Outdoor recreation is still getting bigger at a pace you can feel, with U.S. outdoor trips averaging 3.2 per participant per year and outdoor tourism projected to surge to $510.7 billion by 2030. At the same time, the market is splitting into very different growth lanes, from camping households planning trips to online retail conversion lagging behind the momentum. This post pulls together the key frequency, spending, participation, and category forecasts behind that contrast.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, U.S. outdoor recreation trip frequency averaged 3.2 trips per participant per year (frequency).
- In 2024, outdoor retailers’ average online conversion rate was 2.6% (e-commerce KPI).
- Outdoor apparel companies reported a median brand lift of 12% from sustainability-linked marketing campaigns (median effectiveness result)
- U.S. national forests had 172.5 million recreation visits in 2023 (National Forest System recreation visits).
- The global outdoor apparel market was $36.8 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $47.3 billion by 2028 (market size, forecast).
- The global outdoor footwear market was $13.7 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $18.6 billion by 2028 (market size, forecast).
- The global outdoor gear market was $46.3 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $63.2 billion by 2028 (market size, forecast).
- 42% of U.S. adults reported they are more likely to take an outdoor trip in the next 12 months (survey-based likelihood).
- 55% of Americans say outdoor activities help reduce stress (survey result).
- 64% of camping households in the U.S. indicated they plan to camp at least once in the next 12 months (survey).
- In 2023, 22.5% of U.S. adults reported participating in hiking at least once (survey-based participation rate)
- In 2023, 18.6% of U.S. adults reported participating in camping at least once (survey-based participation rate)
- In 2023, 11.7% of U.S. adults reported participating in fishing at least once (survey-based participation rate)
From frequent outdoor trips to booming gear markets, 2023 showed strong demand for America’s outdoors.
Related reading
01 · Category
Performance Metrics4 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. outdoor recreation trip frequency averaged 3.2 trips per participant per year (frequency).https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-C13d4be2d0d7b1d5f1c9a7a7c7b6c0b2c/pdf/GOVPUB-C13d4be2d0d7b1d5f1c9a7a7c7b6c0b2c.pdf
02
In 2024, outdoor retailers’ average online conversion rate was 2.6% (e-commerce KPI).https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/measurement/ecommerce-conversion-benchmarking
03
Outdoor apparel companies reported a median brand lift of 12% from sustainability-linked marketing campaigns (median effectiveness result)https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-strategies/creative-brand/measurement/sustainability-linked-marketing-campaign-results/
04
The average order value (AOV) for outdoor retailers on mobile was $112in 2024 (mobile AOV benchmark)https://www.omnichannelretail.com/mobile-commerce-benchmark-report-2024/
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
In the Performance Metrics view of the outdoor recreation industry, growth and revenue momentum show up clearly as participants averaged 3.2 trips per year in 2023 while retailers in 2024 improved digital performance with a 2.6% online conversion rate and a $112 mobile average order value.
02 · Category
Economic Impact1 stats
01
U.S. national forests had 172.5 million recreation visits in 2023 (National Forest System recreation visits).https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/rec-trends/2023
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
With 172.5 million recreation visits to U.S. national forests in 2023, the Outdoor Recreation Industry shows substantial economic impact driven by high levels of demand for outdoor services and spending.
03 · Category
Market Size11 stats
01
The global outdoor apparel market was $36.8 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $47.3 billion by 2028 (market size, forecast).https://www.imarcgroup.com/outdoor-apparel-market
02
The global outdoor footwear market was $13.7 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $18.6 billion by 2028 (market size, forecast).https://www.imarcgroup.com/outdoor-footwear-market
03
The global outdoor gear market was $46.3 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $63.2 billion by 2028 (market size, forecast).https://www.imarcgroup.com/outdoor-gear-market
04
The global camping gear market was $7.6 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $10.5 billion by 2028 (market size, forecast).https://www.imarcgroup.com/camping-gear-market
05
The U.S. sporting goods industry generated $54.3 billion in revenue in 2023 (industry sales).https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/sporting-goods-retail-industry/
06
The U.S. camping & outdoor recreation equipment stores revenue was $15.2 billion in 2023 (industry sales).https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/camping-equipment-stores-industry/
07
U.S. consumer spending on sporting goods totaled $62.5 billion in 2023 (personal consumption expenditures, sporting goods).https://apps.bea.gov/iTable/?ReqID=70&step=4&isuri=1&3=industry&4=none&5=all&6=a&10=14&11=1&12=0&13=0
08
The global hiking gear market size was $12.9 billion in 2022 and is forecast to reach $22.1 billion by 2032 (CAGR projection in report).https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/02/08/2602462/0/en/Hiking-Gear-Market-Size-Worth-22-1-Bn-by-2032-at-5-6-CAGR-says-Vision-Research-Reports.html
09
The global bike accessories market size was $3.8 billion in 2022 and forecast to reach $6.2 billion by 2030 (market forecast).https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/08/30/2733992/0/en/Bike-Accessories-Market-Size-to-Reach-US-6-2-Bn-by-2030.html
10
The global outdoor recreation technology market was $3.0 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $6.7 billion by 2030 (market forecast).https://www.precedenceresearch.com/outdoor-recreation-market
11
The global outdoor tourism market size was $263.6 billion in 2023 and projected to reach $510.7 billion by 2030 (market forecast).https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/outdoor-tourism-market-size-to-grow-from-usd-263-6-billion-in-2023-to-usd-510-7-billion-by-2030-2024-2027-2024-05-15
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the market size angle, outdoor recreation is showing strong, expanding demand with global outdoor apparel rising from $36.8 billion in 2023 to $47.3 billion by 2028 and the outdoor tourism market projected to grow from $263.6 billion in 2023 to $510.7 billion by 2030.
More related reading
04 · Category
Industry Trends5 stats
01
42% of U.S. adults reported they are more likely to take an outdoor trip in the next 12 months (survey-based likelihood).https://www.reserveamerica.com/explore/travel-recreation-pulse-study
02
55% of Americans say outdoor activities help reduce stress (survey result).https://www.nationalforests.org/sites/default/files/2024-06/outdoor-mental-health-report.pdf
03
64% of camping households in the U.S. indicated they plan to camp at least once in the next 12 months (survey).https://www.outdoorproject.com/study/camping-households-plan-to-camp-2024
04
In 2023, 36% of U.S. households owned a camping tent (household penetration).https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/?q=Camping%20tent%20household%20ownership
05
2.4% average annual unit growth for outdoor footwear in the U.S. over 2019–2023 (historical growth rate)https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industryarticle/outerwear-footwear-market-analysis/outdoor-footwear-us-market-report-2024/17374
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
With 64% of U.S. camping households planning at least one trip in the next 12 months, the industry trend is clear that demand for outdoor recreation is staying strong and being reinforced by wellbeing benefits, with 55% of Americans saying outdoor activities help reduce stress.
05 · Category
User Adoption4 stats
01
In 2023, 22.5% of U.S. adults reported participating in hiking at least once (survey-based participation rate)https://www.statista.com/statistics/185267/hiking-participation-rate-in-the-us/
02
In 2023, 18.6% of U.S. adults reported participating in camping at least once (survey-based participation rate)https://www.statista.com/statistics/185266/camping-participation-rate-in-the-us/
03
In 2023, 11.7% of U.S. adults reported participating in fishing at least once (survey-based participation rate)https://www.statista.com/statistics/185262/fishing-participation-rate-in-the-us/
04
In 2023, 8.9% of U.S. adults reported participating in hunting at least once (survey-based participation rate)https://www.statista.com/statistics/185259/hunting-participation-rate-in-the-us/
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
For the user adoption angle, participation is broadest in hiking with 22.5% of U.S. adults trying it in 2023, while other activities drop off to 18.6% for camping, 11.7% for fishing, and just 8.9% for hunting.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Outdoor Recreation Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/outdoor-recreation-industry-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Outdoor Recreation Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/outdoor-recreation-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Outdoor Recreation Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/outdoor-recreation-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
25 datasets cited across this report
+9 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)