Camping and RVing: how to get unplugged on your family vacation
By Eileen Ogintz
Tribune Content Agency
Taking the Kids
Ready to get unplugged on vacation? A lot of us want to. That’s why camping and RVing is proving so popular, according to the new Kampgrounds of America 2026 Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report.
Not only do we yearn to get outdoors away from crowds, but camping enables a more relaxed pace. (No rushing from activity to activity, from theme park attraction to theme park show.) Families can also easily bring their pets, not only saving money on a kennel, but not stressing over leaving them behind.
In fact, the report indicates, 44 percent of parents say camping with children is more relaxing than other vacations. Nearly 60 percent prioritize outdoor trips with unstructured play rather than scheduled activities.
And eight out of 10 parents say they feel more present and less distracted with their children while camping. (Could that be because of limited cell service in some places?)
“Family campers are continuing to prioritize trips that feel easy, practical and high-reward. What we’re seeing in the data is that families are planning earlier, staying closer to home and gravitating toward parks with built-in amenities that make the experience more memorable for both kids and parents,” said Carolin Fuller, director of partnerships for Campspot, a leading campgrounds booking platform.
And even with surging gas prices, camping and RV travel still remains one of the most cost-effective ways to take a vacation, suggests Maddi Bougerie, a spokesman for RVShare.com.
“At RVshare,” Bougerie said, “the average nightly rental rate is around $210, and campsites can range from free on BLM land to about $100 per night at luxury RV resorts, allowing families to combine transportation and lodging while also saving money by cooking their own meals.” She adds that in 2022 when gas prices were past $5 a gallon, which we are seeing in some states, “RVShare actually recorded high booking volumes.”
“An RV trip doesn’t necessarily mean driving long distances,” she said, as many renters have the RV rental delivered directly to their campground or destination.”
RVshare enables you to rent an RV directly from an owner. You can even pick it up in one place and drop it off in another, booking your national park campsite at the same time. According to the RVshare 2026 Travel Trend Report. 87 percent say they would choose RV lodging for a national park trip. They also are looking for less crowded and visited national parks.
Nearly half of those surveyed for the KOA report say roadside attractions and local diners appeal more than major (and likely crowded) tourist sites. And with America’s 250th birthday coming July 4 and the Route 66 centennial this year, more than 40 percent of campers surveyed for the KOA report indicate they will take a heritage or Americana-focused trip.
Also consider that these days, campgrounds can be more like resorts with pools, water play areas, dog parks and activities.
When I interviewed families for my Kid’s Guide to Camping (done with KOA) there were less obvious but just as important reasons parents and kids embrace camping. Grandparents like to take the grandkids, spending unfettered time with them.
Kids can roam safely in campgrounds on their bikes or scooters, parents said, enjoying the outdoors as much as the adults.
“It’s really nice to enjoy what’s all around you,” one 10-year-old offered.
“We point out different flowers we don’t normally see,” suggested a 12-year-old.
“I love looking for birds. … We search by state and feather colors online to figure out what birds we see,” suggested an 8-year-old.
Having a kitchen not only saves money but makes travel much easier for families whose kids have special dietary needs and food allergies. And anyone who has been forced to corral kids in restaurants for every vacation meal, knows how much easier – not to mention more fun – it can be to cook outdoors.
“Food cooked on a campfire always tastes so good,” said one 12-year-old interviewed for my book.
“The best part of an RV trip is waking up to the fresh smell of breakfast. My favorite meal when we are camping is eggs, bacon and potatoes,” said another young camper.
That’s not to say we are talking about camping in a tent pitched in the back country. Today, camping also means RVing and “glamping,” whether in platform tents with comfy beds and private bathrooms or cabins with full kitchens and WiFi. The KOA report says there were more than 2 million new campers last year and they are drawn not only to getting outdoors but to glamping, which by definition means enjoying the outdoors without the work that camping can involve.
Some glamping options are downright luxurious and expensive. We even had a bathtub and butler service in our tent at Paws Up Montana.
Some, like those from Under Canvas, offer options complete with private bathrooms, heating and king-size beds near national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, Acadia and Zion.
You can stay in a custom Airstream at AutoCamp locations in California, North Carolina or Cape Cod, a Conestoga wagon in Utah, a yurt in Vermont’s Green Mountains or book a treehouse with Airbnb, among the options.
KOA offers cabins at more than 500 of their locations from rustic camping cabins (with electricity and beds) and deluxe cabins, complete with linens and bathrooms.
Campspot recently announced the winners of the 2026 Campspot Awards, recognizing top campgrounds across RV, glamping, family and unique camping categories. Top campgrounds for families include Jellystone Park Caledonia in Wisconsin, and Kamp Dels in Waterville, Minnesota, both with water playgrounds
It’s also important to note that while campers and RVers say saving money is one reason to camp, it’s not the only reason.
In fact, families I interviewed for my book noted in some cases, they could stay more cheaply at a budget hotel. But it wouldn’t be the same experience – not at all.
And that’s what family vacations are all about.
(For more Taking the Kids, visit www.takingthekids.com and also follow TakingTheKids on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram where Eileen Ogintz welcomes your questions and comments. The fourth edition of The Kid’s Guide to New York City and the third edition of The Kid’s Guide to Washington D.C. are the latest in a series of 14 books for kid travelers published by Eileen.)
©2026 Eileen Ogintz. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.