Millennial & Gen Z RVers: Are They Here to Stay?
As RV ownership has become increasingly popular, a younger audience is buying RVs and embracing the lifestyle.
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Since 2020, the RV industry has witnessed record-breaking RV sales and a massive uptick in American consumers interested in the RV lifestyle, continuing today. In fact, a study found the pandemic drove RV interest up 162 percent in 2020. More people are buying RVs, getting outdoors, and traveling to new places–including Millennial and Gen Z consumers.
RVing is attracting a younger audience, and now 51 percent of RV owners fall below the age of 55, and 22 percent of RV owners fall between the ages of 18-34 years old, according to a recent study It reported Millennial/Gen-Z RV owners tended to be married, educated, full-time working parents, 49 percent of whom grew up with RVs.
Current Millennial and Gen Z RV owners have plans to purchase another RV within the next five years. Of those, 84 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds plan to buy another RV, with 78 percent leaning towards purchasing a new model.
Remote work or school, growing interest in outdoor exploration, and a rise in families interested in travel have all contributed to a rise in RV popularity and interest, especially among younger professionals as they prioritize remote working opportunities.
“COVID has been a blessing to us,” said Matt Branzuela, a remote software engineer from Silicon Valley. “It has allowed us to work remote and to see both the country and our friends all over it.”
Financial reasons have also played a role in increased popularity as RV travel fits into many consumers’ revised budget, feeling as though RVing is safer than other forms of travel. Many of these factors have contributed to a growing number of young people finding their place as long-term RV owners or renters, and recent numbers suggest this is a long-term shift in the industry.
“Even with other forms of travel returning, the desire to use an RV to get outdoors and experience an active outdoor lifestyle is stronger than ever,” said President and CEO of the RV Industry Association, Craig Kirby. “RVing has been cemented as a mainstream travel option that is here to stay.”
