Gen Z and millennial campers are more and more ditching franks and beans and sleeping baggage for gourmand meals and feathertop beds on their adventures into the good open air, reshaping tenting tradition with their choice for glamping (glamorous tenting) and the entire luxuries and facilities that make an tour into the wild removed from roughing it.
There’s a present spike in curiosity in tenting and glamping amongst these generations, who need to go wayfaring into the woods to join with nature and their journey companions. Be taught why the age-old pastime is resurging as an interesting trip possibility for younger individuals, and uncover some superb spots to go glamping.
Gen Z and millennials search ‘consolation and comfort’ whereas tenting
In accordance with Kampgrounds of America’s (KOA’s) 2025 Tenting and Out of doors Hospitality Report, “Gen Z and Millennial campers make up 61% of all new campers.” Moreover, Gen Z seeks “consolation and comfort” whereas tenting, and over half of recent campers “favor areas that supply a full vary of facilities.”
Toby O’Rourke, KOA’s president and CEO explains that members of those generations “are searching for campgrounds and glamping resorts with pleasant employees who can help them onsite, with high quality Wi-Fi to allow them to share their experiences and alternatives to socialize, whether or not round a neighborhood campfire or collaborating in a bunch exercise.”
Digital creator and new fan of glamping Meg Reily says “having a comfortable mattress, air con, an actual lavatory—all whereas nonetheless being surrounded by the outside—takes away the stress and allows you to really chill out and soak all of it in…. Glamping provides you all the sweetness and journey of tenting, simply with just a little extra consolation—and actually, when you strive it, it’s exhausting to return!”
Why Gen Z and millennials are selecting tenting and glamping over different varieties of holidays
There are numerous varieties of holidays obtainable to vacationers, however it’s exhausting to prime a foray into nature that permits you to really depart life’s stresses behind.
Danny and Danie Johnson, aka The Touring Dans, are millennial full-time vacationers and digital creators who’re at the moment driving the longest highway journey in America. They are saying that “tenting reminds us that you simply don’t want a number of materials issues to be completely happy and survive. The simplicity of tenting and having fun with the outside helps us clear our minds and really feel extra refreshed when returning to our day-to-day lives, and this sense simply can’t be replicated at a lodge or resort for us.”
“I feel lots of people in my era are craving experiences that really feel actual and intentional. Tenting and glamping allow you to decelerate, disconnect just a little and really be current—which may really feel actually uncommon with how fast-paced and on-line life is now,” Reily says. “As a substitute of being surrounded by crowds and vacationer traps such as you would at a lodge or resort, you get vast open areas, quiet mornings, sunsets, campfires—issues that really feel easy however significant,” she provides.
What Gen Z and millennials like most about tenting and glamping
Tenting is an reasonably priced but priceless journey expertise
Prices will rise if you happen to go for a elaborate glamping trip, however there are many tenting and glamping alternatives which can be straightforward on the pockets, too.
KOA’s report discovered that “72% of campers contemplate tenting an economical journey possibility.” O’Rourke says that “even when journey budgets are decreased, tenting journeys can be altered, however not cancelled. For any traveler searching for a straightforward escape, each vacation spot and neighborhood has a campground close by…. This makes tenting an… reasonably priced and accessible possibility for many individuals, whether or not they’re planning to discover nationwide icons or expertise the fantastic thing about their very own backyards.”
Past affordability, going tenting or glamping provides vacationers an off-grid expertise and a priceless alternative to decompress. “Not solely is tenting/glamping extra reasonably priced, however we predict this era actually values time open air greater than different generations…. This can be as a result of touring within the states, having fun with nature and tenting is cheap but additionally so precious for unplugging and reducing display screen time from the gadgets that this era loves and makes use of continuously,” the Johnsons clarify.
Tenting creates memorable household traditions
Tenting is a traditional American custom that’s synonymous with household bonding. Many have fond childhood reminiscences of this no-frills journey possibility that would flip an odd day into an epic journey by tossing a pair sleeping baggage into the again of the station wagon and driving to the woods.
O’Rourke says, “Our previous analysis has proven that youngsters who develop up tenting are much more prone to proceed the custom as adults—and, in flip, to share these experiences with their very own households. Child boomers, a era identified for his or her love of tenting and the outside, have shared their ardour with lots of their Gen Z and millennial youngsters, laying the inspiration for a lifelong love of tenting for these generations.”
Reily is already passing alongside her love of glamping to her child. “[For] my daughter’s first little journey, we went glamping once more at Cameron Ranch Glamping in Coldspring…. Having these further comforts made it a lot simpler touring with a child. We nonetheless received to make s’mores, sit by the hearth and be surrounded by nature, however with a comfy, protected place to come back again to. I actually love that glamping lets you will have the journey and the comforts—the perfect of each worlds!”
Tenting is a pure gateway to outside actions
In accordance with KOA’s report, “Gen Z campers favor extra energetic and adventure-filled holidays.” O’Rourke elaborates, “Gen Z… want to expertise pure occasions like astrotourism and wildlife migration…. Whereas touring, they’re in search of bodily actions like water-based experiences (swimming and water sports activities), backpacking journeys, canoe/kayaking and mountaineering or path operating.”
Campfire experiences, mountaineering and nature walks are the “prime three sought-after experiences” campers hope to have in response to KOA’s report. The Johnsons take pleasure in this tenting trifecta. “After we camp or glamp, our favourite factor to do is have a hearth so long as hearth restrictions enable! We like to prepare dinner over the hearth when attainable and simply love the overall ambiance it brings. We additionally wish to put our telephones away and luxuriate in card video games, learn and discover the realm we’re tenting or glamping in by discovering native trails.”
Tenting boosts general well-being
The straightforward act of immersing your self in nature could be uplifting and put you in a greater temper. Metropolis dwellers could not get to spend sufficient time open air to expertise nature’s therapeutic properties, so a tenting getaway can really be therapeutic.
“Youthful campers are predominantly coming from city areas and searching for experiences that can assist enhance their psychological well being and bodily well-being. Tenting gives a pure alternative to chill out, disconnect and concentrate on spending high quality time with family and friends,” O’Rourke shares.
4 wow-worthy glamping spots within the U.S.
Backland in Williams, Arizona
A panoramic fusion of nature and luxurious, glamping at Backland means cozying up in a fully-furnished climate-controlled tented suite full with beds, a rest room and housekeeping companies, in addition to panoramic views and skylights to afford you fixed immersion in your environment. Your keep contains each day breakfast in a glass-walled restaurant and nightly s’mores by the hearth pit, with the choice so as to add gourmand lunches and dinners produced from scratch. On-site actions embrace frisbee golf, kayaking and stargazing.
Minam River Lodge in Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon
The Johnsons say that Minam River Lodge is their “all-time favourite place to glamp.” Positioned within the scenic Wallowa Mountains, campers can sleep among the many timber within the forest wilderness in a choice of wall tents, cabins or lodge rooms that supply various levels of luxurious. Campers can take pleasure in mountaineering and fishing or yoga in an open-air barn. Breakfast, lunch and a family-style dinner made utilizing components which can be wild-foraged or harvested from the location’s wilderness backyard can be found each day on the Lodge.
One other prime tip from the Johnsons: They “use Hipcamp to search out glamping websites and iOverlander to search out tenting websites.”
Zion Wildflower Resort in Virgin, Utah
KOA discovered that 61% of millennials and 51% of Gen Z campers convey their canines tenting, and Zion Wildflower Resort is dog-friendly. Lodging embrace tents, bungalows and luxurious coated wagons that makes company really feel like they’ve stepped again in time. The Grand Mesa tents characteristic a personal lavatory, feathertop mattress and a deck to absorb the views of the encompassing Zion Nationwide Park. There’s additionally a pool, scorching tub, hearth pits and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Spoon Mountain Glamping in Wimberley, Texas
Reily loved her babymoon at Spoon Mountain Glamping in Wimberley, declaring that her keep there “was completely good.” This adults-only luxurious retreat in Texas Hill Nation is designed for romantic escapes. Select between three climate-controlled glamping tents which have soaking tubs, non-public swimming pools, kitchenettes, king-size beds and beautiful decor.
Picture by Melinda Nagy/Shutterstock.
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