Thinking outside the tent: more options now available to enjoy camping affordably
These days, camping isn’t just pitching a tent in the wilderness and making s’mores by the fire.
For many travelers nowadays, camping – still considered one of the most affordable options for travel – might involve spending the night in a yurt, an Airstream trailer, a geodesic tent, or a furnished, solar-powered cabin.
“I’ve only been in this industry for four years, and I’ve seen notable changes,” said Brett Holmes, owner of Benner’s Meadow Run RV Campground, which is near Ohiopyle State Park. “Traditionally, campgrounds catered to families used to camping outside in tents or RVs, and that customer segment remains strong, but all of these glamping options are opening camping and the outdoors to a different and new type of customer – people who don’t have an RV or tent and who don’t want to pack up the car with a lot of things you need to sit around a fire.”
Benner’s accommodates a variety of camping preferences: it has full hookup campsites, a dozen well-appointed cabins (one includes an outdoor hot tub), a yurt village, and tent sites.
Camping, it turns out, has become a go-to choice for those prioritizing affordability while still seeking memorable outdoor adventures.
According to the newest annual report from Kampgrounds of America, 72% of campers consider camping a cost-effective travel option.
Gen Z and Millennials make up 61% of all new campers, the KOA study found, and they’re reshaping the industry.
“These generations typically seek more comfort and convenience, driving demand for upgraded amenities, unique accommodations, and enhanced service,” said Kelly Self, head of consumer public relations for Kampgrounds of America Inc., which has more than 500 KOA campgrounds throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the Washington/Pittsburgh KOA in Washington.
In state parks and forests across Pennsylvania, camping is booming.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in June reported an overall 10% jump in campsite reservations – up 60% in some areas – compared to this time last year, reflecting strong demand for outdoor recreation.
Pennsylvania’s 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forests offer free, year-round recreation with no entrance fees. With more than 7,100 campsites — including tent sites, modern cabins, and yurts — there’s an option for every level of camper, said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.
Too, camping is an affordable way to visit national parks.
The cost to camp at national parks varies widely, typically ranging from $20 to $50 per night for standard campsites, but some parks offer primitive, or “dispersed” camping options, which may be free or require a permit.
Camping is no longer a one-size-fits-all experience, and campgrounds in Southwestern Pennsylvania are adapting to cater to the adventures that the growing number of novice and seasoned outdoor campers are looking for.
At Indian Creek Camplands in Connellsville, Fayette County, campers are treated to rustic camping on 200 acres.
Campers set up their tents on spacious and secluded campsites amid rugged terrain, and there are no amenities such as RV hook-ups.
But, said owners Leon and Mary Jean Shal, the stargazing and hiking opportunities more than make up for the lack of creature comforts.
“The draw is to come out and be with nature,” said Leon Shal, noting the location, while remote, is near Ohiopyle, Fallingwater, and other Laurel Highland attractions, with restaurants and shops close by.
Four Seasons Resort, an 850-acre campground in West Finley, Washington County, is surrounded by almost 1,500 acres of state gamelands and boasts 35 miles of groomed ATV trails.
The campground offers RV and tent campsites, along with a 12-room motel, apartments, a cabin with a full bathroom, and rustic cabins with no running water. It also offers an Olympic-sized swimming pool, an arcade and a playground, and activities including scavenger hunts, Night at the Races, holiday events, and Sunday services.
“We have something for everybody, if you want to rough it, or if you want to stay in our motel or apartments,” said owner Steve Presto. “However you want to go, we’ve got it for you.”
Self said one of the benefits to camping is you don’t have to go far to get away. KOA has a Washington/Pittsburgh campground location in Washington, close to Hollywood Casino at the Meadows and a short drive from Meadowcroft Museum of Rural Life.
“There are campgrounds in your own backyard and beyond,” said Self, noting camping “can look different for everyone” and offers accommodations ranging from tent sites to fully-equipped deluxe cabins with bathrooms and kitchens, RV sites with full hookups, patios and enclosed Paw Pens for pets.
Holmes, whose background is in finance and real estate, is excited about the evolution of camping, and he plans to continue modernizing the campground.
One of the first upgrades he invested in at Benner’s was beefing up the WiFi and extending coverage.
“That’s important. Expectations have changed for campers, and from the WiFi perspective, once they get a taste of having a good connection somewhere, they expect that,” he said.
Benner’s also includes a swimming pool, an arcade, a miniature golf course, and a large cedar playground, and it hosts an annual Bigfoot festival, which features talks by Bigfoot experts and Bigfoot-related activities, including a night hike.
“There are so many different ways to camp,” said Holmes. “We just try to offer amenities and activities that appeal to a broad demographic of campers in a wide range of price points. People will keep coming back if they have a good camping experience.”
Fun facts (courtesy of KOA):
Smore’s aren’t just for kids: 50% of campers camping without children are most excited about making s’mores.
33% of campers are interested in viewing night skies on their trips.
62% of campers who started camping in the past three years will camp again in 2025.
56% of first time campers prefer campgrounds that offer a full range of amenities, including on-site staff, restrooms, accommodations and recreation.