2024 North American Camping Report Says People LIKE Camping Again

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‪@koacampgrounds‬ have released their annual camping report, this one is the tenth anniversary edition, and we're analyzing it - taking a look at how camping is changed over the last 10 years and where it's headed.
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[@erics.786]

The inability to just "go" to a national park without entry slips and lotterys is a huge turn off to those of us who remember when you could do just that..

[@LoremIpsum1970]

That's the global problem with overtourism...and social media.

[@RV_with_Noni_and_Beard]

That's why we try to find out-of-the-way places that are still worth visiting.

[@Chantheman235]

As a lifelong Camper, I think the reservation system is rather frustrating. I really takes the spontaneity out of camping. On my three month excursion around the country last year, it was nearly impossible to get into some of these national Park campgrounds. Not because the campgrounds were full, but because people had booked them and not shown up. We stayed at Many Glacier a couple nights that we could get in, and about 1/4 the campground was empty. I walked around and looked at many of the tags and most of them were halfway through their reservation and hadn’t ever shown up. it’s really a shame they don’t leave 1/4 or more of the sites as first come first served or only bookable two weeks out or something. I also feel like they should open up Sites where people don’t show up for the first two days of their reservation. Many of the privately ran campgrounds in Yellowstone do it this way.

[@marklangston7582]

Completely agree.

[@ajf5823]

It would help encourage cancellations if people actually get their money back when they cancelled regardless of when they cancel. Most people don’t bother because they don’t get any refund or a very small one

[@eleven903]

Amen.

[@Cook6163]

I am currently camp hosting near Yellowstone. Our rules allow us to release the site after 24 hours for a no show, which I do.

[@DanitaReynolds]

It's a rare day that we camp in a campground. We mainly do dispersed camping. I live in the Pacific Northwest and we have millions of acres of public land that we can camp on. We have been doing this for decades. We love not having neighbors. Of the few times we've had to use a campground there always seems to be neighbors that played music loudly (drowns out nature), dogs running around, people talking very loud, vehicle doors opening and closing constantly at all hours, etc, etc, etc. We figure that if we were to end up in a campground, for whatever reason, we are to treat it as a layover and to accept the noise and wear ear plugs at night. Many people love campgrounds and that's ok with us. It means less people dispersed camping! We've been doing this for decades.

[@meanbean859]

I agree with everything you stated here.

[@AmyMerrillRealEstateAgent]

I agree as well. We're in the NE where we don't have much dispersed camping. But we do travel to the PNW twice a year in our motorhome and much prefer dispersed camping, even for overnights.

[@timothylinn]

This is the way.

[@kelvinquesenberry1503]

I wish there were more dispersed areas on the East Coast

[@Franknank]

The current "landscape" of camping stinks. It has caused me to purchase country property that I can access at any time. The influx of new campers without any regard for traditional camping etiquette is abysmal. Turn down your music, keep your children and pets under control and pick up your trash, should be posted everywhere. Also the water spigot or pump is not a place to bathe or do your dishes. It has forced a lot people out of traditional campgrounds and fueled the boom of private land ownership, leaving the trash filled , overbooked campgrounds to the new comers. This is a nation wide problem that effects State , Private and Federal campgrounds.

[@turnbullstravels735]

I’d love to see campgrounds, at least private ones who have the resources, do “new camper” orientations. I have spoken to several people about their cutting thru our site, or explained dumping to people…and I usually start by asking if they are new to camping. They’ve been apologetic after I have explained a few things, and fortunately no one got mad at me! 😳

[@boyeatsworld-vr9ci]

Diversity is our strength... or something like that.

[@micheleyoungblood]

​@@boyeatsworld-vr9cinot that type of diversity

[@rocksez5101]

Has nothing to do with diversity and everything to do with ignorance and rudeness. Which seems to be quite popular.

[@grc5618]

​@@rocksez5101they were being facetious...lol

[@schmonsequences]

Talk about how Campendium just bricked their own webiste to force users over to Roadtrippers, without providing the same features. Charging for crowdsourced content and then taking away the only features worth paying for is very not cool.

[@sk-wx1cf]

Yes! I paid for Roadtrippers to get more Campendium features and then they shut it down! Really angry with them.

[@user-mt3jq7vk5v]

Maybe this is something or not but this year I checked prices throughout the country on KOA’s. Now mind you I’m not a bit Koa person but on occasions for a night or two. Koa’s are franchises . And many of them have jacked the prices so high it’s ridiculous! Look at the pictures of the sites they have and the costs affiliated with said sites , do you want to spend 80 plus dollars to over a hundred to stay in a Koa with gravel and pot holes and when it rains your in water, or the pool is closed till further notice and bathrooms/showers are antiquated and funky?? I sent a big email to the corporate and the reply I got was that many are franchises and that my questions should go to said franchises. Really? Do your homework before going to koa’s as well as non Koa. The Koa in Kankakee illinois which is 60 miles due south of Chicago wants over 80 buck a night, there are no attractions in the area and I live there. The water smells of sulpher, gravel sites with weeds and a rusty semi truck rim for a fire ring. Sounds good huah.

[@603Cummins]

In my experience, KOAs are either some of the nicest, or worst, campsites you can stay at. The problem is that it's a gamble unless you do a fair amount of legwork to figure out which is which. At the end of the day, KOA is a brand, and if they won't police their franchises to maintain a certain level of quality, it will eventually come to bite them, especially with the rise of so many new campers and so many alternate options popping up.

[@user-mt3jq7vk5v]

@@603Cummins very true 603 Cummins.

[@LoveMtDulcimerMusic]

My dad loved camping and made campers out of things like bread trucks when I was a kid. (I am old.). State Parks have always been our favorite places. The park itself usually offers numerous outdoor activities and there are always other activities nearby or on the way to the park. Prices for State Parks have risen but they are still better than most privately owned campgrounds or KOAs. Also, Harvest Hosts and Hip Camp type camping seem to offer good prices too.

[@edmorse3529]

Great video!!! The problem that I see is that corporations are buying up the mom and pop campgrounds. Not changing and or adding anything new but raising all the rates up per night. Charge for an extra car, extra person, dogs and etc. Now we won't go to these places due to the cost.

[@SpryWhimsy]

I have seen county campgrounds charge per unit. Not per site. So that 40' fifth wheel is cheaper than the family that wants separate tents

[@davidaz6622]

Pretty sure private equity is ruining every industry not just campgrounds.

[@feefawfern8240]

​@@davidaz6622 How is that legal? Why is that legal? Why would a Mom & Pop not want to sell to me or you, but rather a private equity firm? How do humans compete with corporations? This is mostly rhetorical, but also WE need to know, and figure these things out.

[@timothylinn]

The Barriers to Camping Chart is missing the biggest reason there is (IMO): You can't get into the best places unless you've planned a year in advance and get up at midnight to compete for reservations that are gone in 10 minutes. There's no flexibility or spontaneity. And instead of making changes to handle greater numbers of visitors, and expanding campgrounds to accommodate increased demand, the National Park Service would rather work to block visitation altogether. There are many parks that could handle increased visitation if the infrastructure was there. Wrangell St. Elias is the largest park in the entire system-and it's breathtaking. Why aren't we building roads to make it accessible? The only people who can visit the interior of the park are triathletes who can carry a 50 lb pack into the backcountry. The park is bigger than Switzerland. There is capacity for multiple uses. North Cascades is another example. Visitors are not the problem. Visitors are the clients. NPS needs to prioritize accommodating them.

[@rikwhitfield1042]

Jason, great report… as many of us know enjoying this lifestyle has always been a reward in that the deeper the person pushes to explore it, the more they will get back in return. That said as a boomer that was hoping for a quieter camping experiance in my golden years, has learned to continue to do what i have enjoyed my whole life now means 2 things, the first was I was right about how camping was always a great way to recharge the soul… however as we have all discovered to continue that experiance that the shift has gone from a whim to go camping to now it has to be a deliberate decision to make it happen. At 71 im still fighting the good fight to state the reward justifies whatever you need to do to get there!

[@Simpleman62569]

There are a lot of things that influence whether or not people are camping less. The price of everything has went up. We cut back from 5 trips to 4 trips, but We added an extra night on two of the trips being weeknights are cheaper and less fuel needed.

[@martinparmer]

Very well done, Jason, Nobody presents the rv news like you!! Hotels with large parking lots could offer a points program for folks that stay at their hotels and rv. At a certain points level, offer free overnight spaces.

[@Dieselrun4460]

We have nearly stopped camping in the prime time/ summertime due to the amount of people now camping. For the most part people are pretty good but like anything else there’s always those that don’t care about keeping their area clean or having consideration for other people.

[@don_sharon]

We still have to book nearly a year in advance on the popular destinations, so we don't see KOA's decrease. Add the fact that we have a large class A, we still must plan our spontaneity well in advance.

[@turnbullstravels735]

Yes, we plan a year out as well (spontaneity is still a future goal, lol). We are willing to make last minute changes as needed. That’s when our KOA VIP tier helps…for the most part, no cancellation fees. We use them enough to keep that membership tier.

[@tomseals9083]

We have been camping since the mid sixties. Started out in a tent we now have a camping trailer. We love camping and prefer it over any other type of recreational activities. Love your show ❤😊

[@eleven903]

What my guy & I have noticed through years of being camping tramps virtually everywhere is; by far the biggest jump in "campers" are the RVers. People do not camp in tents very much at all anymore. We still camp in tents. That being said; we've got battle scars from it. With the weather being so unpredictable it is changing the ways and times that we are camping. We find ourselves camping closer to home and not on holidays. Just last weekend we were so excited to take our first outing of the season. Found a great new spot close to home, the weather was calling for great weather. We get there hike all our stuff in, set up the tent and then realize that we forgot our camp stove. Rather than drive all the way home to get it; we decide to drive into the little town close by and get some grub. While there we see the giant TV on the wall is warning of severe weather for that night in that area at 80%. Well crap, do we try to ride it out? OR do we go back and pack our camp down and go home? We decided to enjoy the evening, had a fire, played some music, downed the tent and headed home. As we are lugging our gear back to the car I see the first signs of a giant shelf cloud above the southern horizon. Ok. We thought, we are doing the right thing. Well at about 3 in the morning, home safe and warm in our bed- we knew that we had. All H--- broke loose, with hail and hurricane force winds, thunder, lightning, haha yes indeed. I think that people do not want to be inconvenienced & want all the comforts of home. Can't say as I blame them. It's just a sign of the times we live in.

[@kradwonders]

I think RV camping will increase if the manufacturers improve quality, if not they may have trouble. As costs and prices go up people will demand more quality.

[@Easyrecliner]

The quality dropped big time after Covid. I own an older Super C Diesel built before dpf filters and def fluid, plus the coach is built solid, no way would I trade it for anything new these days.

[@darlenewilusz]

We have started camp hosting at local state and National parks Because my husband works. When we purchased our first camper in 2020 we vowed to use it as much as possible. Our children are grown so it's just us. This is a good fit for us for now. We have a couple of debts we need to pay off, then we will begin to travel further. This year we are spending the entire camping season doing this. April-October. We like this and it fits for the time being. We took our 4 boys tent camping for many years! Happy Camping friends!

[@micheleobrien64]

The campers that have bad manners is only because they had no one to learn from. With youtube I've realized I've been a bad camper and had no idea!! So instead of villianizing us try educating us! Thank you yuotube!❤

[@beepsarieaniIwee]

Actually it’s common sense to be quiet, pick up your trash, respect others around you, wildlife, and nature. No need to be educated.

[@jrayban8496]

@@beepsarieaniIwee I agree with the common sense unfortunately that has become endangered. People have become so wrapped up in 'self" . In some cases children are not being taught decency and manners.

[@thebigguy]

We have a seasonal site in mid Michigan and so far this year the number of available seasonal sites is quite high compared to the last few years. The number of non-seasonal campers also appears to be down, but it is early in the season here. It will be interesting to see just how busy our campground gets this year compared to the last few.

[@petitchenil]

We’re retired and RV three seasons and stay home in the summertime when the kids are out of school. We also show dogs and stay on the fairgrounds then hit a RV park between shows. For the few outings we take we still need to book really early if it covers a weekend. Mid week is not a problem. Prices have gone up since 2017. And the amount of full time residents in the parks is amazing. Selection in Northern California is slim.

[@bka0721]

Always great information, with data to support it. Looking forward to your next report! --- Bryan Appleby

[@rickskidmore3075]

Great video and interesting results. We bought into a campground in 2022 due to having issues with booking sites and it gave us a place to go whenever we wanted while we are still working. The goal is to RV/camp outside of our state much more once I retire in a few years. We love the overall lower cost of RVing and exploring the area. Again, as of now, we have been incorparating our vacations with RVing and staying at Airbnbs/hotels. We look forward to the RV news each week.

[@0HARE]

We’ve stayed at several KOA Kampgrounds over the years, and despite the higher cost, our experience has been overwhelmingly positive. The best campground we’ve ever stayed at is The Lost Alaskan RV Park in Alpine, TX. It is vey beautiful, with lots of trees for shade, has excellent bath, and laundry facilities, a propane fill station, a camp store, and even an RV wash station. Alpine is a great little college town (Sul Ross State University) with lots of public art, good restaurants, a good tire shop, a McCoy’s hardware store, with close proximity to Marfa (The Marfa Lights), Marathon, Terlingua, Lajitas, and Big Bend National Park.

[@lisamarengo8482]

It is VERY difficult to get reservations due to increase in campers, especially in Texas. While I am happy that so many people are discovering nature, I personally could use less crowds-lol I plan on boondocking more now. Thanks for the informative video.

[@traedunn3622]

I hate crowds too .. looks like I will just stay at home so sad you can't leave the house without wading through a sea of traffic and people😮

[@bradbalderson8172]

We're heading out next week for our first trip this year, new campground for us at Mohican State Park in Loudinville, Ohio.

[@Thomas-er2uw]

Have you heard about new regulations on taking your pets over the Canada and Mexico borders. That the C D C has implemented new rules when trying to bring your pet back into the United States. I looked at the C D C website and it was very confusing could you maybe take a look at it and do a report about it.

[@RVMiles]

Already on it. It IS confusing.

[@whitleyrobertson7070]

I absolutely agree with you, “why are you surprised more people love camping, you do;-)” great job recapping this report….

[@SpryWhimsy]

I would like to see a breakdown of where people did or didnt camp in 2023. Was the dip regional because of extreme weather for extended periods of time.

[@kenhuth1762]

Thanks for the data Jason. At the last Oliver rally nearly half of the 200 attendees said the Oliver was their first ever RV. I also noticed more younger 40's typical in the crowd as well. These were generally work from the road types and they needed a rig to stand up to the road. I thought it interesting that one couple to justify the price said they intended to travel 100 days a year for the next five years. Doing that by air or car and hoteling would easily add up to over 200K.

[@ReflectedMiles]

Fantastic marketing work to generate that kind of interest and loyalty for a product that can't even accommodate a separate shower at that price--second only to Airstream's skill with that over decades despite the maintenance of the finish specified in their manual and the horrible cost of repairing something as simple and common as a baseball dent in a corner panel (my poor grandparents would know...).

[@kenhuth1762]

@@ReflectedMiles It was a pretty easy marketing plan. Being in the same price range as Airstream, all they had to do was put advertisements in all the websites that had people complaning about the quality issues of Airstreams. And there were and are plenty. All the other stick and staple campers were never even in the running.

[@ReflectedMiles]

@@kenhuth1762 Nor is Oliver. They advertise as if they have a 4-season camper, but take one on a ski weekend to a Canadian resort and one quickly discovers that they purchased nothing of the kind. That little "garage" with water lines running through it freezes very easily, water lines are in the walls, and the whole unit has a grand total of 5mm of aluminum-foil-faced bubble wrap for insulation. That stuff was the subject of a scandal when some homebuilders tried to make the same claims with it in the late 90's / early 2000's with lawsuits and regulation coming down hard on them. But the RV industry's superb lobbying exempts them and so they continue to use it and often make even more ridiculous claims. (A radiant barrier requires a significant air gap in front of it to work at all, and so of course it works in this application even less than it did in homes.) Like all RV manufacturers, Oliver lies like a snake-oil salesman about their cold-weather capability in their marketing, but they have a "status" name now, and that's what buyers are willing to pay big money for, as with Airstream.

[@conniewaite1371]

There is a koa in my area .the man that had it for years,cut his ties with them.fed up on there rules.now its his own business,and better i think

[@davidlundy5007]

I live in Florida and love to camp but I really don’t like the crowds so that holds be back. 3 day week ends are great to camp but everyone else thinks the same way. I like my solitude so I have to look for places where I can be by myself.

[@mikesw214]

May want to revisit that definition of overlanding

[@timf6916]

Nice, Great information

[@karlweiland2980]

In the aftermath of 9/11, I attended a recreation conference where speakers discussed the surge in outdoor space useage. The comment was that when we are stressed, we don’t go to the mall, we go to the outdoors. I wonder if the increase in recreation reflects the stress of our current political strife?

[@meanbean859]

I’ll stick to dispersed camping when I can! Thanks for the video!

[@juanitasellshouses]

People not showing up for their reservation is a big issue. Campgrounds need to leave at least 25% for first come, first serve. Especially national parks and forest land parks. We don't make reservations more than a week in advance. And when getting from point A to point B, we often stay in a parking lot somewhere. Why pay for a noisy campground? If we're going to deal with noise, we might as well not pay for it. I love stats, so enjoyed this video. Many thanks!

[@eleven903]

The problem is; they cater to RVers and the online reservation thing has made camping for others near impossible in National parks and National Forests.

[@olivern4784]

Is it also difficult to get into national forests (tent camping/car camping)? I am planning to spend most of the summer camping.

[@rvgoingnow]

Great summary of the report, Jason.

[@andrewhenken4707]

Great work as always! I really appreciate hearing your viewpoints based on your vast experience. That said, I would also like a more pared down perspective. I'd like to hear your opinions based on data in just a couple minutes. Just my 2 cents - you're fantastic and please keep doing your great work 💪🏻

[@Denusa]

We just got done with a monthlong trip of mostly tent camping. We found conditions much more similar to years prior to the epidemic years. Places normally less busy were found to be so. Weekends, high summer and popular campgrounds were about as busy as earlier years. The big improvement we found were the telephone reservation systems which were tedious but manageable. Prior years could only be described as horrible and dysfunctional. We saw moderate improvement in amenities and number of sites in full service campgrounds but continued shrinkage or no change in all types of public campgrounds. Continued conversion of areas and actual campgrounds to day use only continues to a worrying trend. We rate our trip as very good with a few not good moments.

[@chrisbgood2359]

Love your videos! Great information today, Thank you!

[@RVMiles]

You are so welcome!

[@AaronDengler]

great report!

[@turnbullstravels735]

Great job getting in to the data…your enthusiasm is so enjoyable. Really looking forward to our RV Miles rally!

[@RVMiles]

Can't wait!

[@barbaradowney4207]

As always, love your info Jason!

[@RVMiles]

I appreciate that!

[@angelolamantia]

Great data thank you!

[@RVMiles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@carpenc1]

Good report! Thank you!!

[@RVMiles]

Thanks for watching!

[@richmanwisco]

Come for the excellent analysis, stay for the stock videos. (Seriously, I don't know how you source them, but they're actually pretty good. I sometimes miss what your last point was and have to rewind.) I see all the grumps out there bemoaning the "good ole days" just like you predicted. We've been doing this for 25 years. Started with tents, then a pop up, and now a trailer. And, on balance, the state park campground experience (in Wisconsin) today is almost unchanged from what it was when we started. That includes park behavior. I simply don't agree with those who say that today's newbies are louder, dirtier, and more obnoxious than at any other time. But I only know my experience. I sure wish the WI DNR would get busy increasing capacity, but to your point about reservation lead times, I have noticed they've relaxed a little bit up here. But thanks for bringing sanity and common sense to the table. Too many people out there base their viewpoints on what they see with their own eyes instead of basing them on data, which is the collection of many sets of eyeballs.

[@jeffdiy]

Love your passion. Thanks!

[@RVMiles]

You’re very welcome!

[@diann546]

Last summer a 5 month trip to Alaska and back to Indiana. This year, property in Michigan and exploring Michigan, especially the Upper Penninsula. We have yet to leave, unfortunately, because our 12v freezer decided last year was enough. We are currently waiting for a warranty replacement to arrive.

[@tuvia4082]

Thanks Abby and Jason. Great video.

[@RVMiles]

Thanks for watching!

[@briank1471]

We exclusively camp in public campgrounds and only stay in private ones when there is no other option. We have camped a great deal in the past 45 years with our growing children and in our retirement. The biggest factor that we bemoan is the loss of flexibility in our travels. We wish we could travel without having to make reservations all along our route before we even leave home. Just 10 years ago we could travel for weeks and make reservations only for the big holiday weekends. Those days are long gone, but we are still going to camp until we are 80, God willing.

[@1798iscomingback]

Interesting that ~25% of the country go camping and that is the same percentage of generations within camping which means that doesn't matter what generation or background you come from, 1/4 of the population have their head right.... hahaha Hotel chains would highly benefit from offering their parking lot for overnight and charge for breakfast. Many hotels by the highways keep their parking lot 50%+ empty all the time ...

[@rvfishing8817]

I had no problem reserving Canadian national and provincial parks for my summer trip to Newfoundland/Nova Scotia, all prices from $15 to $35 US. Starlink is one of the best improvements in the past few years, nothing like being able to work and attend meetings 15hrs a week in the middle of nowhere with no cell signal.

[@animallovefest143]

Can I ask how you went about planning your trip to the different locations? I'm trying to plan my first trip out on the road to see different locations in the U.S. And I just don't know the best way to get started. Do you look at a map to locate places that have a campground and start making calls? Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated. Christina & The Animal Love Fest ❤️ 🐶 😽 💋

[@rvfishing8817]

@@animallovefest143 I start with a general idea of what I want to do for a particular adventure. In the case of the Canadian Maritimes this summer I want to get Bay of Fundy, Prince Edward Island, L'Anse aux Meadows Nat'l Hist Site in Newfoundland and Quebec City on the way back. Typically I have six weeks to spend so I divide up the time between the destinations to figure out how much time I have at each destination. I used to use Google Maps and Compendium to then figure out travel and where to stay. Lately I have been using the RV Life trip wizard because I like how it routes me around low bridges and such. It also integrates my fuel stops and provides an itinerary so I can give it to my family so they know where I am. As far as places to stay it is integrated there and I book everything online, since I am generally stay at government sites they are all available. Government sites are generally cheaper than private, and provide more space in between campers. Also national/state/provincial parks have been placed there because they are nice places to be. Once I book a site I enter the information into the RV Life trip wizard so when I get to the park I can just reach for an old school paper itinerary that has my campsite information. I keep the regulars like Ioverlander, RV Parky and Free Campsites in my pocket for boondocking on the road between destinations. I also have my favorites like Cabelas/Bass Pro Shops, Cracker Barrel, and Loves truck stops for a quick overnighter before hitting the road again.

[@youdontknowme8558]

I’m not sure where you reserved, but trying to get into Five Islands, where you were placed randomly in a queue of thousands on the opening day for reservations, to be let in only when they decided to let you in, where the website was broken and kept telling you a site you weren’t picking was unavailable, and where all sites were booked within the first five, if not three minutes, was the most harrowingly ridiculous reservation experience of my life. Even though I had three devices queued up well in advance, I only wound up getting in because a row of sites eventually became available because someone grabbed a block and then didn’t complete the reservation process. And I might not have even seen that but we had about five friends all watching and texting and having to book sites for each other. Just completely unacceptable chaos. And I’ve definitely played the book in the nanosecond that sites open game before. So I would not suggest that Nova Scotia Provincial Parks are all no problem. What a nightmare!

[@TravelingLightReflections]

Another great video. I loved the RV mattress Laurel and Hardy bit!!!

[@RVMiles]

🤣Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marshaharwood8883]

Jason you are hilarious!!! Great information 😊

[@dataender96]

I❤Camping !

[@airstreamer]

Great breakdown on this report. Interesting statistics! - Michelle

[@RVMiles]

Thank you!

[@RVAmerica]

Always so interesting. Lynn and Danny

[@shumandaniele]

We often do blended trips, some days camping, some days in hotels.

[@williambradley2562]

Great Video Jason … Thanks for the updates and info … truly appreciate all your efforts to keep us informed about camping news #RVMiles #GetOutdoors

[@RVMiles]

Thanks 👍

[@luvRVing]

Statistics drive my job(education) so I have learned to HATE stats like this. It is had to reduce many things down to real usable data(ie kids are far more than a number or making so many decisions about their education based on nothing but data!) so much of the data is flawed and skewed in many different ways. But, you're easy on the ears and easy to watch, not to mention some of your data(and when I say some I mean only a little, lol because I HATE data) was interesting to hear about. Still, thanks for taking the time to bring us some useful info and I look forward to your next vid ;)

[@schmoab]

Hey I camped last night. Beautiful weather, empty NPS campground. But it is the end of the season around here unless you go to high altitude. Weekends in the mountains? Forget about it unless you check last-minute.

[@jrayban8496]

I look at how my camping has evolved, started out with a back pack with what I could carry in and a pup tent. Now I camp in a class A but, fundamentally it's the same. Give me a place with nature hopefully a lake for fishing and swimming. I don't need a theme park. No WIFI required, phone service a plus but not a necessity. Just sit outside watch the sunset with an adult beverage.

[@severecracker3640]

I think they are missing a category. How long have these surveyed been camping. Only see first time campers mentioned. What about lifelong camping. How many baby boomers have been camping most of their lives. Then Gen x millennials and so on. My point is those of us raised outdoors tend to remain outdoors

[@marksr1907]

Yea; KOA = way overpriced ridiculousness. And I camp there when I need a reliable and hopefully secure place to stay and there's no where else to go (very rarely).

[@Tuttle723]

Jason, Michele and I really enjoy your channel. We're full time in our fiver and vacation by flying to destinations and staying in resorts, hotels and cruise ships.

[@LoneWolf1985BK]

I try to stick to state campgrounds so price is usually $30-35/night with electric hookup.

[@jeffreytull5767]

While very interesting data, there are competing goals. If people want tranquil environments with isolation, you need fewer people. But businesses invest in camping to generate money which requires MORE people. Also, I wonder what the trend is for people who take multiple trips to the same place. I own land and almost always go there; people I know have a couple of favorite campgrounds they always go to. So multiple trips does not mean multiple destinations. Finally, I'd love to see a breakdown on for-profit camping (i.e. KoA) vs. State and national parks. Excellent video.

[@rodneylw10]

They are ruining camping with lock fees, reserve fees, higher prices, rates going up in west 4X more in one year!

[@yankeesusa1]

During pandemic we only did rv camping but now we love blended camping. Haven't done rv camping this year as we are planning a trip up north and towing an rv for more than 10 hours is just not fun. We're also using Dvc rental for a resort at Disney that looks like Yellowstone and then going back to rv camping. It's just fun to mix it up not to mention it's easier than having to set up an rv every time.

[@Euskaltel0526]

I agree with your comment about "fear". Both the weather extremes but primarily with so many transient/homeless type "RVers". There is also an increase of squatters at campgrounds. There have been a few occasions when rangers have warned us about camping at BLM areas due to random violence and large parties "raves" that just show up in the middle of the night.

[@ADKMan]

Camping or RV’ing!! I pack up my kayak and paddle out to sites to go camping!! I pack up my RV to go RV’ing and stay a campground/RV park. I especially love going to the free sites way off the path….boondocking….with no cell service!! The one problem I see is that campgrounds are being bought up by corporations and then they ruin them by splitting sites, adding sites that are so close that your awning is touching your neighbor…..then charge $120 a night. People reserve several sites in state parks then become no shows…… After walking through a RV show…..I see major problems coming because a lot of those rigs are so expensive that they are pricing people out.

[@ADONAIsays-so]

This is a double edge sword...it's interesting news, but it brings i to view why cost are going up and governent oversite looms...

[@Swimdeep]

That woman in a tent by a river, has pitched her tent too close to the water. As interesting as this topic is, it is incumbent upon you to use stitches from others that demonstrate sustainable practices. Responsible outdooring is important; especially with the latest uptick in interest. LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES must be encouraged and promoted so that all who want to enjoy the outdoors can do so. 🌿

[@ord2mia]

You’re hysterical 😂

[@charlesperry1051]

I am in my mid 50s and grew up camping; first in a canvas wall tent, then a refurbished popup. It was a cheap way for a family of 6 to have a vacation. As an adult I have continued camping in all modes. We bought our first RV in 2002 and now have our 3rd, a 5th wheel. I have also been active in Boy Scouts since the early 2000s and that meant some tent camping and a lot of backpacking style camping. I love camping in all forms. My wife and I plan to do more RV trips this year compared to last year. Most will be long weekends but we do have one full week already booked. As for the future, our plan is to keep camping.

[@glennmiddleton5634]

Ditto!

[@bearofverylittlebrain]

Can you investigate why all the developed campgrounds have no water! In colorado for the second year in a row. I can't get an answer. They keep jacking the prices and no water? Even arizona and new mexico camps have water.

[@sherriweber7105]

Thank you Jason for this video. Nice to know people are getting to like camping. Nice to know why people aren’t is because they are afraid of wild fires and wild life and weather. Thank you for this information.

[@AmyMerrillRealEstateAgent]

Please let's not bring hotels into the outdoor hospitality. They are doing all they can to destroy the short term rental market after entering it. They will do the same to camping. You'll see more regulations and taxes in an attempt to squeeze out their competitors. That will negatively change the landscape of camping, guaranteed.

[@distilledfreedom1840]

It's an annoying thing to see. I miss the days before the Iphone and social engineering. In the 90's I would go to Yosemite, Yellowstone and be fairly comfortable. Joshua Tree, we use to call it the "monument", was virtually empty. I'd say yes, around the early teens the Instagram effect has really impacted the outdoors.

[@jerrygundrum1]

Two things koas have going is the website and booking window. I can book a year out for a single night if i want.....i can book a long my route. their website makes it easy. they are expensive but one night with full hook ups makes it easy to flush the antifreeze or black tanks on the return trip

[@juliebutler8241]

It is unaffordable for solo seniors now.

[@Bellasafari]

State and national parks block many camp sites-empty sites aren’t just from people not showing up. A camp host confirmed this when I asked. I guess for preservation? It seems our usage of OUR paid for by our tax dollars parks is being manipulated to shorter seasons also. How do we vote on our parks policies? (Leave 25% of sites to first come first serve for instance-and not just the less desirable sites). We disperse camp most often and can’t wait to get out of RV parks, campgrounds due to insolent noise 😂🎉

[@randycallow3736]

This type of reporting and definition of camping have me sick to my stomach. KOA for starters, KOA and everything they do, everything they offer is the opposite of camping. WiFi, camping has nothing to do with WiFi. And the number of people who have hijacked camping for vanlife, vagabond, stealth living, homelessness and half dozen other lifestyles that now fall under camping is truly terrible. But when you said reservations, that's a real trigger. Our land management doesn't yet use non use days as important as use days. So campgrounds that have 10, 14 day limits make sense, but as one camper leaves and minutes or hours later another takes the spot, that's basically ruining, or already ruined many plans, some forever. Campgrounds, campsites need to go unused, need rest, recuperation, time to heal from disasterous overuse and misuse. Wifi is a huge factor in people destroying open, wild spaces, camping and working are different and when combined only the workers benefit but campers are harmed. KOA is a great example, I could care less if a vanlife person or massive, heavy, ultra noisy and intrusive RV wants to go to a KOA, put out a huge BBQ, multiple E-bikes, satellite dish and run their generator and massive outdoor light setup all night..go for it . but in campgrounds there should be limits to who and what are considered proper use and users. Soon being able to backpack or tent camp will be impossible so instead someone can send email and watch Netflix while camping, and their onboard ice maker is part of my camping while they run a generator.

[@eleven903]

I do absolutely feel your pain.

[@texassalt8999]

Campground prices are getting ridiculous! I just went to Utah and prices were as high as 150 a night! For a tent spot. Insane!

[@omf2007]

It is crazy! For some of our trips we've used hotels instead due to some ridiculous camp site costs in some areas.

[@robertnasser9937]

I do like the KOAs but is expensive

[@DaveK84]

Pandemic was great for csmping becsuse we got socmucj extra time off and could go on a trip and work for part of the day and then enjoy the destination for thr rest of the day. This year I got 12 weeks parental leave and I used 3/4 of it for camping trips!

[@Dave-zl2ky]

National parks are finite in number and spaces. Campgrounds added very few new locations for a few decades. Many campgrounds grew tired and almost non-usable. It will take time to catch up. Many new US-made RV's are overpriced and oversized compared to European offerings. US manufacturers are gaining a reputation for making crap that will need constant servicing. I see young families looking outside the box to enjoy camping.

[@beepsarieaniIwee]

This will lead to more and more shut downs of land throughout the years. It’s best to see what you wanna see now and while you can before it happens to the next area. It’s depressing, really. These free campsite apps have ruined things too along with KZbinrs showing their camp spot. All a recipe for disaster one day…….

[@DanMay-wp1ls]

Obviously you don't get it. I don't even own an RV and I get it. For starters most of all RV's ever built are junk. There are several reasons for this. I would say first and foremost would be that strong AND light weight IS NOT CHEAP! How much titanium do you see in an RV? NONE! The other thing is the manufacturer pretty much plans on the fact that their product is only going to be used 2 weeks out of a year. Experienced RV people say this because they have seen the problems first hand. Pandemic RV's were flying off the lots in record numbers. Some people at that time, were making more money staying at home than working. So finding GOOD QUALIFIED help, in many businesses was a problem. It was obviously an issue in the RV industry. People spent $150,000 on an RV that had catastrophic failures in the first few years. One example would be a couple that bought a 5th wheel for $142,000. In two years, the frame on that trailer BROKE! The manufacturer agreed to pay off the $92,000 balance on the loan, in return for doing that, the owner had to agree to NEVER discuss the issue. So that couple lost $50,000 or $25,000 per year on that RV. And with the influx of new campers, particularly those with RV's camper etiquette also seems to be a problem.

[@RVMiles]

I’m sorry…what don’t I get?

[@patthornton1212]

My wife and I early 60's. Her family canoe club and tents. My family had boy scouts tents and later pickup bed camper and a ski boat. We had gone on trips both family's. Then our first was born we went on our own used popup tent camper and a 4x4 suburban 1985 - 2000 no a/c so mostly went march - may and September to November allover Missouri long weekends. Back then NO crowds NO reservations. down side not much open back then (season) was memorial - labor all the bath rooms and showers were drained for winter. We quit when you had to start making a reservation also 3 boys glowed up now I snore = cpap needs electricity we do have beds at opposite ends of popup But we were paying $6.00 for electric site. diesel was hard to find but we had 40 gallon tank and cost 50 - 80 cents a gallon. We loved those days probably why I am $ 140,000 in debt credit cards and home equity line against house those were the magic years earned Missouri camper awards. memories and photos are great

[@MsSunstoned]

So for those of us that live in them permanently ... are we counted?

[@charlottepritt3229]

I have camped all my life and i hate what it has become. I like to just pick up and go and you can no longer do that. I hate having to plan a weekend six months or a year in advance so my camping days are just about over. Sucks....

[@pdub6453]

The data mirrors my personal observations over the past five years.

[@geogypsytraveler]

Seems nomad boondocking is not being considered enough.

[@shannonpayne904]

I wonder who gets these surveys? I’ve been camping over 10years and never been surveyed. Mmmm

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

The increase in RV’ers/campers aged below 60 & 50 is significant. I would consider the franchise if only the KOAs would learn to increase their spaces between sites. What they charge for a site and a hotel is comparable. I believe the increase is on the downside, and I predict that natural disasters will cause many of those affected by natural disasters to increase ownership of driving & camping.

[@Super_C_Chows]

Here is my take on camping and the RV business as a whole. We are experiencing the perfect storm. Camping has become more popular, partly due to the increased sales of units during COVID. Campgrounds haven't grown as quickly, or even worse shrunk due to closing because of increased property tax/liability insurance. The alternative is sell to big corporations that raise prices that are insane. The alternative if state,l9cal Fed land. Much cheaper and more space, problem with that is they are at a price point that people will book and not have a problem eating the cost if they cancel, parks are not full. Many people can now work remotely. That includes at camp grounds, this is also a byproduct of high covid unit sales. I suspect these all will shrink over the next 3-5 years as these units are sold off or simply not used out of guilt of expensive units sitting idle

[@traedunn3622]

I've decided in all my research just to stay at home ... Its just not worth it ... The whole country is just in the trash can ... I believe we all know why

[@ReflectedMiles]

Well, since the largest seller of RV's is Camping World, that must mean that as of 2023, they are giving the majority of people wonderful camping experiences. 😁

[@ernestdesimone2234]

Regarding people hating it or not... I think a lot of people feel that there were many RVers who took up RVing during the pandemic because it was something they were allowed to do during social distancing, but that a lot of work goes into buying and maintaining an RV, so the assumption was that once the new folks got exposed to storage and maintenance and insurance and payments, and then the pandemic ended, they would bail out. Of course, some did, and some loved RVing. Telework has enabled a lot of people to work from anywhere, and connectivity just keeps getting better, but some people prefer to work when they are at home, and disconnect when they are away RVing. Regarding campground choices, to each his/her own. Not everyone has dispersed campsites on BLM land to use for free. For many, the only boondocking options are business parking lots, Harvest Hosts, etc. Campgrounds are almost always full, especially on weekends, and people are, well, you know. Sometimes we can sit outside, and sometimes we just stay inside and play some games and watch over-the-air TV for that area. Do what makes you happy. If KOA is too pricey, go elsewhere.