The Dyrt, an app for camping availability, photos, and reviews, revealed that the trend of glamping continues to attract first-time campers. In 2023, nearly 8 million people, or 9% of all campers, experienced this luxury form of camping, and 42% of them were first-timers, as highlighted in The Dyrt’s 2024 Camping Report presented by the 2024 Toyota Tacoma.
The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith believes glamping is the perfect introduction to camping for those hesitant about traditional camping. “It’s kind of like camping with training wheels, where people can get a feel for it without sacrificing all the comforts of home. For others, it’s a luxurious alternative to the tent camping they’re used to,” Smith said in a press release.
Another aspect of the report shows that campgrounds are catering to this demand. The report reveals that 22.1% of property owners who already offered glamping before 2023 expanded their glamping sites last year. This growth was surpassed by RV camping, which saw a 26.2% increase. Additionally, 10% of properties that added a new type of camping in 2023 chose to introduce glamping sites, though this rate has slowed from 44% in 2022.
The Dyrt camper Ward T. from California shared his insight into glamping on a California cliff overlooking the ocean. He said that glamping in a heated yurt on a Big Sur mountainside, with the sunset over the Pacific, offers an unbeatable experience.
In March, the winners of The Dyrt’s third annual Glampy Awards, which celebrate the most unique glamping destinations across the U.S., were announced. Loving Heart Retreats, known for its upscale domes and tents in the Texas Hill Country, took the top honor for 2024. This year’s awards also highlighted a furnished shipping container at a music festival site in the Nevada desert and an 18-sided yurt-style cabin set deep in the Washington woods.
The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long noted properties increasingly strive to distinguish themselves, as glamping continues to grow. “It’s not just about king-size mattresses on a platform covered by a canvas tent. Property owners are getting super creative. Two of the strongest human desires are to try new things and to be comfortable. Glamping gives you both in spades,” Long said.
The interest in glamping among first-time campers highlights the importance of catering to a diverse market and offerings, which can provide lessons for campground owners and glamping developers. The data from The Dyrt underscores the need to create an inviting, comfortable, and luxurious camping experience. By continuously innovating and providing a range of experiences, glamping site owners can not only attract first-time campers but also ensure that their properties remain competitive and attractive to a wide array of visitors.
The Dyrt offers a comprehensive camping resource with millions of user-generated reviews, photos, and tips for every RV park, cabin, glamping, and tent camping location across the United States. Its premium offering, The Dyrt PRO, provides campers with benefits such as reservations at sold-out campgrounds, advanced maps, and discounts on camping.
To learn more about The Dyrt, visit their website here.
Featured image by Loving Heart Retreats via lovingheartretreats.com