Outdoor recreation drives 2.7% of Oregon GDP
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Outdoor recreation contributed 2.7% of Oregon's GDP in 2024, according to new federal data.
The big picture: The sector remains a significant slice of the U.S. economy, contributing 2.4% of national GDP — nearly $700 billion, per a report from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Catch up quick: GDP for the outdoor economy was up 2.7% in 2024 — a slowdown from 2023, when it rose 5.3% from the previous year.
Zoom in: Despite our reputation as a haven for hikers, hunters, anglers, skiers and snowboarders, Oregon was firmly in the middle of the pack at No. 22 among all states.
Zoom out: Outdoor recreation accounted for the highest shares of GDP in Hawai'i (6.1%), Alaska (5.3%) and Montana (4.9%).
- It accounted for the smallest shares in Washington, D.C. (1%); New York (1.6%) and Delaware (1.6%).
Yes, but: California led the country in total outdoor recreation spending, at $87.9 billion.
- Boating and fishing were the biggest economic drivers among "conventional activities," adding $38.4 billion to the nationwide GDP.
- RVing added $27.5 billion, while hunting, shooting and trapping added another $16.5 billion.
- "Snow activities" added $7.6 billion, with the largest contributions in Colorado ($1.6 billion), California ($730.5 million), and Utah ($598.2 million).