Kampgrounds of America (KOA) monthly research report reveals good news for the campground industry. According to research conducted in July, KOA projects 53.5 million households will take a camping trip in 2021. Following the release of its April report, the research found dramatic month-over-month growth in camping lifestyle interest.
Data suggests that 24.5 million campers will venture out in July. KOA also notes impressive growth among new campers, with the new camper segment estimated to reflect 4.9 million by the end of the year. This is up from estimates of 4.3 million in May and 4.8 million in June.
Looking to summer as a whole, KOA research shows that 52 percent of all North American campers plan to camp, even as monthly research shows campers across the U.S. and Canada are dealing with outsides forces that may affect camping behavior.
“It’s very encouraging to see month-over-month growth in camping interest among veterans and new campers,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America. “While we are still seeing outside factors, like COVID and now gas prices in the U.S., affect travel, camping is not only proving to be a top vacation option, but the preferred mode of travel for a growing segment of the population.”
While COVID concerns continue to be the primary reason for changes to camping plans (40 percent), financial concerns and gas prices are also considerations. Nearly 7-in-10 campers say that climbing gas prices could affect their summer camping plans.
“As a business that is tied to road travel, we keep a close pulse on fuel prices,” O’Rourke said. “We have seen exponential growth in camping households across the U.S. and throughout our organization. In fact, the dramatic year-over-year growth KOA experienced for 10 years after the 2008 recession began as prices at the gas pump started to rise, indicating resiliency among our camping base. People may be taking trips closer to home or staying at locations longer, but we are not seeing a slowing in the desire to camp.”
