The latest 2024 Camping Report by The Dyrt, presented by The All-New Toyota Tacoma, reveals a continuing rise in camping’s popularity across the United States, with an increasing number of Americans venturing outdoors.
“We are in the new golden age of camping. The demand for camping has never been greater, but technology is making it easier to find camping, and property owners are rapidly expanding. As a result, campers have more options than ever before,” The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long said.
This extensive study, drawing on feedback from The Dyrt’s vast camper community, offers a deep dive into the current trends and future directions of camping. In 2023, an estimated 84.8 million Americans went camping, with 5.5 million of these being newcomers to the activity. This influx has contributed to a total of over 20 million new campers since 2021, highlighting a robust and growing interest in outdoor experiences.
Despite the surge in interest, nearly half of all campers (45.5%) reported difficulties in securing campsite bookings due to high demand, a significant leap from the 10.6% who experienced such challenges in 2019. However, this figure represents a decrease from the 58.4% peak in 2022, suggesting that the supply of camping spots is beginning to catch up with demand, as campgrounds add new sites.
“Camping is such a rapidly evolving space. We’re looking forward to seeing media and organizations across the outdoors, travel, automotive and other industries dig into this data and share how Americans camp,” Angie White, senior manager of media at Toyota Motor North America, said.
In addition, free camping has emerged as a significant trend, with nearly two-thirds of campers in 2023 opting for no-cost camping spots, a dramatic increase from one-third in 2019.
“It’s so fascinating to see dramatic increases in free camping, RVing, and overlanding all in the same year. It goes to show that there are so many ways to camp and that campers continue to explore new ways to enjoy the great outdoors,” The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith said.
The report also highlights the evolving preferences of campers, with a notable increase in RV and trailer camping, which 46.8% of respondents identified as their primary camping method. Meanwhile, the interest in overland and truck camping also saw a significant rise, with 7.3% of campers preferring this adventurous mode of outdoor exploration.
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