Abstract
Anticipatory responding is an aspect of social interference and stimulus overload theories not previously used in recreation crowding research. The concept suggests that prior information about a setting will affect an individual's response to that setting. The hypothesis was tested that individuals’ perceptions of crowding in one recreation environment will influence perceptions of crowding in a subsequent environment. This can be considered a carry‐over crowding effect. Results indicate that there is evidence of such an effect. Density and perceived crowding during one phase of a recreation experience were directly and indirectly related to expectations and preferences for density and perceived crowding in a second phase of the experience.