According to The Dyrt‘s recently released 2023 Camping Report, it was almost five times more challenging to find an available campsite in 2022 than it was in 2019. The report reveals that last year was the most booked-up year on record, with campsites being twice as scarce in 2022 than in 2021.
The report also highlights that the number of campers in the United States has increased by 15.5 million over the past two years, bringing the total number of campers to over 80 million. This rise in demand for camping spots has left campgrounds sold out and booked, making it highly challenging for campers to find available sites, even months in advance.
Several campers expressed their frustrations about the difficulty of booking a campsite. “I tried to book a campsite as far out as possible for an event. I set an alarm, and even then, when I logged in and tried to book, the sites were already taken,” said The Dyrt camper Clair Jones of Colorado. “It felt like trying to buy concert tickets!”
The report also highlighted that 58.4% of respondents found it challenging to find a site to book because reservations were full in 2022, compared to just 10.6% in 2019. As a result, camping property managers and private landowners across the country are increasing capacity, adding dates, and offering new types of camping to meet the rising demand.
The report shows that 35.7% of property managers added campsites in 2022, and 18.6% expanded their calendars. Moreover, 48.6% raised rates in 2022, and 46.4% plan to raise rates in 2023. Additionally, 44% of the property managers who offered new camping types added glamping.
Despite the high demand for campsites, cancellations still occur frequently. To address this issue, The Dyrt launched The Dyrt Alerts, which are availability scans that send text notifications when a sold-out campground gets a cancellation.
This feature enables campers to select up to five sold-out campgrounds, choose the dates, and receive a text message when cancellations occur.
The Dyrt’s 2023 Camping Report highlights the significant increase in demand for campsites over the past two years, making it harder for campers to find available spots.
With private landowners and property managers increasing capacity and offering new types of camping, campers may have more options.
Have you checked out The Dyrt’s latest report on camping struggles? Finding a campsite in 2022 was way tougher than in 2019! It’s like hunting for concert tickets! The tip to explore hidden gems or weekdays for camping is gold. Who knew camping was turning into a high-demand event?