2020 brought travel restrictions and social distancing, and a surge of new RVers to the market. The natural social distancing aspect of camping made it perfect for a nation with cabin fever, but many people thought the trend would slow drastically when restrictions were lifted… they were wrong. Sales of RVs boomed in 2020 and 2021, and first quarter RV shipments in 2022 were up 10% over 2021. Used RVs are easier to find now, but there is no expected surge from first-time buyers selling their RVs and moving onto another form of vacation travel. So why are people still camping instead of returning to cruises and airplane trips?

1. More Vacations

The number of people who took three or more camping trips per year has nearly doubled over the last five years, according to KOA's Annual North American Camping Report. People love the ability to take short trips, closer to home, and still feel like they were able to getaway. Why have a staycation when you can have the real thing? With an RV, you can get away from it all for the weekend, or stay a week in the woods and commute to work… giving you most of the benefits of a vacation while allowing you to save vacation time for the big trips!

2. Return on Investment

Not only are RVers using their RVs more, with the advent of peer-to-peer RV rental sites like Outdoorsy.com, owners can make money with their RVs when they aren't using them. With some RV owners taking it even further by purchasing RVs for the sole purpose of renting them out, RV ownership has a new perk and RVers are finding added value in their campers.

3. Multiple Uses

Sure, we all love our RV vacations, but many people are finding new uses for their RVs, using them as office space where they can work from home or virtually anywhere. With a growing number of home-schoolers, RVs make a great classroom out of the house. And there is no better way to learn history, geography, or science than seeing museums and historic sites in person!

4. Variety

Since the pandemic people have been trying all sorts of new things: new hobbies, new work situations, and new ways to travel… and they are loving it! Camping gives you so many more options with your vacations. Are you a beach person or a mountain person? It doesn't matter! With an RV you can head to the beach and to the mountains in the same vacation! Head for better weather, head to the trendiest destinations, go wherever you want without being tied down to one type of vacation.

5. Camping is Just Awesome

Long-time campers have known this all along. Camping gets you closer to nature, allowing you to relax and unwind in a way other vacations can't. You meet the nicest people while camping (they are all in a good mood, unlike at the airport!), and you see more natural sites.

People started RVing almost as soon as the first cars rolled off the assembly line, and it has been a favorite American pastime ever since. Like everything, the popularity ebbs and flows, but the recent steady growth, which, by the way, started well before Covid, proves camping is timeless, loved by all generations, and here to stay!