Despite rising inflation, camping participation in the U.S. remained strong in 2024, with 79.6% of the 81.1 million Americans who camped reporting that they camped the same amount or more compared to the previous year, according to The Dyrt’s newly released 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks.
The comprehensive report, based on surveys of The Dyrt community, a representative sample of U.S. residents, and campground property managers nationwide, highlights evolving trends in the outdoor hospitality industry.
The findings demonstrate camping’s continued appeal as a cost-effective travel option amid financial pressures.
“For years, I’ve been saying that camping is an inflation-proof activity,” said Sarah Smith, founder of The Dyrt, in the report. “Last year, that was really put to the test. While some campers saved money by camping less, others increasingly turned to camping as a more affordable travel option.”
“To see that 80% of campers either camped more or the same amount shows how resilient our industry and community really are!” Smith added.
Inflation did impact campground rates, but fewer operators raised prices in 2024. Only 38.9% of campgrounds reported increasing rates, down from 45.3% in 2023.
Of those who raised rates, 78.7% cited inflation as the primary reason, according to property owner and manager surveys included in the report.
Campers responded by adjusting their travel strategies. Bob R., a camper from Ohio, explained that fuel and food costs forced him to reconsider travel plans to the western U.S.
“We decided to give serious boondocking a try to see if we could make it work with our rig,” he said. “We loved it!”
Others leveraged camping to stretch their travel budgets. Kris A. from Colorado shared how camping enabled them to explore multiple destinations without the high costs of hotels.
“Inflation has obviously made that problem even worse. By camping I was able to afford trips to Moab, the Black Hills, and Ouray over the span of six months,” they said.
For more details on the 2025 Camping Report, visit thedyrt.com.