The outdoor recreation economy remained a major pillar of the U.S. economy in 2024, accounting for $1.3 trillion in economic output, representing 2.4 percent of national GDP ($696.7 billion) and supporting 5.2 million American jobs, according to newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
Jessica Turner, president of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, touted those figures in a Zoom presentation to its members on Thursday, held in coordination with BEA officials and other representatives of the outdoor industry.
“The data underscore that outdoor recreation remains a major economic driver, even as growth has flattened following the post‑pandemic surge,” she said. “That aligns with the headwinds we continue to feel — inflation, high interest rates, supply chain friction and shifting household budgets.”
And while demand to get outside remains high, with positive participation trends across all forms of outdoor recreation, Turner noted that the outdoor industry is facing challenges this year.
“Affordability and uncertainty continue to weigh on purchases and trips. Wallets are thinner, trips are shorter, and purchases are fewer,” she said. “Many small businesses have absorbed inflation as long as possible, margins have tightened amid trade uncertainty, and we need near‑term policy action to provide greater certainty around supply chains and outdoor access.”
RVing Remains a Cornerstone of Outdoor Recreation
Within the broader outdoor recreation economy, RV–related activity continues to play a vital role. BEA economist Stan Rzeznik pointed to data showing that RVing generated $27.5 billion in value added in 2024, making it the second‑largest outdoor recreation activity, behind only boating and fishing, with $38.4 billion.
What’s more, Rzeznik noted the RV industry’s economic footprint extends beyond campgrounds and roadways. He said manufacturing remains a powerful driver — particularly in Indiana — where RV production is heavily concentrated in Elkhart County. BEA data highlighted Indiana as one of the states where outdoor recreation represents a significant share of the overall economy, at 3.3 percent, largely due to RV manufacturing’s scale and supply‑chain reach.
The top three states with the largest contributions to conventional RV activity by dollar amount were Indiana ($5.2 billion), Texas ($2.7 billion) and California ($2.1 billion) according to BEA data.
RVing’s prominence also reflects its unique position within outdoor recreation. That’s because RVs bridge travel, tourism, manufacturing and outdoor access, supporting jobs across multiple sectors — from skilled manufacturing and component supply to campground operations, retail and hospitality, Rzeznik said.
Matching National Growth, Supporting Millions of Jobs
From a macroeconomic perspective, outdoor recreation kept pace with the broader economy in 2024. Rzeznick said outdoor recreation reported real growth of 2.7 percent, nearly identical to the 2.8 percent growth rate of the overall U.S. economy, after adjusting for inflation. Employment growth in outdoor recreation also matched the national average, with job growth of 1.1 percent, he noted.
In total, outdoor recreation supported 5.2 million wage and salary jobs, representing 3.2 percent of all U.S. employment, BEA data shows. Those jobs span manufacturing, retail, tourism, services and technology — underscoring the sector’s breadth.
The long‑term trajectory remains compelling, according to Rzeznik. Since the BEA began tracking outdoor recreation data in 2012, nominal gross output has grown 84 percent, rising from roughly $700 billion to $1.3 trillion, he said. Adjusted for inflation, real output increased 43 percent, reaching just under $1 trillion in 2024, he added.
Rzeznik also noted outdoor recreation represents a particularly large share of state economies in Alaska, Hawaii, much of the Mountain West, New England, Florida and Indiana. BEA data shows the Top 10 outdoor recreation states for 2024 were: California ($87.9 billion), Florida ($65.3 billion), Texas ($59.4 billion), New York ($37.3 billion), Illinois ($26.4 billion), Washington ($23.5 billion), Georgia ($20.7 billion), Pennsylvania ($20.4 billion), Ohio ($20.1 billion) and Colorado ($18.1 billion).
BEA data shows the Top 10 states for outdoor recreation growth from 2023-2024, percentage-wise, were: Massachusetts (6.9 percent), Arizona (6.8 percent), Iowa (6.6 percent), Alaska (6.3 percent), Nevada (6.1 percent), Indiana (5.9 percent), New Jersey (5.8 percent), Delaware (5.8 percent), Maryland (5.6 percent) and North Dakota (5.5 percent), all well above the national growth rate.
Meanwhile, representatives with the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable noted that the United States now has 24 states with formal Offices of Outdoor Recreation, each focused on growing outdoor industries, supporting businesses and delivering public benefits tied to recreation. In Pennsylvania, for example, outdoor recreation added $1.5 billion to state GDP and 9,000 jobs, according to state officials.
Infrastructure and Policy: Critical to Outdoor Recreation Growth
In her remarks, ORR’s Turner repeatedly stressed the importance of infrastructure investment.
“We also need continued investment in outdoor recreation infrastructure to keep this sustainable, resilient, job‑creating sector moving forward,” she said. “That includes reauthorizing and strengthening the Legacy Restoration Fund to modernize infrastructure across all forms of outdoor recreation and accelerate high‑value projects nationwide that return revenue to local communities. It also means fully implementing the bipartisan Explore Act, which passed last year to expand access, innovation and public‑private partnerships.”
Additionally, Turner said preserving access to public lands and waters remains a top priority.
“As our newly released report shows, outdoor recreation on federal lands alone generates $350 million per day for the economy,” she said. “We need full funding for the Recreational Trails Program, which is supported by off‑road user fees, to sustain diverse trail systems and rural economies. We also need to reduce regulatory headwinds and increase certainty for outdoor businesses through stable trade policy and targeted tax incentives.”
Turner concluded her opening remarks by stating that strengthening coordination between federal and state partners is critical.
