Pitchup.com – the global outdoor accommodations booking website home to 6,000 campgrounds in more than 70 countries – unveiled its camping trend predictions for 2025, providing insight into today’s thriving outdoor travel industry.
After seeing its five millionth booking in 2024, Pitchup.com anticipates another banner year for camping and identifies key trends defining the future of outdoor travel, from emerging destinations to unexpected experiences like farm-to-tent moments, naturist adventures and holiday celebrations.
“This year’s record bookings on Pitchup.com show continued interest in outdoor immersion, which offers a meaningful way for people to find balance and forge deeper connections with themselves and their surroundings,” said Dan Yates, the founder and managing director of Pitchup.com. “The camping and glamping experience continues to evolve and is now more accessible, catering to a wide variety of traveler needs and interests beyond the traditional tent setting.”
Pitchup.com has conducted a thorough analysis of recent booking data and customer reviews, forecasting the following trends for outdoor travelers in 2025:
- Culinary-Driven Camping Is Booming
Though many associate camping with pre-packaged meals or processed snacks, a new wave of campgrounds on farms is redefining camping’s culinary experience. Pitchup.com saw an impressive 443,000 searches for farm campgrounds in 2024, where wine enthusiasts, foodies and eco-friendly travelers can explore where their food comes from, taste local produce and dishes, and reconnect with the land, while also offering farms an alternate income source. Agritourism-focused campgrounds, such as Sequoia Mountain Farms in Pinehurst, California or In Our Garden in Italy, offer a glimpse into sustainable farming, from olive groves to vineyards.
- Campers Unzip Adventure
Travelers are embracing a free-spirited approach to adventure, boldly diving into the world of naturism – centered around practicing social nudity in a non-sexualized way, often in outdoor settings, Pitchup.com saw a staggering 742% increase in searches for naturist campgrounds so far this year compared to 2023. Naturist-friendly camping sites like Broadland Sun Association Naturist Campsite in England and Wild Horse Mountain View Campsite in Colorado offer the opportunity to embrace this new sense of freedom, body positivity and community, while enjoying the beauty of nature.
- Travelers Trade Glitzy Holiday Parties for Champagne Toasts in the Woods
Travelers are embracing the ‘Joy of Missing Out’ this holiday season. Christmas and New Year’s Eve festivities are shifting from glamorous parties to more intimate experiences in nature. Pitchup.com reported a 16% increase in bednights over Christmas Day, especially among couples seeking more low-key celebrations (nearly 80 percent of bookings). European destinations are leading the way, including the U.K., Spain, Italy, France and Portugal. Whether it’s cozying up in a yurt under the stars, or enjoying a fireside toast with close friends, this shift reflects a desire for more meaningful ways to celebrate the holidays.
- Retro Caravan and RV Stays Rekindle Nostalgia
Travelers are rediscovering the sentimental magic of road trips via caravan and RV stays that evoke a sense of nostalgia. Pitchup.com reports a year-over-year 30% increase in bookings for static caravans, where travelers can relive simpler times with limited screen time, childhood memories and fewer responsibilities, without needing to rent their own RV. Retro-inspired campgrounds like Vernal RV Resort in Utah and the Jetsons-style glamping pods at Let’s Glamp Retro in Wales blend timeless charm with the beauty of the great outdoors.
- Luxury Hotels Take Glamping to New Heights
As the ‘quiet luxury’ trend gains momentum, conventional hotels are branching out into the glamping industry to meet the demand of travelers looking for both relaxing outdoorsy experiences and the perks of luxury travel. Pitchup.com recently added the renowned Dawn Ranch in Sonoma County, California to its glamping portfolio, a luxe boutique hotel with expansive glamping accommodations where travelers can indulge in the resort’s high-end amenities while experiencing the peacefulness of nature. With a 209 percent increase in searches using the ‘luxury’ filter on Pitchup.com this September compared to the same period last year, this surge in interest reflects how travelers are prioritizing well-being across all budget levels.
- From Coolcations to Cold Plunges, Travelers Are Embracing the Chill
With climate change bringing extreme heat, and 2024 recorded as the hottest summer on record according to NASA, travelers are trading traditional beach vacations for “coolcations” in forested or mountainous areas with lower temperatures. The “bush” filter has been used on Pitchup over 200,000 times this year, as more people sought areas shaded by trees and greenery than ever before. U.S. campgrounds like Thunder Mountain Camp in Ouachita National Forest and West Beach Resort in Orcas Island offer opportunities to cool off by hiking through shaded woods or taking cold plunges in pristine lakes.
- American Travelers Look Beyond the States for their Next Camping Adventure
Pitchup.com saw a 20% increase in international bookings in 2024 compared to the previous year as travelers look for new ways to explore foreign locales and combat the effects of overtourism. Travelers are increasingly seeking out less conventional camping destinations, with some surprising countries experiencing significant growth. In 2024, Portugal saw the highest surge in total transaction value with an impressive 254 percent increase, followed by Hungary (+227 percent), Montenegro (+217 percent), Belgium (+108 percent) and the Czech Republic (+82 percent). These emerging hotspots for campers reflect a growing trend towards exploring ‘detour destinations’ – alternatives to mainstream locations that offer unique and authentic experiences without the crowds. Top-rated campsites in these countries include Monte das Louzeiras in Portugal’s countryside and Camp Šćepanović within Montenegro’s mountains.
For more information about Pitchup.com’s vast outdoor travel offerings, please visit Pitchup.com.