Canadian RV Association November 23, 2020

Camping Behavior Statistics

One thing we’ve always found interesting is how differently people enjoy camping. Some camp alone, some take their friends and families on camping trips, and everything in between.

We’ve found some awesome statistics about how often Canadians go camping, what kind of criteria they use to decide where they go camping, what they enjoy doing when they go camping, and who they create camping memories with.

How Often Canadians Are Going Camping

Here are some awesome statistics about how often Canadians go camping. It was incredible to hear that most Canadian RV campers go camping at least three times per year! The majority of campers also want to camp more often next year. Who wouldn’t want to get out camping more often if they could?

  • 33% of Canadians have been camping their entire lives.
  • 5% of Canadians went camping for the first time this year.
  • 50% of camping households intend to take more camping trips next year.
  • 54% of camping households also intend to take longer camping trips next year.

Criteria Considered When Selecting a Campsite

Here are some interesting stats about how RVers select a spot to go camping. We all camp a little bit differently, it is interesting to see what some people prioritize when picking a campground!

These statistics show that people are picking a spot to camp for the overall experience that the campsite delivers over just the amenities and features. Here’s a list of what people look for in a camping destination:

  • The top factor in selecting a campground to camp in be percentage
    • 12% selected a campground for the availability of Wi-Fi
    • 7% selected a campground because it was pet-friendly
    • 56% selected a campground for its atmosphere
    • 22% selected a campground for its location
    • 44% selected a campground for the quality of the campsites at that particular campground
    • 9% selected a campground for the availability of cabins for guests
    • 12% selected a campground for the type of sites that are available (power, water, etc.)
    • 5% selected a campground for onsite recreation and activities
  • Of those that prioritized onsite recreation over other factors in selecting a campground, Gen Xers found it most important with 17% of campers

Camping Activity Statistics

Many campers don’t just camp for the sake of staying in their RV for the entire trip. Campers like going out to do things or use their RVs as a home base for other activities!

Here are some interesting stats about what Canadian campers choose to do while on a camping trip:

  • 9 out of 10 campers leave campsites to participate in other activities
  • Favorite outdoor recreation activities for campers by percentages
    • 60% enjoy hiking / backpacking
    • 50% enjoy fishing
    • 37% enjoy sightseeing
    • 38% enjoy canoeing or kayaking
    • 32% enjoy visiting historical sites
    • 30% enjoy biking
    • 28% enjoy bird watching

Who are North Americans Camping With?

Another interesting topic is who campers are choosing to go camping with. Given the stats below, it can be concluded that the vast majority of campers are choosing to go camping with their families.

Camping in an RV is a great way to make memories that will last a lifetime with the people that matter the most to you. Regardless of who you choose to go camping with, it’s a great way to spend quality time with your favorite people.

  • Who campers are choosing to go camping with by percentage:
    • 65% are camping with their spouse or significant other
    • 37% are camping with their children
    • 8% are camping with their grandchildren
    • 13% are camping with their parents
    • 3% are camping with their grandparents
    • 7% are camping with their friend’s children or grandchildren
    • 33% are camping with friends
    • 18% are camping with other family members
    • 13% are camping with siblings
    • 5% are camping with an organized group or another social group
    • 2% are camping with individuals that have physical limitations or disabilities
    • 6% camped solo at least once over the course of the year.

Camping Demographic Statistics

Here are some detailed demographic statistics about North American RV campers! It’s interesting to see who is going camping and get some insight as to what kind of lifestyle they may have.

Stats show that the majority of first time campers were Millennials, nearly half of RV camping households earn $25,000 to $74,999 per year, the number of camping households grew by over a million people in the last year, and the majority of camping households have children.

The stats below are almost everything you could want to know about the people that go camping in North America!

  • Of those that went camping for the first time this year
    • 56% were Millennials
    • 25% were Gen X
    • 14% were Baby Boomers
    • 4% were Mature (65+)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  • Percentage of North American camping households by income
    • 10% of camping households earn <$30,000
    • 14% of camping households earn $30,000 to $40,000
    • 20% of camping households earn $40,000 to $60,000
    • 18% of camping households earn $60,000 to $80,000
    • 17% of camping households earn $80,000 – $100,000
    • 16% of camping households earn $100,000 – $150,000
    • 5% of camping households earns $150,000 +                                                                                                                                                                          
  • 52% of North American camping households have children
  • The typical household income for RV owning households is about $62,000
  • Over 14% of Canadian Households own a RV

Camping Trip Statistics

It’s always interesting to see how far people will go for their camping trips and where their camping adventures take them!

Statistics show that nearly a quarter of Canadian RV campers like camping close to home by travelling less than 50 miles for a camping trip, and over a quarter prefer a long haul, travelling over 200 miles for a camping trip. That’s quite the spectrum!

A large number of Canadian campers also love camping in national or provincial campgrounds. Statistically, we really are quite an adventurous bunch when it comes to our RV camping trips! Here are some cool stats about where Canadian campers are going on their camping trips:

  • How far campers travelled for camping trips in Canada by percentage
    • 24% of campers travelled less than 50 miles for camping trips
    • 18% of campers travelled less than 51 – 100 miles for camping trips
    • 16% of campers travelled less than 101 – 150 miles for camping trips
    • 14% of campers travelled less than 151 – 200 miles for camping trips
    • 27% of campers travelled more than 200 miles for camping trips                                                                                                                                                        
  • The locations and campground type for camping trips by percentage
    • 25% camped in privately-owned campgrounds
    • 40% camped in national or state / provincial campgrounds
    • 8% camped in the backcountry, a national forest, or wilderness area
    • 2% camped in parking lots like Walmarts or roadside areas
    • 20% camped in privately owned land other than a campground
    • 5% camped in a municipal campground or area

RV Type Statistics

The preferences seem to differ slightly for Motor Homes, Travel Trailers and Fifth Wheels for families of different sizes! 

  • The preferred type of RV for those camping alone by percentage
    • 21% prefer Motorhomes
    • 13% prefer Travel Trailers
    • 10% prefer Fifth Wheel Trailers
  • The preferred type of RV for those camping with a partner by percentage
    • 25% prefer Motorhomes
    • 14% prefer Travel Trailers
    • 13% prefer Fifth Wheel Trailers
  • The preferred type of RV for those camping with a partner by percentage
    • 28% prefer Motorhomes
    • 19% prefer Travel Trailers
    • 19% prefer Fifth Wheel Trailers
  • The preferred type of RV for families by percentage
    • 36% prefer Motorhomes
    • 25% prefer Travel Trailers
    • 24% prefer Fifth Wheel Trailers

RV Industry Statistics

The RV industry is booming! Year after year, the RV industry creates hundreds of jobs for Canadians and contributes a significant amount to the Canadian economy.

This comes from RV manufacturing, sales, service, products, and other expenditures that are directly related to purchasing or owning an RV. Given that RVs are a sizeable investment, the RV industry is also responsible for a number of RV loans from various financial institutions.

We’ve collected a list of stats about the RV industry and its contribution to the Canadian economy. We love being a part of this exciting industry and cannot wait to see what it will become in the future! Here are some RV industry statistics to educate you about the impact the industry has on the economy.

  • There was $6 – 8.74 billion CAD in RV Sales from 2013 – 2018
  • $4 billion total revenue in 2019
  • The Canadian RV Industry saw an average of 2.7% Annual Growth in revenue from 2014 – 2019
  • 6,118 people are employed by the Canadian RV Industry
  • The RV Industry contributed $1.9 billion in tax revenue to the Canadian economy
  • $470 million CAD in manufacturing sales
  • In Canada, the industry is responsible for over $7 billion in retail sales each year
  • In 2017, the RV Industry celebrated its eight straight year of sales growth. During this 8-year span, the recreational vehicle industry has grown more than 200%
  • Over 200,000 indirect loans were generated at retail locations offering recreational vehicles for sale in 2017. These loans totaled $8.4 billion from households purchasing RV’s
  • Of those 200,000 loans, the average amount financed by a household purchasing an RV is over $45,000 USD

Canadian RV Manufacturing Statistics

Although many RVs are manufactured elsewhere, there are still a substantial number of RVs and RV related products being manufactured in Canada. The CRVA released a report about the magnitude of impact the Canadian RV Manufacturing industry has on the Canadian economy.

You’ll be happy to know that Canadian RV manufacturing contributes a significant amount to the Canadian economy as well! This industry creates many employment opportunities and a ton of tax revenue for the Canadian economy. Here are some interesting stats about the contributions it makes:

  • +$355.3 million in value added to the Canadian economy in 2018
  • +5,400 full-time years of employment in 2018
  • +$229.3 million in labor income across Canada in 2018
  • +$88.7 million in tax revenue to municipal, provincial and national governments in 2018

Canadian RV Retail and Service Statistics

One of the other ways the RV industry contributes to the Canadian economy is through retail and service-related expenditures. Even those that do not purchase new RVs every year end up buying RV-related products and servicing their RVs.

Here are some interesting statistics about the contributions made to the Canadian economy by RV retail and service-related expenditures:

  • +$681.4 million in value added to the Canadian economy in 2018
  • +10,300 full-time years of employment in 2018
  • +432.0 million in labor income across Canada in 2018
  • +$149.3 million in tax revenue to municipal, provincial and national governments in 2018

RV Camping Expenditures

Although RV sales and travel account for a large proportion of RV expenditures, a fair amount of expenditures come from the cost of owning an RV in general. Things like storage, insurance, maintenance, and accessories make up a significant amount of RV related expenditures as well! Here are some stats about non-travel related RV expenditures:

  • Equipment and accessories account for 23% of non-travel related RV expenditures
  • Storage accounts for 13% of non-travel related RV expenditures
  • Insurance accounts for 36% of non-travel related RV expenditures
  • Maintenance accounts for 28% of non-travel related RV expenditures

RV Service Statistics

Maintenance is a big part of owning an RV. Although newer RVs come with warranties, every RV needs to be winterized, and parts will wear out as you own your RV. To give you an idea of what RV ownership could cost, we have rounded up some statistics on what RV ownership costs for some individuals.

RV Maintenance Statistics and Costs

RVs, motorized or towable, need to be maintained just like every other vehicle on the road! This is to ensure they are safe for the road and to keep everything working properly on the inside. Keep in mind, the more you use your RV, the more maintenance it will need. Although it costs money to maintain your RV, it’s better to spend the money on maintenance that could prevent a costly repair! To give you an idea of what the average RV owner should budget for maintenance, we’ve found some helpful RV maintenance statistics:

  • Full time RVers can expect to spend an average of $100.00 per month in maintenance expenses
  • Annually, Full time RVers can expect to spend an average of $1200.00 in maintenance expenses
  • New Tires for your RV can cost up to $2500
  • Winterizing or de-winterizing an RV can cost anywhere from $100 – $200 on average

RV Repair Cost Statistics

As stated above, RV repairs can be expensive! Sometimes, even RVs that are meticulously maintained will need repairs and parts replaced in their lifetime. To give you an idea of what it can cost to replace various parts of your RV, we’ve found a helpful list of stats to outline the cost of some common repairs:

  • Carpet replacement is $1700
  • The average cost of a transmission replacement is $2000
  • The average cost of a new refrigerator is roughly $3000 or more
  • The average cost of a new towable RV axle is roughly $1000 or more

RV Lifestyle Statistics

Are you looking to make the switch to being a full-time RVer? Living in an RV can be great, depending on your lifestyle! How great would it be to have home be wherever you park your RV? Although many want to live in an RV, some people do not realize what it costs to live in an RV full time. To give you an idea of what it costs to live in an RV compared to a regular home, we’ve come up with a list of statistics based on average full-time RV living expenses:

  • Full-time RVers spend an average of $2170.29 on monthly expenses
  • Full-time RVers spend an average of $26,043.43 on yearly expenses
  • On average, full-time RVers should save up $39,600 before starting
  • About 54% of RV owners bring their pets with them when they travel
  • An RV Vacation is roughly 60% cheaper than taking a traditional vacation
  • Nearly a half-million RV owners use their RV as their primary residence

RV Cost Statistics

For those of you that are looking to purchase your first RV and are wondering how much they cost, we’ve found some interesting stats! We understand that purchasing a brand new RV may not be the right fit for everyone making their first foray into RV ownership, but here is a range of what you can expect to pay for different types of RVs. As you may have expected, there are some other inherent costs to RV ownership. Here are some RV cost statistics that outline what you can expect when purchasing your first RV:

  • How much can you expect to spend on your first RV?
    • Class A Diesel Motorhomes
      • New: $350,000 – $1,000,000 +
      • Used: $80,000 – $500,000 +
    • Class A Gas Motorhomes
      • New: $195,000 – $280,000 +
      • Used: $50,000 – $150,000 +
    • Class B Motorhomes
      • New: $95,000 – $150,000 +
      • Used: $40,000 – $100,000 +
    • Class C Motorhomes
      • New: $60,000 – $200,000
      • Used: $12,000 – $80,000
    • Fifth Wheel Trailers
      • New: $50,000 – $160,000
      • Used: $25,000 – $115,000
    • Travel Trailers
      • New: $20,000 – $100,000
      • Used: $10,000 – $80,000

RV Manufacturer Statistics

We thought you might find it interesting to see how many RV manufacturers are out there in the world.

  • There are more than 100 active RV manufacturers
  • 80% of the RVs being manufactured come from Indiana
  • Canada is the primary RV export destination for RV manufacturers. Over 90% of RV industry exports go to Canada yearly

For additional statistics on Camping in BC and Alberta

 

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