Most campers in the United States are turning to vehicles as their preferred method of outdoor lodging, according to new data from The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks.
The report found that three out of four of campers have camped in or next to a vehicle at some point in their camping journey.
The findings, released May 6, are based on surveys conducted with thousands of The Dyrt community members, a representative sample of U.S. residents, and property managers from campgrounds across all 50 states. The data offers a comprehensive look at how camping habits continue to evolve nationwide.
More than half of respondents, 53.4%, reported that their preferred type of camping involves a vehicle such as an RV, trailer, or camper van. Ownership figures support this trend, with 49.6% of campers saying they’ve owned a trailer, 32.2% having owned an RV, and 20.3% a camper van.
The report also highlights increasing investment in camping rigs. Slightly over half of survey participants, 50.6%, stated they purchased a camper van, RV, or trailer within the past five years.
On average, respondents reported being willing to spend $58,331 on a new vehicle for camping.
“Look around any campground and you’ll see a wide price range and variety of sizes of camping vehicle,” The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith in the report said in a press release.
“Camper vans are increasingly decked out with amenities that provide an RV-like experience that can fit in a traditional parking spot. Our van has been back and forth across the country many times since 2021!” Smith added.
Amenities also play a major role in the decision-making process for vehicle campers. Electric hookups were cited as the most important feature by 52.3% of respondents, followed by access to a water station (13.2%), sewer hookup (10.3%), and pull-thru length details (8.9%).
The survey found that 18.7% of camping properties impose an age restriction on RVs allowed on site. Among those that do, the average cutoff age is 12 years, a potential consideration for RV owners planning their trips.