The Dyrt: Statistics Show Campers Over 55 Prefer RVs – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
PORTLAND, Ore. – Camping app The Dyrt, has found that 61% of campers 55 and over list RV and trailer as their primary camping type, which is 50% higher than the average camper. Also, “visiting national parks” was the No. 1 response given (79.1%) when asked about post-retirement camping plans, according to a press release.
These statistics are from the 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks, the most comprehensive look at the latest trends, topics and figures for the U.S. camping industry. The latest version of The Dyrt’s annual report is compiled from the results of surveys conducted with three groups — thousands of members of The Dyrt camper community, a representative sample of U.S. residents, and camping property managers across all 50 states.
In addition to visiting some of the country’s 63 national parks, campers 55 and over said they planned to embark on open-road exploration (73.6%) and find more locations for free camping (63.7%). Retirement-age campers are already free-camping aficionados: the report found 62.8% of retired campers camped for free in 2024, which is 11.4% higher than average.
“Upon retiring, I made perhaps one of the best purchases of my life: I bought a class B camper van that has provided an opportunity for outdoor experiences that has far exceeded even my most optimistic expectations,” says The Dyrt camper Bob G. of Utah. “I also have the great blessing of being a man of the West with its almost unlimited areas of exploration and adventure. Always having been an ardent supporter of public lands, the last four-plus years even further strengthened my belief in the great good that public lands can do.
“I have traveled over 50,000 miles in the western United States from Washington to Texas. Each of those years I have spent over 100 nights in my van. I have seen the big attractions, our spectacular national parks, and give my endorsement that everyone should see them.”
The report found that almost a third of all campers (32.9%) are 55 and over. Other answers given for post-retirement camping plans included visiting with family members at a campground (36.5%) and going on a camping trip with their grandkids (28.9%).
“Camping was a big part of my life ever since I was a baby, because both my parents were very outdoorsy,” says The Dyrt camper Janet R. of Minnesota. “We had so many fantastic family road trips to visit and camp in national parks when I was a kid. I was into the Outdoor Recreation program in college and married a similarly outdoorsy fellow student, and went on to raise two kids whom we camped with every opportunity we could.
“Our kids, who are now in their 30s, are even more adventurous than we are, as they camp while rock climbing and mountaineering — in fact, both kids and their spouses summited, climbed and camped on Mount Whitney just this past summer! So, it is quite a legacy.”
