Camping Ranks as America’s Third Most Popular Outdoor Activity

February 13, 2026
3:20 am

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Camping's surge to America's third-most-popular outdoor activity—behind only walking and swimming, per The Dyrt's 2026 Camping Report—signals more than just a post-pandemic itch for fresh air. Surveying 1,000 representative U.S. residents, the Toyota Trucks-sponsored study reveals a nation rediscovering the wild, with participation spiking amid economic squeezes and urban burnout. But peel back the tent flaps, and this boom carries potent implications for the 2A community: as millions flock to dispersed campsites, national forests, and backcountry spots, the practical need for personal defense skyrockets. We're talking vast, unpatrolled expanses where black bears outnumber park rangers, two-legged predators lurk in the shadows, and a simple twisted ankle can turn deadly without self-reliance. For gun owners, this isn't just trivia—it's a clarion call. Camping's rise dovetails perfectly with the concealed carry revolution, where 27 states now offer permitless carry and apps like those from USCCA map legal hotspots. Imagine the family glamping in grizzly country or boondocking in the Mojave: a compact AR pistol or bear-country .44 Magnum isn't a hobbyist's toy; it's insurance against the 500+ annual wildlife attacks and rising reports of campsite assaults. The Dyrt's data underscores why 2A advocacy must amp up public lands access—BLM and USFS restrictions on assault weapons or overnight stays directly threaten this freedom. Forward-thinking shooters are already adapting, with sales of lightweight optics-ready handguns and suppressor-equipped rifles booming for low-signature backcountry carry. The ripple effects? A groundswell of pro-2A campers could reshape policy debates, turning outdoor enthusiasts into vocal defenders of Heller rights amid Biden-era land grabs. Pair this with RVIA's projected 11 million RVers by 2030, and you've got a mobile voting bloc primed for range days disguised as tailgate BBQs. Pro tip for the community: stock your bug-out kit with the new Dyrt app for real-time site intel, and lobby your reps to keep federal overreach out of the fire ring. Camping isn't just popular—it's the ultimate proving ground for why the Second Amendment endures. Grab your pack; the woods are calling, locked and loaded.

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Camping’s surge to America’s third-most-popular outdoor activity—behind only walking and swimming, per The Dyrt’s 2026 Camping Report—signals more than just a post-pandemic itch for fresh air. Surveying 1,000 representative U.S. residents, the Toyota Trucks-sponsored study reveals a nation rediscovering the wild, with participation spiking amid economic squeezes and urban burnout. But peel back the tent flaps, and this boom carries potent implications for the 2A community: as millions flock to dispersed campsites, national forests, and backcountry spots, the practical need for personal defense skyrockets. We’re talking vast, unpatrolled expanses where black bears outnumber park rangers, two-legged predators lurk in the shadows, and a simple twisted ankle can turn deadly without self-reliance.

For gun owners, this isn’t just trivia—it’s a clarion call. Camping’s rise dovetails perfectly with the concealed carry revolution, where 27 states now offer permitless carry and apps like those from USCCA map legal hotspots. Imagine the family glamping in grizzly country or boondocking in the Mojave: a compact AR pistol or bear-country .44 Magnum isn’t a hobbyist’s toy; it’s insurance against the 500+ annual wildlife attacks and rising reports of campsite assaults. The Dyrt’s data underscores why 2A advocacy must amp up public lands access—BLM and USFS restrictions on assault weapons or overnight stays directly threaten this freedom. Forward-thinking shooters are already adapting, with sales of lightweight optics-ready handguns and suppressor-equipped rifles booming for low-signature backcountry carry.

The ripple effects? A groundswell of pro-2A campers could reshape policy debates, turning outdoor enthusiasts into vocal defenders of Heller rights amid Biden-era land grabs. Pair this with RVIA’s projected 11 million RVers by 2030, and you’ve got a mobile voting bloc primed for range days disguised as tailgate BBQs. Pro tip for the community: stock your bug-out kit with the new Dyrt app for real-time site intel, and lobby your reps to keep federal overreach out of the fire ring. Camping isn’t just popular—it’s the ultimate proving ground for why the Second Amendment endures. Grab your pack; the woods are calling, locked and loaded.

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