More than half of U.S. campers (57%) abandoned a campground, RV park or glamping reservation in the past year because they could not reach someone or complete the booking online, according to a new report from Storable Newbook that identifies booking accessibility as a factor influencing campground selection.
The State of RV, Campground & Outdoor Hospitality report, based on a September 2026 survey of 968 U.S. adults who stayed at a campground, RV park or glamping site in the previous 12 months, found that 69% of campers had chosen one property over another because it was easier to book, pay or communicate online.
Of those respondents, 37% said they had made that choice more than once.
The findings come amid strong travel demand, with 98% of respondents planning to camp in the next 12 months and 77% expecting to take at least two trips.
Additionally, 27% plan to take four or more trips, compared with 23% who took that many in the previous year.
Unanswered phone calls also contribute to lost reservations. The report found that 47% of campers would book with another property after one unanswered call if no online booking option was available.
One-third of respondents said they typically make reservations outside regular business hours, increasing to 38% among campers younger than 45.
“With so many campers planning trips next year, operators should be looking closely at why reservations are falling through,” said Blake Burris, director of enterprise North America at Storable Newbook. “This research shows where guests get stuck or decide to book somewhere else. That gives parks something concrete to work on before next season.”
Pricing transparency also emerged as a factor in booking decisions. While 72% of campers said they were willing to pay a deposit or the full reservation amount when booking, surprise fees at checkout were the most frequently cited reason for abandoning a reservation, reported by 36% of respondents.
Only 6% preferred to pay nothing until arrival.
The report also found that 62% of campers who discovered a property through a booking website or app made their next reservation directly with the campground.
Artificial intelligence is becoming another discovery and booking channel. Thirteen percent of respondents found their most recent campground booking through an AI assistant, rising to 16% among campers younger than 45.
Additionally, 75% said they would allow an AI assistant to make a reservation for them in some capacity.
“The number of campers giving up on a booking should get every park owner’s attention,” said Tom Mason, chief operating officer of IVEE Management Group. “You can have a great property and still lose a guest before they ever get there.”
When comparing properties, cleanliness ranked as the leading selection factor at 69%, followed by facilities at 56% and ratings and reviews at 53%. A well-known business name influenced 12% of respondents.