The 12th Annual Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report from Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) identifies over 52 million North American households camped in 2025, about even with year-ago levels but still well above pre-pandemic numbers.
The report, based on a survey of U.S. and Canadian adults, found that while the share of overall leisure trips devoted to outdoor hospitality has moderated since its peak in 2022, camping has broadened its reach with campers increasingly prioritizing wellness, connection and meaningful experiences offered by the activity.
Pet-friendly campsites are also continuing to see strong demand, while glamping is increasing in appeal, expanding camping’s reach for first-time campers and for aging campers seeking accessible outdoor experiences.
“This report demonstrates that camping isn’t a niche market, it’s a meaningful pillar of North America’s travel economy and a vital resource for local communities,” said Toby O’Rourke, KOA’s president and CEO. “Camping’s emergence as a mainstream leisure travel segment has broadened its reach and is driving meaningful economic impacts within our communities.”
Active Camper Households Surge Post-Pandemic
The number of active camper households in 2025 was nearly identical to 2024, at 52.2 million, compared with 52.5 million the prior year. However, camping households stand 24.3 percent above the 42.0 million who camped in the pre-pandemic 2019 year and 63 percent above the 32.0 million who camped in KOA’s inaugural report in 2014. Camping households peaked at 58.5 million in 2022.
“Rather than signaling contraction, this evolution reflects maturation,” observed KOA in the report of the gains. “The surge of first-time campers between 2020 and 2022 introduced millions of new households to the outdoors. Many of those campers are still active today, even if they are camping slightly less frequently. Importantly, among active campers, camping continues to account for more than half of their total leisure trips — underscoring the appreciation for the outdoors within this new set of campers.”
Overall, 66 percent of American households camped in 2025, up from 64 percent in 2019 and 58 percent in 2014. Camping represented 56 percent of all leisure trips taken last year.
As camping has reached a larger, more diverse audience in recent years, campers are participating less frequently than in the past. Of the respondents, campers who camp three or more times annually have decreased by 10 percentage points since 2019.
Wellness has become a primary driver of camping, a fundamental shift in why consumers seek the outdoors. Of the respondents to the KOA survey, 77 percent agreed that “just being in nature is enough, without the need for structured programming or added amenities” as a reason to camp, while 61 percent agreed that their “top travel goal is to slow down and be in the moment.”
Among age groups, 84 percent of Boomers agreed time outdoors improves their mental wellbeing, with Gen X at 83 percent and Millennials, 78 percent. Among Gen-Z, a still majority, 58 percent, agreed time outdoors improves their mental wellbeing.
The top activities tied to mental wellbeing while camping were walking near water, 52 percent; wildlife viewing, also 52 percent; and night sky viewing, 50 percent.
“More than just a byproduct of time away, mental restoration is now one of the core reasons people choose to camp,” said KOA in the study. “Yet campers are clear about what wellness means to them: it is not found in structured schedules or programmed classes, but in the restorative power of unstructured time outside. They want space to breathe, to move at their own pace, and to recharge organically through simply being in nature. Camping, in this sense, has become the antidote to an overscheduled life—a place where wellness emerges not from timed activities, but from the freedom to simply be.”
In an era of fragmentation and social isolation, the report reveals that three-fourths of camper’s view campgrounds as modern “third places,” or environments outside of home and work where genuine community happens. This finding carries particular significance for younger generations: Gen Z campers, while less likely to have frequent interactions, are most likely to develop lasting bonds with other guests (43 percent stay in touch long-term).
A secondary motivator of camping is physical wellness, with 35 percent of respondents booking camping trips to improve physical wellness. Two out of three campers say noticeable physical health improvements from camping would increase their likelihood of camping more often. The top sought-after activities for physical health include water-based activities and trail experiences.
New Camper Demographics Continue to Grow
New campers continue to increase each year, with 2025 adding over 2.2 million new campers, an increase of 23 percent over the new campers introduced to the activity in 2015 and well above 2019 levels prior to the pandemic-driven influx. Since 2023, over 8.5 million households have tried camping for the first time.
A love of the outdoors, cited by 52 percent of new campers, was the top reason they tried camping, and the sentiment remained the leading motivator across all generations. That was followed by “my family took me on vacation,” 35 percent; “wanting to get away from crowds and noise,” 30 percent; “discovering and exploring a new area,” 24 percent; “the freedom to travel around the country,” 22 percent; “wanting to visit family or friends,” 17 percent; and “it was a safer way to travel,” 12 percent.
A quarter of all new campers in 2025 were Boomers, up nearly 10 percentage points from 2024. Participation among adults 65-plus has reached its highest level in eight years.
Among income groups, the outdoor boom during the pandemic brought a surge in higher-income campers, peaking at 37 percent of the camping population earning $100,000 or more in 2021. KOA’s latest survey found household incomes among campers have settled closer to pre-pandemic patterns. Notably, the newest generation of campers entering the market in 2025 represents a lower-income segment than the overall camper demographic.
As in 2024, 31 percent of new campers in 2025 identify as glampers. Of those, 65 percent glamp because it allows them to disconnect while still enjoying luxury and convenience. Findings show that once these new campers are comfortable with the outdoors, they are more adventurous and willing to try other forms of camping. One in four glampers is interested in trying traditional tent camping, with this interest highest among Gen Z and Millennials. Half of all Millennial glampers are interested in RV rentals, while a third of Gen-Z glampers are considering purchasing an RV.
As last year, first camping experiences were most likely to be at a campground with many amenities and services. Asked about their first camping experience, the top response in the latest survey was a campground that includes services and amenities, 32 percent; followed by staying at an outdoor resort designed for glamping that includes enhanced services and amenities, 17 percent; staying at a campground with fewer amenities, 22 percent; and staying at a campground with minimal facilities, 14 percent.
Overall, glamping continues to gain popularity among both new and seasoned campers, accounting for 29 percent of all forms of camping in 2025. Interest remains high among campers, with 54 percent planning to glamp in 2026.
Nearly 6-in-10 new campers said they loved their first camping experience, reaching the highest levels of satisfaction since KOA fielded the report. Gen X and Boomers report the most positive views of their first camping experience, with nearly 90 percent saying it was “good” or “great.”
Reasons Not to Camp
Financial considerations were cited most often as a barrier to camping. Younger generations were more likely than older campers to feel limited by cost. Older adults pointed to health concerns as the main reason they camp less.
Financial barriers are affecting the younger cohorts most. When asked why they did not camp in 2025, 40 percent of Gen Z and 41 percent of Millennials cited personal financial reasons, substantially higher than Gen X (32 percent) and Boomers (22 percent). Nearly 20 percent of both younger generations view camping costs as prohibitively high. However, the report still found that Gen Z and Millennials have the highest daily spend when camping, spending the most in local communities.
“This suggests that when financial barriers are overcome, younger campers invest meaningfully in their experiences and hold significant loyalty potential,” said the KOA. “The contraction in Gen Z camping participation in 2025, driven by financial constraints, represents a critical turning point for the industry. Safeguarding younger generations’ access to camping is imperative for the outdoor hospitality sector’s long-term health. The challenge before operators is clear: lower barriers to entry while preserving the experiences that resonate most with younger campers.”
Across income groups, travel expenses remained a barrier to choosing outdoor options. Lower-income travelers are more likely to stay closer to home, choose campgrounds as a cost-effective option and remain highly price-sensitive. In contrast, higher-income travelers tend to travel longer distances, incorporate a mix of accommodations, including hotels, vacation rentals and resorts, and are more willing to absorb rate increases rather than forgo trips altogether.
Outdoor Spend Boosted by Inflation
Camping’s economic contribution continued to expand in 2025, with travelers spending $66 billion in local communities, up 8.2 percent from $61 billion in 2024 and well ahead 34.7 percent from $49 million in 2023.
The increase reflects inflation-driven price increases for goods and services, as well as a minor uptick in the average number of days spent camping in 2025.
Spending momentum was driven by younger generations and families with kids. Average daily expenditures per person, excluding accommodations, exceeded $200 in 2025, reflecting both consumer engagement and a willingness to invest in outdoor experiences. This growth also comes as camping has solidified its position as an approachable travel option. Overall, 35 percent of adults cite camping as the easiest form of travel with kids, and 35 percent stated camping is the most affordable travel option.
Other Findings from KOA’s Camping Survey:
- The Top 3 outdoor activities cited by 54 percent of respondents were water-based (paddleboarding, swimming, and fishing),), followed by hiking or trail running (49 percent) and canoeing or kayaking (27 percent).
- Of those camping, 62 percent camp with their spouse or significant other, 25 percent with their kids, 37 percent with friends, and 33 percent of Gen Z camp with their parents. Of the respondents, 55 percent bring their pets, including 58 percent of Millennials.
- While camping and outdoor hospitality have become more inclusive over the past decade, diversity among campers continued to decline in 2025, illustrating a downward trend since 2022. New campers remain among the most diverse.
- Three in 10 camper nights are spent at a private campground or glamping resort; 34 percent are spent at a national, state, or provincial ark; and 21 percent of camper nights are spent on public or privately owned land, other than a campground.
- Asked what matters most when choosing a campground, the top answers were safety and security, 44 percent; clean and well-maintained public bathhouse/restrooms, 43 percent; self-guided recreational activities, 23 percent; pets allowed with pet-friendly areas, 22 percent; and private bathroom, 18 percent.
Methodology
The survey, commissioned by the KOA, is based on 4,088 surveys completed from a random sample of 2,834 U.S. and 1,254 Canadian adults.
Image courtesy Hipcamp
