RV ownership has reached record levels in the United States with an
estimated 30 million RV enthusiasts. On America’s roads today are 8.2
million RVs, which include motorhomes, travel trailers, folding camping
trailers, truck campers and sport-utility RVs. That’s nearly one RV in
every 12 vehicle-owning households in the United States, according to a
2005 University of Michigan study.
RV travelers spend substantial amounts of money on food,
clothing, souvenirs and entertainment in the communities that surround
campgrounds. A 2004 Woodall’s/ARVC RV Park and Campground Survey
estimated that more than $3.8 billion was spent by RVers and campers in
local communities as they visited the nation’s commercial RV parks and
campgrounds from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
RV owners use their vehicles an average 26.3 days annually,
according to the University of Michigan study. More than two-thirds of
RVers take spur-of-the-moment trips year round, using their vehicles to
support a wide range of recreational activities and interests — from
camping, fishing, hiking, biking and boating to antiquing, horse shows,
tailgating at sports events and outlet-mall shopping.
Today’s typical RV owner is 49 years old, married, with an
annual household income of $68,000 — higher than the median for all
households, the same University of Michigan study found.
