Off-road tourism spans OHVs, off-road motorcycles, ATVs, side-by-sides and related recreation, so its measured footprint depends on the population and definition used. The evidence below combines modeled 2022 Canadian impacts, California’s 2022–2024 seasons, a historical 2005 Wyoming visitor survey and earlier U.S. recreation research.
Key Off-Road Tourism Statistics
The most useful headline figures cover economic scale, visitor behavior and trip spending:
- In 2022, recreational on-road motorcycle and OHV use in Canada generated C$17.2842 billion in total economic output.
- In 2022, Canada’s recreational on-road motorcycle and OHV use generated C$8.9957 billion in total GDP.
- In 2022, the Canadian activity supported 88,375 total FTE jobs.
- In 2022, Canadian OHV tourism spending generated C$7.3111 billion in total output.
- In 2022, Canadian OHV tourism spending supported 36,880 total FTE jobs.
- During California’s 2022–2024 seasons, OHV/OSV recreation generated about US$10 billion in total economic output.
- During California’s 2022–2024 seasons, OHV/OSV recreation supported more than 58,000 jobs.
- During California’s 2022–2024 seasons, OHV/OSV recreation generated more than US$1.8 billion in total tax revenue.
- In 2022, Quebec recorded C$4.2417 billion in total OHV-related output.
- In 2022, Ontario recorded C$4.0839 billion in total OHV-related output.
- In the 2022–2024 California study period, Ocotillo Wells generated US$800 million in total impact.
- In the 2022–2024 California study period, Oceano Dunes generated US$379 million in total impact.
- In the 2005 Wyoming survey, the average one-way travel distance for non-resident ORV visitors was 575 miles.
- In 2005, more than 56% of Wyoming’s non-resident ORV visitors traveled over 250 miles.
- In 2005, hunting was the primary purpose of 39.1% of Wyoming non-resident ORV trips.
- In 2005, ORV riding was the primary purpose of 37.1% of Wyoming non-resident ORV trips.
- On their most recent 2005 Wyoming trip, non-resident ORV visitors spent an average US$331.24 on gasoline.
- The cited national U.S. recreation evidence estimated 44 million OHV riders.
- Prior OHV research summarized in a 2014 article reported US$25.51 to US$131.58 of consumer surplus per recreational day trip.
Contents
- Canadian off-road tourism economic impact
- Canadian OHV output, jobs and taxes by province
- California off-highway tourism data by recreation area
- Off-road visitor profiles and travel behavior
- Off-road trip purposes and visitor spending
- Off-road tourism value, access and destination evidence
Canadian Off-Road Tourism Economic Impact Statistics
The Canadian study measures recreational on-road motorcycles and OHVs together, while also reporting an OHV tourism-spending category. These are modeled economic impacts, not counts of unique tourists or national tourism receipts alone.
| 2022 Canadian measure | Result | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Total output | C$17.2842 billion | Recreational on-road motorcycles and OHVs |
| Total GDP | C$8.9957 billion | Direct, indirect and induced effects |
| Total FTE jobs | 88,375 | Direct, indirect and induced employment |
| Government tax revenue | C$3.1809 billion | Federal, provincial and municipal |
Source: Economic Impact Study of On-road Motorcycles and Off-highway Vehicle Recreation in Canada.
The tourism-spending subset is narrower than the broader recreational activity total, but it still includes modeled spillover effects:
- Canadian OHV tourism spending produced C$7.3111 billion in total output in 2022.
- Canadian OHV tourism spending produced C$3.6262 billion in total GDP in 2022.
- Canadian OHV tourism spending supported 36,880 total FTE jobs in 2022.
- Canadian OHV tourism spending generated C$1.8439 billion in combined federal, provincial and municipal taxes in 2022.
The tourism tax figure is a derived sum of the study’s federal, provincial and municipal tourism-spending tax estimates. Both the broad activity figures and the tourism subset should therefore be read as economic-model estimates rather than direct cash registers for off-road trips.
Canadian OHV Output, Jobs and Taxes by Province
The 2022 provincial results show the scale of the modeled OHV economy in four large reporting provinces. Output and employment are not interchangeable: a province can rank differently depending on the measure.
| Province | Total OHV-related output, 2022 | Total FTE jobs, 2022 | Combined government taxes, 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | C$4.2417 billion | 23,270 | C$802.9 million |
| Ontario | C$4.0839 billion | 18,870 | C$665.4 million |
| Alberta | C$2.8841 billion | 13,860 | Not supplied |
| British Columbia | C$2.5133 billion | 12,510 | Not supplied |
Source: Economic Impact Study of On-road Motorcycles and Off-highway Vehicle Recreation in Canada.
Quebec’s modeled total was C$4.2417 billion in output and 23,270 FTE jobs, while Ontario recorded C$4.0839 billion and 18,870 FTE jobs. The reported tax totals were C$802.9 million for Quebec and C$665.4 million for Ontario; the supplied provincial facts do not provide comparable tax figures for Alberta or British Columbia.
California Off-Highway Tourism Statistics by Recreation Area
California’s official report covers OHV/OSV users during the 2022–2024 seasons. The site results below are total impact estimates for each recreation area and named surrounding counties, combining direct, indirect and induced effects.
| Recreation area | Total impact, 2022–2024 seasons | Geography stated in report |
|---|---|---|
| Ocotillo Wells | US$800 million | San Diego and contiguous counties |
| Oceano Dunes | US$379 million | San Luis Obispo and contiguous counties |
| Hungry Valley | US$117 million | Los Angeles and contiguous counties |
| Prairie City | US$59 million | Sacramento and contiguous counties |
| Hollister Hills | US$49 million | San Benito and contiguous counties |
| Carnegie | US$39 million | San Joaquin and contiguous counties |
| Clay Pit | US$30 million | Butte and contiguous counties |
| Heber Dunes | US$18 million | Imperial and contiguous counties |
| Red Rock Canyon | US$11 million | Kern and contiguous counties |
| Mammoth Bar-Auburn | US$7.2 million | Placer and contiguous counties |
| Jasper Sears OHV | US$2.8 million | Merced and contiguous counties |
Source: 2025 Program Report California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Commission.
The report’s statewide summary estimated about US$10 billion in total output, more than 58,000 jobs and more than US$1.8 billion in total local, state and federal tax revenue during the same seasons. State tax revenue alone was estimated at US$515 million.
Site-level employment estimates add another dimension. Ocotillo Wells supported 500 jobs, Oceano Dunes supported 2,600, Hungry Valley supported 676 and Hollister Hills supported 360 jobs during the 2022–2024 study period.
These are site-level modeled estimates and should not be treated as permanent jobs located at the recreation areas.
Off-Road Visitor Profiles and Travel Behavior
The Wyoming evidence is a historical 2005 survey of non-resident ORV visitors, not a current national participation estimate. Its value is in showing how far visitors traveled and how the surveyed market was distributed.
Among non-resident ORV visitor respondents, Colorado accounted for 22.0%, Utah for 12.0%, Wisconsin for 11.2% and Minnesota for 10.0% in the 2005 Wyoming study. The percentages describe the survey distribution, not every Wyoming ORV tourist.
Travel distance was substantial: the average one-way distance was 575 miles, and more than 56% of non-resident visitors reported traveling over 250 miles. Respondents averaged 10.5 Wyoming trips in 2005, according to the trip-diary evidence.
The survey also reported that nearly 46% had some post-high-school education. Sixty-four percent reported annual household income between US$50,000 and US$149,999, while 10% reported household income above US$149,999; these are historical survey bands, not current purchasing-power measures.
Source: Off-Road Vehicle Recreation in the West: Implications of a Wyoming Analysis.
Off-Road Trip Purposes and Visitor Spending Statistics
ORVs were not used only for trips whose primary purpose was riding. In the 2005 Wyoming non-resident trip diary, riding represented 37.1% of trips, while hunting represented 39.1%; fishing accounted for 8.2%, camping 8.1% and other recreation 7.5%.
The reported complement was 62.9% of trips primarily serving another recreation purpose where ORVs served as transportation, although trips could have joint purposes. This distinction matters when interpreting “off-road tourism”: access to hunting, fishing and camping can be part of the market even when riding is not the primary purpose.
Average spending on the most recent trip was reported by category:
| Spending category | Average per most recent trip, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Gasoline | US$331.24 |
| Restaurants and bars | US$137.12 |
| Groceries and liquor | US$131.03 |
| Overnight accommodations | US$121.23 |
| Retail items | US$79.32 |
| Oil, repairs and maintenance | US$27.99 |
| Day-user fees and donations | US$11.28 |
| ORV guides and tour packages | US$2.78 |
Source: Off-Road Vehicle Recreation in the West: Implications of a Wyoming Analysis.
These are average amounts for visitors’ most recent trip, not annual household spending. They also come from a historical survey, so they should not be read as current prices or a national spending benchmark.
Off-Road Tourism Value, Access and Destination Evidence
Earlier U.S. recreation research provides two useful context measures, but both require careful dating. A 2014 article cited a National Survey on Recreation and the Environment estimate of 44 million U.S. OHV riders; the figure is not a current official census.
The same article summarized prior research reporting consumer surplus of US$25.51 to US$131.58 per recreational day trip. Consumer surplus measures estimated recreation value to participants, not tourism spending, tax receipts or economic output.
Taken together, the evidence separates several ideas that are often blended in off-road tourism discussions: participation estimates count riders, visitor surveys describe people and trips, spending tables describe reported trip outlays, and economic-impact models estimate wider output, GDP, jobs and taxes. Because the Canadian, California, Wyoming and national figures use different years, populations, currencies and methods, they should be compared as distinct measures rather than combined into one market total.