Pop quiz: What age group owns the most RVs? If you answered 65 and older, guess again. The typical motorhome owner is 48 years old, and getting younger. Once seen as nothing more than a retiree’s lifestyle, RVing has recently started trending among millennials and younger families. In fact, about one third of new RVers are under 35.
It makes sense—millennials are looking for social experiences to meet up with friends in an eco-friendly way, and families are looking to connect to each other more authentically. RVing fits the bill perfectly. But there are plenty of other reasons that RVing is catching on with younger adults and families. Here’s just a few of them.
Why Millennials Love RVing
Untethered Freedom
In an RV, you can see the world and escape the trappings of the daily grind. RVing gives you the opportunity to have a richer life by seeing more of the world and experiencing all the many subcultures within the United States.
And as more and more businesses allow employees to work remotely, the RV lifestyle doesn’t have to be put on hold until you retire.
Escape from the Trappings of Tech
Millennials are digital natives, but being constantly plugged in has made them the most anxious generation. So it’s great to hear that when they’re on vacation, the 35-and-under crowd is the most likely to unplug. Camping in an RV provides a terrific balance of escaping the trappings of tech while also providing opportunities to stay digital if you need to or want to.
Affordability
Millennials also tend to leave college with a lot of debt—and those that don’t are doing everything they can to stay out of debt. Fulltiming in an RV is one creative way some young adults are cutting down on their expenses. It turns out that you can live on a fraction of the cost of a traditional lifestyle by living full-time in a motorhome.
And when you consider the awe-inspiring vistas you’ll experience along the way, we can’t imagine a better way to quickly pay off your student loans!
Eco-friendly Living
Adults in their 20s and 30s care a great deal about living responsible lifestyles and caring for the environment—and many of them have discovered that RVs have a small eco-footprint. An RV vacation of four people generates less carbon dioxide than traveling on a plane, renting a car and staying in a hotel. Motorhomes also use less power and water.
In fact, the all-new Airstream Basecamp lets you do more and go farther, with a tiny eco footprint you’ll love.
Want to learn more about living the RV lifestyle as a millennial? Check out these online resources:
- List of blogs by non-retired younger full-time RVing nomads
- Nu RVers online community
- Intro guide to RVing for millennials
Why Families Are Taking to the Road
But the RVing trend isn’t just hitting millennials! Families with kids love RVing too. Here’s why.
Focus on Family
RVing as a family—whether full-time or on vacation—brings you closer together. Many families ditch suburbia for fulltime RVing simply because they want to have more time with their children…and a greater quality of time, at that.
Experiential Schooling
Fulltiming families have truly unique educational opportunities for their kids. Homeschooling takes on a whole new dimension when you’re doing it at a national park and witnessing geological formations firsthand, or studying animal habitats with a ranger.
Simpler Living
Whether you’re fulltiming or on vacation, RVing helps families cut away the stuff that doesn’t matter and enjoy simpler living. Children learn a greater appreciation for the essentials and discover they can be content with less.
Uncommon Adventures
If you could choose between going to Disney World like thousands of other families or catching a breathtaking sunset in Zion National Park after a day of wildlife discovery and hiking, what would you pick? RVing gives families uncommon adventures that most people miss out on.
Want to dig deeper? Check out these online resources for families on the road!
- Online community for fulltiming families
- New School Nomads – RVing family
Next Steps
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- RV Resource Guide—Discover how to make your RV dreams a reality.
- Don’t wait for retirement—check out our inventory!
