More than 7.4 million Americans are spending part of the Labor Day holiday traveling by RV, according to the RV Industry Association’s (RVIA) newly released Fall Travel Intention Survey. The findings show continued strength in the RV market, with affordability driving demand at the start of the fall travel season.
The number marks an increase over 2024 and underscores the growing role of RV travel as families and individuals look for cost-effective ways to take vacations.
The survey found that affordability, comfort, and direct access to the outdoors remain the top reasons people choose RV trips.
“RV travel continues to offer comfort, affordability, and a direct connection to the outdoors that makes it stand out as the premier way to experience autumn across America,” Monika Geraci, the association’s spokesperson, said in a News and Insights report of RVIA.
“From scenic road trips to national and state park adventures, and from beach getaways to leaf-peeping in the Northeast, RVers can enjoy so many ways to explore just beyond their door,” Geraci added.
Sixty percent of respondents cited affordability as their primary reason for RV travel this fall, followed by enjoying the RV lifestyle and escaping the busyness of everyday life.
Planning tools are also shifting. Thirty-two percent of leisure travelers said they intend to use artificial intelligence for trip planning, while traditional resources such as websites, social media, and app-based services continue to play a strong role.
Road trips remain the main draw, with 46% of RVers identifying them as the focus of their travels. National and state parks, coastal destinations, festivals, concerts, and theme parks were also high on the list, with the Northeast emerging as a particularly popular region for fall RV travel.
Shorter travel distances remain the norm, with most RVers planning trips within a four- to seven-hour drive from home. The survey suggests that convenience, alongside affordability, is a significant factor shaping travel decisions.
Generational interest in RV ownership is also rising. Millennials and Gen Z showed a 16% year-over-year increase in RV purchase interest.
Pets also remain part of the RV lifestyle. Seventy-two percent of travelers said they plan to bring their pets on fall trips.
RVIA commissioned the survey, which was conducted by Cairn Consulting in July. Responses were collected from 1,606 U.S. leisure travelers who had taken a leisure trip in the past 12 months. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.74 % points.