Campspot: 69% trips within six hours

Campspot said on May 20 that summer 2026 travelers are choosing shorter camping getaways closer to home as higher costs and flight avoidance reshape vacation plans. Woodall’s Campground Magazine, citing new Campspot survey data, reported that 69% of camping trips are taking place within a six-hour drive and 32% of travelers are keeping trips under four hours. The report described the shift as part of a wider move toward “drive-to getaways” rather than longer, more complex vacations. Campspot, an outdoor marketplace and campground software company, said the findings came from new survey data released as the summer season begins. ### Why are campers staying closer to home? Campspot said 68% of respondents cited higher travel costs as the top factor shaping summer plans, according to Woodall’s Campground Magazine. The same report said 79% of travelers are reducing air travel and 60% are avoiding flights altogether when possible. Those figures were presented alongside the shorter-drive data as part of Campspot’s summer travel outlook. (woodallscm.com) Woodall’s Campground Magazine reported on May 20 that travelers are “giving up on complicated” summer trips rather than abandoning travel altogether. Campspot said the pattern reflects a preference for trips that are easier to plan and reach by car. The company framed camping, glamping and RV stays as formats that fit that demand. ### What do the six-hour and four-hour figures actually show? (woodallscm.com) The most specific number in Campspot’s update was 69%, which the company said represents the share of camping trips happening within a six-hour drive. Campspot also said 32% of travelers are keeping their getaways under four hours. Taken together, those figures point to a summer market centered on regional travel rather than long-haul trips. That reading is an inference drawn from the company’s published percentages. (woodallscm.com) Campspot has highlighted similar short-trip behavior before. A separate Campspot-Pilot survey published by Woodall’s last year said 53% of travelers planned more short trips or weekend getaways than in previous years, with more than 90% preparing for “pop-up escapes” within driving distance of home. ### Is this part of a broader Campspot trend for 2026? (woodallscm.com) Campspot’s broader 2026 trend materials have tied outdoor travel demand to what it calls the “Together-Trip.” In a report released earlier this year, the company said more than 1,600 U.S. travelers were surveyed and that connection and shared experiences were shaping travel choices in 2026. Woodall’s Campground Magazine said the report identified the “Together-Trip” as the year’s defining travel trend for camping and outdoor travel. (woodallscm.com) Campspot’s public report pages for campground owners say the 2026 outlook is built around travelers seeking destinations that support relationships and community on the road. The company’s consumer-facing materials say 82% of travelers report that a desire for connection is shaping their 2026 travel plans. (woodallscm.com) ### What does Campspot’s booking data say about the market? Woodall’s Campground Magazine reported in March that Campspot was seeing advance reservations in the United States and Canada tracking close to year-earlier levels for the 2026 season. Dakota Moran, identified by Woodall’s as a Campspot spokesman, said U.S. occupancy for stays between May 1 and Sept. 1 was 29.3%, compared with 29.8% a year earlier, while Canadian occupancy was 39.1% versus 40.9% last year. (signup.campspot.com) Campspot has also pointed to demand in other parts of its business. In February, the company said its 2026 Campspot Awards review drew on more than 3.3 million data points, including guest ratings and reservation data across the United States and Canada. ### Where can readers find the underlying reports? Campspot’s May 20 summer travel update was published through Woodall’s Campground Magazine, which summarized the company’s new survey findings on drive-to travel. (woodallscm.com) Campspot’s wider 2026 outlook is available through its campground-owner trend guide, its “Together Trip” materials, and related company pages describing travel behavior and destination demand for 2026. (woodallscm.com 1) (woodallscm.com 2)