The increasing popularity of camping activities within urban parks underscores the public’s pressing demand for outdoor recreation and engagement with nature. This underscores the importance of examining the compatibility between park open spaces and camping practices. The study focuses on eight designated camping sites within Shanghai Century Park, utilizing the EAPRS evaluation methodology to quantify the characteristic features of each site. Data regarding the campers and their behaviors were gathered through the SOPARC physical activity observation technique and on-site interviews. Chi-square analysis was employed to assess the infl uence of demographic variables on behavioral intensity. At the same time, correlation analysis examined the relationships among park camping site characteristics, site preferences of diff erent demographic groups, and behavioral characteristics. It was found that the majority of campers were parent-child families grouped in three or more, followed by peer groups. In terms of age distribution, the middle-aged group and the young and juvenile groups were the most numerous, followed by the youth group. The number of campers remained high between 11:00 and 15:00 in spring and autumn, peaking around 13:00. Most campers engaged in rest, with some in low-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous activities. Sites with more tree shade cover and complex, narrow terrain were more conducive to resting behaviors. Open spaces with minimal understory promote moderate to vigorous activities. Notable diff erences were identifi ed in site preferences and activity intensity across genders and age groups. Family units favored open areas, whereas smaller groups of one to two individuals preferred sites off ering greater privacy. This research aims to explore the underlying implications and strategies for optimizing high-quality camping environments within parks, including the enhancement of spatial confi gurations and diverse layouts that consider demographic variations, the optimization of site features to accommodate various behavioral requirements, and planning for seasonal and diurnal adaptability. These fi ndings serve as a guideline for the design of camping facilities within the context of open, communal urban parks.