More than half of campers in 2024 faced challenges booking campsites due to high occupancy, according to The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks.
The report found that 56.1% of campers encountered difficulties securing reservations, a figure nearing the peak of 58.4% recorded in 2022 after a decline to 45.5% in 2023.
The annual report, compiled by The Dyrt, draws on survey responses from The Dyrt camper community, a representative sample of U.S. residents, and camping property managers across all 50 states. It provides insights into industry trends, highlighting continued demand for camping accommodations nationwide.
In 2019, only 10.6% of campers reported difficulties booking campsites. That percentage surged to 26.9% in 2020 and increased further in 2021 before reaching a high in 2022. The Pacific Region reported the highest booking challenges in 2024, with 66.1% of campers struggling to secure reservations—more than 10 percentage points higher than any other region.
“We really want to see less friction in the campsite marketplace,” The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith stated in the report.
“The camping community is happier and healthier when people can find a site to book with relative ease. While increased inventory from private campgrounds helped bring this number down in 2023, interest remains extremely high in competitive public campgrounds with a fixed number of sites,” Smith added.
The report also highlighted alternative options for campers facing booking difficulties. Glamping, which includes high-end camping accommodations, was found to have the most availability. Survey respondents who preferred glamping reported 34.4% fewer issues securing reservations compared to traditional camping.
Campers have had to adopt flexible planning strategies to secure campsites. Jon C., a camper from Idaho, shared his experience booking a trip through Utah and Nevada. “Because of the popularity of all of those parks, we tried to book ahead of time. We were signed on and ready to book immediately as the windows opened. In every case, without exception, all available sites were booked before we could pull the trigger.”
For campers determined to secure spots at sold-out campgrounds, The Dyrt offers The Dyrt Alerts, a feature that scans campgrounds and notifies users via text when a reservation becomes available. This tool aims to assist campers in securing sites despite high demand.
The report underscores the continued growth of camping as a popular recreational activity, with demand for sites remaining strong despite increased inventory from private campgrounds. The findings suggest that public campgrounds, which have a fixed number of sites, continue to be in high demand.
The Dyrt provides a platform that includes listings for public and private campgrounds, RV parks, and free camping locations throughout the United States. Through The Dyrt PRO subscription, campers gain access to advanced reservation tools, route planning, and discount options.
