RV sales continue to climb as more first-time campers head out
Recreational vehicle sales are continuing to climb across the country.
"Our suppliers are not even able to keep up with the demand. We have manufacturers in Indiana that are working 24-hour shifts just trying to keep up with the demand of camper sales," said David Hall, owner of USA RV in Raleigh.
Across the country the RV industry has seen a 160 percent increase in shipment numbers between 2009 and 2020, according to a recent report by online RV rental and outdoor travel marketplace Outdoorsy.
In the Raleigh metro area, RV dealers are generating annual sales of $81 million, according to the Outdoorsy report.
"Usually this parking lot is slammed full of campers ... we really can't keep any inventory in stock," Hall said.
Hall said his business is on track to double the number of RVs sold last year. He said that people are purchasing campers sight-unseen just to get their name on one when it arrives in stock.
"We saw a huge rise amidst the pandemic last year. We saw a 12% increase in RVing over the 2019 numbers, which was phenomenal," Kampgrounds of America spokeswoman Whitney Scott said. "There are 13 million RV households in the United States right now, and RV sales are not slowing down, so we can expect to see rises and increases in those numbers as the year goes forward."
Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has more than 500 campsites across the U.S. and Canada that range from small roadside stops to large-scale resorts with pools and dining options.
"Campgrounds are naturally social distanced. So, no matter what you're feeling, you can have your own RV, your own walls, your own food, your own family and a nice place to get out still outdoors and enjoy what the great outdoors have to offer," Scott said.
KOA's 2021 North American Camping Report found that more than 48 million U.S. households camped at least once last year. The number is five times greater than 2019.
One-third of first-time campers said they went camping because they thought it was a safe way to travel and avoid crowds, according to the report.
KOA's report also showed that the number of households that own RVs grew from 2.6 million to 9.6 million.
For those looking to camp nearby, Scott said KOA has 15 campsites in North Carolina spanning the mountains to the beach.
"We know that about every three out of four campers actually camp right there within their home-base region and their state," Scott said.
