Outdoor Recreation Was More Popular Than Ever in 2024, Report Finds

August 20, 2025

Americans got out more—and more often—in 2024, according to a newly-released report from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), an industry trade association that specializes in outdoor research, advocacy and sustainability,  According to the group’s annual Outdoor Participation Trends Report, last year outdoor recreation participation grew by 3 percent despite signs of a weakening economy and steep cuts to the National Park Service, Forest Service, and other agencies responsible for managing U.S. public lands. A record-high 58.6 percent of Americans ventured outside, with a total of 181.1 million people picked up a pack, tied on running shoes, or participated in another outdoor activity last year. Backpacker