Camping demand surges
- KOA's new research reports camping continues to grow, with 2026 shaping up even bigger. - More than 52 million North American households camped in 2025, topping pre-pandemic levels. - That rise suggests tougher competition for campsites, trail access, and park reservations this season. (outdoorhub.com)
Camping demand kept climbing in 2025, with more than 52 million North American households taking at least one camping trip. (koa.com) Kampgrounds of America said that total pushed camping above pre-pandemic participation levels in its 2026 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report, the company’s 12th annual survey. KOA said those campers generated a $66 billion economic footprint in 2025. (koa.com) OutdoorHub, citing the new KOA report on April 20, said 2026 is already shaping up to be an even bigger year for camping across North America. KOA operates more than 500 campgrounds in North America, giving the company a large view into reservation and travel patterns. (outdoorhub.com) (koa.com) The pressure shows up in the booking systems travelers actually use. Recreation.gov says its platform lists more than 103,000 campsites across 3,600-plus federal recreation areas, and many national park campgrounds require reservations through that system. (recreation.gov) (nps.gov) Federal parks are still drawing huge crowds even after the pandemic boom cooled. The National Park Service reported 323 million recreation visits in 2025, including more than 13 million overnight stays, after a record 331.9 million visits in 2024. (nps.gov 1) (nps.gov 2) Some parks are tightening access with timed-entry systems during peak months. Rocky Mountain National Park said reservations for its 2026 timed-entry program begin releasing on May 1 for visits starting May 22, with later blocks released monthly. (recreation.gov 1) (recreation.gov 2) Camping demand is also spreading beyond a single style of trip. Recreation.gov’s system covers tent sites, RV pads, cabins, yurts, lookouts, day-use areas and permits, while KOA markets RV, tent and cabin stays across its network. (recreation.gov) (koa.com) For travelers, the math is simple heading into summer 2026: more households want campsites, while the most popular parks and campgrounds still ration access by reservation windows, release dates and timed entry. (koa.com) (recreation.gov)
