If you’ve spent winters RVing in places like Florida, Arizona, or Texas, you may already sense it—this winter doesn’t quite feel like past seasons. Campgrounds are still busy, but something has shifted.
New research from Kampgrounds of America (KOA) sheds light on changing winter RV camping trends, especially when it comes to Canadian snowbirds and a new mix of winter travelers.
Fewer Canadians heading south this winter
For years, Canadian RVers have been a huge part of winter life in southern campgrounds. Many stayed for months, built friendships, and returned to the same parks year after year. Their arrival was as predictable as the seasons themselves.
This winter, fewer are making the trip
KOA says 60% of Canadian snowbirds planning to spend a month or more in warm climates are choosing international destinations outside the U.S. While 43% still plan to stay in private campgrounds or outdoor resorts, many of those stays won’t be south of the border.
KOA president and CEO Toby O’Rourke says reservations from Canadian campers traveling into the U.S. are down compared to last year. She also notes Americans are traveling north less, too. Rising costs, travel insurance rules, exchange rates, and evolving border requirements are all weighing on those decisions.
For U.S. RVers, this shift could end up working in their favor this winter.
What this means if you RV in winter
Simply put, fewer Canadian snowbirds usually means less competition for winter campsites.
RVers who are used to booking far in advance or sitting on waitlists may notice a little more breathing room this season. Some popular parks may feel slightly less crowded, and late planners could have better luck landing a monthly stay. Winter destinations will still be busy, but the pressure Canadians traditionally put on prime locations is part of the evolving winter RV camping trends.
Could prices finally calm down?
With fewer long-term Canadian bookings, some campgrounds may need to work a bit harder to attract American RVers. In some cases, that could mean more attractive monthly rates, seasonal specials, or simply a little more willingness to have a conversation about price.
Don’t expect discounts everywhere, though. Parks in prime locations, especially those with upscale amenities or glamping, are likely to hold firm.
A different kind of winter crowd
Another big takeaway from KOA’s research is that winter RVing is no longer just a retiree tradition.
Nearly one in four campers—and almost half of glampers—plan to head to warmer destinations this winter. Many expect to stay three weeks or longer, but they aren’t settling in for the entire season.
Younger travelers are increasingly shaping the winter landscape. KOA found that 31% of Gen Z and 19% of millennials plan to spend three to four weeks in warm climates, and nearly one-quarter of Gen Z travelers expects to stay a month or more.
These trips are often built around remote work, school breaks, and flexible schedules. Instead of fifth wheels and park models, many arrive with laptops, streaming devices, yoga mats, and pets.
How campgrounds may feel different
For longtime snowbirds, the campground atmosphere may feel different. You may see fewer neighbors staying all winter, more turnover from week to week, and a growing emphasis on cabins, glamping tents, and furnished rentals.
Some parks may feel less settled than they used to, with more short stays and fewer neighbors staying the whole winter.
Florida still rules—but it’s not the only option
Florida remains the top winter destination, but KOA says California and Texas are gaining popularity, especially among younger travelers.
Looking beyond Florida could pay off this winter, with less crowding and some pleasant surprises along the way.
The bottom line
For U.S. RVers, this winter could be a bit of a sweet spot. Fewer Canadian snowbirds may mean easier reservations and less competition for long stays, while a new generation of travelers brings fresh energy—and change—to campgrounds.
The RV lifestyle keeps changing, but one thing hasn’t: When winter hits, a lot of us still point the rig toward warmer weather. Staying flexible and open to change could make this one of the easier—and more enjoyable—winters in a long time.
RELATED
- Canadian Snowbirds Association offers guidance after border fingerprint incident
- Canadian snowbirds experience delays, changes at U.S. border
- Fewer Canada snowbirds will hurt U.S. economy, but may ease campground crowding
- RVing in Canada is different: Tips for a successful Canadian RV trip
- Want to RV around Canada, eh? Our readers suggest their favorite routes
- Top 5 Arizona campgrounds for snowbirds
- New rules on long-term camping on government lands leave RVers uncertain and confused
- New U.S. rule mandates Canadian snowbirds to register with Homeland Security
RVT1240b
That’s an awful lot of great information RnT. Thanks for the thorough report and for all that great news.
Mostly, thanks for pointing out that fewer Canadians means less competition for sites and potentially may even lower the cost of those sites, for Americans wanting to travel in America. By the same token, fewer Americans wanting to camp in Canada this winter may free up camp sites in Manitoba this winter. WIN/WIN for both countries especially if you enjoy ice fishing.
😎✌️
All those thumbs down came hot and fast today…. I guess “affordability” really isn’t that important, my mistake. Hahaha
Supply and demand folks which by my calculations using this RnT article for reference it means with 2.7 million fewer illegals in the country the price of rent is about to fall too. Woohoo. Another 3 million next year and the landlords will be begging for tenants soon.
On the brightside, 2.7% inflation reported today which by my rough estimate is more than 3X lower than 4 years ago. Holy moly were winning again.
😎✌️
Need to watch something besides fox entertainment
What does anything I said have to do with FOX? Do they have camping show or segment I might have missed?
I fill up on Scott Jennings every chance I can…. CNN, right?
✌️😎
CNN reporting the same good news!
While the decrease in tourism is good if you want to get a campsite or see a national park, it’s hitting the local restaurants, tour guides, etc. pretty hard. While the tourist economy is only 3% of GDP, it is down significantly in 2025. International travelers spend a lot more than domestic travelers. I feel bad for a lot of these businesses that are losing money.
I completely agree with you Dave. It is always tough when a business takes a hit for what ever reason it is that created the decreased profit. In my estimation, its very temporary and most of those Canadian snowbirds will be back next year. Very few Canadians can afford to travel to Italy or Costa Rica 4 years in a row and especially for 4 or 5 months each year. They will put the TDS aside and will want to get the old routine back next October after this February or March with 30 days of consecutive 35 degree below zero weather.
✌️😎
Although I am not travelling to the US this winter, I may or may not next winter depending on multiple factors.
As a good friend who owns a Florida property recently told me, “Leonard, don’t let one person ruin your retirement plans.”
Seems like sage advice. Regardless, hope you all enjoy a fantastic
Christmas!
FYI, We are actually spending time in Costa Rica and Italy this winter! lol.
🇨🇦
They are not just losing money, they are closing left and right. We are seeing a killing off of small businesses.
Perhaps you can provide us the evidence of that. I think that is just hyperbole.
If a business runs on such a fine line that loosing 20% of 3% of customers for 40% of your operating days puts the final nail in the coffin, the first 19 nails were already in and you need a new business model.
😎✌️
The below article was written January 15, 2025.
“Through the end of the third quarter of 2024 (the latest available statistics at this writing), formal bankruptcy filings were on track to exceed the 2023 mark and the watershed year of 2020.”
https://www.walzgroupcpa.com/post/small-business-bankruptcies-are-on-the-rise/
Net…it appears that an exponential growth in small business failures was occuring prior to 2025. High inflation, high interest rates, cash flow issues and a 2019 law that made bankruptcies easier were drivers.
The people that fail in business like the one’s Wanderer refers to, appear to need a foil or a scapegoat to feel better about being losers in business or business model development. Unwilling to look within opting to gaslight for self failure.
✌️😎
The data shows that the issue is not something new with major increases during the last administration. Certain Governors shutting down their economies certainly didn’t help small businesses! Not always an owner’s fault.
I see Ron said to watch something other than Fox. Perhaps one should watch other than, CBS, ABC, NBC, PBS, CNN, etc. to get all their news since tbose never tell all the facts. It always also pays to do little research personally NO MATTER YOUR POLITICS since all politicians lie or “fluff” and ignore any historical fact not in line with their thinking.
My own business during Covid hangover of ’21-’23, saw a 37% decrease in revenue and we operated under Force Majuer for 2 of those years. Costs were up almost 30% so our prices were up almost 60%. In business, one must be nimble. I dont see how any of this “very modest” tourism downturn can be the nail in the coffin. If it is, then those shops should have closed last year. If losing 20% of 3% on 30% of your operating days closes your shop, you were closing the doors anyhow but now you have someoneelse to blame.
😎✌️
I’ve seen fewer Canadians traveling down Interstate 81 thru Pa. Sorry to hear and see that. Don’t like how our commander in chief is ruined our relationship with other countries. Hopefully; other countries won’t be doing it to us Americans.
You must not see the same decimated small towns that I see in my RV Bob.
With NAFTA in hand, Canada and Mexico used tax incentives too good to decline and moved a lot of business to the north and south but looking at all these shuttered Main Streets, is that truly the relationship to embrace? One where your neighbor woos your cat to mouse their house but you get to keep the vet bills? Get off the Interstate and tour the small towns and then let’s discuss why win/lose relationships should indeed be disrupted.
Shuttered main streets primarily due to Walmart, Amazon, and other changes in commerce and demographics, and they preceded NAFTA by a decade or two, as did the move to overseas manufacturing. Learning to navigate in the global economy is the best answer, tariffs will just take us back to the last century – think 1920s and 1930s.
A high school course in economics would help many understand why tariffs play an important role in global trade and how countries that maintains child labor rates to create goods then flood the market can be stopped.
Don’t know about high school economics classes, but the college courses I took in micro and macro economics also point out that tariffs have limitations. Cross that line and you actually hurt the economy.
Also, physical goods are not the only trade items. Service and knowledge are also lucrative industries.
Unfortunately Bill, that’s a half truth. Walmart and Amazon are not manufacturers dear friend, they are brokers. They provide channels of distribution which are quite appealing to offshore producers who are not burdened with our taxes or regulation.
Think of ranch towns. With US population increasing it’s not a stretch to think the demand for beef will increase and ranch towns should thrive. They aren’t. Why? Because more and more beef is imported, thank you NAFTA.
The current economy is akin to urban sprawl but on a global scale. Manufacturing is not leaving because Amazon or Walmart exists. Amazon and Walmart exist because manufacturing is leaving.
Bob M: How much international business experience do you have? I spent a 38 year career in it on 5 continents and I can attest that virtually every country out there, including those bordering us, have been taking advantage of us at every turn. Other countries HAVE been “doing it to us Americans” for a long time!
Protectionism is and always will be rampant around the world as gov’ts know that people from other countries don’t elect them…their own people do. Our “relationships” have been us smiling while getting reamed.
I’m kinda curious.
Do Canadian RV owners just leave their rig in the barn and burn through money in storage fees since it’s impossible to pack a RV on an international flight? Do they quit touring in their RV altogether since their season’s severely limited with the choice to stay out of the U.S.? Are they trying to winter camp even though they bought the RV to escape the cold?
To those that know, what are Canadians doing with their rigs?
The data on new and used purchases doesn’t show much decline on buying units so if the RV’s are not coming south, are they being bought to just get winter rot in the north?
This is our 9th winter in Texas Hill Country. During the previous 8, we made good friends (still in touch) with 3 Canadian couples from 3 different Provinces. None returned this year. One stored their 5’er here (sold it) and two have motorcoaches (fully paid for). Those are now used primarily in the summer. All the couples will still cross the border, but trips in the U.S. are (much) less than 30 days – typically a day trip, or a short cut south of the Great Lakes. As one bluntly put it, “We got our 6 month visas for years and spent significant money in the U.S. But I refuse to be rudely treated like a common criminal with the new additional entry requirements.”
Common criminal treatment and new entry requirements is pure hysteria…..
Between brothers and sisters in Canada and a half dozen Canadian cousin families, I can report 6 out 8 families feel the same as your 3 couple friends and for the same reasons.
✌️😎
Are they saying that our customs entry people are being rude or that being asked to provide information on residency, how long they are staying, etc. is “rude.” If the latter, I guess those folks haven’t done a lot of foreign travel as all the countries I’ve been in around the world always required all that, and most much more. I never just waltzed into any foreign country.
We are not talking about visits of 30 days or less. These are seasonal snowbirds approaching 6 month stays in the U.S. It is almost guaranteed these Canadians will return to Canada because they are at risk of losing their Canadian health benefits if they stay longer. The seasonal folks had to apply for 6 months visas. The automatic tourist visa is only valid for 90 days. However, in addition to the visa (which checks the database for prior offenses), there is a paper intensive and pricey background check by the DHS in addition to the State Department visa process. The DHS background check has the tone of ‘guilty until proved innocent’.
Thank you Jim.
So 2 of the 3 are storing their rigs for all but summer with 1 out of RV’ing entirely is what your circle of friends has done but do you think that’s representative of Canada or just a segment?
I ask because the 2025 Canadian YTD RV shipments increased 6.7% over YTD 2024.
For both sets of data to be accurate, it would require folks to buy a rig just to park it and stay in the cold or park it and catch a plane to somewhere other than the U.S.
That seems implausible so I’m curious as to where the new units are going if South is not an option.
I have spent the last four winters in the Southwest in our RV. This year we have parked and covered it for the miserable Ontario winter. We will use it somewhat next summer for a few trips in our home province, and possibly return next winter.
I will not sell it as I will return to Snowbird either next year, or if things continue to deteriorate between our two great countries, in three years. Zero issues with affordability as some claim is the reason for less Canadian visitors. All the best to you! 🇨🇦
Not sure the part of Florida the Canadians are avoiding but it’s not the case on the Gulf coast. Maxed out resorts!! Folks that are here have one quote… “those stupid people can stay and freeze”. All say their border crossing haven’t changed one bit. Merry Christmas all!!
Sounds like anything but “Merry Christmas All!” More like “Merry Christmas to people who are just like us, and insults to anyone who isn’t”.
Have no idea what you are talking about. We are here with plenty of Canadians and their experiences are what they are.
I feel sad for people that base their traveling plans on the utterings of “political” personalities. It’s just noise. Canadians who state they are staying home just because of their tds I don’t think are being honest. There are other legitimate reasons like age, insurance, exchange rate. Is easier to put the blame elsewhere.
We have been treated wonderfully by our American hosts.
I am told many have been frightened off by new rules, fees, and the threat of being detained behind the border. They have a right to avoid those hassles and risks.
There are no new rules…these requirements have been in place for years but your fear mongering doesn’t help. Like I said above we are on the Gulf coast with about 60 Canadian families who say they have had ZERO ISSUES
I am told many just have severe tds and are afraid of their own shadows. They have a right to stay safe and secure in the ice and cold if their tds is so serious they are fearful of the American gulags.
Nope, not entirely. We are travelling elsewhere in the world due to one person. First world problems, I am all good! See you in a year or three!🇨🇦