RV Popularity & Lifestyle
1. Growing Popularity of RVs
- The RV industry has boomed in recent years, with over 11 million U.S. households owning an RV.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, RV sales skyrocketed as people sought safer, socially distanced travel options.
- The average RV owner is 48 years old, but younger generations, including millennials and Gen Z, are increasingly adopting RV travel.
- Many families use RVs for vacations, while retirees enjoy full-time RV living in a lifestyle often called "snowbirding", where they migrate to warmer climates in winter.
- More people are choosing to live in RVs full-time, often called "nomads" or "full-timers".
- Advances in solar power, mobile internet, and compact living solutions have made full-time RV living more practical.
- Some full-time RVers work remotely in careers like blogging, software development, and freelance writing, while others take seasonal jobs at national parks and campgrounds.
- Popular full-time RV destinations include Florida, Arizona, and Texas in the winter, while summer travel includes the Pacific Northwest and the Rocky Mountains.
- RV clubs like Escapees RV Club, Good Sam, and Xscapers help travelers connect and share resources.
- Events like the Quartzsite RV Show in Arizona attract thousands of RVers each year.
- Many RVers join Facebook groups, YouTube channels, and online forums to share travel tips, maintenance advice, and lifestyle hacks.
- Boondocking, or camping without hookups, has grown in popularity as RVers seek remote, scenic locations.
- Many RVers are adding solar panels, composting toilets, and rainwater collection systems to stay off-grid longer.
- National forests and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands offer free dispersed camping, making it easy for RVers to explore without paying for RV parks.