An Analysis of the Demand for and Value of Outdoor Recreation in the United States

Abstract

Demand equations for 37 outdoor recreational activities were estimated across a sample of U.S. counties using a multi-community, multi-site travel cost model. Results suggest that determinants of the demand for outdoor recreation in the U.S. include population, residence, income, age, price, quality, and substitutes. Estimates of the net economic value per day of the activities modeled ranged from $2.39 to $29.18. Estimates of the total net economic value of the activities modeled (total days × value per day) ranged from $267 million to $ 16 million. The sum of total net economic value for all 37 activities was estimated at $122 billion annually. The multi-community, multi-state travel cost model, represents an alternative approach for estimating standard “off-the-shelf” values for outdoor recreation over multiple populations and sites in the United States. Such values are of considerable interest to resource management agencies for policy and planning purposes (e.g., U.S.D.A Renewable Resources Planning Act Assessment and Program).