Living on the Road RVs grow in popularity as vacation options.

• Date: 01 June 2022
• Author: Orr, Vanessa
• Published date: 01 June 2022
• Author: Orr, Vanessa

After two not-so-great travel years as the result of a worldwide pandemic, people are ready to hit the highway--and some of them plan to do it in style. Traveling by RV (recreational vehicles, whether called motorhomes, campers, or caravans) is quickly growing in popularity, and for many people, it's the perfect way to visit Alaska's roadaccessible attractions.

"RVing is a great way to get out and enjoy Alaska; it's nice because you don't have to be on a schedule, and you can quickly change plans if the weather isn't cooperating," says Shanna Johnson of Safe RV Travels in south Anchorage. "Not to mention that you don't have to worry about sleeping in a tent in bear country."

According to the RV Industry Association, a 2021 survey revealed that 72 million Americans plan on taking a trip in an RV that they rent, own, or borrow--up from 61 million the previous year. Last year also proved to be a banner year for the RV industry, with record-breaking shipment numbers and unending demand for RV products.

While some of this demand can be credited to people wanting to get out and about after staying at home for so long to avoid COVID-19, there seems to be a cultural shift occurring as well.

"The pandemic has driven people to reevaluate their lives--and rightfully so," says Bob Johnson, director of marketing at Great Alaskan Holidays, also in south Anchorage. "People are valuing their personal time more, and the work/life balance is tilting quite a bit more to personal time being the top priority. It's really an amazing shift; from a consumer perspective, it's fascinating."

As a result, many people are returning to what used to be the consummate vacation: the great American road trip.

"We're seeing a lot more people wanting to get out and experience the world like people did when I was a kid. They're setting down their mobile devices and walking out the door," Bob Johnson says. "RVing, especially in Alaska, is a really attractive option because it gives travelers a sense of freedom. They can feel that pressure being lifted, and they're getting a break from mundane routines--they are scratching that itch, so to speak."

Move Over, Grandad

While the stereotypical RV owner is gray-haired, retired, and has waited years to see the world, today's Winnebago warrior skews a lot younger. According to a 2021 demographic profile by the industry's Go RVing campaign, 11.2 million households now own RVs, split almost equally between those over and under the age of 55. In fact, 18-to-34year-olds now make up 22 percent of the market.

Roughly 9.6 million households state that they expect to buy an RV within the next five years, and among current RV users, 84 percent of Millennial and Gen Xers plan to buy another RV, with 78...