If there is any doubt that it’s getting more crowded out there in “Camping-land USA” a new study sponsored by KOA shows that more than six million new American households have adopted the camping lifestyle since 2014. That’s households, not individuals. The total number of camping households in the United States is now more than 77 million. At the same time, 11,000 Baby Boomers are turning 65 every day, many taking up RVing in their retirement with some living in recreational vehicles full-time, something rare even 20 years ago.
Those who camp three times or more each year has increased 64 percent since 2004. About 1-in-5 camper households report they only started camping in the past few years. The percentage of younger campers keeps growing, as illustrated in the chart.
Meanwhile, there has been virtually no increase in places to camp. While many campers stay in public campgrounds on state and federal lands, more all the time are crowding into limited spaces in commercial RV parks.
The 2018 North American Camping Report also indicates that 93 percent of campers bring some form of mobile device with them on camping trips, while one-fourth of all campers “say it is important to them to share their experiences on social media.”
Wi-Fi is also becoming an “expected amenity,” according to the report. “Four-in-10 camper households overall say access to cell service or Wi-Fi impacts the amount they camp.”
With the homeless population at an all time high people are buying R/VS new and old, parking them anywhere and everywhere they can, California especially has been hit hard with homeless population , rvs are cheaper then homes and apartments, like home owners you pay property taxes, in an RV you pay no no property taxes, you find a place to park until your asked to leave by the law. That’s why the RV business is on the move because it’s more affordable.
In about 3 or 4 years, when the inevitable downturn/recession, political pendulum swing, rise in petroleum prices, and “well, that was fun; now what?” mindset of the vast majority of Americans have set in, I’m looking forward to purchasing my 40-foot 2018 Newmar for about half what the original buyer paid for it and heading out to an America filled with interesting sites, quiet National Parks, and reasonably-priced campgrounds advertising their empty spaces.
Just a thought, it would be nice if some of these empty malls were turned into RV parks. Even with just a dump station and electric at sites. I wish I knew someone with the capital to try that out. It would help the RVers and maybe revitalize the malls.