ArcaMax

Got good rain gear? And a plan B? Then let’s go camping!

We learned how necessary both can be when an all-day downpour derailed our plans in New Hampshire one summer. The budget rain gear we had didn’t keep us dry and the kids were all too happy to decamp to a cozy, dry B&B in the nearest town.

Another time, the kids were understandably disappointed when there weren’t s’mores fixings.

According to the KOA 2024 North American Camping Report, camping now accounts for one out of three leisure trips. Over the past decade, active campers have increased by nearly 70 percent, adding an additional 21.6 camping households

"Our research tells us that families are looking to slow down and have fun together in 2024," shares Toby O'Rourke, president and CEO at Kampgrounds of America, Inc. "In the last decade, we have seen a significant increase in active camping households. This increased interest is supported by a broader expansion of camping options, including traditional tent camping, RV stays, cabins, and the rising popularity of treehouses, yurts, and domes."

According to the KOA report, RV usage is up 96 percent to 9.6 million and cabin/glamping use is up more than 100 percent to 7 million. Tent camping is also up, more than 50 percent, to 9.6 million. At the same time, camping has attracted a more diverse crowd with nearly half of new campers in the U.S. being non-white.

That’s good news if you want to get outdoors with the kids (and away from screens, though most campgrounds now offer some Wi-Fi) and, of course, your favorite four-legged family members. That means there are more options than ever if you decidedly don’t want to rough it. You can opt for an RV, having the owner even set it up for you with all of your essentials (including bathroom, shower, and fridge). You can opt for a glamping experience where your platform tent is ready for you and someone else cooks your meals. We spent a few nights at the ultra-luxe Resort at Paws-Up in Montana a few years ago where there were chefs, butlers to plan activities, electricity and soaking tubs in some of the tents, even room service. You can also opt for a cabin stay with everything you need, with plenty of on-site activities, playgrounds, pools, dog runs, perhaps even someone on staff to help you plan activities nearby.

We’ve met many former backpackers staying in cabins and RVs, as well as on whitewater raft trips, including one last summer with OARS on Idaho’s Salmon River. While whitewater raft trips require everyone to pitch in, loading and unloading the rafts, putting up and taking down tents, you don’t have to schlep your gear and the guides take care of the provisioning, the cooking, entertaining the kids and any problems that may arise.

Families whose kids have allergies or chronic health problems note that a cabin or RV makes getting outdoors that much easier. No worries when it rains either. Cozy up with a jigsaw puzzle or a board game. (When have you had time for that?) KOA, with more than 480 locations in North America, has cabins and RV sites near many national parks.

Check out my Kids Guide to Camping, where I was helped by young KOA campers. It’s no surprise that as the number of campers (and glampers) grows, the places you can go and the amenities you will find have grown exponentially.

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