RV and Campervan Ownership Statistics in the U.S.

The United States has one of the world's largest recreational vehicle (RV) markets. The key numbers:

• 8.1 million U.S. households own an RV, and 16.9 million are interested in buying one within the next five years¹.
• The median RV owner is 49 years old, and owners use their RV a median of 30 days a year¹.
• Manufacturers shipped 342,220 new RVs in 2025, up 2.5% on 2024².
• About 3,100 RV dealer locations operated across the country in 2024³.

About 8.1 million American households own an RV, according to the 2025 Go RVing owner study¹.

• The study changed its survey method to count RV-owning households more accurately⁴, so it isn't directly comparable with the 11.2 million reported in 2021⁵.

About 16.9 million U.S. households are interested in owning an RV within the next five years¹, more than twice the 8.1 million that own one now, according to the 2025 Go RVing owner study.

• Another 8.4 million households are former RV owners⁸.
• RV owners make up 6.7% of U.S. households that own a vehicle⁸.
• Would-be buyers are younger than today's owners: 72% are aged 18-54, compared with 62% of current owners⁸.

Texas received the highest share of RV shipments in 2025, with 9.85% of all U.S. RV wholesale shipments¹⁴, representing around 33,700 new units in 2025.

• California ranks second with 6.75% of national shipments.¹⁴ Florida follows with 5.61% of shipments.
• Michigan (4.21%) and Ohio (3.60%) round out the top five, equating to roughly 14,400 and 12,300 units in 2025¹⁴.
• Most of those RVs are built in Indiana, home to about 88% of RV manufacturing in the U.S. and Canada¹⁴.

Owners typically keep an RV for about six to seven years: the University of Michigan found current owners had owned their RV for an average of 6.6 years in 2005, down from 7.4 years in 2001¹⁶.

• Nearly one in four owners had kept their current RV for ten years or longer in both the 2005 and 2001 surveys¹⁶.
• The median RV in use was 10.8 years old in 2005, down from 14.4 years in 2001¹⁶, indicating many owners maintain their vehicles for extended periods.
• 69% of current RV owners are somewhat or very likely to buy another RV, up from 68% in 2021, and 70% of repeat buyers kept their previous RV for five years or less⁸.
• In 2025, 33% of owners had owned an RV for 3-5 years and 22% for two years or less; 55% became RV owners within the past five years⁸.

What is the average income of RV owners in the United States?

The largest group of RV-owning households earns between $50,000 and $100,000 a year: 43% fall in that range, 34% earn more than $100,000 and 23% less than $50,000, according to the 2025 owner study⁸.

• 43% of RV owners have children under 18 at home, up from 34% in 2021¹, though empty-nesters and retirees also form a significant portion of the market.

What percentage of American RV owners live in their vehicles full time?

There is no official count of Americans who live in an RV year-round; the closest measure comes from the 2025 owner study.

• About 6% of owners are "Long Haulers" who use their RV a median of 365 days a year, meaning full-time or close to it, according to the 2025 owner study⁸.

How many people can travel or live in a typical RV or campervan?

Most RVs comfortably sleep 2-6 people depending on their size and design.

• Smaller Class B campervans typically sleep up to 4 people.
• Class A motorhomes (bus-style) can sleep up to 8 people in larger models¹⁷.
• The average RV travel party consists of 2-4 people, typically a family unit or couple.
• 43% of RV owners say being able to bring a pet is a key reason they own an RV¹, making RVs a popular pet-friendly travel option.
• The typical RV owner uses their vehicle for a median of about 30 days a year in 2025, just over four weeks, up from 20 days in 2021¹.
• The typical owner takes about 9 RV trips a year, with a median trip distance of 250 miles⁸.

Travel trailers average $20,000-$35,000, while small expandable trailers average $10,000-$20,000 and teardrop trailers $15,000-$30,000¹⁷, according to Go RVing, the RV industry's consumer site.

• Fifth-wheel trailers average $40,000-$65,000¹⁷.
• Class C motorhomes (built on van/truck chassis) average $65,000-$140,000¹⁷.
• Class B campervans average $100,000-$150,000¹⁷ despite their smaller size, due to specialized conversion features.
• Class A motorhomes (bus-style) average $75,000-$250,000¹⁷.
• Used RVs sell for substantially less than new models.
• The median owner paid $27,000 for their current RV⁸; 71% bought new, and 45% paid cash, while 27% used dealer financing and 20% private financing¹.

What does it cost to own an RV each year?

No reliable source publishes a typical yearly cost of owning an RV; it depends mainly on the RV's type and value, how much it is used and where it is stored. The main costs are:

• Maintenance for routine upkeep, which rises with the RV's age and use.
• Insurance costs range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars annually, depending on the vehicle's value and usage patterns.
• Storage fees where an RV can't be kept at home, which vary widely by location and by outdoor, covered or indoor storage.
• Fuel costs represent a significant variable expense, particularly for motorhomes (large motorhomes use far more fuel per mile than a car).
• Depreciation is substantial, with new RVs losing value fastest in their first few years.

What are the pros and cons of owning an RV versus renting one?

Owning suits people who travel often: they can use the RV on their own schedule, customize it and take long trips, and the cost per trip falls the more they use it. The trade-offs are the upfront price, depreciation, and maintenance and storage costs while it sits idle.

Renting suits occasional travelers: they pay only when they travel, can try different RV types and avoid maintenance and storage, but face limited availability in peak season and higher costs on long trips.

Many owners now use peer-to-peer rental platforms to offset costs by renting their RVs when not in use, creating a middle ground between traditional ownership and rental models.

Learn more about Peer to Peer Rental in the U.S.

What is campervan shared ownership and how does it work?

Peer-to-peer RV rental platforms like RVshare and Outdoorsy allow owners to rent their vehicles to others when not in use.

• Some companies offer fractional ownership programs for high-end motorhomes, where multiple families jointly purchase and share usage of an RV.
• The RV rental market has expanded significantly, with both traditional rental fleets and newer peer-to-peer networks.
• These sharing models allow would-be RVers to experience the lifestyle without full ownership commitment.
• Owners can offset their costs by monetizing their RVs during idle periods (the typical RV sits unused for about 335 days per year¹).

How does RV ownership compare with vanlife and mobile living trends?

The "vanlife" movement, built largely around social media, has drawn a new wave of people into traveling and living in vans.

• Vanlifers typically drive Class B camper vans or DIY-converted cargo vans, focusing on minimalism and mobility rather than luxury.
• Traditional RV ownership often involves maintaining a permanent home base and using the RV for vacations, while vanlife and full-time RVing represent a more committed mobile lifestyle.
• DIY van conversions can cost significantly less than manufactured RVs (new Class B campervans average $100,000-$150,000, according to Go RVing¹⁷).
• Younger RV owners often prefer smaller, more nimble vehicles like campervans.