The Dyrt found that the percentage of campers who camp alone increased for the third consecutive year. Nearly a third of campers (30.6%) said they camped alone at least one night in 2024.
These statistics are from the 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks, a comprehensive look at the latest trends, topics and figures for the U.S. camping industry. The latest version of The Dyrt’s annual report is compiled from the results of surveys conducted with three groups — thousands of members of The Dyrt camper community, a representative sample of U.S. residents and camping property managers across all 50 states.
Only 18.8% of campers reported camping alone in 2021, the first year The Dyrt began tracking these numbers. That increased to 24% in 2022 and 29.8% in 2023.
“I believe that solo camping is an example of a trend that has become a new normal,” said Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt. “Part of the effect of the camping boom is that people who would have never even considered camping alone discovered that they really enjoyed it. They’ve found the value in it. One or two nights of pure solitude can be like hitting the reset button.”
Solitude was the No. 1 answer given by campers (69%) when asked their top reasons for camping alone. Other reasons included friends and family not being available (50.6%), last-minute planning (28.4%) and camping being part of a larger solo road trip (25.9%). But just because there are no other humans around doesn’t necessarily mean solo campers are entirely alone. Nearly half (49.7%) of all campers reported camping with dogs in 2024.
“While the safety a dog provides on a solo camping trip in the wilderness is nice, the best part is the constant morale boost they provide,” said The Dyrt camper Kris A. of Colorado. “Whether we’re hiking, going to a lake or creek, taking a scenic drive or just lounging around the campsite eating hot dogs, there’s never an activity my dog doesn’t enjoy.”
Two consecutive years at about 30% may be an indicator that solo camping is here to stay. The statistics were also consistent across all age groups. Geographically, Pacific Region campers are the most likely to camp solo.
“I bought a new car complete with a tow hitch and a sunroof — to me those are the holy grail of road trip essentials, setting the stage for me to deepen my love for camping,” said The Dyrt camper Kyra E. of Georgia. “Part of my decision to travel solo was practical — I was brand-new to towing and wanted to focus entirely on mastering that challenge without distractions.”
