OUTLAST. OUTLIVE.
Whether you’re conquering off-road trails, towing your home-away-from-home, or seeking the versatility of an SUV, there’s a Toyota Truck that’s just right for you.
SARAH SMITH, THE DYRT
FOUNDER’S NOTE
In a wild year of economic and political uncertainty, it heartens me to think: We will always camp. Some trends may come and go, but the need to connect with nature — and to connect with one another in nature — is what helps humans stay grounded. In 100 years, will people still trade Bitcoin and play pickleball? Who knows. But they will camp — at least in some form.
Indeed, how people camp continues to evolve rapidly. In this year’s Camping Report, presented by Toyota Trucks, we see some clear trendlines. Camping on farms is growing like a cash crop (page 15) while glamping appears to be cooling off after its meteoric rise (page 17). And, yes, pickleball courts are popping
up at campgrounds faster than any other amenity (page 18).
For the first time since the pandemic ushered in a new era of camping, we saw the total number of campers in the U.S. decline slightly. That said, the overall size of the camping public is still much larger than pre-2020 levels. In fact, 2023 and 2024 are the top two years on record according to our survey. Growth among first-time campers remains strong, inching up from last year’s levels.
Increasing access to the outdoors is a key part of our mission here at The Dyrt. My favorite stat in this year’s report: Cancellations and no-shows dramatically decreased last year (page 6), which means there was less wasted campsite inventory and more people enjoying the great outdoors. Less waste and more enjoyment is a trend we can all get behind. So, here’s to a great year of camping in 2025!
Pickleball, anyone?
CAMPERS BY THE NUMBERS
AMERICANS CONTINUE TO DISCOVER THE JOYS OF CAMPING
2024 saw the second-highest total number of campers on record, down slightly from 84.8 million in 2023 5.8 million
Americans camped in 2024* 81.1 million
First-time campers in 2024*
First-time campers since 2021* 25 million+
4 out of 5 American adults have been camping at least once.
12 nights camped last year on average.
S’MORE WITH SARAH THE DYRT FOUNDER
"The camping boom we’ve experienced in recent years is about so much more than sheer numbers.
There’s now an awareness, approachability and familiarity with camping that didn’t exist five years ago. This is why, despite the overall dip in 2024, new camper growth is strong and the current camping population is still about 15-20% larger than it was pre-pandemic."
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Erika Campground: Upper Pines Campground, Yosemite National Park, California
CAMPERS BY AGE GROUP
Camping appeals to all ages, but especially early middle-age
Ages 18 to 24
45.1% of campers 18 to 34 say their interest in camping has increased in the last decade, more than double the rate of older campers. 3 out of 10 adults who camped for the first time in 2024 were under 35.
BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ CAMPERS
Campers are increasingly diverse
% OF FIRST-TIME CAMPERS WHO IDENTIFY AS BIPOC
42.2% of U.S. population identifies as BIPOC.* 30.7% of the overall camper population identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color).
CAMPERS WHO
IDENTIFY AS LGBTQIA+
of the overall camper population identifies as LGBTQIA+
of U.S. population identifies as LGBTQIA+.*
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Stephanie Campground: Robbers Cave State Park, Oklahoma
CAMPERS BY THE NUMBERS
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Evelyn Campground: Cherry Hill Park, Maryland
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Jennifer Campground: Needles Outpost Cmpaground, Canyonlands National Park, Utah
FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS
49.7% camped with dogs.
4.8% camped with cats.
Campers also reported camping with horses, rabbits, parrots, bearded dragon, minipig and fish.
"I can’t wait to see how she reacts to crossing state lines, stepping paw into real snow for the first time (not Georgia slush), or feeling the rush of wind through the open car window as we cruise down long stretches of highway. She’s not just a passenger; she’s my adventure partner, my co-pilot, and my biggest reason to make every journey count."
CAMPERS INCREASINGLY SHOW UP
CANCELLATIONS & NO-SHOWS
Every type of cancellation and no-show decreased in 2024
Canceled 2+ days ahead of time 25.8% (-3.3%)*
Left campsite 1 or more days early 12.8% (-3.9%)*
Canceled with less than 2 days notice 6.9% (-3.8%)* No-show
70.7% of campers say they used all their reservations in 2024, up from 58.9% in 2023.
There was a 16.7% decrease in cancellations and no-shows last year.
CAMPING COMPANIONS
Arrived 1 or more days late
(-.5%)* *change from 2023
S’MORE WITH SARAH THE DYRT FOUNDER
"I think there’s increasing awareness of the fact that it hurts other campers to reserve a campsite and leave it empty and that the camping community is stepping up to do better.
New legislation in California and Washington to incentivize advanced cancellation might be helping as well."
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Ivette Campground: Lost Dutchman State Park, Arizona
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Carmen Campground: Madison Campground, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Michael Campground: Westport Union Landing State Beach, California
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Denise Campground: McKinney Falls State Park, Texas
” THE DYRT CAMPER KYRA FROM GEORGIA
CANCELLATIONS & HIGHER INCOMES
Wealthier campers are more likely to no-show
Campers who earn more than $100k per year are 2x more likely to no-show than campers with incomes under $50k.
Dyrt Alerts notify you when sold-out campsites open up.
GETTING A RESERVATION
IT GOT HARDER TO FIND A CAMPSITE TO BOOK. AGAIN.
After a decrease in 2023, the portion of campers who said they had a difficult time booking is once again near its 2022 peak
56.1% of campers said they had a difficult time booking a site in 2024 because campgrounds were full.
"We really want to see less friction in the campsite marketplace.
The camping community is happier and healthier when people can find a site to book with relative ease. While increased inventory from private campgrounds helped bring this number down in 2023, interest remains extremely high in competitive public campgrounds with a fixed number of sites."
Campground: Wilson State Park Campground, Kansas
S’MORE WITH SARAH THE DYRT FOUNDER
CAMPING & THE ECONOMY
CAMPERS OF ALL AGES
IS CAMPING INFLATION PROOF?
Turns out, mostly yes
4 out of 5 campers said that inflation either caused them to camp more or did not affect their camping activities.
S’MORE WITH SARAH THE DYRT FOUNDER
INFLATION’S IMPACT ON CAMPERS
Camped more
67.6%
Camped the same 20.4%
Camped less 12%
YOUNG CAMPERS (18 - 34)
"For years, I’ve been saying camping is an inflation-proof activity.
Last year, that was really put to the test. While some campers saved money by camping less, others increasingly turned to camping as a more affordable travel option. To see that 80% of campers either camped more or the same amount shows how resilient our industry and community really are!"
RISING RATES
Increases in campsite pricing cooled off slightly.
38.9% of properties increased rates last year, compared to 45.3% in 2023.
78.7% of camping properties that raised rates say inflation was a factor — the No. 1 reason cited.
34.4% of camping properties say they plan to raise rates in 2025.
Prefer tents and camping with friends
60.3% say tent camping is their primary camping type, twice the average.
57.7% camped with friends in 2024, compared to 39.3% on average.
"Camping was a big part of my life ever since I was a baby. I was into the Outdoor Recreation program in college and married a similarly outdoorsy fellow student. Our kids, who are now in their 30s, are even more adventurous than we are — in fact, both kids and their spouses summited, climbed and camped on Mount Whitney just this past summer! So it is quite a legacy."
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Isabelle Campground: Lincoln Creek Dispersed, Colorado
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Linda Campground: Missoula KOA Holiday, Montana
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Samantha Campground: Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Janet Location: Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Minnesota
” THE DYRT CAMPER JANET FROM MINNESOTA
MIDDLE-AGED CAMPERS (35 - 54)
Almost twice as likely to camp with kids. Bring their kids and dogs to the campground
More likely to go back to the same campground year after year.
Most likely age group to camp with dogs.
Most likely to work while camping...
Seek out campgrounds with swimming pools or hot tubs, tennis courts and dog parks. ... and have higher incomes
Middle-aged campers are 26% more likely than average to report income above $100k.
50% more likely to do remote work while camping.
60.9% more likely to report income above $250k.
CAMPERS OVER 55
Prefer RVs, camping for free, and have a higher net worth
61% of campers over 55 list RV or trailer as primary camping type, 50% higher than average.
62.8% of retired campers camped for free in 2024, 11.4% higher than average.
2x more likely than average to report net worth above $750k.
4x more likely to report net worth above $2 million.
Campers over 55 have big camping plans for after retirement
1/3 of campers are over the age of 55.
2/3 of campers over the age of 55 are retired
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Ian Campground: Denali RV Park and Motel, Alaska
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Frank Campground: Fort De Soto Campground, Florida
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Lance Campground: Mammoth Cave Campground, Kentucky
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Becca Campground: Anchor Down RV Resort, Tennessee
CAMPING TRENDS
Solo camping increases for the 3rd straight year
TOP REASONS FOR CAMPING ALONE
"While the safety a dog provides on a solo camping trip in the wilderness is nice, the best part is the constant morale boost they provide. Whether we’re hiking, going to a lake or creek, taking a scenic drive or just lounging around the campsite eating hot dogs, there’s never an activity my dog doesn’t enjoy."
PRIMARY CAMPING TYPE FOR SOLO CAMPERS VERSUS OVERALL
Solo campers are more likely to prefer tent, camper van, truck camping and overlanding
Solo campers are less likely to prefer RVs and glamping
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Kris Campground: BLM Middle Fork Shafer Canyon, Utah
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Xavier Campground: Ohanapecosh Campground, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Vanessa Campground: Hidden Valley Campground, Joshua Tree National Park, California
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Kelsey Campground: Hoodview Campground, Oregon
” THE DYRT CAMPER KRIS FROM COLORADO
FARM CAMPING
Farms are increasingly popular with campers
CAMPERS ARE MOST EXCITED TO VISIT THESE NATIONAL PARKS
1 Yellowstone National Park
1 in 7campers camped on a farm last year, more than 3x the rate in 2019.
4 Acadia National Park
2 Glacier National Park
3 Great Smoky Mountains National Park
5 Yosemite National Park
Farm campers are more likely to identify vehicles as their primary camping type...
51.4% of farm campers prefer RVs and trailers compared to 45.1% overall.
13.6% of farm campers prefer camper vans, compared to 8.3% overall.
... and more likely to camp during the winter and alone
42.4% of farm campers camp in the winter compared to just 28.5% of overall campers.
36% of farm campers also camp alone, compared to 30.6% overall.
"It was a small farm, just a few feisty goats and several happy chickens whose delicious eggs I enjoyed the entire time I spent on the land. There were also working dogs to keep coyotes away, free-roaming cattle and curious horses that stopped by my camp to investigate my presence. It was a new experience for me but quite enjoyable."
4 out of 5 campers plan to camp in a national park in 2025.
36.2% of campers planning to camp at Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year have done so before.
Young campers are the most likely to plan on camping in a national park
Ages 18 - 34 Ages 35 - 54
27.1% of campers planning to camp in a national park say they’ll revisit one they’ve camped in before.
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Dave Campground: Bowman Lake Campground Glacier, Montana
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Steven Campground: Bertling Family Farm, California
” THE DYRT CAMPER GENESIS FROM TEXAS
GLAMPING
Has glamping lost it’s glamor? 50% drop in glamping in one year
76.2% plunge from 2022 peak of campers who say glamping is their primary camping type.
4.3% of campers went glamping in 2024, down from 9% in 2023.
21.1% less glamping sites added to camping properties than last year.
PICKLEBALL
Pickleball courts are the top amenity campgrounds added
17% of private campgrounds added pickleball courts as an amenity in 2024.
9.8% of campgrounds added WI-FI, which was the secondmost-added amenity.
1.8% of campers tried glamping for the first time in 2024, down from 3.8% in 2023.
MID-LIFE APPEAL ON THE PLUS SIDE
Campers ages 35-54 — typically the age group with the highest earning potential — are 50% more likely to list glamping as their primary camping type.
Glamping is the type of camping with the most availability. Campers who favor glamping reported 34.4% less difficulty than average finding an available campsite to book.
"Our Gulf Shores Resort was the host site for an RV Rally in December 2024. As part of the event, we held pickleball clinics and concluded the week with a tournament. One of the most highly ranked professional pickleball players in the U.S. conducted the clinics and helped organize the tournament. It was a huge success."
Wildfires increasingly affect camping WILDFIRES
"We’ve seen tremendous growth in glamping since the pandemic, with some truly mind-blowing properties emerging for campers.
But some of the pricing associated with them has been quite high. Glamping is here to stay, but with travel back to pre-pandemic levels, it makes sense that we’d see the market balance out some this year."
1 in 5 campers had to alter their plans last year due to wildfires and natural disasters.
Campground: Sailor Springs Glamping, Wisconsin
Campground: The Oasis at Bear Run Farm, West Virginia
Campground: Thousand Trails Wilderness Lakes RV Resort, California
S’MORE WITH SARAH THE DYRT FOUNDER
” LLOYD LAULAND PRESIDENT OF RVC OUTDOOR DESTINATIONS
CAMPERS BY REGION
TROUBLE BOOKING
Campers who had trouble booking a site because campgrounds were full
HARDEST: PACIFIC
EASIEST: CENTRAL
DISRUPTED BY WILDFIRES
Campers whose camping plans were disrupted by wildfires or natural disasters
NO-SHOW CAMPERS
Campers who admitted to no-showing a reservation
MOST: MOUNTAIN
REGIONAL
MOST: PACIFIC
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Megan Campground: Hood Creek Campground, Montana
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Cathy Campground: Turkey Run State Park, Indiana
We crunched the numbers and paired each Toyota truck with the camping region that captures its soul
MOUNTAIN
Campers in the Mountain Region are most likely to leave the asphalt in the dust
In a word: Versatile Toyota Truck: Land Cruiser
52% of campers in this region say AWD/4WD is the most important feature in a vehicle — 10% more than average.
PACIFIC
Pacific Region campers are most likely to camp solo and need flexibility in the hardest region in the country to get a campsite reservation
Campers in this region are 20% more likely to prioritize off-road capability in a new vehicle. In a word: Capable Toyota Truck: 4Runner
MIDWEST & NORTHEAST
Campers in the Midwest and Northeast regions are most likely to camp with children and say that the ideal camping setup includes an SUV
In a word: Family Toyota Truck: Sequoia
34% of campers in the Midwest and Northeast camp with kids, more than 5% higher than average.
SOUTHEAST
Campers in the Southeast Region are up for anything with the most year-round campers
Campers in this region are 33% more likely to be yearround campers 38% said they camp in the winter. In a word: Spontaneous Toyota Truck: Tacoma
CENTRAL
From the Badlands to Big Bend, Central Region campers love dispersed camping and winter camping
62% of campers in this region own trucks — nearly 10% more than average. In a word:
Rugged Toyota Truck: Tundra
CAMPING VEHICLES
CAMPING VEHICLES POPULARITY
3 out of 4 campers have camped in or next to their vehicle
53.3% of campers say a truck is the ideal vehicle for camping, followed by SUV at 38.6%.
More than half of campers plan to buy a vehicle in the next 5 years.
10.3% are planning to buy one in the next year.
The Dyrt Community sounds off! We asked campers what outdoor activities they would do in a new Toyota Truck:
“Coast-to-coast national park road trip”
“Seek expansive views, secluded dispersed camps and tranquil hot springs”
“Explore the far reaches of West Texas with my dog”
“Cross the National Wild Horse Refuge in Wyoming”
CAMPING VEHICLES LEAD THE WAY
53.4% of campers say their preferred type of camping involves a camping vehicle, such as an RV, trailer or camper van.
CAMPING VEHICLES OWNED*
$58,331 average amount RV campers are willing to spend on a rig.
1/2 of campers have owned a trailer.
CAMPER VANS
Camper vans are especially popular among people who:
WHAT CAMPERS WHO PREFER RV OR TRAILER LOOK FOR IN A CAMPSITE
50.6% of respondents say they bought a camper van, RV or trailer in the last 5 years.
18.7% of camping properties have age limitations on RVs. The average age limit is 12 years old
Visit national parks
"Look around any campground and you’ll see a wide price range and variety of sizes of camping vehicles.
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!"
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Kristin Campground: Lake Pleasant RV Park, Washington
Photo by The Dyrt Community member Berton Campground: Valley of the Gods, Utah
S’MORE WITH SARAH THE DYRT FOUNDER
