Outdoor Travel Demand Remains Strong: A 2026 Hygiene-Supply Brief for Campgrounds
As of September 2026, fall campground demand remains resilient, booking windows are short and many RV travelers plan to bring pets. These signals increase the number of guest scenarios an outdoor operator must design for. They do not establish demand for a specific towel, but they support a clearer amenity brief built around water access, pack protection, storage and disposal.
What does the US RV survey show?
The RV Industry Association reported that 23 million Americans planned an RV trip in fall 2026, including more than 11 million over Labor Day. More than 9.4 million people who did not own an RV planned to rent one. The survey was conducted by Cairn Consulting with 1,612 respondents and a reported margin of error of plus or minus 2.74 percentage points.
What does campground booking data add?
RVBusiness reported that private campground operators expected the 2026 fall season to equal or exceed the prior year even while booking windows stayed short. Campspot, which serves more than 2,600 campgrounds, reported September bookings 2% above the prior year and 39% occupancy. October, November and December were each about 1% ahead. Advanced Outdoor Management, which manages more than 40 campgrounds in 23 states, reported 4% year-over-year growth for October through December.
| Outdoor signal | Reported figure | Planning question |
|---|---|---|
| Fall US RV travelers | 23 million | Which property types and dates are in scope? |
| Travelers planning to bring pets | More than 71% | Are human and pet-use products clearly separated? |
| September campground bookings | +2% year over year | Can short booking windows be reflected in replenishment plans? |
| September campground occupancy | 39% | Which locations and stay types are actually in scope? |
| October–December campground growth | About +1% across each month | Can shoulder-season stock be planned separately? |
How should an outdoor hygiene item be specified?
Outdoor use is not one condition. A serviced glamping cabin, RV rental, tent site and emergency kit differ in water availability, storage temperature, pack exposure and waste handling. Specify the situation before the substrate.
- State whether the unit is for hand, face, body, equipment or pet use.
- Define available water and whether the product will be stored in a humid area.
- Confirm composition, GSM, open size, texture, fold and pack format.
- Define individual-pack protection where it is required; do not describe it as waterproof without testing.
- Separate guest, pet and cleaning supplies through placement and labeling.
- Document disposal instructions appropriate to the property and market.
What do these surveys not prove?
They do not prove that campers want disposable towels, that a nonwoven towel reduces water use, or that any disposable format has a lower environmental impact. Those claims need direct customer research, a defined operational comparison or life-cycle evidence.
Frequently asked questions about outdoor disposable towels
Is individual packaging always necessary outdoors?
No. The decision depends on exposure, storage, distribution and presentation. Confirm the actual environment.
Can one item be presented for people and pets?
Only if the specification and labeling are appropriate. Operationally, separate placement usually reduces confusion.
Where can buyers review Jaroll's outdoor framework?
See Jaroll's Outdoor, Camping & Emergency Supply solution and define the project conditions before sampling.
Research note
Prepared by the Jaroll Editorial Team from the cited public sources and Jaroll's documented product-selection framework. Market figures describe their source markets; they are not Jaroll sales data or product-performance claims. Last reviewed: September 30, 2026.
Sources
- RV Industry Association, August 25, 2026 — fall RV travel intent, rental interest, pet participation and survey method.
- RVBusiness, September 22, 2026 — Campspot and Advanced Outdoor Management booking, occupancy and fall-growth figures.
- Jaroll Knowledge Base, Outdoor, Camping & Emergency application mapping and claim-control records, reviewed September 30, 2026.