The Dyrt, a US app to get campsites, built by the largest RVing and camping community in the US, has found walking and swimming are No. 1 and No. 2 in the rankings.
The statistics are from the new 2026 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks and are based on a survey of a representative sample of 1,000 US residents. Respondents were asked which outdoor activities they participated in last year as part of a formal or informal group. Hiking and gardening rounded out the Top 5.
Top 10 Outdoor Group Activities
- Walking
- Swimming
- Camping
- Hiking
- Gardening
- Running
- Biking
- Boating
- Canoeing/kayaking
- Rock climbing
“I was initially surprised to see that camping was more popular than hiking last year,” says Kevin Long, CEO of The Dyrt.
“While you do need some gear to go camping — anything from a sleeping bag and tent to an RV — it still is, ultimately, very accessible. You can drive right up to most public and private campsites, and many are ADA accessible.”
The report found that 2025 saw the second-highest total number of campers on record with 82.4m, behind only the 84.8m who camped in 2023. There were an estimated 2.6m first-time campers in 2025 and, according to respondents, the median number of camping trips taken last year was six. The Dyrt also found that 85% of adults in the US have gone camping at least once in their lifetime.
