Maine Outdoor Recreation Spending in 2022 Was Jaw-Dropping

For over a century, Maine has been one of the country's go-to vacation destinations.  People from all over the world would come to visit our little corner of the United States.

In the early years, the rich from Boston and New York would come to Maine to escape the heat (and smell) of the cities during the summer.  During the same time period, hearty outdoorsmen would go camping, hunting, and fishing in Maine's vast wilderness.

These days, the state still attracts a variety of visitors.  We get young families who want to make memories at our amusement parks, couples who want to experience our great restaurants & breweries, and people who want to explore the great outdoors.

Speaking of adventures in the great outdoors, Maine saw a spike in the amount of money spent on outdoors adventures in 2022.

Maine's Outdoor Economy Surged by Over 16% in 2022

According to an article in Maine Biz, the amount of money spent on outdoor activities in Maine jumped by 16.5% between 2021 and 2022.  According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, visitors and locals spent a total of $3.3 billion on outdoor activities in 2022.

The report from the U. S. Department of Commerce also shows that money from the state's outdoor activities increased the state's total GDP by 3.9%.

Outdoor Activities in Maine

The $3.3 billion takes into account money that is spent on everything from boating to fishing gear, hunting gear, snowmobiles, and beyond.

If you want help planning your next Maine adventure, check out the Visit Maine website. The site features ideas for adventures that are broken down by region.

Elsewhere in New England

Not surprisingly, both New Hampshire and Vermont saw big GDP bumps thanks to outdoor activities in 2022.  The report found that NH's outdoor activities added 3.2% to the GDP.  For VT, it was 4.6%.

What are your favorite outdoor activities to do in Maine?  What about the rest of New England?  Let us know by sending us a message in our app.