Millions of Americans are trading their vacation itineraries for something closer to nothing at all this summer. No excursions booked in advance, no evening entertainment, sometimes not even a phone. Just a tent, a fire and however the day happens to unfold, which turns out to be exactly the point.
Camping has always pulled people outdoors, but what’s drawing them there in 2026 looks different. The tent and the sleeping bag are still part of the trip, but the schedule and the phone mostly aren’t. Travel researchers call it analog camping, and it’s less about doing more on a trip and more about doing less.
Campers want their childhood camping trip back
Half of campers say they are booking a trip this year specifically to recreate a childhood camping experience, according to KOA’s 2026 camping report. That’s not a small niche. It’s the clearest sign of what’s pulling people back into the woods.
The pull makes sense scientifically. A 2025 study found nostalgia can ease psychological pain, from the sting of social rejection to physical discomfort. Revisiting a good memory, even for a weekend, can genuinely help people feel better.
What a screen-free campsite actually looks like
60% of campers say hands-on skills like building a fire or reading a map are a big reason they book a trip, per the same KOA report. No wifi, longer meals and games that need eye contact aren’t sacrifices. They’re the whole point.
The payoff shows up in the numbers. Nearly half of campers, 49%, say they book trips specifically to improve their mental health, and 81% report better sleep, less stress or faster recovery after time outdoors, per the same report. And 77% say nature alone is enough, no spa or wellness program required.
Campgrounds are becoming everyone’s third place
Three-fourths of campers now call campgrounds third places, spots outside home and work where real community forms. That matters more than it used to. Loneliness is a real problem now, and campsites bring strangers together with no agenda, letting connections happen on their own.
Gen Z campers feel it most. 43% say they stay in touch with people they meet at a campground long after the trip ends, per KOA’s hospitality report.
Outdoor travel brands have noticed too. The Global Wellness Institute now names “cocooning wellness” as one of the year’s biggest travel movements. Think short, close-to-home trips built around calming down instead of keeping busy.
None of it requires much: a tent, a fire, a stick and a marshmallow. Maybe that’s the easiest vacation plan there is this summer. Pack light, leave the itinerary blank and see what a day feels like with nothing to optimize.
Jennifer Allen is a retired chef turned traveler, cookbook author and nationally syndicated journalist; she’s also a co-founder of Food Drink Life, where she shares expert travel tips, cruise insights and luxury destination guides. A recognized cruise expert with a deep passion for high-end experiences and off-the-beaten-path destinations, Jennifer explores the world with curiosity, depth and a storyteller’s perspective. Her articles are regularly featured on the Associated Press Wire, The Washington Post, Seattle Times, MSN and more.