What makes a camper happy this summer? S’mores, carols and, lately, streaming.
The pandemic has pushed millions of people toward travel and outdoor experiences, and many are now addicted to them. But they increasingly demand a decent Wi-Fi connection wherever they pitch their tent or park their RV, and campgrounds provide it.
Wi-Fi in campgrounds has become “the fourth utility behind water, sewer and electricity,” said Tim Rout, founder and chief solutions officer at AccessParks, a San Diego-based broadband provider for RV parks and campgrounds.
“Six or seven years ago, it was a ‘nice to have’ service that allowed people to load their emails or check their bank accounts,” Rout said. “People now expect the same quality of service in motorhome parks as they do at home. »
About 40% of campers say Wi-Fi availability influences where they decide to camp, said David Basler, director of strategy for the trade group Outdoor Hospitality Industry. “Across generations, that number increases to 65 percent among Gen Z and millennials and 45 percent among Gen X campers,” he said.
Now, people expect the same quality of service in motorhome parks as they do at home.
Tim Rout, founder of AccessParks
Searches for Wi-Fi-equipped U.S. properties on campsite booking platform Hipcamp have increased 110% year over year, according to founder and CEO Alyssa Ravasio, who said the number of such sites has increased by 30% over the past year. Most Hipcamp hosts that provide Wi-Fi don’t charge guests extra, Ravasio added.
Wi-Fi is now offered at 82% of U.S. campsites, OHI estimates, slightly ahead of laundry facilities and even showers. This was the most commonly provided amenity last year among private camping properties recently surveyed by The Dyrt. The camping information app found that Wi-Fi was being added at a faster rate (nearly 16% of campsites added it from 2022 to 2023) than pickleball courts (12%), dog parks or kayaks and canoes (each at 10%).
“Good, solid Wi-Fi at the campsite is priority No. 1,” said Catherine Stifter, 67, citing her wife’s love of movies and streaming services.
But Stifter also needs a good connection. The couple lives and travels full-time in their van, and when Stifter, a fitness instructor, leads her online qigong practice group twice a week, reliable service is essential.
When it’s not available, she said, “I might end up using the signal at the lodge.” »
The Dyrt found that 29% of campers worked while camping last year, compared to less than 24% in 2022 and 2021, even as more employers have mandated a return to in-person work. Some campers may have been on a “quiet vacation” – working from a remote destination rather than taking off to completely unplug.
Rout said AccessParks’ business was already growing before the pandemic. “But since more people have flocked to the outdoors and RV sales have accelerated, there is a younger, more professional population in campgrounds – more families, more people. Zoom calls with work, remote learning, etc. “, did he declare. “Since then, our growth has increased significantly due to the demand for fast, high-speed Wi-Fi. »
At least one Montana campground relies on Wi-Fi for a camera system that monitors the area for grizzly bears, Rout added.
Marley Behnke said Wi-Fi is already installed at the Grayling, Michigan, campground she purchased in late 2022. In addition to allowing guests to stay connected and share details of their adventures with their loved ones, “there are applications that provide information in real time. activity updates, facilitate food delivery, organize scavenger hunts and enable interactive games,” she said.
The campground, part of the Jellystone Park network, currently pays about $700 a month for Wi-Fi. Behnke said she plans to add fiber optic service by this fall.
Wiring a campsite for broadband presents challenges such as ensuring the signal can make its way through rough terrain, trees and metal RV bodies and withstand extreme weather conditions. Depending on the size of the property and the type of service offered, installation can cost between $50,000 and $500,000, Rout said, although campgrounds can usually recoup the expense by raising prices a little more of 1 dollar per night.
One factor that could drive demand for wilderness Wi-Fi: the influx of first-time and high-end campers who may prefer a less rustic experience.
I have kids who didn’t grow up camping consistently, so I definitely need a fancier camping experience.
Sommer Nyte, 46, Bellingham, Washington.
The share of first-time and less experienced campers reached 32% this year, down from a peak of 41% in 2022, but much higher than before the pandemic – when this rate did not exceed 18% in 2015 to 2019, according to campsite operator KOA.
While middle- and low-income travelers are especially eager to camp this summer, according to Deloitte researchers, demand for camping has increased 7% year-over-year, as higher-income travelers make up a larger share of travelers leisure activities this season. The glamping industry is expected to grow by more than 15% each year through 2029, according to Arizton market research.
“I have kids who didn’t grow up camping consistently, so I definitely need a fancier camping experience,” said Sommer Nyte, 46, a real estate agent from Bellingham, Wash., who recently purchased a new pop-up tent trailer. Wi-Fi is on her wish list, along with swimming pools, boat rentals and programs for families with children.
However, Internet connectivity does not sweep all campsites. It is available to 65% of people listed on Airbnb, a spokesperson said, up modestly from 61% in 2019. This is despite a stronger increase in campervan bookings (22% more than the last summer) and camping properties (up 10%).
However, Hipcamp’s Ravasio noted: “There are a growing number of campers – especially with RVs, adventure vehicles and land rigs – who are equipped with their own devices to be Wi-Fi self-sufficient. -Fi, like Starlink or hotspots. »
And then there are those who still go camping to get away from it all.
“There used to be a curtain of isolation between campers and the outside world,” said John Stark, a 73-year-old retired broadcaster from Tucson who just returned from camping at Bandelier National Monument in New Mexico. which does not offer public broadcasts. Wireless. “Now campgrounds are extensions of our living rooms. »
“I blame cell towers,” he added.
One way analog campers like Stark can stay offline is to stick to public campgrounds. While the RV Industry Association found that about 60% of private venues offered Wi-Fi in 2022, only 3% of public venues did.