More Travelers are Winter Camping Than Ever, According to New Study

If you’re not a big camping fan, you might think of winter camping as even worse than summer camping. Sure, there are no bugs or bears out, but what about all that snow and ice? However, a new study shows more outdoorsy travelers are winter camping as of late.

The Dyrt found, as of 2023, nearly a third of campers now camp in the winter months. The interest in winter camping has been growing over the last five years, with a 40 percent increase in winter camping from 2019 to 2021.

“The fact that the rate of winter camping remains level from the height of the pandemic is remarkable,” said Kevin Long, CEO, The Dyrt. “Travelers have every option available to them again, but winter camping remains at an all-time high. People bought the gear, braved the elements and fell in love with enjoying the great outdoors at a quieter, cozier time of year.”

However, it’s not just winter camping that’s popular. The Dyrt’s 2023 Camping Report found camping demand overall is still at an all-time high, a trend that started in 2020, when more travelers were looking for social distant-savvy ways to still see the world. The Dyrt noted more than 15 million American travelers camped for the first time in the last two years, and more than 35 million American travelers camped in an RV in 2022.