The Kampgrounds of America (KOA) Monthly Research Report, August Edition, indicates that just over 25 million households plan to camp over the Labor Day weekend. Continuing the camping demand, KOA’s annual North American Camping Report, released in April, forecasted a strong shoulder season.

Observing camping respondents as a whole:

  • Fifty-eight percent of respondents said they plan to camp over the Labor Day weekend;
  • Thirty percent said they plan to camp for the long weekend only; and 
  • Forty-two percent of respondents said they plan to extend their holiday. Of this group, 22 percent expect to camp for the week (before or after Labor Day), while 21 percent of respondents would likely add extra days to their camping trip.

“Labor Day is looking to outpace Memorial Day, which is often seen as the most popular camping holiday,” said Whitney Scott, chief marketing officer, KOA. “Between brightening economic conditions and the continued growth of late summer and fall camping, it’s apparent that camping isn’t just confined to a season.”

Looking to the fall season, respondents said that they plan to camp the same amount (30 percent) or more (25 percent) than in previous fall seasons. Twenty-two percent of respondents said they would take all or most of their camping trips this fall, with 8 percent of respondents saying they would not camp this fall.

“We’ve always found fall is one of the best times to camp, and campers certainly agree,” Scott shared. “Across our business, advanced deposits are up 2.1 percent, with many of those reservations falling in September. Fall camping isn’t a secret anymore.”

Additional insights in KOA’s August Monthly Research Report show the effect of shifting external conditions on camping, including:

  • One-third of respondents, 34 percent, said they replaced other vacation plans with camping due to inflation; 
  • Difficulties with air travel reflected positively on camping, with 31 percent of respondents taking more or longer camping trips due to flight challenges; and 
  • Twenty-eight percent of respondents said they plan to book more camping trips in response to negative non-camping travel experiences.

Photo courtesy KOA