New Research Points to a Big Year for Camping in 2026

A brand new report from Kampgrounds of America (KOA) reveals tenting is larger than ever, and the numbers again it up. Greater than 52 million North American households went tenting in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic ranges. And 2026 is shaping as much as be a good greater yr on the street and within the woods.

The Numbers 

Tenting isn’t simply widespread. It’s an financial power. Campers spent $66 billion in native communities in 2025, up $5 billion from the yr earlier than. The common camper spent greater than $200 per individual per day on high of their campsite prices.

For these questioning if tenting is definitely worth the trouble in comparison with different holidays, the info makes a powerful case. About 35% of adults say tenting is the best method to journey with children, and one other 35% say it’s the most inexpensive journey choice total.

Psychological Well being

This is likely to be essentially the most fascinating discovering in the entire report. Campers should not heading outdoors for structured actions or resort-style facilities. They wish to unplug. A full 77% of campers say that merely being in nature is sufficient, no programming or extras wanted.

Practically half of all campers, 49%, deliberately plan journeys to enhance their psychological wellbeing. One other 50% say their most important aim is to recharge. The highest outside actions driving this development embrace strolling close to water, wildlife viewing, and watching the night time sky.

Neighborhood Hubs

Here’s a shift price listening to. Whereas solo tenting had a second in 2025, with 1 in 5 campers taking their first solo journey, 2026 information reveals persons are craving connection once more.

About 75% of campers now see campgrounds as a “third place,” which means someplace outdoors of house and work the place actual neighborhood occurs. That quantity jumps to 81% amongst Gen Z campers and 76% amongst Millennials. About 40% of campers say they’ve made real buddies at a campground, and almost 60% are drawn in by basic traditions like campfire storytelling and outside video games.

The social facet of tenting is clearly a draw throughout all ages. Boomers lead the pack with 51% reporting a minimum of one significant interplay per journey.

RV Leases 

With main occasions just like the Route 66 Centennial and America’s 250th birthday drawing folks towards street journeys in 2026, RV rental curiosity has jumped. In 2025, 43% of campers mentioned they had been prone to hire an RV. That quantity climbed to 48% in 2026.

Youthful campers are driving that development. A full 55% of Gen Z say they’re prone to hire an RV this yr, viewing it as a versatile, lower-cost method to discover with out shopping for a rig outright.

Nights Exterior in 202

About 31% of campers plan to spend extra nights outdoor in 2026 in comparison with final yr. Street journeys, small-town stops, and heritage journey are pushing folks towards longer, multi-stop journeys, and the momentum behind outside journey has by no means been stronger.

Whether or not you’re hitting the street in an RV, discovering a brand new campground, or planning a household weekend below the celebs, there has by no means been a greater time to get outdoors. To discover a KOA campground close to you and begin planning your subsequent journey, go to KOA.com.

Keith Lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning outside journalist who resides in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthshoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outside column for the Slidell Impartial Newspaper. He additionally writes for the St.Tammany Parish Tourism Fee’s VisitTheNorthshore.com. He’s the previous host of The Northshore Fishing Report Radio Present and is on the board of the Louisiana Outside Writers Affiliation. Keith contributes to quite a few publications each on-line and in print and prides himself on selling South Louisiana’s distinctive fishery. To contact Keith electronic mail: keithlusherjr@gmail.com