Off-road recreation reached an estimated 44.4 million U.S. participants age 16 and older in 2005–2007, while vehicle sales, activity intensity, state participation and safety outcomes show how broad the category is. The figures below distinguish survey estimates, observed sales and modeled economic results.
Key Off Road Recreation Statistics
The most useful high-level figures are:
- 44.4 million Americans age 16 and older participated in off-highway vehicle recreation during 2005–2007 in the United States, according to a National Survey on Recreation and the Environment estimate.
- 19.2% of the U.S. population age 16 and older participated during 2005–2007.
- Estimated participation rose from 27.3 million people in 1994–1995 to 37.6 million in 1999–2000 in the United States.
- The participation rate reached 23.2% from fall 2002 through summer 2003 among U.S. residents age 16 and older.
- 51.6 million people participated in 2002–2003 in the United States age-16-and-older population.
- More than 8 million existing off-highway vehicles were estimated in 2003, compared with fewer than 3 million in 1993.
- New ATV and off-highway motorcycle retail sales reached 1,113,400 vehicles in 2003 in the United States.
- Nearly 3.25 million ATVs and off-road motorcycles were sold during 2004–2006 in the United States.
- South-region participants averaged 37.2 activity days per year during 2001–2007.
- South-region participants under 30 averaged 39.4 activity days per year during 2001–2007.
- Alaska’s participation rate was 33.0% during 1999–2007, among residents age 16 and older.
- Utah’s participation rate was 32.5% during 1999–2007, among residents age 16 and older.
- South Dakota’s participation rate was 27.0% during 1999–2007, among residents age 16 and older.
- California OHV/OSV recreation generated an estimated $10 billion in total economic output during the 2022–2024 seasons.
- California OHV/OSV recreation supported more than 58,000 jobs during the 2022–2024 study seasons.
- CPSC recorded 2,448 OHV-associated deaths during 2018–2020 in the United States.
- CPSC estimated 94,700 OHV-associated injuries treated in emergency departments in 2022 in the United States.
- ATVs accounted for more than two-thirds of OHV deaths during 2018–2020 in the United States.
Contents
- Off-road recreation participation statistics and national trends
- Participation by age, sex and residence
- State and regional off-road recreation data
- Off-road vehicle sales and vehicle-population statistics
- Activity days and participation intensity
- Economic impact and safety statistics
Off-Road Recreation Participation Statistics and National Trends
The Forest Service report defines off-road driving as recreational driving during the prior 12 months using a four-wheel-drive vehicle, ATV or motorcycle. Its National Survey on Recreation and the Environment estimates cover non-institutionalized U.S. residents age 16 and older and rely on self-reported participation.
| Period | Estimated participants | Participation rate | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994–1995 | 27.3 million | Not reported here | U.S., age 16+ |
| 1999–2000 | 37.6 million | 17.5% | U.S., age 16+ |
| 2002–2003 | 51.6 million | 23.2% peak | U.S., age 16+ |
| 2005–2007 | 44.4 million | 19.2% | U.S., age 16+ |
The 1999–2007 off-road-driving question was answered by nearly 71,000 people age 16 and older. That pooled respondent base supports the survey estimates, but it is not itself a count of participants.
The report’s peak of 51.6 million participants in 2002–2003 reflects activity reported in the prior 12 months and should not be treated as a current estimate. The estimates are comparable survey measures, not a continuous administrative series.
Off-Road Recreation Participation by Age, Sex and Residence
The pooled 1999–2007 tables show differences by sex, age and metropolitan status. These are participation rates within defined populations, not exposure-adjusted safety rates.
- In the Midwest, the participation rate was 27% for males and 15% for females.
- In the Midwest, participation was about 33% among people under 30 and 11% among people age 51 and older.
- In the South, participation was about 35% among people under 30 and about 12% among people age 51 and older.
- In the South, nonmetropolitan residents participated at 24%, compared with 17% of metropolitan residents.
- In the North, nonmetropolitan residents participated at about 25%, compared with about 14% of metropolitan residents.
These regional estimates come from pooled NSRE data for 1999–2007. State and subgroup figures can be less precise than national pooled estimates, particularly where samples are smaller.
State and Regional Off-Road Recreation Data
The state appendix illustrates how participation varied across the country during 1999–2007.
| State | Overall participation, age 16+ | Selected subgroup |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 33.0% | Under 30: 48.5%; males: 36.8%; females: 28.9% |
| Utah | 32.5% | Age 30–50: 39.3%; males: 39.6%; females: 25.5% |
| Nevada | 23.9% | Nonmetropolitan: 44.9% |
| Arizona | 25.5% | Under 30: 39.2% |
| Maine | 26.8% | Males: 34.6%; females: 19.6% |
Additional state estimates show a wide range:
- Alabama recorded 21.2% participation, representing an estimated 755,700 people; the under-30 rate was 35.0%, the 51-and-older rate was 9.6%, and male and female rates were 29.1% and 13.9%.
- Nebraska recorded 17.6% participation, including 30.7% among people under 30; nonmetropolitan participation was 22.9%, compared with 13.5% in metropolitan areas.
- New Hampshire recorded 20.2% participation, while the under-30 rate was 42.8%.
- Rhode Island recorded 10.9% participation, including 19.1% among people under 30.
- South Carolina recorded 18.5% participation, representing an estimated 622,900 people.
- South Dakota recorded 27.0% participation, including 46.7% among people under 30.
Small-state and subgroup estimates should be read as survey estimates with wider uncertainty than the pooled national results.
Off-Road Vehicle Sales and Vehicle-Population Statistics
Retail sales increased substantially in the Forest Service’s manufacturer-industry series between 1995 and 2003.
| Year or period | ATVs | Off-highway motorcycles | Combined or stated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 277,800 | 90,700 | 368,600 |
| 1999 | Not reported here | Not reported here | 705,600 |
| 2003 | 799,400 | 314,000 | 1,113,400 |
| 2004–2006 | Not reported here | Not reported here | Almost 3.25 million |
The report estimated that existing OHVs grew from fewer than 3 million in 1993 to more than 8 million in 2003. It also presented a 2007 scenario estimate of as many as 9.8 million operable ATVs and off-road motorcycles if 2007 sales reached at least 1 million and 80% of vehicles remained operable.
That 9.8-million figure is a scenario, and the report noted that the total vehicle stock had not been updated since 2003. Sales are annual observations, while vehicle stock is an estimate of vehicles rather than people or recreation trips.
Off-Road Recreation Activity Days and Participation Intensity
Among people who participated, the national mean was about 28.0 activity days per year during 2001–2007. Regional and subgroup means show that participation frequency differed even among people counted as participants.
- North-region participants averaged about 24 activity days per year.
- South-region participants averaged 37.2 days per year, with a reported 95% confidence interval of 33.0 to 41.5 days.
- South-region participants under 30 averaged 39.4 days per year, with a 95% confidence interval of 28.6 to 50.2 days.
- Midwest males averaged 31 activity days per year, compared with 21 for females.
- Midwest nonmetropolitan participants averaged about 27 days per year, compared with about 17 days for metropolitan participants.
The report also gives an estimate of 74 annual OHV days for Hispanic participants in one regional subgroup, but explicitly calls that estimate very suspect because of a wide confidence interval and small sample. It should not be used as a general Hispanic participation benchmark.
Off-Road Recreation Economic Impact and Safety Statistics
California’s 2022–2024 seasons provide a recent modeled example of local and statewide economic effects. The estimates use visitor-reported median spending and include direct, indirect and induced effects across state vehicular recreation areas, federal, municipal and private areas.
| California measure | 2022–2024 seasons |
|---|---|
| Total economic output | $10 billion |
| Supported jobs | More than 58,000 |
| Total tax revenues | More than $1.8 billion |
| State tax revenues | $515 million |
Source: 2025 Program Report California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Commission.
At the park-area level, Oceano Dunes and contiguous counties had an estimated $379 million total impact, 2,600 jobs and $63 million in tax revenue during the same study seasons. Ocotillo Wells and contiguous counties had an estimated $800 million total impact, 500 jobs and $140 million in tax revenue; these are local-area model estimates, not direct employment censuses.
Safety data measure harm, not participation or exposure-adjusted risk. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recorded 2,448 OHV-associated deaths in 2018–2020 and reported that nearly 300 were children under 16; it estimated 94,700 OHV-associated injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments in 2022.
The CPSC category includes ATVs, recreational off-highway vehicles and utility-terrain vehicles. ATVs accounted for more than two-thirds of OHV deaths during 2018–2020 and were involved in 92% of OHV injuries over the five-year period cited on the CPSC page.
Pennsylvania, California, West Virginia, Kentucky and Florida together accounted for 613 OHV deaths during 2018–2020, more than 30% of the total. The grouping is a reported count concentration, not a rate adjusted for population or participation.
Sources: OHV & ATV Safety and 2025 Program Report California State Parks, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Commission.
For broader context, the Bureau of Economic Analysis found that outdoor recreation represented 2.2% of the U.S. economy during 2012–2016. In 2016, the broad outdoor recreation economy generated more than 4.5 million jobs and $213.6 billion in worker compensation; boating and fishing generated $38.2 billion in gross output, while RVing generated $30.8 billion.
Those BEA measures are not off-road-only totals. They describe the broader outdoor recreation economy and should not be combined with the California OHV/OSV model or treated as a national off-road estimate.
Source: Measuring the U.S. outdoor recreation economy, 2012–2016.