The new Kampgrounds of America (KOA) Monthly Research Report indicates that nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of campers expect to take a camping trip this year. With 50 percent of campers indicating they have already booked some of their trips and building on a robust 2021, the outlook for 2022 camping is strong.
KOA’s Monthly Research Reports is meant to be a timely snapshot that builds upon the findings of KOA’s annual North American Camping Report, which will be released in April.
The March report compares favorably to February, when nearly 30 percent of respondents said COVID-19 concerns negatively impacted their camping plans, only 19 percent said they would be unlikely to camp due to the ongoing pandemic. This corresponds with increased interest in a vast array of experiences travelers would like to try in 2022, including extended road trips (33 percent), visiting national parks (26 percent) and hiking long trails such as the Appalachian (20 percent).
“Between what campers are telling us and our reservation data, it’s clear that camping will be a popular way to travel again this year,” said Whitney Scott, KOA chief marketing officer. “Campers and leisure travelers alike are looking to get out and try new things as COVID-19 wanes.
“Even as fuel prices rise, people are still looking to vacation and camping is an affordable travel option. Recent fluctuations in gas prices are something we are keeping an eye on, but knowing that most campers stay within 100 miles of home, we think the industry will be resilient. We plan on sharing results around gas prices in our April KOA Research Report.”
To view the full March report in PDF format, click here.