Most Popular National & State Parks: Camping Stats

 In this age where technology is in every space of life, many Americans are ditching tech for trees. Camping exploded in popularity in 2020 when people found themselves craving adventure with nowhere to travel at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the tradition is continuing as many are going on more financially savvy trips. 

This report finds 2 in 3 Americans are going camping, but as more people are drawn to this affordable type of vacation, it’s getting harder to find quiet places to go! We determined every state’s most popular state or national park based on which ones people are searching about the most. 

Most Popular National or State Park, By State

Many people are camping across the U.S. to soak up nature and save a few pennies in the process. In a survey of more than 1,000 people, nearly 1 in 5 (19%) shared they’re going on more camping trips to save money. However, these budget-friendly trips don’t appear to be immune to inflation. 70% feel camping is getting more expensive.

Some of the most beloved and popular camping sites to enjoy nature are national and state parks. In states that have national parks, those are often the most popular. Unsurprisingly, Yellowstone National Park is the favorite park of both Idaho and Wyoming. Although a small part of the park resides in Montana, Glacier National Park is the favorite there!

With its abundance of national and state parks, there are a lot of options for people to explore in California. But the number one choice is Joshua Tree National Park. The park beat out Yosemite as the most popular in the state.

There are so many beautiful spots in Tennessee that two state parks are tied for the best in the state. Fall Creek Falls State Park and Rock Island State Park share the top spot. Out further East, one of the most popular state parks in New York wasn’t Niagara Falls, but the Grand Canyon of the East: Letchworth State Park.

Most Popular National Parks in the United States

Across the entire U.S., state parks don’t stand a chance against national parks. The most popular parks in the nation are all national parks or trails, many of them out West. Yellowstone ranked first followed by the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park. Once again, Joshua Tree beat out Yosemite as the 5th most popular place.

In the top 10, only two parks were on the East Coast: Acadia National Park and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. It’s no wonder the Appalachian Trail is popular… the trail spans across 14 states and is more than 2,100 miles long!

Americans’ Camping Trends

It’s a bucket list item for many to visit national or state parks, but while many love to drive through and hike in these parks, not everyone prefers to camp in these spaces. 1 in 3 prefer to camp in private campgrounds instead.

However, finding the ideal camping site is getting harder for Americans. Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) say camping spots have gotten busier since 2020. In fact, 37% had to camp elsewhere after finding first come, first serve campsites full while on a trip. For campsites requiring reservations, more than 1 in 4 (29%) are having trouble getting a spot. On average, people say they’re having to make reservations six months in advance!

While 27% find reviews to be most important when choosing a campground, some people may purposefully not review their favorite spots. More than 1 in 4 (26%) admitted they try to keep their favorite camping spot a secret so it doesn’t get too busy.

Camping vs Glamping

Whether it’s bugs or a lack of bathroom accommodations, camping isn’t for everyone. However, some are being drawn to the outdoors with the promise of “glamping.” Glamping is camping with all the amenities. It’s described as more luxurious camping because it includes comfortable sleeping arrangements, bathrooms (usually even running water!), as well as food. But all of that also comes with a price tag.

When it comes to glamping vs camping, on average, Americans are spending more to glamp. Campers will shell out an average of $258, but while glamping, people spend nearly double that: $487. The added cost appears to be worth it for those who have tried glamping because 68% say they like it better than camping.

Glamping is often promoted by influencers online, and social media seems to draw some out of their homes and into the wilderness. Nearly 1 in 6 (14%) camp in places based on how ‘Instagrammable’ it is, meaning they choose their vacations based on which will provide the best images for social media. It’s especially important for younger generations: 22% of Gen Z admit to doing this!

No matter what your motivation may be, getting outside is good for your health. Camping is a great way to breathe in some fresh air and take in the beauty of the world. We hope you have plenty of trips in your future and enjoy exploring everything this Earth has to offer.

Insurance for Camping and Outdoor Activities

As more individuals go camping, it is also growing in importance to understand whether camping or outdoor activities carry financial risk that a good insurance coverage can protect you from. It does not matter whether it is camping, glamping, or other outdoor activities, a number of insurance coverages can be bought and guarantee safety in the event of unexpected occurrences.

Recreational Insurance

It is made to cover people going outdoors, whether it is for hiking, skiing, or even camping. This insurance policy can assist the people to mitigate potential losses that might occur through accidents, injuries and liabilities. Most often this type of insurance includes medical expenses, hospitalization, and covering ambulance expenses.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage is needed so that an individual can have protection from legal expenses as well as damages when the individual hurts someone while going about outdoor activities. 

For example, if while skiing one collides into someone accidentally, their medical expenses and any other legal fees can be settled by liability insurance.

Equipment Insurance

The camping gear and bikes are a one time investment that lovers of the outdoors will purchase for their activities. Equipment insurance goes further and covers loss that has arisen as a result of theft, damage, or accidents. That enables you to have your outdoor gear replaced or repaired while not facing a lot of financial pressure.

Campsite Insurance

Even those people who own or operate a campground, need to have business insurance against the risks posed by the running of the campground. So when it comes to Campsite Insurance, this would generally include professional indemnity insurance, property insurance and workers compensation. This covers damage to business property, injury sustained by visitors, downtime caused by unforeseen circumstances such as disasters, equipment failure, employee lawsuit expenses and more.

Travel Insurance for Outdoor Adventures

Special outdoor adventure insurance should cover medical bills (for injuries people sustain), trip cancellation and expenses incurred due to lost gear or other damage. It also includes liability coverage, which is especially helpful in case you accidentally hurt someone during your trip.

Methodology

To determine the most popular national or state park, we analyzed the Google search volume of 3,785 search phrases and terms relating to the names of state and national parks in America over the period from May 2020 to May 2023. 

In July 2023, we surveyed 1,053 people about camping habits and preferences. People ranged in age from 18 to 85, averaging 41. 50% were men, 49% were women, and 1% were nonbinary. 

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When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing barterinsurance.com

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