One source calls glamping “camping with training wheels.” Eight million people went glamping last year—9% of all campers. People are looking for a soft landing in the campground. And campground owners are responding, putting in more yurts, platform tents, and cozy cabins. Will glamping sites push out RVers?
More than half of glampers are repeat customers
The “training wheels” reference and the statistics on camping both come from a report by The Dyrt, a camping availability app. That glamping is popular is shown by the fact that of those eight million glampers, 42% were first-timers. So, that means better than half were repeat customers. Park owners follow the money, and glampers are ringing in the cash register.
More RV sites added than glampsites
So, will park owners decide to turn more and more RV sites into glamping sites? The Dyrt studied the issue in a survey. It found campgrounds are responding to glamping’s continued popularity. 22.1% of property owners who already offered glamping prior to 2023 increased the number of glamping sites at their property last year.
At first blush, that sounds a bit alarming if you’re concerned about finding a space for your rig. But the Dyrt survey found RV camping was the only camping type that was more commonly expanded, at 26.2%. Bottom line: Park owners favored increasing RV sites more than glamping by nearly a 17% margin.
The rate at which glampsites are being added also gives some hope. Ten percent of campgrounds that added an entirely new type of camping chose to add glampsites in 2023. While still an increase, the rate at which glampsites are being added has cooled. In 2022, of the properties that added a new type of camping, a whopping 44% opted for glampsites.
Baby Boomers still a major force
What’s behind the issue? As the RV industry may have been surprised to see, Baby Boomers still make up big numbers of campground customers. We suspect a little more digging into the demographics would show Boomers are far more likely to want an RV site, as opposed to a glampsite. If park owners are looking at their receipts, the answer to the question, “Will glamping sites push out RVers,” should be a resounding, “No!”
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If campgrounds want to add Glamping sites, they should put them to a separate area and not beside RV or tent sites. These should be isolated in a different location of the campground. Glampers and RVers are two completely different types of people.
I also feel that this should also pertain to seasonal and permanent sites.
We stayed at one resort and our site was in between two permanents, along with all their ‘goodies’ strewn throughout their site along with canopies, decks, massive firepits and all the kids toys. Plus, no respect for the site boundaries.
and that would be in my review on every review site. The reason we love our RV is we have our things with us and we get to sleep in the same bed and know where the bathroom is in the middle of the night no matter where we are on the continent. Also breakfast our way and on our schedule. The “glampers” have no idea what they are missing
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 I guess glamping is as close as some can, or want, to get to going on a high-dollar safari. Personally, I’d rather not. Our RV is plenty “posh” to suit this self-indulgent retiree and RV sites are cheaper than glamping sites at every campground we have ever visited. Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
“Glamping” what a joke. Shareholders have become lazy and greedy. Real campers head for the hills to get away from these city slickers.
A lot of the “Glamping” sites are in the hills, mountains, by rivers and streams. Greedy I get, lazy, huh? “City slickers”, I’m one but you’ll never know since I’m in my TT, lol!
For 12 years prior to purchasing our RV we traveled and mostly stayed at KOA’s 10 x 10 kamping kabins. It was a lot better than pitching a tent when we would arrive late. To 1 used to sleeping on the ground the double bed mattress was sufficient & the twin bunks were convenient luggage racks & cat playgrounds. The price was about 1/4 that of a pet friendly hotel w/a breakfast service. Now my old bones are wracked with arthritis and I vastly prefer sleeping on my LilSnoozy mattress sourced from Best Mattress in SC & heating water in my electric kettle for oatmeal. I still like less popular KOAs for bathrooms, dump stations & laundry facilities at a reasonable rate
I believe small cabins or large tents on so called glamping sites mixed with Rv parking sites will increase – provided the site is located adjacent or close to a major attraction – like a NP or amusement park. These amenities can be enjoyed by the traveling public in Rv’s or cars or both! No steps or elevators either! Aberdeen, SD city park is a prime example – they have both and both are popular because of the kids and grown up amusement areas adjacent. The small cabins are in a separate area – but next to the Rv’s.. Not everyone has or wants an Rv for whatever reason.
A few years back, KOA’s plan was to phase out camping in favor of glamping sites, then covid hit. It was RVers that kept them afloat, not glampers.