RV Camping Statistics in the United States

RV camping is an affordable and flexible way to explore the United States, attracting millions of campers 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 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.

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.

• 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.