The participation in physical activity (PA) can change during the life time. Parenthood has been found to be a life event that is associated with decreased PA, especially among women, but studies in the field are sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate performance in outdoor recreational PA, and factors influencing participation among parents and non-parents from a gender perspective. Methods This study included 432 individuals, 224 women and 208 men from Karlskrona municipality in the south eastern part of Sweden. Data collection was carried out during the years 2008-09. We measured the self-reported amount of outdoor recreational PA performed during the last year and analysed the dependency of the probability of performing this PA on 25 variables covering individual and socio-economic factors. Results A total of 76% of the women and 65% of the men had performed outdoor recreational PA during the last 12 months before one month prior to pregnancy. Men were affected by a greater number of factors than women. Performing PA indoors and dog or horse ownership emerged as the most important factors associated with the probability of performing outdoor recreational PA. Conclusions Those active in PA were active independent of indoor or outdoor activities, i.e. to be physical active seems to have a special connection to the personality and lifestyle. Becoming a parent is a life-changing event that affects participation in PA. By offering family-oriented PA choices that involve both parfents and children, midwives and health promoters can courage parents to be active and to support each other. The promotion of outdoor recreational PA, which also has restorative effects on well-being, needs to focus on activities which are attractive and affordable for the majority of both women and men.