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Axios
28-05-2025
- Axios
Why Americans are camping alone more than ever
Americans are taking more solo camping trips to get away from it all. Why it matters: Depending on who you ask, it's either another symptom of America's loneliness epidemic or it's healthy YOLO move for people who just need a break from the craziness of daily life. 🏕️ The big picture: About 31% of campers went solo at least one night in 2024, according to a survey of more than 4,000 campers by The Dyrt, an app that helps people snag camping spots. That's up from 30% in 2023, 24% in 2022 and 19% in 2021. "We just keep seeing this go up, up, up," The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long tells Axios. Between the lines: The pandemic may have sparked the solo camping boom. "During the pandemic, we all got good at doing things by ourselves and got good at getting creative at how to go have experiences," Long says. "I think that has just moved forward since then and has become a permanent thing in the ecosystem." 🌳 For campers like Colorado resident Kris Angelo, the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want, do what you want and spend what you want is a huge draw. It's "the freedom of making all the decisions yourself and being able to choose your location," he says. "You can make it as cheap or expensive as you'd like." "I certainly wouldn't have been able to afford four vacations last year if I was staying at hotels," he adds. The intrigue: The solo camping trend looks like the latest evolution in what political scientist Robert Putnam famously chronicled in his book " Bowling Alone" — America's steady decline of togetherness and collective experiences. In some ways, Americans are more isolated than ever. For example, solo living is on the rise. Then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy flagged loneliness as a public health issue in 2023. But Angelo argues that solo camping leads to more social interaction than you would expect: "You end up talking to the locals a lot more when you're out there by yourself than when you're traveling with people." 🐶 Reality check: Many solo campers are traveling with a four-legged friend: About half brought their dog with them in 2024, according to The Dyrt's research. That includes Angelo, who brings his Australian Shepherd mix Chappelle with him on his camping excursions, such as his trip last year to the Black Hills of South Dakota. "Are you really camping solo — you're out there with your best friend," The Dyrt's Long says.
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Moment 'Indoor Dog' Realizes He's on a Camping Vacation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Camping might be a dream getaway for some, but it's certainly not everyone's idea of fun—and apparently, that includes some dogs. One owner recently shared a hilarious video revealing her pet's dismay at an outdoor adventure. Allison Gerbers, 25, (@allisongerbers) posted a TikTok clip showing her partner setting up a tent in a woodland area. As the camera pans to the car, viewers see her dog Pablo comfortably seated inside, clearly unimpressed by the campsite. A caption over the video reads: "Our dog immediately seeing himself to the car when he realizes we're sleeping on the ground." Since being posted on May 26, the clip has racked up over 1.2 million views and more than 230,000 likes, resonating with dog owners everywhere. According to The Dyrt's 2024 Camping Report, presented by the All-New Toyota Tacoma, more than half (53.7 percent) of campers brought their dogs along in 2023. However, as the video shows, not all dogs are fans of sleeping under the stars—like Pablo, who's described in the caption as an "indoor dog." Newsweek reached out to @allisongerbers for comment via email. We could not verify the details of the case. Why Most Dogs Usually Love the Outdoors A stock image of a Staffordshire terrier wrapped in a blanked in a tent. A stock image of a Staffordshire terrier wrapped in a blanked in a tent. Photoboyko/iStock / Getty Images Plus While Pablo's reaction is priceless, it's actually uncommon for dogs to dislike camping. Being in nature offers them plenty of exercise and a world of exciting new smells to explore. U.K.-based animal welfare organization Dogs Trust highlights the benefits of sniffing for dogs: Mental stimulation: Sniffing exercises the brain and can be as tiring as physical activity. Sniffing exercises the brain and can be as tiring as physical activity. Mood-boosting: It releases dopamine, the "feel-good" chemical, helping dogs relax. It releases dopamine, the "feel-good" chemical, helping dogs relax. Natural behavior: Sniffing allows dogs to fulfill instinctual needs and stay mentally enriched. Sniffing allows dogs to fulfill instinctual needs and stay mentally enriched. Information gathering: Much like humans scroll social media, dogs use their nose to understand their surroundings. Much like humans scroll social media, dogs use their nose to understand their surroundings. Comparable to exercise: A 20-minute sniffing session can be as beneficial as a one-hour walk. While not every pup may be a wilderness explorer, most benefit greatly from time outside. Whether it's a full-on camping trip or just a slow, sniff-filled walk, allowing dogs to explore their environment at their own pace is one of the best ways to keep them happy and healthy. Other Dogs Feel the Same The comment section quickly filled with relatable stories from fellow dog owners. "Mine is the same. The morning after camping, he refused to walk on the ground—he wouldn't leave his chair or blanket," shared one user. Another wrote: "We took my dog camping over the weekend for three days. When we got home, he RAN to the front door. I've never seen him do that!" "We just got a pop-up trailer, and when I tell you I heard my husky sigh with relief when she saw the mattress," said a third commenter.
Forbes
09-04-2025
- Forbes
The Top 10 Glamping Campsites In The U.S. According To The Dyrt
Cozy Heron Glamping in North Carolina: Conestoga wagons with king-size beds The Dyrt, the popular camping app listing all public and private campgrounds, RV parks, and free camping locations in the United States, has announced the winners of the 2025 Glampy Awards. Now in its fourth year, the Glampys recognize and honor the country's most unique and innovative glamping destinations. Outdoor lovers will find a glampsite worth booking in this year's selection of winners, including Utah's Zion Glamping Adventures, with its luxurious bell tents set against an iconically Western backdrop, which takes top honors this year. 'When we first started the Glampy Awards, its purpose was to shine a light on some of the rare finds across the country, glampgrounds offering something extraordinary and unique,' says The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith. 'Here we are three years later, and glamping has become more integrated into traditional campgrounds. It's more common to see campgrounds offer glamping sites among many camping experiences, leading to widespread innovation and creativity in glamping.' Each of these properties has plenty of extras that make a campsite into a glampsite and are all located in beautiful places offering numerous activities. Among the favorites are an Appalachian cabin with a hot tub, a geodesic star-viewing station, and a luxury Conestoga wagon compound. According to The Dyrt, winners were selected by the camping community and awarded on a subjective basis. The winning glampgrounds were chosen for overall glampiness, originality of design, immersion in nature and the surrounding beauty. With so many amazing glampgrounds across the U.S., previous Glampy Award winners were not eligible. Zion Glamping Adventures is located in southern Utah, near Zion National Park This setting couldn't be more perfect, with one of the most iconic destinations in America nearby. With 24 bell tents in a quiet cove in Hildale, Utah, this site is surrounded by the Canaan Mountain Wilderness, giving guests the best outdoor location and ultimate privacy. Offering more than simply a nice tent and a comfortable mattress, the campsite provides family-friendly excursions, including side-by-side tours, guided hikes, horse trail rides, biking, and others. North Haven Campground This well-kept 40-site spot is a great base for birdwatchers. It is located close to the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge and the Selkirk Loop, offering many opportunities for wildlife viewing and scenic drives. The famous Selkirk Loop crosses into Canada but even driving just a portion of it will make you appreciate the stunning beauty of the Idaho Panhandle. Nearby trails for hikers include the trek to Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge. After your day trips, you have a range of lodgings to relax in. Luxury log cabins sleep four or eight and offer full kitchens, dining and living areas, heated floors, A/C, flat-screen TVs with DirecTV, and queen-size sleeper sofas. There are also two new Conestoga glamping wagons, king-size beds and twin bunks, electricity, heat and A/C, fridge and microwave, outdoor grill area, and access to a private bathhouse with towels and toiletries. A camp store sells ice, firewood, drinks, candy, and souvenirs. Twin Falls Glamping Tents With only four sites, Twin Falls Ranch makes a luxurious base for exploring the nearby Guadalupe River State Park and the many vineyards and wine-tasting rooms in the area. Stroll the town of Fredricksburg, explore the fascinating Cascade Caverns nearby, and then relax in your large, light-filled tent nestled among shade trees. Hiking trails are nearby and on the grounds themselves. The resort's family-friendly adventure tents are spacious, with several configurations of beds and bedroom furniture, cozy fire pits, heaters, and big front porches that invite hangouts. A central building in the common area holds restrooms, a kitchen, and a dining area. Untamed Honey Glampsites Untamed Honey is an ideal combination of camping pleasures with six unique Luna Bell Tents nestled on the shores of Clarks Hill Lake. Each glamping tent has king or queen beds and well-curated décor. A central bathhouse has private shower rooms and flush toilets. The property has self-check-in so you can go straight to your tent on arrival. Nearby, the quaint town of Lincolnton offers boutique shopping and restaurants. You can rent boats at a local marina, play golf at two public courses, hike or bike at several state parks, and visit Soap Creek Public Beach, a sandy beach within walking distance with Kayaks and SUPs available to rent. Scruffy Buffalo Ranch You can have the best hiking or climbing adventure at the famous City of Rocks National Reserve and then relax in a cool glamping dome while stargazing from the comfort of your bed. The five glamping geodomes here let you fully immerse yourself in nature. In addition to 12 new bell tents for the 2025 season, the property also offers a range of activities suited to all ages, including guided horseback trail riding and nature hikes. Rock Wren Hideaway This escape offers only three luxury bell tents close to the City of Rocks National Reserve in the Albion Mountains. It is an excellent base camp for climbers, hikers, and mountain bikers, with an emphasis on being family-friendly. It's near the Snake River, where you can rent kayaks to explore from the riverbank. Also nearby is Castle Rocks State Park, another rock-climbing hotspot, where Native American pictographs and historic trails give visitors a sense of the area's importance over time. Each tent is equipped with comfortable queen-size beds, spacious patios, and deck chairs. The tents are tucked away in the trees with views of the surrounding mountain ridge, and there's a shared restroom a short walk away. Cozy Heron Glamping covered wagon Conveniently located in Lillington, right along the bank of the upper Cape Fear River, this property offers accommodations in covered wagons. Each of their five handmade wooden Conestoga wagons has comfortable furnishings, including a king-size bed, two bunks, a table, fridge, microwave, coffee maker, heat and A/C, and a collection of board games. A central fire pit on a stone patio and a bathhouse with toiletries are also provided. The property is next door to a river outfitter where you can rent canoes, kayaks, and SUPs, go tubing, or take SUP yoga classes. Raven Rock State Park, with tons of hiking trails, is a 15-minute drive away. Timberline Glamping at Amicalola Falls Located at the far end of Amicalola Falls State Park, these four enormous safari tents are set up for groups or big families. Each tent has a king bed and two bunk beds, plus extras like hammocks, chairs, picnic tables, a mini fridge and coffee maker, lamps, chargers, heating, and air conditioning. There's even a double safari tent with two queen-size beds and all the other furnishings. The location is family-friendly, with games and hikes geared toward younger campers. A short walk away from the tents is a bathhouse with restrooms and showers. Local activities include a zip line, archery range, winery and distillery tours, Atlanta Motorsports Park, and a section of the storied Appalachian Trail. The park's namesake, nearby Amicalola Falls, is one of the highlights of the North Georgia Mountains. Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse This is a large, well-established 70-site campground near Summersville Lake, an ideal spot for kayaking and fishing. The real draw for glampers here is the five beautiful, hand-built, comfortably furnished cabins. The larger cabins are chalet-style and individually decorated. They are built from local Appalachian hemlock and equipped with a refrigerator, oven, microwave, coffee station, cookware, and utensils. Outside each secluded cabin is a fire pit, picnic table, gas grill, and hot tub. Other options include a tiny house cabin decorated with a theme — earth, air, fire, or water — plus the barn and farmhouse and two vintage RVs. There's a playground for the kids that contains a model pirate ship, a game room, a fancy dog park, and the namesake lighthouse, which you can climb up for impressive views of the lake and surrounding hills. Roaring River Hills Campground & Cabins This large, family-friendly property is near the popular Roaring River State Park entrance in the southwest Ozark hills. It offers 11 deluxe tents and cabins beside a river. The main campground is beloved for its excellent trout fishing and easy access to hiking trails. The glamping site offers heated mattresses on the king, queen, or twin-size beds, woodstoves or space heaters indoors, covered patio spaces, firewood delivered each night, and a store stocked with hot chocolate and other goodies. The shared modern bathhouses with hot showers are kept spotless. The 2025 Glampy Awards were presented by the New 2025 Ford Bronco Sport®. glamping
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
This South Dakota campground is among the most scenic in US, study says
The Midwest has some of the country's most scenic campsites, from the windswept landscapes of the Dakotas to the Northwoods shorelines of Minnesota. A recently released list from the online travel guide Matador Network names the 60 Campsites With the Best Views Across the United States, including 10 sites in the Midwest. To create the list, Matador worked with a team from The Dyrt, a website for finding, booking and reviewing campsites. Matador also relied on its team across the U.S., along with tips from various park organizations and tourism boards. Here's what to know about the South Dakota campground named one of the country's most scenic: Matador describes "The Wall" – about 8 miles south of Wall, South Dakota – as "one of the most unofficial areas to camp" in the entire region. It doesn't have any facilities to speak of, but it does offer camping on cliffside pull-offs that overlook the peculiar landscapes of Badlands National Park. The park is in a rural area where cell service isn't always available and GPS directions aren't always reliable, so be sure to plan ahead: park maps and driving directions are available on the park's website. The weather in the area can be "variable and unpredictable," making it important to pack appropriately for the forecast, according to the National Park Service. No camping reservations are available, Matador says, and it's a popular site for RVers, which means vehicle noise can often be heard, especially on busy weekends. The following places were also named to Matador's list of the 10 most scenic Midwest campsites. Oak Island at Wisconsin's Apostles Island National Lakeshore Presque Isle Campground in Michigan's Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park North Manitou Island in Michigan's Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Lower Wisconsin State Riverway near Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin South Bass Island State Park in Ohio The Peninsula Trail, starting in Indiana's Charles C. Deam Wilderness Fort Kearny State Recreation Area in Nebraska Frontcountry Camping in Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park Cottonwood Campground in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: The Wall in South Dakota among the country's most scenic campgrounds
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
Is America experiencing a camping boom?
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A new camping report shows more Americans camped in 2023 and 2024 than in previous years, with more than three times the number of first-time campers pitching their tents in 2024 vs. 2021. 'Some trends may come and go, but the need to connect with nature–and to connect with one another in nature–is what helps humans stay grounded,' said Sarah Smith, the founder of The Dyrt. The Dyrt's 2025 camping report, presented by Toyota Trucks, shows that the United States is currently experiencing a camping boom. 'There's now an awareness, approachability and familiarity with camping that didn't exist five years ago,' said Smith. The Dyrt study found that almost 1/3 of campers in the United States identify as minorities. Another surprising find is that almost half of American campers bring their dogs along on camping trips. More than 73% of campers travel with a spouse/partner, with the majority of 55+ campers preferring RVs and campers aged 18-34 preferring camping with their friends in tents. But solo camping is also a growing trend. In 2021, less than 20% of American campers went solo, but in 2024, almost one-third of campers focused on camping in solitude. In 2024, 17% of campgrounds added pickleball courts, and almost 10% added WI-FI to their lists of amenities. However, glamping statistics took a nosedive in 2024. The number of glamping sites added to campgrounds dropped 21.1% compared to 2023 figures. The Dyrt is a camping app that connects users with public, private, RV park, and free camping locations throughout the United States. PRO members can reserve campsites at sold-out campgrounds, find dump and water stations, download maps, peruse cell service maps, and find free and discounted camping sites. Campgrounds in the ArkLaTex featured on the Dyrt app include Caddo Lake State Park Campground near Karnack, Texas; Beaver Dam Campground near Minden, Louisiana; the Shreveport Bossier City KOA; Cypress Black Bayou Recreation Area near Benton, Louisiana; Lake Bistineau State Park Campground in Webster Parish, Louisiana, and Earl Williamson Park near Oil City, Louisiana. Read The Dyrt's 2022, 2023, and 2024 camping reports for more information about living your best camping life. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
