Some travelers camp to get away from it all, while others seek community.
Often without cell service or our creature comforts, camping forces people to detach from the daily grind. At the same time, it allows them to meet others who have a shared interest and build new friendships without distractions.
This is precisely what some campers are seeking out as they pack up their gear. According to Campspot’s recently released 2026 Travel Trend Outlook, 75% of travelers said they “wish for a stronger sense of community,” blaming the lack thereof on work-life imbalances, not enough shared experiences, and too much screen time.
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Campgrounds have become a solace for this. In Campspot’s report, 85% of travelers said they regularly meet new people while camping, and over half said it’s easy to strike up conversations with other campers. On average, campers said they make four new friends on their trips.
“Camping pulls people out of their normal routines, both literally and mentally, in a way that few other types of travel can,” Jeff Bettin, general manager of marketplace at Campspot, told USA TODAY. “Most of us spend our days indoors, often in front of screens, but the moment you’re outside, surrounded by trees or stars instead of notifications, something changes. People feel like they’re off the clock, they’re more present, and that opens the door for more connection.”
Here’s how camping fosters community.
A gathering place
Christenson camps with her family and friends nearly year-round.
Camping makes it easy for people to connect with others over a shared love of the outdoors, with 80% of campers saying they’re interested in meeting others at the campground.
Michigan-based Susan Christensen can attest to that. She grew up camping with her family, and the activity continues to play a significant role in her life. Now a grandmother, the 65-year-old often camps with up to four generations of her family, from her husband to her grandchildren.
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While camping is first and foremost a time for her to connect with family – they have a big gathering each year during Father’s Day weekend in honor of her father, who instilled their love of camping – she often meets strangers along the way. There are times when her grandchildren befriend other families, or she and her sisters notice someone camping alone and invite them to join their campfire.
“You just interact with (other campers) easily as you’re walking around or at the registration center or down by the water,” she said. “People generally walk, you know, at a campground or set up by your campsite, so you just have so many more opportunities to engage with people if you want to.”
In the last two years, she’s seen more solo campers looking to meet others with a shared interest. According to a 2025 survey by camping app The Dyrt, more people have solo camped for at least one night, up from 19% in 2021 to 31% in 2024.
Without physical barriers like a hotel may have, campsites are more open and inviting. “Often, campgrounds themselves amplify that connection,” said Bettin. “Many are intentionally designed with shared fire pits, group spaces, or events that make it easier for strangers to become neighbors.”
Finding camaraderie in the outdoors
For Christenson, camping is a way to connect.
Many travelers also find the camping community to be welcoming, with 63% saying fellow campers are “more polite and friendly compared to everyday interactions.”
The camping community can also have each other’s back when someone is in need, with 92% of campers saying they “have proactively offered aid to someone while camping.”
“There have been times when we were missing equipment and other campers helped us out,” said Pennsylvania-based camper Benjamin Leskovansky. “We have also returned the favor. We are always willing to help our fellow camping neighbors if needed.”
Leskovansky and his wife go camping every summer with their three children, riding bikes and relaxing by the campfire. Without the distractions of phones or screens, camping has become a way for his children to easily make friends. “I believe that camping can help foster connection by bringing people together in a more simplified setting,” the 30-year-old RV owner told USA TODAY.
“While our kids are making new friends, we typically will end up meeting the other parents or adults who are camping and spend some time together,” he added. “This is all part of the experience in my opinion.”
Christenson echoes this sentiment. “On a typical day, many of us get home from work, walk in our house, and close out the world,” she said. “When we go camping, we do just the opposite. We sit outside our tents and campers, we wave at walkers going by, we might stop to admire someone’s dog, or strike up a conversation with someone at the fishing dock. It’s so easy to invite your camp neighbor over for a cup of coffee or to share a campfire for the evening.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travelers crave connection. And camping is where they’re finding it.