Campgrounds and RV parks reported a major surge in bookings, a trend that is likely to continue for many years to come, according to a new report from CampgroundViews.com.
A recent survey of 2,100 campgrounds and RV parks nationwide found that 39 percent of locations reported a 20 to 49 percent increase in advanced bookings for late summer and early fall. An additional 23 percent of locations reported an increase of more than 50 percent. The results of the survey confirm that camping will remain one of the most popular forms of travel during 2021, with no signs of letting up.
“We are up 36 percent in forward bookings, with many still booking for this September and October, and for 2022 already,” said Billie McNamara, general manager of Loon’s Haven Family Campground in Maine. “Our weekends are fully booked until the week after Labor Day and hardly any weekdays are available, as well.”
The continuing surge in camper participation is tracking directly with the record RV sales and shipments reported by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). Vacationing in the outdoors – particularly camping and RV travel – has become the hottest travel trend in 2021. Even prior to COVID-19 shutdowns, the industry was experiencing rapid growth in participation, and the pandemic has super charged this cycle.
“Tools like our new Campground Virtual Tours are quickly gaining favor as more tech-savvy travelers seek out lesser-known campgrounds,” said Mark Koep, founder and CEO of Laramie-based CampgroundViews.com. “Through 360 video and augmented reality technology, we are improving the camper experience by empowering travelers to see and click to book their next campsite.”
CampgroundViews.com is a search engine for discovering the perfect campsite with a focus on visual data. The company recently launched the new campground virtual tours and has so far amassed an active tour library equal to 25 percent of Recreation.gov family campgrounds. The company also heads what it calls the largest organization of outdoor hospitality professionals in the world, with a goal of improving their operations and expertise to better serve campers.