Camping Proves Inflation Proof, as 4 Out of 5 Camped the Same or More in 2024

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dyrt, the only camping app with all of the public and private campgrounds, RV parks, and free camping locations in the United States, has found that of the 81.1 million Americans who went camping in 2024, four out of five (79.6%) either camped the same amount or more despite high inflation.

These statistics are from the newly released 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks, the most 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.

"For years, I've been saying that camping is an inflation-proof activity," The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith wrote in the report. "Last year, that was really put to the test. While some campers saved money by camping less, others increasingly turned to camping as a more affordable travel option. To see that 80% of campers either camped more or the same amount shows how resilient our industry and community really are!"

Campground rate hikes dropped last year as well. The percentage of campgrounds that increased their rates fell from 45.3% in 2023 to 38.9% in 2024. Among those who did increase rates last year, inflation was the No. 1 reason given, cited by 78.7% of property owners and managers surveyed.

"Inflation at the beginning of the camping season threatened to restrict our plans thanks to cost increases in two primary areas: fuel and food," says The Dyrt camper Bob R. of Ohio. "We wanted to travel to the western U.S. but finding inexpensive campgrounds that fit our needs and wants (and camping budget) was going to be a challenge. So we decided to give serious boondocking a try to see if we could make it work with our rig and if we liked the no-reservations-required style of camping. We loved it!"

Others turned to camping simply to get more bang for their stretched buck.

"I realized at the start of 2024 that I hadn't left my home state in over a decade, and decided it was time to do something about that," says The Dyrt camper Kris A. of Colorado. "The biggest obstacle was how expensive travel can be, especially when you're staying in hotels. Inflation has obviously made that problem even worse. By camping I was able to afford trips to Moab, the Black Hills and Ouray over the span of six months."

About The Dyrt

The Dyrt is the only camping app with all of the public and private campgrounds, RV parks, and free camping locations in the United States, along with millions of user-generated campground reviews. With The Dyrt PRO, campers get comprehensive free camping tools, reservations at sold-out campgrounds, advanced route planning and maps, as well as discounts on camping. The Dyrt's 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks and informed by the largest online camping community is the leading source of information for the camping industry. www.thedyrt.com

Media Contact:
Mike Wollschlager
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SOURCE The Dyrt