Over 25 million households plan to go camping over the 2022 Labor Day weekend, findings from Kampgrounds of America’s (KOA) Monthly Research Report – August Edition show. For the fall season, more than half of campers plan to take the same or more trips.
According to KOA, the numbers are a sign of healthy camping demand, as anticipated in its annual North American Camping report forecasting a strong shoulder season for the industry, and even outpacing Memorial Day numbers.
“Labor Day is looking to outpace Memorial Day, which is often seen as the most popular camping holiday,” said Whitney Scott in a press release. She is KOA’s chief marketing officer.
“Between brightening economic conditions and the continued growth of late summer and fall camping, it’s apparent that camping isn’t just confined to a season.”
Fifty-eight percent (58%) of the camping audience plan to camp over the Labor Day holiday, with 42% considering extending their vacation either the entire week before or after the holiday (22%) or adding a few extra days to their trip (21%). Meanwhile, 30% plan to go camping only for the long weekend.
In the same manner, numbers for the fall camping season are looking positive, with 30% indicating they plan to camp the same amount and 25% planning to camp more in the fall this year than in past autumn seasons.
Moreover, 22% said they are going on all or most of their camping trips in the upcoming season. Only 8% said they would not camp at all in the fall.
“We’ve always found fall is one of the best times to camp, and campers certainly agree,” Scott shared. “Across our business, advanced deposits are up 2.1%, with many of those reservations falling in September. Fall camping isn’t a secret anymore.”
The same report also showed how external conditions are affecting people’s vacation plans, making them turn to camping. A third of campers (34%) said they had replaced other vacation plans with camping due to inflation. Difficulties with air travel have also reflected positively on camping, with 31% of campers taking more or longer camping trips due to flight challenges. Similarly, 28% say they plan to book more camping trips in response to negative non-camping travel experiences.
About Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), currently celebrating its 60th year of operations, is the definitive leader in outdoor hospitality. United under the mission of “connecting people to the outdoors and each other,” the company consists of two unique brands: KOA and Terramor Outdoor Resorts.
KOA, the world’s largest system of privately owned, open to the public campgrounds, consists of more than 500 franchised and owned campgrounds. With unrivaled brand visibility, KOA offers campground owners and operators unparalleled support in campground education, design, recruitment, marketing, and technology.
Terramor Outdoor Resorts, a glamping venture, opened its first flagship property in Bar Harbor, Maine in 2020. Translated to “Love of Land,” the brand focuses on delivering a refined and upscale outdoor experience.
For more information, visit KOA.com and TerramorOutdoorResort.com.
About Cairn Consulting Group
Cairn Consulting Group is a market research firm with extensive experience in the hospitality and services industries.
For the past several years, Cairn Consulting Group has worked with organizations in both indoor and outdoor hospitality, including the gaming/casino areas, food services/restaurant space, accommodations, travel/tourism, and the products and services that are a part of the hospitality industry.
The organization also serves clients in branding/brand positioning efforts, evaluating consumer behavior, public opinion & policy, and product development.
