These days Airstreams don't mean slumming it on a barren strip of land. They're now the first choice of the rich 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 airplane, created the Road Chief, an aerodynamic Streamline Moderne-style trailer in gleaming aluminium. 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 (£1k) price tag—a lot of money in Depression-era America. While this is a preserved 1953 interior, its predecessor, the 1936 model, was similarly designed to be cosy and comfortable, with leather seating, solid wood cabinetry and a cocoon-like ceiling.

Production ceased during the Second World War, so Byam closed his business and focused on making airplanes instead of trailers, teaming up with aeronautical firms Lockhead and Curtis Wright. Once the war had ended, Byam re-established Airstream. Applying the airplane 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.

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. 

A great example is this beautiful customised Airstream in California. Perched on the crest of the Latigo Canyon and overlooking the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the renovated trailer, complete with sail awnings, provides the perfect glamping experience in the desert. 

Available to rent out, you can enjoy every modern amenity, from a queen-sized bed to a fully equipped kitchen, all within easy reach of the Santa Monica Backbone trail and its many hiking opportunities. The interior is streamlined and minimalist, with a compact all-white kitchenette and a snug double bedroom at the rear. 

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.

With a built-in bar and a fold-down side panel that turns the interior into an open-air lounge, this Dubai-inspired Airstream, renovated by American Reto Caravans, is decadent in the extreme. Vibrant coloured lights in the caravan's ceiling create an atmosphere evocative of a nightclub, and richly upholstered furnishings ensure maximum comfort. 

The Airstream's interior is panelled with gold-tinted aluminium, which serves to reflect and magnify the ceiling lights, as well as making the space appear larger than it actually is. Though not designed for on-the-road living, this Airstream is certainly the perfect party pad on wheels! 

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 (£203k).

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. 

Interior shots of this fully renovated 1965 Airstream Overlander certainly make it seem more like a cosy cabin in the woods than an RV trailer. With washed oak walls, leather furnishings, and zinc and copper detailing, this Airstream is exquisitely appointed for the height of comfort. 

Another overhaul project by American Retro Caravans, this rustic creation offers four berths, with a luxurious double bed and a convertible seating area. The Airstream also manages to squeeze in a bespoke kitchen, and a bathroom large enough to accommodate a walk-in shower and a heated towel rail. 

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 Celtic-themed Airstream was an American Retro Caravans custom build for Savile Row tailors, Huntsman. A stunning project that's been meticulously finished, this is one renovation with serious wow factor. From copper panelling and tweed tartan furnishings to antler accents, this caravan is more than ready for an adventure in the Highlands. 

In addition to the bedroom area, the Airstream also features a breathtaking copper-plated bathroom with a walk-in shower, as well as a bar and lounge area complete with a plush leather sofa and a small birch-print bar. What more could you ask for?

Just your average Airstream on the outside, this custom Ralph Lauren-inspired trailer is anything but on the inside. The 1960s Overlander by American Retro Caravans features a wood-panelled and rivet-studded kitchen, a breakfast nook, sleek bathroom, and cosy twin beds.

The interiors of the Airstream draw clear inspiration from the midwestern style which characterises the Ralph Lauren Corral Canyon Collection. Navajo textiles cover the seating in the dining area and serve as the bedspreads for the two twin beds, while soft wooden panelling creates a cosy, inviting atmosphere. 

This funky retro Airstream in Mundham, England is available to rent on Airbnb. The 1957 Caravanner is parked in a quiet clearing in picturesque woodlands, and is fully kitted out to accommodate a comfortable stay for a couple or young family. 

The Airstream has been lovingly restored to combine modern amenities with retro touches, including 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! 

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Channel in Kent, this Airstream Airbnb offers stunning views from its doorstep. The inside of the renovated camper van is pretty thrilling as well, with a playful, colourful aesthetic, and a surprisingly spacious living area.

With a separate bathroom cabin and decked dining area located elsewhere on the property, there's more room freed up inside the Airstream for full-sized luxuries. These include a proper double bed, a complete kitchen, a sofa, and even a tiny wood-burning stove. 

An adventurous couple purchased this 1976 Airstream Sovereign for just $10,000 (£8.6k) and spent a full year lovingly renovating it, creating their own dream home on wheels. At only 200 feet in length and chock 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 grotto 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, 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 surrounded by 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, WiFi, Bluetooth, central heating and AC, these 31-foot Airstreams offer all the comforts of home in the heart of some of the US's most stunning wilderness. We'll pack our bags now...

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