Remember when glamping hit the scene and suddenly camping looked like something out of a Restoration Hardware catalog? We all thought, “Yeah, I could do nature—if nature had air conditioning and Egyptian cotton sheets.”
Well, here we are in 2025, and the winds of camping have shifted again. Glamping still has its place (and hey, who doesn’t love a yurt with a minibar?), but there’s a new trend catching fire among campers—and no, it’s not your marshmallows.
It’s “back to the basics” camping—a little raw, a little rugged, and just crunchy enough to make your old hiking boots feel relevant again. Some are calling it neo-minimalist camping, some call it rewilding, and others just call it Tuesday. Either way, it’s rising fast, and it’s bringing composting toilets, solar showers, and low-impact setups along for the ride.
So… is glamping dead? Not quite. But the new cool kids are definitely Googling “how to dig a cathole without looking like an amateur.”
Let’s break it down.
The Rise of Compost-Core Camping
We’re in the middle of a cultural pivot—people are ditching excess for authenticity. Tiny homes are in. Capsule wardrobes. Digital detoxes. And now? Camping that feels more like surviving on purpose.
Enter compost-core. It’s DIY, it’s dirt-under-your-nails honest, and it’s weirdly satisfying to know you’re not leaving a trace behind—except for maybe a weird tan line and a story about that time a raccoon stole your protein bar.
This isn’t just about pooping in a box, either (though, yes, that’s part of it). Compost-core campers are building setups with:
- Off-grid solar panels
- Portable wood stoves
- Greywater filtration systems
- Zero-packaging food options
- And yes, composting toilets with air-tight seals and odor control that actually kind of work (keyword: kind of).
It’s a love letter to Leave No Trace, but with better tech, a sense of humor, and fewer sherpa-lined throw blankets.
Why It’s Catching On
Let’s be honest—glamping was never cheap. Once you factored in the location fees, the extra gear, the “eco-luxury” surcharge, and the bottle of wine you definitely dropped in the grass… you might as well have stayed in a boutique hotel and called it a “nature-forward retreat.”
The new wave of camping is:
- More affordable
- More self-reliant
- More sustainable
- And maybe, just maybe… more real
There’s also this quietly growing desire to reconnect with something a little simpler, a little less polished. The kind of camping where you’re boiling water over a flame and your coffee tastes like grit and ambition. (Delicious.)
And let’s face it—after a few years of screens, schedules, and being Very Online™, a weekend where your only notification is the crunch of twigs behind you feels like a full system reset.
What This Means for Campgrounds
Campgrounds like ours at Mustang Run are leaning into the blend—because not everyone wants to go full “live-off-the-land-with-no-toilet-paper” mode.
We’ve got:
- Full-hookup RV spots for the practical adventurer
- Clean indoor showers for when you’ve had enough of nature’s exfoliation
- A rec room where you can play ping pong with someone who still smells like firewood
- Movie nights and s’mores because, no matter what trend comes and goes, nobody’s too minimalist for marshmallows
The trend isn’t about rejecting comfort altogether—it’s about making room for purpose. The campers showing up now aren’t asking “Where’s the AC?”—they’re asking “What’s the lowest-impact way to wash this pan?” and “Is there a spot where I can set up a solar array?”
And honestly? We’re here for it.
So… Is Glamping Dead?
Not exactly. But it’s evolving.
The new era of camping isn’t about looking good for Instagram—it’s about feeling good after you’ve left the campsite better than you found it. It’s about self-reliance, intentionality, and maybe a composting toilet that makes you feel a little like MacGyver with a shovel.
So whether you’re still clinging to your glamping wine chiller or you’re pricing out solar lanterns and DIY rocket stoves, there’s room for you at the campground. Trends come and go, but the magic of camping—stars overhead, the quiet hum of the wild, that perfectly burned marshmallow—stays exactly the same.
If you’re ready to try this new wave of grounded, sustainable, weirdly empowering camping, we’ve got a spot for you at Mustang Run.
Hot shower optional. Compost bin encouraged.