NEWS

Air travel smashed records last Thanksgiving – and 2025 is on track to be even bigger. Cirium, an aviation analytics company, reports that bookings made June 20 to October 8 are up compared to 2024 – about 2% for Thanksgiving travel and roughly 1% for Christmas (Cirium, 2025). AAA’s holiday forecast counted almost 80 million travelers over the 2024 Thanksgiving window, and early airline booking data shows this year’s Thanksgiving trips already trending higher than last year, with Christmas week ticking up too (CBS News, 2025). Travelers aren’t just moving – they’re spending. A holiday spending report shows roughly $311 billion flowing into flights and hotels this season, averaging about $2,586 per traveler – nearly $260 more than last year (NerdWallet, 2025).

Solo camping has grown steadily over the past five years, driven by flexibility, personal development, and the freedom to travel without waiting on others (Global Rescue, 2024). The solo camper isn’t just a backpacker. It’s a massive, growing demographic with specific needs and significant spending power. This travel trend in general has gained immense popularity over the last five years, and outdoor space is its new frontier.

From empty sites to year-round revenue, here’s how to capture the new wave of all-weather campers and why smart capital expenditure on facilities is the key to profitability.

Camping is widely perceived as a wallet-friendly way to travel – 72% of campers say it’s the most cost-effective option, and that affordability narrative is a big reason outdoor stays continue to grow in popularity (KOA, 2025). Yet cost isn’t the whole story: participation still reflects socio-economic gaps, with income strongly shaping who gets outside.

Stargazing is having a moment – and your campground can own the night. Clear, crisp evenings in autumn often deliver some of the best sky-watching of the year in many parts of North America thanks to drier air and reduced haze, making fall a prime window to promote after-dark programming and overnight stays built around the night sky (BBC Sky at Night Magazine, 2025).

Camping has never been more inclusive. Across North America, campgrounds, RV parks, and outdoor resorts are expanding offerings to meet real, diverse needs – physical, sensory, and neurodivergent. Some parks are going even further by pursuing autism-certified design and staff training so that guests who benefit from predictable routines, quieter spaces, and clearer wayfinding can relax and belong.

RV resorts are the upscale edge of outdoor hospitality. In 2025, RV resorts are counted within the estimated 16,419 U.S. commercial campgrounds and RV parks, up from 16,058 the previous year (IBISWorld, 2025). Major operators alone account for hundreds of resort-grade destinations. This market expansion is driven by a new wave of travelers who are seeking high-end, hotel-level amenities, making strategic upgrades an essential move to capture this premium demand.

The hum of the open road is changing, and the roar of internal combustion is steadily being replaced by the quiet, powerful glide of electric vehicles. This isn’t a distant future; it’s today’s reality. Global EV sales topped 17 million in 2024, up by 25% compared to the previous year. In the U.S., electric car sales reached 1.6 million in 2024, as EVs buoyed an otherwise stagnated conventional car market. A total of 24 new models were launched that same year, increasing model availability by 15% (International Energy Agency, 2025).

The traditional idea of a camping trip – a family around a fire, enjoying the quiet outdoors, is starting to look a lot different. So, what’s at the heart of this change? Our pets. As campers increasingly select stays that put pet comfort first, adapting business strategies and upgrading to pet-centric amenities are a must to stay ahead of the curve.

Modular homes are experiencing a surge in popularity as a practical and affordable solution in today’s housing market. As traditional homeownership becomes financially out of reach for many, modular construction presents a compelling alternative. These factory-built homes offer significant advantages over traditional construction, including cost predictability, enhanced quality control, and a much faster build time. By streamlining the construction process and reducing on-site labor and material waste, modular homes like Vacavia Cottages and Cabins’ Timber Ridge model provide a way to achieve homeownership without the prohibitive price tag. This strategic approach to building is what makes the Timber Ridge a noteworthy housing solution for many hopeful homeowners.