Pickleball courts emerged as the most popular amenity added by private campgrounds in 2024, according to The Dyrt’s newly released 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks.
The report, compiled from nationwide surveys of campers, general U.S. residents, and campground operators, highlights key trends shaping the outdoor hospitality industry.
The annual report by The Dyrt, a camping app, found that 17% of private campgrounds that introduced new amenities last year opted to install pickleball courts. That figure nearly doubled the addition of the next most popular feature, Wi-Fi, which accounted for 9.8% of new installations.
“Each year we send out a survey to our guests, and the installation of pickleball courts started after we received feedback from our Year 2020 survey,” said Lloyd Lauland, president of RVC Outdoor Destinations.
“We have now installed pickleball courts at three of our resorts: Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort (Tennessee), Gulf Shores RV Resort (Alabama) and Sandusky RV Resort (Ohio). Guests of all ages are enjoying the amenity and we provide the equipment at no cost to our guests,” Lauland added.
The report underscores a broader shift in guest preferences toward active and social amenities. While Wi-Fi remains the most widely available service—offered at 71.5% of private campgrounds, pickleball led in new installations, with properties 29% more likely to add courts than other options such as pools, hot tubs, dog parks, kayaks, or bicycles.
RVC’s Gulf Shores location served as a notable case study in 2024. “Gulf Shores was the host site for an RV Rally in December,” Lauland said. “During the site visit a year ago, our general manager suggested that, as part of the event, we could do pickleball clinics over the course of the week and have a tournament at the end.”
“One of the most highly ranked professional pickleball players in the U.S. conducted the clinics and organized the tournament. It was a huge success,” he noted.
The Dyrt’s findings point to the growing popularity of pickleball nationwide, as campground owners adapt to evolving guest expectations. Industry leaders view amenities like pickleball as cost-effective investments that appeal to a wide demographic and foster community engagement.
The 2025 Camping Report is regarded as one of the most comprehensive sources of industry data. It draws from input across all 50 states and incorporates perspectives from thousands of campers and property managers, offering a detailed view of the current landscape.