Holiday RV travel surges as winter road-trip boom takes off

Americans are ready to hit the road this winter, with 28 million of them choosing RVing for holiday travel, a 33 percent increase from last year.

That’s according to an extrapolated estimate by the RV Industry Association (RVIA) based on a survey of 1,200 U.S. leisure travelers it conducted recently.

The RVIA’s modeling aligns with independent research from Mordor Intelligence, which forecasts the RV market to grow from its 2024 value of $19 billion to $29 billion by 2029.

This uptick is partly fueled by younger travelers. They’re embracing the “van life” trend they see across TikTok and Instagram, and the survey results echo this.

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The study found that Gen Z (35 percent) and Millennials (32 percent) show the strongest interest in buying an RV for 2026, favoring what they describe as a “tech-friendly, flexible and affordable” way to explore.

U.S. aviation’s messy year has also likely played a part in driving travelers to get behind the wheel.

This year has seen months of rolling flight disruptions — from tech failures to staff shortages and runway shutdowns — and the poll suggests that road-tripping is gaining traction as the preferred alternative to air travel.

The RV Industry Association said: “[The survey] confirmed the appeal of RVing as the cost-effective and controlled travel solution, allowing families to bypass expensive flights and congested airports, with the added benefit of bringing pets, packing their own gear, and enjoying a flexible schedule.”

Extrapolating from the poll, the RV Industry Association said that seven million Americans will go RVing this Christmas and that nearly half of RV owners (48 percent) plan to stay in their vehicle over the festive period. During this time, four in 10 plan to use their RV as overflow accommodation when staying with – or hosting – friends and family to reduce “holiday crowding.”

The poll results also revealed that nearly four-in-10 leisure travelers (39 percent) plan to take an RV trip in the coming year — a “significant” increase from last year — while purchase interest remains steady at 26 percent.

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"In a season when travel can feel unpredictable and overwhelming, RVing puts travelers back in the driver's seat," said Monika Geraci, RV Industry Association spokesperson.

"Whether you're parked at the base of a ski slope in Colorado, visiting family along the coast, or chasing sunshine with your pets in tow, RVing delivers the comfort of home and the freedom to roam without the cancellations, delays, or stress that often come with other forms of travel.

“Twenty-eight million Americans know that just because it's winter, doesn't mean you have to hang up your keys."