Millions of Americans Turning To RV Travel This Summer

Above, the RV at Arches National Park last summer. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Millions of Americans are turning to RV travel this summer. Well, you can include me in this. I plan on taking some RV trips this summer, but to places more closer to home this year.

Last summer, a friend and I took a long trip up through Utah to Wyoming. From Wyoming, we went to Montana to see the Little Bighorn Battlefield. From there, we went back into Wyoming to visit Devils Tower National Monument and, from there, to South Dakota to the Black Hills. After that, we headed home through Colorado. It was a long bunch of drives, but we and the RV weathered it just fine. 

MSN posted an article on the millions of Americans planning to do some RV travel.

They begin it with:

As Americans plan their summer vacations, new research from the RV Industry Association’s Travel Survey reveals that RV travel is resonating with travelers looking for flexibility, affordability and outdoor experiences. So much so, that 37 million Americans plan to go RVing this summer.

With ongoing economic pressures, crowded airports, flight disruptions, rising travel costs and broader travel unpredictability, it appears travelers are looking to RV road trips to ease these day-to-day stressors.  

RVing fits the bill for travelers increasingly prioritizing time on the road, trips closer to home and vacations that allow greater control over spending and schedules. The survey showed that 58 percent of leisure travelers report that taking an RV trip is a more affordable way to travel and that Memorial Day and Fourth of July bookings have increased compared to summer 2025.

 To read more, go here.

Is RV Travel Really Cheaper?

Is RV travel really cheaper? 

The recreational industry says yes. Experienced RVers say "it depends."

This is the topic of an article in RV Travel.

It begins with:

Is RV travel cheaper than other types of vacations? The RV industry says yes. According to the RV Industry Association (pdf), a family of four can vacation by RV for 27% to 60% less than trips that rely on hotels, flights, and restaurant meals.

The claim appears frequently in industry reports and promotional materials and is often cited as one of the major advantages of RV travel.

But ask experienced RVers about that claim, and you’re likely to hear a familiar answer.

It depends.

To read more, go here. 

RVing Remains A Popular Choice For Summer Travel

Above, Graceland RV Park and Campground on Elvis Presley Blvd. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Memorial Day weekend is a little over a week away and the summer vacation season is a month away. The RV industry says that RVing remains a popular means of travel.

It is easy to understand why. People can sleep in their own beds (with their own DNA) and travel where they want at their own pace. They also can save money by cooking their own meals.

PR Newswire posted:

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- RV Industry Association, the leading trade voice of the RV industry and the companies it represents, released its latest Summer Travel Intentions survey data revealing 44 million Americans plan to travel by RV this summer. This data signifies that RVing remains a steady travel option for vacationers, remote workers, and families engaging in schooling enrichment during the summer months.

To read more, go here. 

RV Lifestyle On The California RV "Ban" (Video)

 

Video description:

There’s more bad news about the 2025 California Motorhome Ban, which even includes Class Bs, as well as some Heavy Duty Trucks. The fallout from these California clean air regulations threatens to have a major impact in the RV industry. We detail the latest. Also in the podcast, news of RV recalls, off-season suggestions and a warning about traveling toll roads in an RV.

You can read the companion article to this video on the RV Lifestyle blog at https://rvlifestyle.com/2025-california-motorhome-ban-even-includes-class-bs/

California, 5 Other States To Ban Motorhome Sales

Above, unless things change, the California RV Show will be
barren of motorhomes starting in 2025. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It looks like the Communists running the state of California have effectively banned the sale of new motorhome.

California, along with five other states (including New Mexico in 2027), are going after the motorhome industry using emissions laws as their pretext starting next year.

RV Travel reported:

“If nothing changes, motorhomes will not be able to be sold and registered in California beginning in 2025. The exact date is still to be determined.” —RVIA

On Monday we broke the news about what boils down to a ban of motorhome sales in California and five other states. At the time, our understanding was the clamp-down would affect only diesel motorhomes. It does not, as many gas motorhomes will likewise be affected. And, hold on. While sales of affected motorhomes in those states will cease in 2025—several other states will follow suit thereafter. The RVIA has rung in with more information, which we’ll cover here.

This morning, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) released a fact sheet on the motorhome near-total “ban” situation. You can read the entire fact-sheet here, but we’ll boil the matter down in this story.

 

Note, these states are some of the most liberal (i.e, Democrat) states in the U.S.

To read more, go here.

Study: 1.1 Million Americans Joining RV Lifestyle, Including EV Owners

If there was one thing we learned (or already should have) during this winter season is that electric vehicles (EV) are useless (and even potentially deadly). There have been numerous reports over the past few weeks that cold temperatures are not good or EV batteries and charging stations.

Despite this, some RV owners are saying they plan on buying an electric vehicle or even already one one, according to a recent study. Others are planning on joining the "RV lifestyle".

RV Travel has posted an article on this study.

They begin it with:

A recent study commissioned by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) concerning electric vehicles (EVs) and EV owners revealed the following:

• 30% of leisure travelers who have used an RV already own an electric vehicle.
• An astonishing 17% of leisure travelers who have used an RV plan to buy an electric vehicle within a year.
• An additional 16% of RV users plan to purchase an electric vehicle sometime in the future.
• 50% of leisure travelers who own an electric vehicle intend to tow an RV with it.
• Remarkably, 22% of current electric vehicle owners and 30% of those planning to buy an electric vehicle are considering purchasing an electric motorhome.

Per the study, “Leisure travelers are defined as any U.S. residents who has taken some type of leisure trip in the past 12 months.”

To read more, go here. 

RVIA Critical of New EPA Emissions Rules

Above, The Beast at Route 66 RV Resort in Albuquerque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The meddlesome Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now wants to target light-duty and medium-duty vehicles (which would include motorhomes) with new strict regulations. Naturally, the clowns of the Biden Administration are in charge of the EPA, so this really shouldn't come as a surprise.

The Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) is steadfastly in opposition to these proposed regulations.

From RV Travel:

The RV Industry Association (RVIA) has sent comments to the EPA in reaction to the agency’s proposed stricter emissions standards for light-duty and medium-duty vehicles from 2027 to 2032. The comments expressed opposition to these new regulations. RVIA seeks an exemption for motorhomes from the medium-duty vehicle standards, contending that motorhomes are not well-suited for electrification and that the proposed rule would significantly constrain their use and affordability.

The proposed EPA emissions standards, aimed at fostering the growth of the electric vehicle market and significantly reducing carbon emissions, have been touted as the strictest ever. However, the RVIA points out that implementing these rules would negatively impact the motorhome industry, which, in turn, would have a detrimental effect on manufacturers, dealers, employees, and RV buyers. Installing batteries in motorhomes would infringe on space and add unnecessary weight, thereby affecting the components typically found in a motorhome.

To read more, go here. 

RV Industry Again Falsely Claims RVing Is Cheapest Way To Travel

Above, The Beast at Hubbell Trading Post in Arizona last October. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If anyone thinks that RV Travel is a mouthpiece for the RV industry, particularly the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), the following should dispel that notion.

Chuck Woodbury, founder and publisher of RV Travel, takes on the RVIA's recent press release that claimed RVing is "the cheapest way to travel".  

He begins with:

The RV Industry Association (RVIA) issued its annual press release recently that claims, again, that yet another study confirms traveling by RV is the most affordable way to take a vacation.

The headline on its recent press release was:

Families save money by vacationing in RVs 

The release begins:

“A new study conducted by an outside, independent firm has found that RV vacations cost much less than other types of vacation travel, even when factoring in fuel prices and the cost of RV ownership.”

I say that’s a lie! The sad part, and this is why I get so upset when I read about this, is that many people (including those in the media) will believe it.

To read further on, go here. 

RV Travel Predicted To Boom In 2023

Above, at Goulding's Lodge Campground in October. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

2023 looks to be shaping up to be a good year for RV traveling if a survey conducted by the RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) holds true.

RV Travel posted:

If a survey by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association of RVers’ travel plans holds true, you won’t be alone out there on the road this year—quite the opposite. The survey shows that 37% of American leisure travelers, representing 67 million, plan on taking an RV trip in 2023.

Among leisure travelers, who are defined as any U.S. resident who has taken some type of leisure trip in the past year, the top reasons for RV travel are exploring the outdoors and having additional flexibility through remote work or school. While spending time outdoors has consistently remained a top reason for RVing, the number of respondents who cited flexibility in work have increased by 12% in the past year.

To read more, go here. 

High Gas Prices Hitting RV Industry Harder Than It Wants To Admit

Above, a Class A RV on display at the California RV Show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The RV industry is being hit harder by high gasoline prices than it cares to admit. 

At least that's the position of a new article in RV Travel. The article says that stock prices and other indicators may be predicting tough times ahead.

The article begins with:

Despite the positive spin that many RV industry manufacturers are putting on how high gas prices are theoretically not affecting RVers, stock price numbers don’t lie. Three major players in the market, Thor Industries, Winnebago, and Camping World, have seen their stock prices drop over the last several months.

There’s been more trumpeting by industry over the remarkable record 2021 sales figures than in a herd of elephants, true. But hang on, the projections are that sales this year will fall a steep 8.4%. That sobering figure is from the RV Industry Association’s market report, published in May.

Stock market talking head issues warning

Last week, a talking head from Jefferies Financial Group, Bret Jordan, told Yahoo Finance Live that things weren’t particularly rosy for the RV industry. “It’s a compounding effect of inflation, whether it’s gas, or milk, or heating, or rent. All of this is sort of draining the consumer’s liquidity,” Jordan pointed out. “And, obviously, when you’re at the pump and you’re putting $100 into your tank when it used to be $25 or $30, it really strikes home.”

To read the full article, go here. 

RV Industry Still Setting Records

Above, at a KOA Kampground in West Yellowstone, Montana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Incredible as it may seem, the RV industry is setting records in RV shipments to dealers.

This comes after gasoline and diesel prices have gone practically through the roof.

According to kpcnews:

ELKHART — Despite record-high gas and diesel prices, the RV Industry Association reports that May was another record month for RV manufacturers.

According to an RVIA survey of manufacturers ending in May, total RV shipments ended the month at 50,529 new units, the best May on record and an increase of 2.6% compared to the 49,241 units shipped during May 2021. Through May, RV shipments are up 11.8 percent compared to the same point last year with 279,038 wholesale shipments.

“The summer RVing season is off to an incredible start with millions of Americans heading to their favorite outdoor destination to spend quality time with friends and family,” said RV Industry Association President and CEO Craig Kirby. “Thanks to the work of RV manufacturers and suppliers, consumers looking to purchase a new RV have more options to choose from as inventory continues to be rebuilt at RV dealerships across North America.”

To read more, go here. 

Survey Finds Campgrounds Booked Up For Summer

Above, The Beast at Crazy Horse Campgrounds at Lake Havasu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

With sky-high gasoline and diesel prices, one would think that there would be plenty of open campsites for summer vacationing.

Oddly, the opposite appears to be true: campgrounds and RV parks are booked up. The RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) as released a survey whose findings are interesting, to say the least.

RV Travel has posted an article on this and they begin it with:

If you’ve been having a hard time finding a place to park your RV, it’s not your imagination. In what may be the first comprehensive effort to inventory the nation’s supply of campgrounds and campsites, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) released a survey on May 18th in which the number one finding—ta-da!—is that campgrounds during peak season are basically full.

No surprise, right? Yet, while the study’s conclusions are unremarkable, what’s interesting are their underlying data and the fact that it’s taken this long to assemble them. KOA (Kampgrounds of America), The Dyrt and others have been taking the pulse of campground demand, and ARVC (the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrouds) periodically samples the universe of private campgrounds. But an overall understanding of the supply side of the equation has been so primitive that the industry hasn’t been able to agree on even how many privately-owned campgrounds there are. (CHM Government Services, the Massachusetts-based consulting firm that did the RVIA’s legwork, cited four sources that had a 40% spread in campground census numbers.)

To read the full article, go here. 

RV Industry Is Still Booming

Above, new transported RVs stopped at the Jamestown, New Mexico Flying J. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Despite record gasoline and diesel prices, the RV industry is still having a boom in sales, incredible as it may seem.

People are still buying up RVs, when they can find them or they wait for their ordered RV is built. There is currently a backlog of ordered RVs waiting to be built and delivered.

Yahoo! News posted:

May 22—OXFORD — Interest rates are up, fuel and diesel prices are near record levels and inflation fears are real and growing. Yet, one sector of the economy is still booming — sales of new and used recreational vehicles, or RV's.

"People are still buying," was the unhesitant response from Rick Emmert, sales manager at Call of the Wild RV Center in Oxford

The March 2022 shipment report from the RV Industry Association shows 64,454 units were shipped, an increase of 18.7% over March 2021, when 54,291 units shipped. The association does not offer membership to RV dealers, instead, its focus is on manufacturers, suppliers and RV aftermarket companies. The forecast for RV sales for 2022 points to a second best year in the industry, according to the quarterly forecast prepared by ITR Economics for the RV Industry Association.

To read more, go here. 

RV Economists: RV Supply Chain Woes Easing

Above, The Beast at Mammoth Mountain RV Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Anyone who has been paying attention these past two years are aware of the supply chain problems brought on by the pandemic. That includes the RV industry.

It appears there is a "glimmer of hope" afoot in the RV industry as RV economists are saying that the supply chain problems are easing. RV Travel posted an article on this.

RV Travel begins with:

Last week, the RV Industry Association gathered a few outdoor industry economists in the manufacturing mecca of Elkhart, Indiana, for a panel discussion on supply chain issues.

These sorts of get-togethers are nothing new in America. During the pandemic, most industries held monthly hand-wringing sessions on Zoom and other internet platforms to go over the latest data and try their best to predict what would happen next.

Last week’s gathering in Elkhart was different only in that it was one of the first I’ve seen that offered a glimmer of hope to RVers who (pick one):

• Have been waiting for several months for their new factory-ordered RV to arrive.
• Have taken delivery of a new RV that had more parts missing than a discount Thanksgiving turkey.
• Have waited impatiently to flush the toilet on their current RV because nobody has the required foot pedal to replace the one the kids broke.
• Want manufacturers to take parts from the assembly line to fix recently delivered RVs with faulty bits and pieces.
• Are ready to throw in the towel on their RVing lifestyle because they can’t keep their rig up and running with just spit and duct tape.

The list of woes goes on. But let’s get back to that glimmer of hope.

To read more, go here. 

RVIA Is Ignoring Baby Boomers In Ad Campaign

Above, at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been true to a certain extent that advertising has targeted younger people over the years. Sometimes marketers ignore some age groups who have the most disposable money to spend.

Now, it seems that an ad campaign for RV buyers is ignoring the baby boomer generation and is targeting younger generations.

According to RV Travel:

OPINION

I’ve got some good news and some bad news for longtime baby boomer RVers. The good news is that the “seniors” age group likely won’t be getting bombarded (as much) with ads and emails encouraging you to purchase a new RV. While RV manufacturers and dealers will still gladly take your money, those born between 1946 and 1964 are no longer the prime target market for RV makers and sellers.

The bad news is that Go RVing™, the multi-million-dollar, 25-year-old marketing program run by the RV Industry Association, is setting its well-funded sights squarely on the new generation of RV buyers, which numbers in the millions.  

The average age of RV buyers is dropping… fast

A recent RV Industry Association study found that the average age of a new RV buyer has dropped rapidly, and now sits at around 33 years of age.  

To read more, go here. 

California RV Generator Rules Having Impact Already

Above, dry camping on the Keene Ranch near Tehachapi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever since California announced its new ban on small gasoline-powered engines such as leaf blowers and lawnmowers, the RV industry has been keeping a close watch on how it may affect RV generators.

It looks like new RVs sold from 2024 on will not come with generators as the manufacturers cannot meet the emissions standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

From RV Travel:

As we reported in December, new generator rules by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) could affect the RV industry. The ruling doesn’t ban the use of portable generators in the Golden State, but it does significantly hamper generator sales come 2024. Date aside, the RV generator industry giant, Cummins, has already frightened RV manufacturers with an announcement on the matter.

The principal manufacturer of frame-mounted motorhome generators is Cummins. Even before CARB voted in the final generator rules, the RV industry gave the governing board a warning. Citing CARB’s new generator rules standards, industry officials wrote that while the standard might be “technologically feasible” to reach, “it is unlikely to be complied with by Cummins-Onan, given the cost of developing a compliant engines[sic] cannot be supported by the very small generator business in California.”

The statement “it is unlikely” has now become true. Earlier this month, Cummins wrote to its RV industry customers a to-the-point letter. The gist of the letter is in two sentences: “Cummins understands the requirements and continues to investigate potential options / responses, while continuing to support the needs of our joint end customers. However, given the current regulatory timeline, differing standards between CARB and EPA, and the significant changes to the generator the standards would necessitate, Cummins will not have any gas/LP/EVAP product(s) that meets the new regulations readily available on January 1, 2024.”

Fallout for industry—and consumers

What does Cummins’ decision mean for the RV industry? The RV Industry Association says that some 10,000 RVs equipped with generators are sold in California each year. Of those, close to 80% are gasoline- or LP-fueled units. Translated, come 2024, thousands of RVs normally equipped with generators will be without them.

Unless things change that are favorable to the RV industry in California, in other words, if you want a new RV with a generator, you'd better buy it before 2024.

Boy, I am sure glad I moved out of that wacko state four years ago.

To read the whole story, go here. 

2022 Projected RV Shipments Not Quite As Bullish

Above, The Beast in Payson, Arizona in 2021. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

2021 saw record numbers of RV shipments to dealers.

2022 is expected to have big numbers of shipments as well. But now the numbers aren't expected to be as high as originally thought.

According to RV Travel:

The RV Industry Association is still bullish on the number of units it will sell in 2022, but it pulled back a bit from early projections that it would again top 600,000 shipped units.

The group’s latest projections show the industry might just miss the 600,000 benchmark it surpassed in 2021. The spring edition of RV RoadSigns, the quarterly industry forecast, now projects a total of between 578,000 and 603,300 RV units will be produced and shipped to dealers in 2022. The RV Industry Association said it expects the total to be about 591,100.

To read more, go here. 

RV Industry Association Starts a PAC

Above, the KOA Kampground in Ouray, Colorado. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the recreational vehicle industry, like the rest of us, is impacted by actions by congress and the president, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association is restarting a political action committee (PAC).

According to RV Travel:

The RV manufacturing industry has decided to get a bit more involved in the legislative process. The RV Industry Association recently announced that it is relaunching RVPAC, its political action committee. In a recent release, the association said it was restarting the political action committee “Because Actions of Congress can significantly impact RV Industry Association members’ ability to do business. Legislation can be passed that either advances or stifles the RV industry. To help ensure it is the former and not the latter that gets enacted into law, we need to be involved in the political process.” Corporations are prohibited by law from making contributions to candidates. But the law does allow trade associations to create political action committees and solicit contributions from association executives and administrative personnel, as well as association member employees for use in supporting candidates’ campaigns.

To read more RV news, go here. 

RV Manufacturers Set New Record In 2021

Well, it's official. The recreational vehicle manufacturers set a new record in 2021.

RV Travel reported:

The RV Industry Association made it official Tuesday. The overall RV factory shipments for 2021 did in fact set a record of 600,240 units. That passed the previous record set in 2017 of 504,599, an increase of 19%.

“For decades, the RV industry has been growing with more and more people turning to RVs as the perfect way to experience the great outdoors. While the demand for RVs has been amplified over the past two years, the pandemic also created several obstacles and challenges for our industry,” said RV Industry Association President & CEO Craig Kirby. “But through their hard work and innovation, our manufacturers and suppliers are rising to meet these challenges, building a record 600,000 RVs this past year, sending more RVs to dealer lots across North America than ever before, and allowing more people to experience the joys of RVing.”

To read more, go here. 

New RV Owners Are Younger

Above, I've seen many younger RV owners at Crazy Horse Campground at Lake Havasu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RV ownership demographics has been changing over the years. The pandemic may have accelerated the change.

Data from the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) is showing that new RV buyers are getting younger.

According to Business Insider:

RV sales have boomed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, especially from first-time buyers interested in investing in life on the road.

And according to data compiled by the RV Industry Association, RVing isn't just for retirees anymore: Many of these new buyers are now younger.

RV ownership has jumped more than 62% throughout the last 20 years. The 18 to 34-year-old age range specifically has grown "significantly," making up 22% of current RV owners, according to RVIA's "2021 Go RVing RV Owner Demographic Profile." And of these millennial and Gen Z tiny home on wheels owners, 84% reported that they were planning on buying an additional build.

Now, all we need are more campgrounds and RV parks to meet the demand.

To read more, go here.