Camping has been big hit with coronavirus pandemic as people seek outdoors

Jeremy Burba, a sales manager at Camping World RV Sales in North Little Rock, Ark., walks past new motor homes parked at the dealershipTuesday, Dec. 2, 2014. Recreational vehicle shipments from manufacturers to dealers are expected to increase by nearly 4 percent in 2015, (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

PERU (AP) — Some Indiana campgrounds have been packed this summer with campers seeking a taste of the great outdoors following months of restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.

John Cardwell owns the Hidden Creek Campground near the northern Indiana city of Peru. He says within a few weeks of opening the members-only campground this year all camping sites had been booked for the season.

He told the Kokomo Tribune that people see camping as a safe getaway during the pandemic compared with staying in hotels or flying. State recreational areas are also seeing high demand.