its dreamily remote location, the Airbnb offers the best that the great outdoors has to offer, from hiking, to mountain biking, to horseback riding through the surrounding foothills.
Inside, the vintage Airstream has been kitted out to the very highest standard of modern luxury. The compact kitchen comes fully equipped with a hob, oven, microwave and sink, as well as a fun splashback and blue cupboards reminiscent of the vehicle’s 60s origins.
Remarkably, the tiny Airstream can sleep up to four, with a cosy alcove bed and a couch that folds out into another bed.
If you’re seeking the ultimate desert retreat, look no further than this fabulous refurbished 27-foot Airstream, situated near Joshua Tree National Park.
With its incredibly sleek interior, this Airstream is more reminiscent of a five-star hotel than a tiny home on wheels.
It offers a refrigerator with a freezer, a gas hob, oven, microwave, Nespresso coffee machine, toilet and shower, as well as all the amenities you need for a relaxing stay.
In addition to a queen-size bed at the rear, the couch converts easily into a secondary single bed, allowing the Airstream to comfortably sleep up to three people.
There’s also more than enough room to spread out outside, with two spacious wooden decks, an outdoor fireplace, a Jacuzzi, a cowboy tub, an outdoor shower and a built-in barbecue area fully equipped with a propane grill, side burner and sink. Imagine dining alfresco against that stunning desert mountain backdrop!
This sleek black Airstream, located within Terlingua Ranch in Texas, has been dramatically remodelled for optimal comfort and style.
Black Moon, as the Airstream has been dubbed, has been designed to maximise the breathtaking desert landscape surrounding it, with a grilling area and firepit provided so you can enjoy a cookout under the stars.
The Airstream itself is an Argosy travel trailer dating from the late 1960s, which has been entirely remodelled to include a stylish, minimalistic interior with a queen-size bed and convertible sofa.
The Airbnb listing states that there's no Wi-Fi at the site, meaning that this unique retreat offers the perfect opportunity to disconnect, soak up the natural surrounds and embrace a slower pace of life off the grid.
Unlike some of the more modernised trailer projects we’ve seen, this fabulous 1975 Airstream truly embraces its origins with a renovation that's faithful to its playful heyday.
Alongside that beautifully restored exterior, there's a large wooden deck adorned with shade sails, fairy lights and two hammocks – perfect for a cosy evening of stargazing.
Inside, it's just as whimsical. With light wood panelling, striped soft furnishings and a beige and orange colour palette, entering this Airbnb is like taking a step back in time!
The Airstream offers a queen-size bed and a spacious lounge area, which can be converted into more sleeping quarters.
There's also access to a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom facilities in a communal clubhouse nearby.
This restored 1974 Airstream, located in the surfers' paradise of Carpinteria in the Golden State is all you need to make your California dreams come true.
The 33-foot vehicle boasts a fully equipped kitchen, a well-stocked breakfast nook and a lounge area with a smart TV.
At one end of the Airstream, you'll find a double memory foam bed, while at the other, there's a stylish seating area where you can kick back beneath that spectacular metal roof. Outside, a shady wooden deck with a gas firepit is the perfect place for dining alfresco.
There's also a separate structure containing a full bathroom and laundry facilities, alongside a beautiful garden and even a small avocado orchard. We can’t imagine ever wanting to leave this Cali hideaway!
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