About The Dyrt
The Dyrt's mission is to expand the camping community and help more people enjoy the outdoors. With over 30 million annual camper visits and 6.5 million user-generated reviews, photos, and tips for US campgrounds, The Dyrt is the No. 1 app for camping information and booking. The Dyrt PRO enables campers to find free camping areas on public lands, search for campgrounds with cell service coverage, use the app offline, get discounts on camping and more. www.thedyrt.com
Millions More Consumers Are Camping Now Than Ever Before
860-526-1555
2022 Camping Report
The Dyrt's 2022 Camping Report, based on results of surveys of The Dyrt users and the general public, provides the most comprehensive insight into the current state of the camping industry in America.
Recent Press Releases
Media Coverage
Recent Press Releases
Media Coverage
The Dyrt’s 2022 ‘Glampy Awards’ Are a Glamping Trip Must-Read
The Dyrt — A Fresh Look at Bookings Systems
The Dyrt | #1 Camping App
© 2022 The Dyrt, Inc | All rights reserved
Millions More Consumers Are Camping Now Than Ever Before
The Dyrt’s 2022 ‘Glampy Awards’ Are a Glamping Trip Must-Read
The Dyrt — A Fresh Look at Bookings Systems
Private campgrounds add campsites, extend seasons in attempt to meet camping demand
PORTLAND, OR
November 16, 2022
A survey by The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping information and booking, found widespread expansion among private campgrounds. Demand for campsites has soared since 2020, far outpacing supply. The survey indicates that in 2022 a significant portion of private campgrounds added campsites and other amenities, extended their season and raised rates.
“America doesn’t have enough campsites,” says The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long. “National and state parks are booked up months in advance and aren’t able to add capacity. It’s three times harder to find an available site to book than it was pre-pandemic. This environment provides campground owners an opportunity to develop their businesses in exciting ways.”
The survey included properties in all 50 U.S. states, ranging in size from as few as one campsite to hundreds and spanning all types of camping such as RV, tent and glamping. Over 89 percent of respondents indicated they want to grow their camping business in 2023.
Adding capacity — and glamping
Of the properties surveyed, more than a third (35.7%) indicated they added camping capacity in 2022. In order to add capacity, campgrounds either installed additional campsites for a type of camping they already offered, introduced a new camping type on their property, or both.
Nearly a third of campgrounds surveyed (31.0%) added campsites in 2022 for an existing type of camping on the property, including tent sites (35.6%), RV sites (30.5%), glampsites (13.6%) and cabins (11.9%).
Of campgrounds surveyed, 17.5 percent said they added sites for a new type of camping in 2022. Glamping (44%) was by far the most common new camping type for properties to add, followed by tent sites (28%), RV sites (16%) and cabins (12%).
The survey also found that 79.2 percent of campgrounds that added a new camping type expanded an existing camping type as well.
Demand sparks creativity
Dave Ridgeway and his wife purchased Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse in West Virginia in 2021. “In our first season, we had full hook-up sites, primitive camping, tent sites and deluxe cabins, and we got a lot of requests for smaller cabins or glamping accommodations,” he says.
In 2022, Ridgeway added five “tiny cabins” that offer a queen bed, fridge, microwave, ceiling fan and unique themed decorations. He says they performed well, particularly on rainy days when tent camping is less appealing. He’s already building a sixth tiny cabin for the 2023 season as well as four vintage ’60s and ’70s glamping campers and a glamping cabin built on the back of a 1969 flatbed truck.
The Dyrt president John Hayden says Ridgeway’s property — which also includes a hammock hangout, working lighthouse and other amenities — represents an overall trend. “A lot of creative stuff is happening,” says Hayden. “Campgrounds are providing outdoor experiences. The most successful campgrounds have a unique story — and leave guests with stories to tell their friends.”
Raising rates, expanding calendars
The Dyrt’s survey of campground owners also found that nearly half of campgrounds (48.6%) say they raised their rates in 2022, and a similar portion (46.4%) say they plan to raise rates again in 2023. Over a quarter (27.0%) both raised rates in 2022 and plan to raise rates again in 2023.
“In a year where the price of nearly everything increased, it’s not surprising to see private campgrounds increase their rates,” Hayden says. “But inflation is only part of the story. With a trend toward offering high-end glamping accommodations, activities and immersive environments like farmstays, the rates charged by state parks are no longer a benchmark. Private campgrounds are increasingly offering a different product.”
In addition to increasing capacity and rates, private campgrounds are also broadening their calendars. The Dyrt’s survey found that 18.6 percent of hosts extended their camping season in 2022. Winter and fall were the most popular seasons to add dates. The Dyrt’s survey of campers earlier in 2022 found increased interest in winter camping as well.
The Dyrt PRO offers PRO Discounts of up to 40 percent for campers booking trips on The Dyrt. The Dyrt is the only camping booking platform to offer commission-free bookings to hosts.
PORTLAND, OR
August 16, 2022
The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping with the most active online camping community, has been ranked for the first time on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list, which has been produced every year since 1982, represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment — its independent businesses.
“Sometimes it feels like The Dyrt has been an overnight sensation 10 years in the making,” says The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith. “Being ranked in the Inc. 5000 is a wonderful honor and further validation that our team, and our cherished community of The Dyrt campers, has done more than provide comprehensive information about campgrounds online: They’ve made camping more accessible to everyone who wants to enjoy the great outdoors.”
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. The Dyrt, which was previously listed on the 2022 Inc. Regionals: Pacific list, experienced 87 percent growth over those three years. The Inc. 5000 recognition puts The Dyrt in the top 0.07 percent of all privately owned companies in America in terms of multi-year growth.
There are more than 44,000 campgrounds listed on The Dyrt, which is now home to more than 6.4 million user-generated campground reviews, photos and tips — averaging five new uploads every minute in 2021. The Dyrt is on pace for more than 30 million visits in 2022, more than double the amount from 2020.
“Like so many of the great companies on the Inc. 5000 list, The Dyrt started as one person’s idea,” says Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt. “Sarah truly believed that The Dyrt could become the resource that campers across the country relied upon. All the time and effort that was put in from everyone — past and present — working at The Dyrt prepared us for the recent camping boom. One in five Americans go camping, and there were 8.3 million first-timers last year. We’re here for all of them.”
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.
“The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work and rising to the challenges of today.”
PORTLAND, OR
August 16, 2022
The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping with the most active online camping community, has been ranked for the first time on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list, which has been produced every year since 1982, represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment — its independent businesses.
“Sometimes it feels like The Dyrt has been an overnight sensation 10 years in the making,” says The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith. “Being ranked in the Inc. 5000 is a wonderful honor and further validation that our team, and our cherished community of The Dyrt campers, has done more than provide comprehensive information about campgrounds online: They’ve made camping more accessible to everyone who wants to enjoy the great outdoors.”
Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. The Dyrt, which was previously listed on the 2022 Inc. Regionals: Pacific list, experienced 87 percent growth over those three years. The Inc. 5000 recognition puts The Dyrt in the top 0.07 percent of all privately owned companies in America in terms of multi-year growth.
There are more than 44,000 campgrounds listed on The Dyrt, which is now home to more than 6.4 million user-generated campground reviews, photos and tips — averaging five new uploads every minute in 2021. The Dyrt is on pace for more than 30 million visits in 2022, more than double the amount from 2020.
“Like so many of the great companies on the Inc. 5000 list, The Dyrt started as one person’s idea,” says Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt. “Sarah truly believed that The Dyrt could become the resource that campers across the country relied upon. All the time and effort that was put in from everyone — past and present — working at The Dyrt prepared us for the recent camping boom. One in five Americans go camping, and there were 8.3 million first-timers last year. We’re here for all of them.”
Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.
“The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work and rising to the challenges of today.”
PORTLAND, OR
November 16, 2022
A survey by The Dyrt, the No. 1 app for camping information and booking, found widespread expansion among private campgrounds. Demand for campsites has soared since 2020, far outpacing supply. The survey indicates that in 2022 a significant portion of private campgrounds added campsites and other amenities, extended their season and raised rates.
“America doesn’t have enough campsites,” says The Dyrt CEO Kevin Long. “National and state parks are booked up months in advance and aren’t able to add capacity. It’s three times harder to find an available site to book than it was pre-pandemic. This environment provides campground owners an opportunity to develop their businesses in exciting ways.”
The survey included properties in all 50 U.S. states, ranging in size from as few as one campsite to hundreds and spanning all types of camping such as RV, tent and glamping. Over 89 percent of respondents indicated they want to grow their camping business in 2023.
Adding capacity — and glamping
Of the properties surveyed, more than a third (35.7%) indicated they added camping capacity in 2022. In order to add capacity, campgrounds either installed additional campsites for a type of camping they already offered, introduced a new camping type on their property, or both.
Nearly a third of campgrounds surveyed (31.0%) added campsites in 2022 for an existing type of camping on the property, including tent sites (35.6%), RV sites (30.5%), glampsites (13.6%) and cabins (11.9%).
Of campgrounds surveyed, 17.5 percent said they added sites for a new type of camping in 2022. Glamping (44%) was by far the most common new camping type for properties to add, followed by tent sites (28%), RV sites (16%) and cabins (12%).
The survey also found that 79.2 percent of campgrounds that added a new camping type expanded an existing camping type as well.
Demand sparks creativity
Dave Ridgeway and his wife Daphne purchased Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse in West Virginia in 2021. “In our first season, we had full hook-up sites, primitive camping, tent sites and deluxe cabins, and we got a lot of requests for smaller cabins or glamping accommodations,” he says.
In 2022, Ridgeway added five “tiny cabins” that offer a queen bed, fridge, microwave, ceiling fan and unique themed decorations. He says they performed well, particularly on rainy days when tent camping is less appealing. He’s already building a sixth tiny cabin for the 2023 season as well as four vintage ’60s and ’70s glamping campers and a glamping cabin built on the back of a 1969 flatbed truck.
The Dyrt president John Hayden says Ridgeway’s property — which also includes a hammock hangout, working lighthouse and other amenities — represents an overall trend. “A lot of creative stuff is happening,” says Hayden. “Campgrounds are providing outdoor experiences. The most successful campgrounds have a unique story — and leave guests with stories to tell their friends.”
Raising rates, expanding calendars
The Dyrt’s survey of campground owners also found that nearly half of campgrounds (48.6%) say they raised their rates in 2022, and a similar portion (46.4%) say they plan to raise rates again in 2023. Over a quarter (27.0%) both raised rates in 2022 and plan to raise rates again in 2023.
“In a year where the price of nearly everything increased, it’s not surprising to see private campgrounds increase their rates,” Hayden says. “But inflation is only part of the story. With a trend toward offering high-end glamping accommodations, activities and immersive environments like farmstays, the rates charged by state parks are no longer a benchmark. Private campgrounds are increasingly offering a different product.”
In addition to increasing capacity and rates, private campgrounds are also broadening their calendars. The Dyrt’s survey found that 18.6 percent of hosts extended their camping season in 2022. Winter and fall were the most popular seasons to add dates. The Dyrt’s survey of campers earlier in 2022 found increased interest in winter camping as well.
The Dyrt PRO offers PRO Discounts of up to 40 percent for campers booking trips on The Dyrt. The Dyrt is the only camping booking platform to offer commission-free bookings to hosts.