Many of us remember the 1980s and 1990s when one could book a campsite at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground just a few days out, or perhaps even just show up. The 1970s weren’t quite as easy as all campground loops were not yet complete. And the 70s were the heyday of the long family road trip, with the expansion of the interstate system and mass production of motorhomes. And then around 1980, camping and outdoor activities began a decline, alongside a more fearful parenting style and the proliferation of video games. The number of RV owners did not reach the 1980s level until 2001 (Journal of Leisure Research, 2014). Now, in 2019, camping has reached a new high in popularity among Americans who seek to escape the news, their technologies, and ever-increasing societal stress. This is part of the reason that getting a prime-time reservation at Fort Wilderness requires a little bit of persistence and ingenuity. But it’s far easier to achieve than many realize.
Data backs this remarkable return to nature – there are more than 7 million new campers in America since 2014, according to KOA’s recently-released 2019 camping report. Millennials made up 56 percent of all new campers, but couples with children (64%) were most likely to take more camping trips in 2019 than they did in 2018. So what could be at the root of this marvelous resurgence?
It’s still more affordable
As hotel rates continue to climb, campground sites have as well. Perhaps, nowhere is this more apparent than at Fort Wilderness, where premium sites now approach $200 per night during peak holiday times. But keep in mind that 10 people can fit on one of these sites, equaling the capacity of two or three hotel rooms. Interestingly, campers are less affluent today than they were in 2012. In 2018, only 17 percent of campers had household incomes of $100,000 or more, compared with 24 percent in 2012.
Nature calls
The last decade or so has seen an emphasis on minimalism, and a need for more experiences and fewer things. While a night at the Ritz-Carlton still has its luxurious allure, camping appeals to new generations who seek authenticity, less stress and adventure. Research about the mental and health benefits of being outdoors abound. Author Richard Lutz coined a term, nature deficit disorder, in his ground-breaking book, Last Child in the Woods (2005). Lutz made a compelling case for a direct link between nature deficit disorder and childhood issues, such as ADHD.
“Love of the outdoors” was cited as the number one reason for going camping in the KOA study, with 49% of 2018 campers saying this was the driving factor for them. Nevertheless a growing percentage reported that campground activities and amenities were somewhat or very important to them in selecting a campground or site. And Fort Wilderness provides a paradise for this like few others.
Technology overload
While smart phones and technology are now ubiquitous, such is the overwhelming feeling of always being connected. Most campers do choose to take technology with them, but one in five reported never using their technology while camping, up from 13 percent in 2017 (KOA, 2019). More than four out of ten campers said that “camping allows me to clear my mind,” up from 38 percent in 2017. On the other hand, a benefit of technology has been that camping feels safer than it once did, with the ability to call emergency services even in many remote areas.
let’s stay together
Nowadays, families tend to be spread out among a house, each viewing or using a different device (I’m doing it right now). This is a far cry from the 1970s when most of us had one television with three or four channels, and settled down to watch Happy Days or Dallas. Camping provides a captive way for us to live closely together once again – cooking meals, playing games, sitting around the campfire, or looking at the stars. In the 2019 report, about 60 percent of camping households reported taking a least one camping trip that included multiple generations. This is up from 56 percent in 2015.
So many choices.
Options for camping have also increased. In addition to the traditional tent and RVs, there is an abundance of yurts, camper vans, unique glamping setups, and more companies offering RV rentals and setup to places like Fort Wilderness.
KOA reports that it has 13 new campgrounds in the various stages of implementation to meet increased demand. And many other campgrounds are expanding their number of pads or enhancing their sites. Although most believe that future expansion of campsites at Fort Wilderness is a long shot, we can be certain that the market shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
