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The 1980s are back and so too are 1980’s travel hotspots as we head into 2025. According to Campspot, leading software provider and online marketplace for RV resorts, family campgrounds, cabins and glamping options, nostalgia is fueling travel in 2025. Outdoor destinations that were extremely popular in the 1980s are making a major comeback due to travelers’ desire to reconnect with the past and seeking a sense of escape.
“The sense of nostalgia our data reveals is powerful,” says Erin Stender, CMO of Campspot. “As we look ahead to 2025, it’s clear that travelers are gravitating toward places that remind them of simpler times, whether it’s revisiting a national park they visited in the ’80s or discovering the same outdoor treasures their parents once enjoyed.”
Campspot created the ’80s (Re)vival Rankings, identifying the top five destinations in each U.S. region that have captured the attention of campers for the coming year which include:
West’s 1980’s Travel Hotspots for 2025:
- West Yellowstone, MT – Yellowstone National Park, WY/MT/ID
- Grand Canyon, AZ – Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
- Yosemite, CA – Yosemite National Park, CA
- Estes Park, CO – Rocky Mountain National Park, CO
- Moab, UT – Arches National Park, UT
Midwest’s 1980’s Travel Hotspots for 2025:
- Traverse City, MI – Sleeping Bear Dunes, MI
- Mackinaw City, MI – Mackinac Island, MI
- Cleveland, OH – Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH
- Rapid City, SD – Badlands National Park, SD
- Duluth, MN – Voyageurs National Park, MN; Lake Superior Shoreline, MN/WI
South’s 1980’s Travel Hotspots for 2025:
- Miami, FL – Everglades National Park, FL; Biscayne National Park, FL
- Gatlinburg, TN -Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN/NC
- Mammoth Cave, KY – Mammoth Cave National Park, KY
- Asheville, NC – Blue Ridge Parkway, VA/NC
- South Padre Island, TX – Nearby 1980s hotspot: South Padre Island, TX
Northeast’s 1980’s Travel Hotspots for 2025:
- Bar Harbor, ME – Acadia National Park, ME
- Lake George, NY – Adirondack Mountains, NY
- Boston, MA – Cape Cod National Seashore, MA; Berkshires, MA
- North Conway, NH – White Mountains, NH; Mount Washington, NH
- Stowe, VT – Green Mountains, VT
The growing appeal of these destinations is rooted in both personal memories and a broader longing for simpler experiences.
According to Campspot’s data, 7 in 10 respondents are willing to trade modern conveniences for a chance to experience life as it was in the ’80s, with camping providing the perfect opportunity to unplug and recapture the magic of childhood trips. In fact, 94 percent of respondents reported seeing camping as a key form of stress relief, and another 80 percent agree that camping trips reconnect families free from the stress of modern life.
“As travelers embrace the (Re)Creation Vacation trend, we’re seeing these 1980’s-era travel hotspots come back to life in 2025 for a new generation of campers,” Stender adds. “Their timeless appeal, combined with modern updates, offers the best of both worlds—a nod to the past and an authentic outdoor experience that still resonates today.”
This article originally appeared in TravelPulse.