RMS, a hospitality growth platform for hotels, serviced apartments, short-term rentals and campgrounds, has released its 2026 State of the Outdoor Accommodation Report, revealing continued strength in outdoor travel alongside significant shifts in how campers discover, book and experience their stays, according to a press release.
Based on responses from 1,500 campers across the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand, the report found that 66% plan to camp more in the coming year, up eight percentage points from last year, while 86% identify as lifelong or returning campers.
The way campers discover and book places to stay is changing. For the first time in RMS’s annual report, online search has overtaken word of mouth as the leading way campers discover campsites, with nearly 64% using online search compared with 60% relying on recommendations from friends and family. That digital shift continues into the booking journey, with nearly 85% of campers saying they are more likely to book when they can select their exact site in advance.
AI is beginning to influence how trips are researched and planned, with 14% of campers now using AI tools such as ChatGPT or CampChimp during trip research. Among those already using AI, 40% use it to find the lowest rates, while 32% use it for personalised travel planning, including itineraries and recommendations.
Environmental considerations are also becoming increasingly important, with 88% of campers saying sustainability matters when deciding where to stay, and nearly half rating it very or extremely important.
“Camping remains incredibly resilient, but guest expectations are evolving quickly,” said Adam Seskis, CEO at RMS. “Travelers still want the escape, connection and sense of adventure that make outdoor hospitality so appealing, but they now expect greater convenience and confidence when researching and booking a stay.
“For operators, the opportunity is to remove friction at every stage of the journey,” he added. “That means making properties easy to find online, giving guests clear and accurate information, offering a simple booking experience, and investing in technology and infrastructure that genuinely improve the stay. The operators that respond well to these changing expectations will be better placed to attract new guests and keep them coming back.”
Technology is becoming more visible to campers once they arrive. Sixty-seven percent say they notice when campgrounds invest in new technology, while 40% expect properties to have updated systems that support their overall stay. Online booking, advanced campsite selection, digital check-in, mobile-friendly maps and reliable Wi-Fi are among the technologies increasingly shaping the guest experience.
The findings point to a clear shift in outdoor hospitality in 2026: demand remains healthy, but campers increasingly expect the discovery, booking and stay experience to be simple, transparent and digitally enabled, noted the release.
