Table of Contents
- Camping statistics at a glance
- How big camping is now
- Why people keep choosing campgrounds
- RV camping, campground access, and capacity
- Nature, mental health, and family travel
- Seasonality, planning, and new travel habits
- Sustainability and campground preferences
- Regional and national park demand
- Outdoor recreation context
Camping is no longer a niche getaway. The latest numbers show a large household base, strong economic impact, and a clear shift toward trips that feel simpler, closer to home, and more personal.
Camping statistics at a glance
- More than 52 million North American households camped at least once in 2025. (KOA 2026 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- KOA estimates those campers generated a $66 billion economic footprint in 2025. (KOA 2026 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 31% of campers plan to take more trips and spend more nights camping in 2026. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
- Nearly half of campers say they are likely to rent an RV in 2026. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
- 81% of campers report better sleep, reduced stress, or improved recovery after spending time outdoors. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
A few of the strongest themes repeat across the data set: camping is growing in scale, campers are seeking comfort and flexibility, and the experience is increasingly tied to well-being.
How big camping is now
The scale of camping is easiest to see in the household counts. More than 52 million North American households camped at least once in 2025. (KOA 2026 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
That volume matters because it is not just a leisure statistic. KOA estimates that those campers generated a $66 billion economic footprint in 2025. (KOA 2026 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report) Together, those two figures show both demand and spending power.
A longer view makes the trend even clearer. Approximately 11 million more households camped in 2024 than in 2019. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report) That kind of increase points to camping becoming a larger part of mainstream travel, not just an occasional vacation choice.
The same report series also shows camping households becoming more family-centered. Family camping households were recorded at 35% in 2012, 57% in 2023, and 47% in 2024. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report) The movement across those years suggests that family camping remains a major part of the category, even as the mix shifts year to year.
What the household trend says
A simple read of the numbers is that camping has both reach and resilience. The large household base means it has broad appeal. The increase versus 2019 means the activity has gained more participation rather than just holding steady. And the family-household figures indicate that camping is not only for solo travelers or seasoned outdoor users.
Why people keep choosing campgrounds
The motivations in the data are more revealing than a basic popularity count.
43% of campers say they are planning a heritage or Americana-focused journey in 2026. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
47% of campers say roadside attractions and local diners now appeal more than major tourist sites. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
50% of campers say they are planning a trip that recreates a childhood camping experience. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
60% of campers say traditional campfire activities and games are a key motivator for their trip. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
Those numbers show a travel style built around memory, familiarity, and place. The appeal is not only the destination; it is the atmosphere around the trip.
A few other findings point to a similar pattern:
- 80% of parents say they feel more present and less distracted when camping with their children. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
- 77% of campers say being in nature alone is enough to support their well-being. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
- 49% of campers are booking trips specifically to improve their mental health. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
- 81% of campers report better sleep, reduced stress, or improved recovery after spending time outdoors. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
These responses suggest that camping is serving as a reset button. It is part family trip, part nostalgia trip, and part wellness trip.
Fast fact
1 in 3 campers say camping with children is more relaxing than other vacations. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
That detail helps explain why camping remains attractive to households balancing schedules, budgets, and the need for a trip that feels easier to manage.
RV camping, campground access, and capacity
RV travel remains one of the clearest signs that camping is moving between rustic and convenient at the same time.
Nearly 15 million households camped in an RV in 2022. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
Nearly 10 million households camped in an RV in 2024. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
RV-camping households in 2024 were nearly 200,000 above 2019 levels. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
73% of RV campers were RV owners in 2024. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
Nearly half of campers say they are likely to rent an RV in 2026. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
Those numbers point to a market with both ownership and rental demand. Ownership matters because it signals durable commitment. Rental intent matters because it lowers the barrier to entry for people who want flexibility without buying a vehicle.
The campground side of the market looks tighter than the demand side:
- There are 11.2 million RV-owning households in the United States. (RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion)
- There are only 20,467 campgrounds with RV-accessible sites in the United States. (RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion)
- 98% of surveyed RVers believe national park campgrounds need repairs, updates, reopenings, expansions, or modernization. (RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion)
That gap is important. A large share of households own or use RVs, but the number of campgrounds with RV-accessible sites is far smaller than the household base. The demand for better infrastructure is not a side note; it is part of the story.
Comparison table
| Metric | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| RV-owning households in the U.S. | 11.2 million | RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion |
| Campgrounds with RV-accessible sites | 20,467 | RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion |
| RV campers who were RV owners | 73% | KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report |
| Campers likely to rent an RV in 2026 | Nearly half | KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog |
| RV-camping households in 2024 above 2019 levels | Nearly 200,000 | KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report |
The table shows the tension clearly: the RV market is large, but the physical infrastructure is still the bottleneck.
Park pressure also shows up in visitation
In 2023, 325 million park visitors spent an estimated $23.9 billion in local gateway regions. (RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion)
Those 2023 park-related expenditures supported 378,000 jobs. (RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion)
Those 2023 park-related expenditures generated $17.5 billion in labor income. (RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion)
Those 2023 park-related expenditures generated $50.3 billion in economic output. (RVIA Campground Modernization and Expansion)
That cluster of figures puts camping and park travel into a wider regional economy. The demand is not just for campsites. It reaches restaurants, stores, service jobs, and gateway communities.
Nature, mental health, and family travel
One of the most striking parts of the data is how often campers connect the experience with recovery.
81% of campers report better sleep, reduced stress, or improved recovery after spending time outdoors. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
77% of campers say being in nature alone is enough to support their well-being. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
49% of campers are booking trips specifically to improve their mental health. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
80% of parents say they feel more present and less distracted when camping with their children. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
These are not soft lifestyle claims. They show that campers are treating outdoor time as a practical intervention in how they feel and how they show up on a trip.
Family-oriented activity preferences reinforce that pattern:
- 49% of children-in-household campers say s’mores and campfires are a top camping activity. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 43% of children-in-household campers say fishing is a top camping activity. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 32% say visiting a national or state park is a top camping activity. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 32% say a swimming pool is a top camping activity. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 31% say staying in a tent is a top camping activity. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 28% say staying in a cabin or unique accommodation is a top camping activity. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
The mix is useful because it shows variety. Some families want classic outdoor rituals. Others want added comfort. Many want both.
The family pattern in plain terms
Camping works for family travel because it can be structured around shared activities without becoming overplanned. Campfires, fishing, swimming, and simple lodging options all show up as top choices, which suggests that the best camping trip is often the one that leaves room to decide what the day feels like.
Seasonality, planning, and new travel habits
The planning data suggests campers are becoming more deliberate.
71% of campers planned trips in 2025. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
54% of campers had already booked or planned to book within five weeks in 2025. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
63% of campers planned to stay within 150 miles of home in 2025. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
68% of campers said recent news, the political climate, or the economy had changed the way they plan travel. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
62% of campers used AI for trip planning in 2024. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
This combination says a lot. Campers are not only traveling closer to home, they are also planning with more awareness of the outside world and using digital tools to organize those trips.
Shoulder season behavior also matters:
- 42% cite lower costs as a reason to travel in shoulder season. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
- 41% cite better weather as a shoulder-season advantage. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
- 66% say fewer crowds improve their camping experience. (KOA 2026 Camping Trends blog)
Those three reasons work together. Lower prices help, better weather helps, and fewer crowds improve the feel of the trip. That is a strong case for off-peak camping beyond simple budget travel.
Trip behavior by percentage
| Behavior | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Planned trips in 2025 | 71% | KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report |
| Booked or planned to book within five weeks in 2025 | 54% | KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report |
| Planned to stay within 150 miles of home in 2025 | 63% | KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report |
| Used AI for trip planning in 2024 | 62% | KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report |
| Said travel planning changed due to news, politics, or the economy | 68% | KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report |
The table shows that camping planning is both local and adaptive. People are still making trips, but they are making them with tighter geographic and timing choices.
Sustainability and campground preferences
Camping demand is also shaped by environmental preferences and campground features.
53% of campers listed a contribution to environmental causes as important in 2024. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
56% of Gen Z campers were willing to pay more for eco-friendly campground practices. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
51% of Millennials were willing to pay more for eco-friendly campground practices. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
42% of Gen X campers were willing to pay more for eco-friendly campground practices. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
44% of Baby Boomers were willing to pay more for eco-friendly campground practices. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
The report also breaks out specific campground features that campers favor:
- 22% favored campgrounds that support a local nonprofit or organization. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 21% favored sustainable landscaping design. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 19% favored EV charging stations. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 32% favored composting. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 34% favored solar energy. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 34% favored using local ingredients in menu options. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 35% favored selling and using local products. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 45% favored wildlife conservation. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 45% favored water conservation. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
- 53% favored recycling. (KOA 2025 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report)
These preferences show that sustainability is not a single issue. It spans conservation, waste, energy, food sourcing, and local support.
Regional and national park demand
National parks and state parks continue to anchor camping behavior, and the numbers show heavy usage.
The National Park Service recorded 331.9 million recreation visits in 2024. (NPS Visitor Use Statistics Dashboard)
NPS overnight stays increased 2.6% from 2023 to 2024. (NPS Visitor Use Statistics Dashboard)
In 2025, the National Park Service recorded more than 323 million recreation visits and over 13 million overnight stays. (NPS 2025 visitation announcement)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park recorded more than 420,000 camper nights in calendar year 2024. (NPS Great Smoky Mountains Park Statistics)
Great Smoky Mountains National Park recorded more than 71,000 overnight visits in calendar year 2024. (NPS Great Smoky Mountains Park Statistics)
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, there are 10 campgrounds with 1,000 total sites. (NPS Great Smoky Mountains Park Statistics)
Those figures point to continued pressure on the most popular destinations. They also reinforce why campground capacity, maintenance, and access matter. Demand is not limited to generic outdoor areas; it concentrates heavily around recognizable parks and trip anchors.
A specific example of scale pressure
Great Smoky Mountains National Park combines a large visitor base with a limited campsite inventory. Ten campgrounds and 1,000 total sites. (NPS Great Smoky Mountains Park Statistics) That is a useful reminder that even when a destination is highly desirable, overnight capacity still constrains how many travelers can stay.
Outdoor recreation context
Camping also sits inside a broader recreation economy that is large enough to matter at the national and state level.
The outdoor recreation economy accounted for 2.4% of U.S. GDP, equal to $696.7 billion, in 2024. (BEA Outdoor Recreation Economic Statistics 2024)
Outdoor recreation value added ranged from 6.1% of state GDP in Hawaii to 1.0% in the District of Columbia in 2024. (BEA Outdoor Recreation Economic Statistics 2024)
The outdoor participation base grew 4.1% in 2023 to a record 175.8 million participants. (OIA 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report)
Those 175.8 million participants represented 57.3% of the U.S. population. (OIA 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report)
22.2 million more Americans aged six and older participated in outdoor recreation in 2023 than in 2019. (OIA 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report)
The average number of outings per participant fell 11.4% in 2023, from 70.5 outings in 2022 to 62.5 outings in 2023. (OIA 2024 Outdoor Participation Trends Report)
That last number adds nuance. Participation is broad, but frequency per participant has eased. For camping, that can mean the audience is large while individual trip patterns shift with time, budget, weather, and planning preferences.
Camping belongs in that larger picture because it captures several outdoor-recreation trends at once: high participation, strong local economic impact, family travel, wellness, and the ongoing need for physical infrastructure that can keep up.