Why Aren’t Americans Taking More Time Off and Getting Outdoors?

State and National Parks aren’t the only option for outdoor travel — There are nearly 14,000 privately-owned RV parks and campgrounds across the US

Work Hard, Play Hard

Americans spend a significant amount of time working and looking at screens, but the majority don’t take enough time off

• Over the course of their lifetime Americans spend, on average
  • Lifespan: 80 years
  • Working: 13.2 years
  • Socializing: 328 days
• The average American spends
  • 3 hours per week checking work emails at home
  • 4 hours per week scrolling social media
    • Average daily social media use, 2021
      • Facebook: 33 minutes
      • TikTok: 32 minutes
      • Twitter: 31 minutes
      • Instagram: 29 minutes
      • Snapchat: 28 minutes
    • Not Enough Vacation
      • 28 million Americans don’t get any paid vacation or paid holidays
      • For those who do, 55% of Americans don’t use all of their PTO
        • Average PTO for private sector employees: 10 days

In Finland, ranked as the world’s happiest country for 4 years running, companies offer an average of 30 paid vacation days every year

Why Aren’t Americans Taking More Time Off?

• • Fear of appearing replaceable at work: 61%
  • Heavy workload and/or lack of coverage: 56%
  • Pets cannot travel or lack accommodation: 54%
  • Stress of planning and travel logistics: 54%
  • Concerns about safety and security: 54%
  • Cost of taking vacation: 53%

When Americans do take vacation days, less than half are used for travel

It’s Time To Reclaim Outdoor Travel

The Benefits Of Getting Outdoors

• • Spending just 20 minutes outdoors 3 days a week may
    • Reduce stress
    • Boost cognitive function
    • Improve memory
    • Enhance overall well-being
  • Time spent outdoors brings other benefits
    • Creates lasting memories with family and friends
    • Balances our modern, connected lives
    • Opportunities to try new physical activities
    • Reconnecting with nature
    • Learning opportunities for both kids and adults
    • Boosting confidence for children building skills
  • Planning an outdoor adventure is easy
    • No need to book flights and deal with airports
    • Lower risk of infection or shutdown during pandemic
    • Children and pet-friendly travel and activities
  • The Growing Popularity Of Camping
    • In 2020, 86.1 million US households were campers
      • 56 million households projected to have camped
      • 2 million households camped for the first time
    • Camping Across The Generations
      • Lifelong campers
        • Millennials: 44%
        • Gen X: 46%
        • Baby Boomers: 44%
      • First time campers in 2020:
        • Millennials: 26%
        • Gen X: 22%
        • Baby Boomers: 15%
      • In 2020, 60% of first-time campers were non-white
        • Experienced Campers
          • Caucasion: 63%
          • Hispanic & Latino: 13%
          • Black: 12%
          • Asian & Pacific Islander: 7%
          • All Others: 5%
        • First-Time Campers
          • Caucasion: 39%
          • Black: 24%
          • Hispanic & Latino: 15%
          • Asian & Pacific Islander: 14%
          • All Others: 8%

There’s an outdoor adventure for everyone and every budget

Explore The Great Outdoors

• Tent Camping ($-$)
  • Budget conscious travel staying close to nature
  • Choose rugged site or opt for more amenities
  • Cost: $0-30 per day — plus $138 for basic equipment
• RV Roadtrip ($-$$)
  • Convenient option for long trips and families
  • Choose the a small RV for easy travel or go larger for more luxury
  • Cost: $150-850 per day
• Glamping Getaway ($-$$)
  • Combines the easy of a hotel-like stay with easy access to nature
  • Good for new or intimidated campers
  • Cost: $50-3,000 per day

Find The Fun

• • Free activities for the whole family
    • Hiking, fishing, and swimming
    • Bird watching and wildlife photography
    • Storytelling and singing around a campfire
  • Stay at a resort for fun amenities
    • Ziplines and climbing
    • Pools, lazy rivers, and waterslides
    • Outdoor movies and performances
  • Visit nearby attractions
    • Waterparks and theme parks
    • Sightseeing and local tours
    • Boat rentals and whitewater rafting
    • Miniature golf, hayrides, and u-pick orchards

No need to book flights, reserve a hotel, or find a rental car; planning a camping trip is simple and hassle-free Start planning your next outdoor adventure with BookOutdoors

Sources

https://www.tripsavvy.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-planning-a-camping-trip-4142753 https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/6-steps-to-planning-a-successful-rv-road-trip/ https://www.campingconsole.com/camping-activities/ https://koa.com/blog/the-benefits-of-camping-why-camping-is-good-for-you/ https://thewanderlustgroup.com/post/get-offline-and-go-outside http://koa.uberflip.com/i/1362448-2021-north-american-camping-report/9 https://www.reserveamerica.com/articles/camping/camping-by-the-numbers-how-much-does-it-cost-to-camp https://www.rewardexpert.com/blog/studies/average-cost-of-vacations-by-state/ https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/arts-and-culture/photos/countries-with-the-most-vacation-time https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/world/europe/world-happiness-report-ranking.html https://www.zenefits.com/workest/how-much-is-average-pto-in-the-us/ https://www.zippia.com/advice/pto-statistics/ https://www.oberlo.com/statistics/average-time-spent-on-social-media https://www.uswitch.com/mobiles/screentime-report/#americans-spend-on-average-325-hours-a-year-on-facebook https://www.payscale.com/career-advice/heres-how-many-years-youll-spend-work-in-your-lifetime/ https://bikehike.org/how-many-campgrounds-in-the-us/#How_many_private_campgrounds_are_there_in_the_United_States