RV Travel Up During Cool Weather

As temperatures drop this autumn and winter, RV travel is on the rise, reveals a new survey
of RV owners. The nationwide “Campfire Canvass” survey by the Recreation Vehicle Industry
Association (RVIA) finds that 97 percent of RV owners expect to travel more, or at least as
much, this fall and winter as they did last year. Close-to-home travel and the desire to
escape stress and explore nature are propelling RVers to pursue a variety of seasonal
outdoor passions. The overwhelming favorite activity of RVers is camping, which 80 percent
of RV owners indicated in the survey. Attending craft and harvest festivals (47 percent),
fishing (46 percent), viewing foliage (45 percent), hiking (44 percent), biking (36
percent) and outlet mall shopping (30 percent) were also mentioned. RV owners traveling in
motorhomes, travel trailers, truck campers and folding camping trailers plan to travel an
average of 23 days this fall and winter and log approximately 1,500 miles, according to the
survey. Nearly 32 percent expect to use their RV for travel and accommodations when
visiting family and friends over the Thanksgiving holiday, while 22 percent expect to use
their RV during the Christmas/Hanukkah season. Fifteen percent of the RV owners say they
will avoid winter weather by migrating south, where they’ll spend weeks or months at a
time. With more young families entering the RV market, short getaways are becoming
increasingly popular to accommodate busy schedules. According to the RVIA survey, 73
percent of RV owners plan to take at least three weekend trips this fall and winter.
Eighty-three percent of those surveyed say the freedom, flexibility and control they have
with RV travel is now more important to them than ever, especially in contrast to airport
restrictions. The RVIA survey was conducted by Robert Hitlin Research Associates, Reston,
Virginia.