According to a Food, Drink, Life report, Generation Z is turning American road trips into a group activity centered on RVs. Young travelers book lodging and campgrounds not so much for scenery as for socializing: neighbors two spots away become travel companions by the second night.
43% of Gen Z campers stay in touch with people they met at campgrounds after the trip ends. Three out of four campers call campgrounds a 'third place' — a space outside home and work where real community emerges.
In 2026, the centennial of Route 66 and the 250th anniversary of the US coincide, and the National Park Service waives entrance fees on August 25 as part of National Parks Week (August 22–30). During the FIFA World Cup (June 10–20), campground availability within 80 km of host cities more than tripled compared to last year.