Four Out of Five Campers Plan to Visit National Parks in 2025, Survey Finds

A new survey from The Dyrt, a camping app that catalogs public and private campgrounds, RV parks, and free camping locations in the United States, reports that four out of five campers plan to visit a national park in 2025. 

Yellowstone National Park also ranked as the top choice among respondents when asked which locations they were most eager to visit.

The findings are part of The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks, which analyzes trends in the camping industry. The data was compiled from surveys conducted in late 2024 among members of The Dyrt community, a representative sample of U.S. residents, and camping property managers nationwide. 

The research was completed before recent federal government layoffs.

“It’s been said that our national parks are national treasures, and I wholeheartedly agree,” said The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long. 

“Setting up at a campsite amidst the natural wonder, among the native wildlife, staring off into the unchanged landscape—national parks provide an iconic setting for a camping trip,” Long added.

The report also highlights generational differences in national park camping preferences. Among those surveyed, 91.7% of campers aged 18-34 expressed plans to camp in a national park, followed by 82% of respondents aged 35-54 and 78.9% of those aged 55 and older. 

Camping in national parks was also the most common response among older adults when asked about post-retirement travel plans, with 79.1% of campers aged 55 and up including national park visits on their list.

Frequent national park campers also weighed in on their experiences. “We’ve been camping in national parks across the country for years and can’t think of a bad experience,” said The Dyrt user Tom B. of Washington.

“We started out as tent campers and backpackers, and now enjoy national parks with our campervan, ebikes, and kayaks as we get on in our 60s. We’ve often been able to get campsites without reservations, but The Dyrt has been invaluable in locating campgrounds in the national parks and providing information about locations and availability,” he added.

In addition to Yellowstone, the survey found that Glacier, Great Smoky Mountains, Acadia, and Yosemite ranked among the top five most anticipated national park destinations. Great Smoky Mountains National Park had the highest rate of return visitors, with 36.2% of those planning a trip in 2025 having camped there previously. 

Overall, 27.1% of campers planning national park visits this year said they intend to return to a park they have previously visited.

The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report provides insight into broader industry trends, including campground demand and the increasing popularity of national parks among campers of all ages. The findings are expected to inform outdoor hospitality operators and campground owners as they plan for the year ahead.