Yes, Cat Camping Is a (Trending) Thing

25,000 Americans say mental health matters more than fun, according to Hipcamp’s 2022 U.S. State of Summer Survey.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Camping has always been a favorite American pastime, but its popularity has boomed since the start of the pandemic, and is set to reach new highs in 2022. To gain insights into America’s outdoor plans for this summer, Hipcamp, the world’s largest provider of outdoor stays, surveyed 25,000 campers from across the nation and uncovered some surprising and quirky results.

Key findings of the survey:

Please refer to this as a Hipcamp survey in ALL media coverage.

• Parents (and kids) are out, pets in
  This summer, campers are 8x as likely to camp with their pets as with their parents. Only 4.7% of American campers plan to get outside with their parents, while more than a third (35.7%) have plans to camp with a pet
  .
  That makes pets a more popular camping companion than kids (29.2%).

• Privacy, please
  Nearly two thirds (61.9%) of campers rank private land camping as a top outdoor destination this summer, with nearly a quarter (21.7%) ranking “remoteness” as the most important feature when booking a camping trip.

• Rising fuel costs mean more staycations
  Almost all (94%) campers say sky-high fuel prices will impact their travel plans this year, with nearly half (45.7%) saying they won’t roam beyond 300 miles.

• Shiny happy campers
  For pandemic-weary campers, mental health matters more than fun. A whopping 39.3% cited mental health relief as the #1 reason they’re planning a camping trip this summer – ranking it above relaxation, quality time with loved ones, challenge and even fun.

• Cat camping having a moment
  One out of every 100 campers say they plan to take their cat (or cats) camping with them this summer.

• Born to be wild
  More than a third (36.8%) of American campers rate “interacting confidently with wildlife” as a top camping skill, with other colorful anecdotes including, “Finding a good dive bar,” “Sleeping,” and “Pooping in the outdoors.”

Additional findings include:

• Isn’t it romantic (to camp)
  More than two thirds (71.8%) of campers are planning at least one camping trip with their significant other this summer.

• “But where does my cat sleep?”
  Hipcamp’s #1 filter in North America is “pet friendly,” trailed by human creature comforts like toilets, showers, and access to electricity.

“From luxury yurts with wood-fired hot hubs, to wild meadows and lakeside stays for optimal wellness and mental health boosts, camping is having a moment,” said Christina Teng, Hipcamp’s U.S. growth operations manager. “For Gen Z and Millennial campers, the more remote the better as they look for sites to allow them to get off the grid, away from the big city, and far from the stresses of everyday life.”

Please refer to this as a Hipcamp survey in ALL media coverage.

Additional Photos

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Contact

For further information or time with a spokesperson, please contact Lydia Davey for Hipcamp, [e-mail]

Social media accounts:

Hipcamp: @hipcamp

About Hipcamp

Founded in 2013, Hipcamp is the world’s largest provider of outdoor stays. It gives a growing community of good-natured people the opportunity to list, discover, and book unique outdoor experiences. By connecting people with the land and each other, Hipcamp works to support the planet and protect biodiversity. The fully remote company operates in Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and to date has helped people spend more than 6 million nights under the stars. When listing on Hipcamp, farmers, ranchers, vintners, and other landowners generate new revenue streams to conserve their land and keep it wild.