2025 may be right around the corner, but we have the insights you need now to feel more than prepared to shore up new business in the new year. Through our surveying of Campspot Marketplace campers, we’ve put a finger to the pulse of significant cultural trends that are permeating the outdoor hospitality industry. Read on as we cover emerging guest preferences, ways to make hot trends your own, and what to focus on in 2025 to attract more happy campers looking for (re)creation vacations.

Defining a (Re)Creation Vacation

Our key takeaway from 2024 is that nostalgia has taken the spotlight in North American society.  

“People are craving trips that really let them either relive or pass down those classic family experiences from their own childhoods,” said Carolin, Campspot’s Director of Public Relations and Partnerships. This is no doubt a broader cultural shift even beyond the outdoor hospitality industry. Since our industry centers on recreating outside and creating experiences, we’ve dubbed 2025 the year of the “(Re)creation Vacation.” 

It’s no surprise then that 88% of people surveyed by Campspot wished they could escape today’s world for a simpler time. Camping aligns perfectly with the sentiment of returning to nature, relaxation, and simplicity. This it-factor is something you can not only provide to your guests, but also harness to enhance their experience while attracting new business. 

Camping Culture Trends for 2025

Continuing with the theme of nostalgia, there are a few related trends Campspot validated through its recent surveying. First, 7 in 10 respondents say they would trade today’s technology for just one week of living in the days of the 1980’s. Yes, this includes respondents who didn’t even experience the ‘80’s the first time around but still recognize they missed out!

Second, campers appreciate the amenities that make modern camping what it is—running hot water, Wi-Fi, and climate control options to name a few. At the same time, if camping is one’s chosen vacation, then a digital detox is definitely tolerated if not completely sought out. In fact, Gen Z-ers are three times more likely than the Baby Boomer generation to seek a digital detox while on vacation. Consider tasteful ways to incorporate detox opportunities and disconnected activities throughout your campground. 

Lastly, to reiterate the theme for 2025, campers see camping trips as a way to reconnect with loved ones and destress while recreating in beautiful outdoors spaces. Thankfully, Mother Earth provides most of the ingredients to make this recipe a success. We simply suggest you lean into it and shape your brand around this culture shift. 

How to Apply the Trends and Insights at Your Park

  • Use intentional imagery and language in your marketing materials to cue people to the nostalgic experience they are craving.
  • Provide a variety of unique amenities that will help your customers digitally detox, but still offer reliable Wi-Fi.
  • Foster a sense of community and meaningful connections through your brand, staff interactions, amenities, and more.

To learn other ways to put 2025’s camping trends into practice and generate guest satisfaction, view our full webinar recording here. 

Three Groups of Campers Seeking (Re)Creation Vacations in 2025

The Cross-Country Caravaners

    Given the exponential growth of RVing and America’s heritage on wheels, it’s not hard to see why road trippers top the list for audiences to target in 2025. “Road trips are the number one childhood memory campers want to relive across all generations,” says Campspot’s Senior Manager for Demand Generation, Michelle. 

    As a local expert, we recommend you curate a custom road trip itinerary for your guests to explore natural sites, attractions, and restaurants in your area. Beyond your city or state, consider where you are in relation to common travel routes to popular destinations. Even better, Campspot’s Driving Distance Dashboard within Campspot Analytics takes the guesswork out of this for you. 

    Whether coming from near or far, pay attention to all of your guests traveling by car (or RV!) and how you can enhance their on-the-road experiences, too. 

    The Old-School Family Campout

      Nothing brings family members together like a good old fashioned campout. More than half of people surveyed were interested in taking a multi-general family camping trip in 2025. By catering to this sector, you will likely satisfy a core base of older customers while planting the seed for new loyal customers. 

      The best way to attract family gatherings is to start with emotional appeal, such as by soliciting familial testimonials and using nostalgic imagery in your decor. For more inspiration, reflect on your own camping memories and brainstorm the unique amenities that could appeal to campers of each generation. 

      The Rustic Retreat Seekers

        Campspot found that 8 in 10 campers find the idea of a rustic retreat appealing, especially in 2025. This doesn’t mean your entire brand needs to be off the grid, as there’s definitely a balance to strike. Photography is a great way to capture and advertise that you offer both the rustic charm campers delight in as well as the modern conveniences they expect. 

        Clear communication, especially during the booking and pre-arrival phases, will also go a long way in setting expectations of what will and won’t be available during a guest’s stay. If amenities vary widely by site type, be sure to communicate that in your Campspot booking profile

        Watch the Recording

        Learn more ways to attract all three of these target audiences looking for (re)creation vacations and hear from our presenters directly by tuning into our webinar recording!


        Haley Dalian is a lifelong Michigander who takes advantage of recreation throughout the state’s changing seasons—from snow skiing to scuba diving in the Great Lakes. A former Campspot marketing manager, Haley holds a B.A. degree in public policy from Michigan State University and an M.S. degree in sustainability from the University of Michigan. She is passionate about environmental stewardship, exploring the outdoors, and has never met a potato she didn’t like.