Survey Shows RVers Eager to Travel, But Will Stay Closer to Home in 2022

High Gas Prices will Limit the Distance—But Not the Duration—of Travel

Image Caption: Image Courtesy of by-studio/Getty

Despite record-high gas prices, RVers are eager to go camping this year—although many say they will stay closer to home. Those are the findings of a recent survey taken by Kampgrounds of America (KOA), which published the results in the April edition of its monthly report.

According to KOA’s research, 38% of RVers who haven’t traveled over the past year say they will take a trip “no matter what” in 2022. Another 38% say they plan to travel even if gas prices continue to go up. Only 6% of survey respondents indicated that they would travel less this year, while 2% don’t plan to travel at all.

RV parked by a mountain lake

Image Courtesy of cookelma/Getty

Record-high fuel costs will impact how RVers travel in the months ahead, with 32% choosing to camp closer to home in 2022. A quarter of survey respondents said that they will take fewer trips due to the high prices at the pump but will stay for a longer duration. Meanwhile, 24% indicated that they will reduce the number of trips they take, while 29% say the spike in gas prices will not cause them to alter their camping plans.

After two years of record-breaking sales across the RV industry, KOA found reasons for manufacturers to remain optimistic. The company revealed that nearly half of non-RVers who took part in the survey expressed interest in purchasing an RV of some kind. On the other hand, only one-in-ten currently active RVers said they are considering selling their campers.

RV by lake at night

Image Courtesy of Larry Crain/Getty

“It’s encouraging that even with gas prices reaching record highs, many campers are still planning to get out and explore,” said Whitney Scott, chief marketing officer for KOA, said in a press release. “The flexibility of camping is a real advantage to travelers; by choosing destinations nearby or altering road trip stops, a camping trip can mitigate fuel costs in ways other types of travel cannot.”

For further insights into RV camping trends, read the full report on the KOA website.

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