US Camping Boom Slows

A night under the stars hasn’t lost its appeal.

Tied up. The Dyrt’s annual report suggests camping participation is cooling, with 81.1M Americans striking out in 2024 — down from 84.8M last year. Declining in popularity, glamping stays fell 50% YoY.

Out there. An unfortunate parallel to other outdoor pursuits, regulars are falling out of routine. Yet, the US camping population has grown 20% since 2021, adding 26.8M first-timers.

With 80% of adults having camped at least once before, shifting motivations and greater accessibility could increase numbers.

Free solo. More campers want to be one with nature — with 30% taking solo adventures. Hard resets for hectic lives, 70% retreat to find solitude.

Park people. Interest among younger campers is surging. Socializing outside, 91% of campers aged 18–34 plan to hit a national park this summer, and ~60% prefer bringing friends.

Bundling the experience, modern adventure lodges like Field & Stream, GRAVITY HAUS, and AutoCamp’s Field Station are scaling.

Punchline: Despite the dip, the call of the wild is strong — making camping feel natural will inspire more trips.

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