2022 RV Industry Statistics, Trends & Facts [Infographic]
thewanderingrv.com/rv-industry-statistics-trends-facts
March 7, 2022
The RV industry has been consistently growing year after year. In the last few years, the
industry has seen millennials living in RVs, retirees swapping to the RV life, and the age 3555 crowd taking a larger market share than the typical 60+ buyers.
And that’s just the beginning.
In this report, we cover:
Key RV industry statistics
How COVID affected the RV industry over the last two years
An analysis of RV industry trends
What states sell the most RVs
RV industry news
The RV consumer demographic profile
RV market values and economic impact over time
Why people buy RVs and why the industry is growing
Table of Contents
RV Sales by Month 2020-2021
1/10
The chart above shows RV sales year-over-year from 2020 to 2021. Year over year there were
3.5% more RV shipments, not including August, which doesn’t have data released yet. (RV
News)
The RV Market’s Economic Impact
2/10
As you can see in the chart above, the RV industry has steadily grown to record highs over the
last 12 years, hitting a projected 577,200 units shipped in 2021. (RVIA)
What does that equate to in dollars? And how has this impacted the U.S. economy? Let’s see:
In 2019, the RV industry had an overall economic impact to the US
economy of $114 billion, supporting nearly 600,000 jobs, contributing more than
$32 billion in wages and paying over $12 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
(RVIA)
In 2017, the RV industry celebrated its eighth straight year of sales growth. During this
8-year span, the recreational vehicle industry has grown more than 200%. (RVIA)
However, 2018 and 2019 ended this streak with slight declines. But 2020 finished
the year with 430,412 units sold, up 6 percent since 2019 and representing the
survey’s fourth-best annual shipment total. (RV News) (RVIA)
The U.S. isn’t the only nation affected by the RV industry. In Canada, the industry
is responsible for over $3.8 billion in retail sales each year. (CRVA)
In comparison, the U.S. RV industry generates almost $20 billion in retail
sales annually from over a half-million wholesale shipments of RVs. (RVIA)
Over 200,000 indirect loans were generated at retail locations offering recreational
vehicles for sale in 2017. These loans totaled $8.4 billion from households
purchasing RVs. (CRVA)
Of those 200,000 loans, the average amount financed by a household purchasing an
RV is over $45,000 USD. (CRVA)
There are affordable RVs available today for around $10,000, but the average price of a
motorhome is much higher. Class C and Class B motorhomes retail anywhere from
$100,000 to $150,000, while a Class A motorhome can retail for more than $500,000.
(Camper Report)
The RV industry contributes almost $12 billion in taxes to the U.S. economy
every year. (RVIA)
Return to ToC
RV Consumer Demographic Profile Data
This section of the report covers all the studies and statistics related to the average RV
shopper and their consumer demographic profile data.
Americans are the largest market segment for the RV industry to-date. Roughly 40
million people in the United States go RV camping. (This includes backyard
and car-based camping.) (2021 Topline North American Camping Report)
Of those 40 million, Millennials and Gen Zers make up approximately 22% of campers,
according to a 2021 demographic study. (RVIA)
However, the average RV owner in the U.S. is 48 years old. (RVIA)
3/10
Although Millennials are discovering the RV industry, Generation X and Baby Boomers
are still the biggest segments of the industry. Households in the 35-54 age
demographic are the most likely to own an RV in the U.S. right now. (RVIA)
Other studies back this up. According to the University of Michigan, more RVs are
owned by people in the 35-54 age demographic than any other age category. (University
of Michigan)
More than 11 million families in the U.S. report ownership of an RV.
Additionally, there are about 18,000 campgrounds and parking facilities throughout
the country, both public and private, which support RV camping. (RVIA)
The typical household income for RV owning households is about $62,000.
These families spend an average of 3-4 weeks each year using their RV in some way.
(RVIA)
There has been a 62% increase in household ownership of recreational vehicles in the
United States since 2001. Additionally, 124% more households own an RV now
compared to 1980. (RVIA)
About 65% of RV owners bring their pets with themwhen they travel thanks
to how their RV is designed. (RVIA)
Return to ToC
RV Direct Wholesale & Manufacturing Stats
This section will discuss the impact of RV wholesale direct manufacturing and the economic
impact of RV manufacturers:
More than 100 manufacturers are currently active, most of which are based in
the U.S. An additional 400 manufacturers, distributors, or suppliers of RV parts
support the industry as well. (CRVA)(RVIA)
Indiana is responsible for 80% of the nation’s manufactured RVs. Of those, 3
out of every 5 RVs comes from just one county: Elkhart County. (CRVA)
As Millennials become a bigger part of the RV industry, revenues for RV manufacturers
have increased dramatically. In 2017 alone, Winnebago saw a 500% increase in
revenues in a single quarter and Thor Industries saw a 106% revenue
increase. (RVIA)(Thor Industries)
Over 2,700 dealerships currently operate in the United States, creating over
51,000 direct employment opportunities. (census.gov)
Recreational vehicle dealers manage roughly $26 billion in revenues each year. Since
2013, the average annual growth rate in the industry has been 6.6%. (census.gov)
(businesswire)
Just 5 countries make up the majority of industry exports for the U.S.-based RV
industry. Of those, Canada is the primary RV export destination with more
than 90% of industry exports going north each year. (CRVA)
Canada generates C$7.56 billion each year in recreational vehicle retail sales. (CRVA)
4/10
Return to ToC
Why Do People Buy RVs?
Here are some statistics on why people decide to buy recreational vehicles:
The main reason people purchase RVs is because it allows families a way to
go camping that is easier than traditional camping options. About 60% of new
RV owners state that they believe an RV is the safest way to travel during the COVID-19
pandemic. (2021 Topline North American Camping Report)
Another reason RVs are popular in North America is the cost-savings they offer
families. An RV vacation can be over 60% cheaper than a traditional
vacation at a hotel, bed and breakfast, or similar type of accommodation. (RVIA)
About 1 in 4 Americans say they prefer to take a hiking/trekking vacation that involves
RV camping. (RVIA)
Return to ToC
What Kind of RVs Are People Buying?
There are a dozen types of RVs, from Class A’s to Fifth Wheels to Teardrop Trailers and
Camper Vans. So which types of RVs are people buying? Let’s take a look:
In the United States, 1 out of every 5 RVs (20%) is classified as a “conventional
travel trailer.” About 14% of households own a Type A motorhome or a fifth-wheel.
PMRVs come in third, representing 12% of RV ownership. (RVIA)
The retail price of a camper trailer or a folding trailer can be as low as $5,000 while still
being able to accommodate a family of 4. However, families still need a compatible
truck to tow it. (RVIA)
Over 94,000 wholesale shipments of fifth-wheel RVs occur each year,
compared to just 62,000 wholesale shipments of motorhomes, which are traditionally
viewed as the primary RV families own. Fifth-wheels are taking over as the primary RV
in an American household! (RVIA)
Return to ToC
How Do People Use Their RVs?
What do the statistics say about how people are using their RVs? Here’s what we know:
The average RV owner drives around 4,500 miles each year in their RV. (University of
Michigan)
90% of RV-owning households report that they take at least 3 trips with their vehicle or
trailer each year. This is in addition to their regular yearly vacation. (RVIA)
5/10
About 30% of recreational vehicle owners say that they take advantage of camping
locations outside of a traditional campground, such as boondocking or staying at a
Walmart. (2021 Topline North American Camping Report)
The most popular RV vacation destination in the United States has consistently been
Yosemite National Park. (National Parks Service)
On average, approximately 250,000 visitors come to Yosemite every year with their
recreational vehicle. (National Parks Service)
However, 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic saw Great Smokey Mountains National
Park as the most-visited destination. (National Parks Service)
Return to ToC
Full-Time RVing Statistics
It’s becoming more and more popular for people to sell most of their possessions and live in
an RV full time. While there haven’t been many studies on this group yet, we did find this
shocking statistic:
One million Americans live full-time in RVs. (Washington Post)
Return to ToC
RV Sales By State (Chart)
The last known report of RV sales by state was done in 2019 by RVs Move America, a
subsidiary of RVIA. According to their reports, here is a breakdown of RV sales by state:
6/10
State
RV Sales and Service
# of RVShipments
Total Direct Economic Output
AL
$251.3 M
8,550
$2.2 B
AK
$82.1 M
522
$242.2 M
AZ
$823.9 M
11,220
$2.0 B
AK
$147.3 M
4,408
$649 M
CA
$2.4 B
42,266
$8.8 B
CO
$556.6 M
11,105
$1.4 B
CT
$140.8 M
2,055
$713 M
DE
$35.2 M
1,147
$231.2 M
DC
$11 M
0
$119.1 M
FL
$1.5 B
27,966
$3.7 B
GA
$467 M
9,716
$1.8 B
HI
$12.3 M
5
$47.8 M
ID
$216.5 M
9,434*
$1.3 B
IL
$625.6 M
11,124
$2.4 B
IN
$481.4 M
385,307*
$32.4 B
IA
$292.7 M
13,540*
$2.5 B
KS
$160.1 M
1,691
$873.2 M
7/10
State
RV Sales and Service
# of RVShipments
Total Direct Economic Output
KY
$254.1 M
5,434
$1.1 B
LA
$290.2 M
6,928
$1.0 B
ME
$62.7 M
2,294
$372.4 M
MD
$162.1 M
3,406
$657.7 M
MA
$199 M
3,175
$809.2 M
MI
$712.6 M
22,305
$3.4 B
MN
$580.3 M
11,198
$2.4 B
MS
$2.4 B
4,073
$821.9 M
MO
$432.2 M
10,300
$1.4 B
MT
$163.2 M
3,365
$457.6 M
NE
$151.4 M
3,554
$737.3 M
NV
$291.9 M
4,479
$1.1 B
NH
$128.7 M
2,762
$451.7 M
NJ
$278.1 M
3,295
$1 B
NM
$178.9 M
3,492
$455.8 M
NY
$805.4 M
11,442
$2.3 B
NC
$384.6 M
10,664
$2.2 B
8/10
State
RV Sales and Service
# of RVShipments
Total Direct Economic Output
ND
$74.8 M
1,595
$340.1 M
OH
$632.1 M
21,494
$4.1 B
OK
$253.1 M
6,724
$1.5 B
OR
$675.8 M
11,655*
$4.3 B
PA
$646.9 M
14,654
$2.8 B
RI
$42.3 M
205
$190.4 M
SC
$211.1 M
6,849
$1.1 B
SD
$111 M
2,015
$453.9 M
TN
$299.7 M
6,867
$2.6 B
TX
$1.8 B
40,007
$6.9 B
UT
$286 M
8,499
$865.6 M
VT
$33.9 M
2,461
$239.2 M
VA
$249.3 M
6,862
$1.4 B
WA
$804 M
14,920
$2.1 B
WV
$52.9 M
2,399
$414.5 M
WI
$344.1 M
9,948
$2.1 B
WY
$42.7 M
782
$243.4 M
9/10
*Represents # of RVs manufactured rather than shipped. These states have more RV
manufacturers and don’t need to import units.
Which states sell the most RVs? The states that sell the most RVs are California ($2.4
B), Texas ($1.8 B), and Florida ($1.5 B).
Note: If you use the above chart anywhere online, please give credit to
https://www.thewanderingrv.com/rv-industry-statistics-trends-facts/
Want more statistics? Check out these other reports:
10/10