Outdoor Travel and Camping is Growing as Younger People Seek Wellness, Nature Experiences

Family camping.

Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) released its annual Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report, showcasing just how the outdoor travel industry has changed over time, what trends America is seeing this year and more.

The annual survey asked 2,900 American and 1,200 Canadian households about their camping experiences and preferences to determine how their perspectives have shifted.

This year, one of every three leisure trips includes camping due to an increased desire to disconnect from technology and slow down to explore the natural world. In fact, slowing down and embracing relaxing activities are the main themes for many travelers’ next trips: top travel goals this year include slowing down (57 percent), recharging (50 percent), embracing variety (41 percent), checking off their bucket lists (37 percent) and making spontaneous plans (34 percent).

Additionally, 79 percent of travelers are planning to slow down on their trips, doing mindful activities like yoga, meditation or forest immersion.

Travelers are also more likely to value their camping trips than ever before: more than half of campers also state they’re more likely to continue camping in the future, a 15 percent increase from 2023. Over the past decade, the number of households that camp three or more times each year has grown 98 percent, showing that campers are more loyal to camping than ever before.

From 2014, the total number of households who camp increased by 23 percent, while active camping households grew by 68 percent. Campers have increased across demographics, but have become younger as more and more Millennials and Gen Z travelers begin valuing time spent outdoors. Camping became a part of 2 million households each year prior to the pandemic; following the pandemic, 4.4 million new campers are made each year.

The past decade has seen shifts that include a growing number of different accommodation options for camping, including the growth of “glamping,” or more luxurious options. Glamping alone has brought 15.7 million new campers to outdoor hospitality in the past five years.

Half of the campers in the last two years are under the age of 35, compared to 2014, when they comprised only 30 percent of all campers. Travelers who are not white are also camping more than ever before, an increase from 23 percent to 39 percent.

“Through our decade of research, we’ve seen camping evolve from simply being considered an outdoor activity to becoming a formidable segment of the travel marketplace,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America, Inc. “Despite all the changes over the last 10 years, one thing remains constant: even more people see the importance of connecting with nature. Heeding the call, outdoor hospitality offers countless ways for a broad range of travelers to have one-of-a-kind experiences with those who matter most.”