Page last updated: 27 May 2025
RV camping is an affordable and flexible way to explore the United States, attracting millions of campers each year.
How many RV camping trips occur in the United States each year?
Around 25 million RV camping trips are recorded in the United States each year.
- There were 25.1 million RV trips in 2024, a 1.2% increase from 2023 (24.8 million).
- A notable increase occurred in 2020 and 2021 as people looked for safer, socially-distanced ways to take vacations during the pandemic.
How many RVs are there in the United States?
As of 2021, 11.2 million United States households owned an RV, a 26% increase from 2011 (8.9 million).
- 406,070 RV units were shipped in the United States in 2019. Shipments increased to 430,412 in 2020 despite the pandemic.
- A record 600,240 shipments occurred in 2021, a 39.5% increase from 2020.
- Shipments declined to 313,174 units in 2023.
RV Camping Statistics and Spending Trends
How much do RV campers spend on average?
RV campers spend around $100 per day for fuel, food and site fees when traveling in the United States.
- Fuel usually amounts to 20-25% of the trip cost, depending on gas prices.
- Campground Fees:
- Public campgrounds: $20-50 per night.
- Private campgrounds: $40-60 per night.
- Luxury RV resorts: $100+ per night.
- Groceries & Dining: RVers can save on food by cooking, reducing overall dining costs.
What is the economic impact of RV camping in the United States?
- RV travel also generates $140 billion in annual economic activity.
- $44 billion is contributed to local communities.
- RV travel supports 680,000 jobs, providing $48 billion in wages.
- $13.6 billion in tax revenue at federal, state and local levels.
How do RV costs compare to traditional travel?
- RV vacations save travelers 25-50% compared to hotel and flight travel.
- A 14-day RV trip costs around $5,627 and a comparable 14-day trip with air and hotels costs around $8,801, a 36% difference.
- Families and long-term travelers get the biggest cost savings from RVing.
US RV Owner Demographics: Who owns an RV?
Age Demographics
51% of RV owners are aged under 55.
- 22% of RV owners are millennials (ages 29-44).
- 33% of RV owners travel as families with children.
Income Levels
- RV owners used to have above-average incomes but the market has diversified significantly.
- Many working families own affordable towable RVs starting at under $20,000 while luxury motorhomes are popular among high-income travelers.
Travel Preferences
- The most common RV trip length is weekend getaways (3-7 days).
- While summer is still the peak season, winter RV camping is also becoming popular.
- Almost half (46%) of campers work remotely during their trips, leading to longer stays away from home.
Top RV Camping Destinations in the United States
What are the most popular RV camping spots?
- National Parks with great RV camping are Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Glacier and Great Smoky Mountains, each with amazing natural beauty.
- Popular State Parks such as Michigan’s Great Lakes parks, the Florida Keys and the Texas Hill Country.
- Beach lovers go to RV campgrounds along California’s coast, Oregon’s Pacific coast and Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Which state parks are ideal for RV camping?
Florida State Parks have beachfront RV sites with full hookups.
- Texas has great RV camping at Palo Duro Canyon, Big Bend and various Hill Country parks.
- Michigan State Parks have lakeside camping near Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks.
US Travel Resources
Where can you find free RV camping?
- BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands in Arizona, Utah and Nevada have free dispersed camping.
- National Forests often allow free camping with 14-day stay limits.
- Many retail parking lots including Walmart, Cracker Barrel and Cabela’s allow overnight RV parking in designated areas.
References
- RVIA: RV ownership trends, annual shipments, and economic impact.
- GRV: Growth of RV ownership and demographics.
- GNW: Economic impact of RV camping.
- KOA: Camping participation and trends.
- O: Most popular national parks for RV camping.
- RVDA: Market share of RV manufacturers.
- RVS: RV rental trends and peer-to-peer rentals.