Fast Facts
RV Industry & Outdoor Hospitality Data
Active Camper Households (U.S.)98.3 million households camp at least once per year.
RV-Owning Households11% of U.S. households own an RV — approximately 11.2 million homes.
Year-Over-Year Camping Growth2.7 million new camping households enter the market annually.
Households Who Camped in 2020Over 43 million households camped at least once during 2020.
Growth in Frequent Campers Since 200082% increase in households that camp 3+ times per year since the mid-2000s.
U.S.-Manufactured RVs98% of all RVs sold in the U.S. are manufactured domestically.
RV Travelers With Pets54% of RV travelers bring their pets along for the trip.
Full-Time RV ResidentsOver 1 million Americans live in an RV as their primary residence.
12-Month RV Trip Projections61 million Americans are projected to take an RV trip in the next 12 months.
Annual Economic ImpactThe RV industry contributes $114 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
RV Cost RangeRVs range from $6,000 (entry-level travel trailers) to over $1 million (luxury motorcoaches).
Vacation Cost SavingsRV vacations cost 60%+ less than traditional hotel-and-flight vacations.
Data sourced from KOA 2024 Camping & Outdoor Hospitality Report
RV Parks vs. Self-Storage: A Comparative Investment Analysis
RV parks and self-storage both attract investors seeking recession-resistant passive income from alternative real estate. But they operate on fundamentally different economics. Self-storage benefits from high urban density and short lease terms. RV resorts benefit from demographic tailwinds, experiential demand, and a fragmented acquisition market still largely below institutional radar.
When comparing cap rates, self-storage in primary markets trades at 4.5-5.5%. Premium RV resorts in similar regions can be acquired at 7-8.5% cap rates — a 200-300 basis point advantage. Combined with multiple revenue streams versus self-storage single-stream income, well-run resorts tend to outperform on a risk-adjusted basis.
The operational differences are equally significant. Self-storage is primarily a technology and marketing play — you compete on price, location, and digital visibility. RV resort operations require hospitality expertise, amenity management, and community programming. This higher operational bar creates a moat for professional operators and reduces competition from part-time investors.