Camping is a past time that many Americans of all ages enjoy. In fact one in four Americans aged 16 or older went camping at least once in the past 12 months (Wellner 1997). They do so for different reasons, but all enjoy being outdoors and away from the hassle of their everyday life. There are different kinds of camping and different ways of reaching camping destinations. This is where the real difference in campers is found. Some people prefer to "drive-up" camp while others prefer primitive or backcountry camping. My hypothesis was that teenagers to young adults are the more likely to participate in the backcountry camping, while older adults are more likely to participate in the drive-up camping.
The people who participate in the drive-up camping do not typically want to have to deal with the physical demands and primitive conditions of backcountry camping. They do not relish the idea of sleeping on the ground, and have increasingly turned to recreational vehicles as an alternative to tent camping. All kinds of RV's are available from super luxurious to bare necessities (Wellner 1997). Also available are areas where campers can park and walk a short distance to cabins. These range from primitive to having running water inside. However unlike backcountry camping some sort of restroom facilities are almost always available. With RV's the lower the median age of the owner, the more basic the RV. The typical owner of an RV is 48 years old, married, and has a household income of $39,000 children at home (Wellner 1997).
An ever-increasing trend in RV camping is luxury camping. RV parks are no longer just offering hook-ups and a pool, and maybe a rec-center. They are beginning to offer Olympic-sized swimming pools, golf courses, and organized activities. These parks are essentially resorts with out the hotel (Wellner 1997). .
The people most likely to camp are under age 40, with at least one-third of adults aged 16 to 39 went camping in the past 12 months.
