RV Statistics & Facts 2021

Last Updated on December 26, 2020 by Tanmay Sarkar

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RVs are very popular in the US and over 11% of Americans now own an RV. The last few years were very good for the RV industry as the number of units sold was increasing. 2018 was a much better year than 2019 in terms of RV units shipped.

We have covered most of the aspects of RV, RVing, and RVers.

Year-Wise RV Unit Sales

Year-Wise RV Sales Value in Billion

RV Sales by US States

Top RV Industry Statistics

• Over 1 million Americans are RV full-timers.
• Over 11% of US households have an RV.
• In 2019 410,283 RVs & Park model units were shipped.
• A $114 Billion was the annual economic impact in 2018.
• In 2019 alone RV industry was responsible for 596,355 jobs and $32.2 Billion in wages.
• In 2019 482,389 RVs were made in the USA.
• An estimated 40 million Americans go RVing each year.
• Outdoor recreation is now 2.2% of US GDP.
• RV ownership was 7.9 million in 2005 and its over 9 million today.
• More than 50% of the RVers take their pets with them.
• Rvers spend 3 to 4 weeks in their RV every year.

RV Sales & RV Ownership Statistics

• In 2019, 406,000 RVs were sold in the US.
• That was a decline of -16% from the prior year.
• There are more than 100 RV manufacturers based in the US alone.
• 80% of the manufactured RV comes from the state of Indiana.
• Every 6 out of 10 RVs are from one county in Indiana that is Elkhart County.
• RV industry contributed $6 Billion in taxes.
• The Canadian RV industry generates $7 Billion in sales.
• Over 200,000 loans were generated in 2017.
• A loan amount equal to $8.4 billion was generated in 2017, where the average loan amount was over $45,000.
• Over 4,000 PMRV units were sold in 2017 with an annual growth rate of 10%. PMRV’s or Park Model Recreational vehicles are small houses on a trailer.
• As of now, Millennials are the biggest part of the RV industry.
• There are over 6,600 dealerships in the US, creating 50,000 direct employment.
• RV dealers create $23 billion in revenue every year.

Source: IBIS World, The Wall Street Journal, The Wandering RV, RVIA

RV Consumer Demographic Profile

• According to Statista, 41.8 million people were engaged in car, backyard, or RV camping in 2017.
• The average US RV owner is 48 years old.
• There are more than 16,000 campgrounds and parking facilities in the US alone.
• Over 9 million US families own RV that is over 40 million Americans. Millennials make up 38% of this.
• The majority of RV owners are Generation X and Baby Boomers.
• Average RV owners travel 3 times a year, and for 4 weeks.
• The income of the average RV owner is $68,000.
• 1 out of every 5^th RV in the US is classified as a “conventional travel trailer.”

Source: Statista, The Wandering RV, RV Life

RV Sales Statistics

• Winnebago was the best seller in Class A RVs in 2017 – 2018 followed by Allegro and A.C.E.
• Winnebago Touring Coach was the best seller in Class B RVs in 2017 – 2018 followed by Erwin Hymer.
• Four Winds was the best seller in Class C RVs in 2017 – 2018 followed by Coachmen and Winnebago.
• Montana was the best seller in fifth wheel in 2017 – 2018 followed by Reflection and Cougar.
• Jay Flight was the best seller in travel trailers in 2017 – 2018 followed by Cherokee and Wildwood.
• 14% of US households own a fifth wheel or Class A RV.

Source: RVIA, The Wandering RV, Business Insider

Full-Time RV Statistics

• Over 1 million Americans are full-time RVers.
• Florida is one of the most popular places for full-timers as it does not have any state income taxes.
• Full-time RV living cost is between $1500 to $2500 a month.

RV Travel Statistics

• On average, Rvers drive around 4,500 miles in a year.
• 90% of the Rvers who own a travel trailer makes 3 trips in a year.
• Yosemite National Park attracts over 250,000 visitors per year.