Culinary-driven camping, affordable outdoor escapes, and nostalgia-fueled stays are among the key trends transforming the outdoor hospitality sector in 2025, according to Pitchup.com founder Dan Yates.
In a recent interview, Yates outlined how data from the outdoor booking platform highlights evolving traveler preferences and signals opportunities for campground owners and hospitality investors to meet new demands.
Culinary Experiences and Agritourism Redefine Camping
“Culinary-driven camping is redefining the outdoor travel experience, as travelers move beyond basic campfire meals and seek deeper connections with the land through food,” Yates said.
Pitchup.com recorded over 443,000 searches for farm-based campgrounds last year, with campgrounds offering farm-to-table dining, cooking workshops, and immersive experiences in agritourism.
One example, Camping Delle Rose in Liguria, Italy, features a restaurant serving regional dishes like pesto pasta, homegrown Taggiasche olives, and rabbit ragu. “Ultimately,” Yates noted, “it makes the camping experience that much more memorable.”
Travelers Seek Cooler Climates and Affordable Escapes
As global temperatures rise, travelers are also seeking cooler destinations, spurring growth in bookings across milder-weather European countries. “So far this year, Pitchup.com has seen strong growth in booking value for Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany,” said Yates.
Booking values increased by 56% in Luxembourg, 53% in Belgium, 36% in the Netherlands, and 35% in Germany. This shift indicates a growing preference for destinations offering respite from extreme summer heat.
Affordability continues to be a driving force behind European travel decisions. “Camping offers a unique and affordable way to explore Europe, especially in destinations like Greece and Hungary,” said Yates.
Pitchup.com also supports budget-conscious travelers with new tools like the “price mountain” feature and campsite ratings based on value for money.
“These tools, paired with our expanding selection of low-cost European campground sites, make it easier than ever to plan an affordable outdoor escape,” Yates added. The platform’s data underscores a growing demand for budget-friendly options that do not sacrifice quality or experience.
Meanwhile, nostalgia is influencing accommodation choices, with significant growth in retro-inspired stays. “Whether it’s staying in a treehouse or booking an RV that recalls classic road trips, these retro-inspired stays tap into a desire to slow down,” Yates said.
Pitchup.com saw a 30% year-over-year increase in static caravan bookings, and he expects this trend to persist well beyond 2025.
Looking ahead, winter camping continues to gain traction as more outdoor enthusiasts embrace the cold season, with bookings climbing to 95,000 in 2024, an increase from 72,000 the previous year, according to Yates.
The growth includes an uptick in reservations during Christmas and New Year’s, signaling a shift toward experience-driven holiday traditions that prioritize nature, adventure, and unique seasonal getaways.
Innovation and Partnerships
Pitchup.com has also expanded to 6,000 outdoor accommodations across 67 countries since its founding in 2009.
“When we founded Pitchup.com, the outdoor accommodation sector was largely offline,” Yates said. The company’s growth was driven by streamlining the booking process, offering multilingual support, and responding quickly to emerging trends.
Strategic partnerships and user engagement have also played key roles in global expansion. “The key to our expansion has been listening to site owners and travelers,” Yates noted. This approach has enabled the platform to stay agile and responsive in a competitive marketplace.
For 2025, Pitchup.com is focused on increasing its footprint in Europe and expanding offerings to meet a broader range of traveler needs.
“This includes growing our luxury glamping offerings, pub campgrounds, and accessible accommodations,” said Yates. The company recently partnered with the British Institute of Innkeeping to help countryside pubs diversify into camping.
Pitchup.com is rolling out new platform features aimed at meeting evolving traveler preferences, including a dedicated filter and pitch type for roof tents. The update supports the increasing number of car campers looking for off-grid experiences and reflects the rising demand for flexible, vehicle-based camping options.
Inclusivity remains a key focus for Pitchup.com, as shown by the strong response to its accessibility filters introduced last year. The company reported that the filters have been used in over 30,000 searches, with more than half of those conducted by new users. Building on that momentum, Pitchup.com plans to expand its inventory of accessible accommodations in 2025.
By capitalizing on emerging trends and embracing innovation, Pitchup.com aims to position itself as the leading platform for diverse, inclusive, and experience-driven outdoor stays.
“We aim to increase our supply of accessible campgrounds, expanding access to outdoor stays for all, and further positioning Pitchup.com as the go-to platform for inclusive outdoor accommodations,” Yates told Modern Campground.
For more information about Pitchup.com, visit their website here.