KOA’s monthly report for December 2023 found that approximately 33 percent of campers plan to camp in winter and 58 percent showed some interest, marking a shift toward embracing the outdoors during the colder months.
Kampgrounds of America’s (KOA) December report found notable intent for holiday travel and many respondents with camping gear on their Christmas wish lists.
Regarding holiday travel, Christmas stood out in the December report as a popular time to take a camping trip, with 84 percent of respondents planning to travel during the holiday season. KOA said, “This trend showcases the integration of camping into holiday traditions, further engraining camping in North American culture.”
Including camping gear on Christmas wishlists is also notable in KOA’s December report, with 76 percent of respondents saying that camping gear is on their holiday list. Popular items include tents (37 percent), sleeping bags (35 percent) and camp kitchen essentials (33 percent).
“Seeing such a high interest in camping gear on Christmas lists is an encouraging sign for the future of camping,” said Whitney Scott, senior vice president of strategy at KOA. “It also could indicate shifting of camping travel behavior and use.”
For 2024, nearly 6 in 10 campers have booked at least one camping trip in the new year, outpacing general leisure travel, of which only 18 percent of respondents had confirmed bookings for 2024. Among campers, the younger demographic will most likely have travel reservations made for next year, including two-thirds of Millennials (67 percent) and GenZ (66 percent).
Photo courtesy MSR
