Indiana's outdoor recreation industry worth $15.7B
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Outdoor recreation has a bigger impact on Indiana's bottom line than that of any other Midwest state.
Why it matters: With $15.7 billion generated by folks enjoying the great outdoors in 2023, Indiana ranks 12th among states when it comes to total value added from outdoor recreation activities, according to a recent U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) report.
- The industry accounted for 3.2% of Indiana's GDP last year — up from 2.4% in 2012 and the 13th highest share of GDP nationwide.
- It also accounted for 3.2% of the state's total employment with 105,078 jobs.
By the numbers: The BEA study reveals that the Hoosier state is the hottest spot in the nation for RV enthusiasts.
- Indiana ranks first in the U.S. for economic impact from RVing with $4.7 billion generated by the activity.
- Indiana was also a top spot for boating ($1.3 billion), guided tours ($612 million) and motorcycling/ATVing ($462 million).
- And a little cold can't ruin our fun. Snow activities like skiing and snowboarding generated $383 million for the state.
State of play: State leaders are already working to help Hoosiers plan their next big outdoor adventure.
- This week, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources made advance copies of the 2025 Indiana State Parks special events list available to the public.
- Events on the list include winter bald eagle watches, full moon hikes, paddling events, organized runs and more.
What they're saying: Ginger Murphy, deputy director of Indiana State Parks, told Axios that estimated visitation to state parks in fiscal year 2023 was 19.1 million, up from about 15.6 million in fiscal year 2013.
- "We have more than 7,000 campsites, and during many summer and fall weekends in 2024 our campground occupancy was 90-95%. We are seeing campers in early spring and into the winter as well," she said. "We are thrilled to see visitors enjoying our trails, picnic areas, lakes and exploring nature and history in the process."
The other side: While the money being brought in by outdoor recreation is among the nation's highest, Indiana was the only state to see the industry lose jobs in 2023.
- Total outdoor recreation employment declined by 4.8% in Indiana from 2022 to 2023, contrasted with nationwide growth of 3.3%.
Zoom out: Looking across the Midwest, the next state with as much of its GDP tied up in outdoor recreation is Minnesota at 2.8%, followed by Wisconsin and South Dakota, each at 2.6%.
- The three states with the largest outdoor recreation industries are California ($81.5 billion), Florida ($57.8 billion) and Texas $(55.8 billion).
The big picture: The outdoor recreation industry is now valued at $1.2 trillion nationwide, accounting for 2.3% of the U.S. economy and 5 million jobs, the BEA report found.
- The 3.6% year-over-year growth exceeded the U.S. economy as a whole, which grew 2.9% in 2023.
- The top activities at the national level are boating and fishing and RVing, while the fastest-growing are bicycling, snow sports and hunting.
The intrigue: Outdoor advocates helped draft the Great American Outdoors Act, which Congress passed in 2020, to invest billions in upgrading the country's national parks.
- The funding for repairs and maintenance expires in 2025, and conservationists are pushing for its reauthorization.
What's next: Public lands advocates are pushing the Senate to finalize approval of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act, which passed the U.S. House in April.
- The legislation represents the largest measure ever to support outdoor recreation and would update management policies and invest more money in recreational spaces.
Go deeper: Get outside for some last-minute fun