Austin – November 04, 2026 -- More than half of U.S. campers (57%) abandoned a booking in the past year because they could not reach anyone or complete the reservation online, according to a new report from Storable Newbook. The lost reservations come as 98% of campers plan to camp in the next 12 months and 77% plan two or more trips.
The report, "The State of RV, Campground & Outdoor Hospitality," draws on a September 2026 survey of 968 U.S. adults who stayed at a campground, RV park or glamping site in the past 12 months.
Easier booking wins the stay for 69% of campers
69% of campers have picked one park over another because it was easier to book, pay or communicate online, and 37% have done so more than once. Demand is rising: 27% plan four or more trips next year, up from 23% who took that many last year.
Unanswered phones carry a direct cost. 47% of campers move to another park after a single unanswered call when no online booking option exists. A third usually book outside business hours, rising to 38% among campers under 45.
Surprise fees drive 36% of booking abandonments
Unexpected charges at checkout were the most common reason campers abandoned a booking, cited by 36%. Price clarity matters more than payment timing: 72% will pay a deposit or the full amount at booking, and only 6% want to pay nothing until arrival.
Tom Mason, COO of IVEE Management Group, said a park can have a great property and still lose a guest before arrival. He said guests want to check availability, see the full price and book on the park's website whenever they are ready.
62% of campers rebook directly after finding a park on third-party platforms
Among campers who found a park through a booking website or app, 62% booked directly with the park the next time.
AI assistants are emerging as a discovery channel. 13% of campers found their most recent booking through an AI assistant, rising to 16% among those under 45. 75% would let an AI assistant make a booking for them in some form.
Blake Burris, Director, Enterprise North America at Storable Newbook, said the findings show where guests get stuck or choose another park, giving operators concrete fixes to make before next season.
On how campers choose between parks, cleanliness (69%), facilities (56%) and ratings and reviews (53%) ranked highest. Only 12% said a well-known business name mattered.