Germany’s campsites recorded approximately 19.5 million overnight stays in July and August 2026, representing a 3.86% increase compared with the same period in 2025, according to an analysis by camping.info, a booking and information portal. The figures cover the country’s peak summer holiday season and include overnight stays at motorhome and caravan pitches, as well as tent sites.
Domestic travelers accounted for most of the overnight stays, contributing approximately 16.8 million, a 3.7% increase year over year. International visitors recorded faster growth, with overnight stays rising 5.5% to around 2.7 million, according to figures reported by aviation.direct.
The Netherlands remained Germany’s largest international source market for camping stays during the two-month period, generating approximately 1.36 million overnight stays. Switzerland followed with around 294,000, while Belgium contributed approximately 168,000. The figures highlight the importance of neighboring countries to Germany’s camping sector, particularly during the main summer travel period.
For campground operators, the growth in international demand may support marketing strategies aimed at travelers from nearby European markets. The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium accounted for the largest reported shares of foreign overnight stays, suggesting opportunities for operators to tailor online listings, booking information, and promotional campaigns to these audiences. However, the figures do not indicate how much visitors spent or how demand was distributed among individual properties.
Regional performance varied considerably across Germany, according to ActionHub. Saarland recorded the largest increase in overnight stays, at 16.35%, followed by Saxony-Anhalt at 15.14%. Other states that exceeded the national growth rate included Bavaria, which rose 8.65%, Saxony at 7.20%, and Hesse at 6.13%.
By contrast, some established urban and coastal destinations recorded declines. Berlin’s overnight stays fell 13.78%, while Hamburg registered a 5.41% decrease. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a destination known for its Baltic Sea coastline and camping opportunities, recorded a smaller decline of 0.80%.
These regional differences suggest that the national increase did not translate into uniform growth across the market. For campground owners and investors, state-level performance may provide a useful starting point when evaluating potential demand, although local occupancy, campsite supply, visitor spending, and operating costs would also need to be considered before making investment decisions.
Operators are also adapting their booking and pricing practices to manage seasonal demand. Advance online reservations can help businesses forecast occupancy, plan staffing, and prepare facilities for busy periods. Flexible pricing models may allow operators to adjust rates according to demand, booking lead times, and remaining availability.
At the same time, a growing share of short-term stays is reportedly increasing administrative workloads for some operators. More frequent guest turnover can require additional coordination involving reservations, check-ins, cleaning, maintenance, and customer communication. Businesses seeking to benefit from rising visitor numbers may therefore need to assess whether their booking systems and staffing arrangements can accommodate higher volumes without increasing operational pressure.
The July-August figures provide a snapshot of Germany’s main summer camping season rather than a full-year assessment. While the 3.86% increase indicates stronger activity during the peak holiday window, the available figures do not establish whether the growth resulted from higher campsite occupancy, longer stays, expanded capacity, or a combination of factors. Further information on annual demand, regional occupancy rates, and average revenue per overnight stay would help operators assess how the increase translates into business performance.
