Due to Covid-19, travelers have been bound to quarantine, enduring passenger shaming on flights, and worried about checking into hotels. With cases still spiking, borders closing, and a slow vaccine rollout, travelers are now looking at one of the most unassuming ways to travel: Renting an RV. It’s become the latest big travel trend to sweep the country.
RV rentals have become a preferred method of transportation for long-distance travel, family adventure vacations, and getaways to state and national parks, and they will continue to rise through 2021 since travelers can stick to social distancing and avoid contact with people in buildings and airports while seeing the country.
According to RVshare, the world’s first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, RV travel and RV rentals have seen an increase in popularity since May 2020, especially among first-time renters, with almost 80% of RVshare’s 2020 bookings made by new users.
In a recent travel trend report, 77% of survey respondents agree that RV travel lets you get outdoors, while offering the conveniences of a hotel, and is more comfortable than camping.
Sandy beaches, access to coastal areas, beautiful scenery, and close to National and State Parks all remain the most important factors when choosing an RV vacation destination, according to RVshare. The frequency of road trips is also up in 2020.
With 40% of respondents in the survey saying that they are less likely to fly in 2021, road trips will continue to be the preferred mode of transportation for those looking to remain socially distanced.
The top RV travel destination is Yellowstone National Park after reporting +21% visitors year over year in September 2020.
Surprisingly, New York and Illinois are the newest “RV states.” Rentals in New York increased by +186% year over year, and rentals in Illinois increased by +174% year over year, according to RVshare.
73% of millennials said they are likely to rent an RV in the future, according to the report. RVs have become popular for young families and millennials who explore the outdoors and camp inside their RV instead of a tent. They can also work remotely from an RV pending how much they need Internet access.
RV rents can cost from $120 to $160 per night on average.
More stories:
10 things you should never do on a road trip
4 great ways to have the perfect (and cheapest) staycation
13 most overrated tourist attractions to avoid
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This trend is highly beneficial for those of us traveling with pets. My dog is far less fussy in a car than when we fly. It’s also much easier to pack the essentials and his toys: https://www.dogsonplanes.com/shop/pet-toys/.