Stats, Data, and Thoughts on RVing as a Family in 2024

Do you like numbers? 📊 I love numbers, especially when they represent things that matter.

So when Outdoorsy released their first ever report on the motivations, methods, and benefits of RVing with the fam in 2024, I was kinda giddy with excitement. 🤓

Image credit: Outdoorsy

How they did it

3,200 surveys were taken from a random sampling of U.S. families, divided equally among West, Midwest, Northeast, and South regions. The respondents were statistically balanced to align with overall population ratios in gender, ethnicity, and age.

But what makes it actually relevant and insightful is that they also got input from a corresponding sample of 400 teens. I love this.

Meaningful results (to me)

Some of the numbers align pretty well with what you’d expect, but there were also some surprises.

For example, I never would have imagined that 96% of RVing parents and 88% of teens would claim some form of faith affiliation, with 82% of those families identifying as Christian.

I’m no authority (and I’m not questioning the numbers), but I do personally know many, many “Christian” families, some beautiful and wholesome and happy. After 7 years on the road, I also know a pretty good number of RVing families from all over the US, with a wide variety of backgrounds. I honestly would have guessed the overlap was maybe ~40%.

Also kinda surprising was that among Millennial RVing families, only 1 in 10 always work when they’re on the road. And 91% said that working did have a negative impact. I’m clearly in the minority here, and slightly ashamed 😳, but proud of the rest of my generation.

Absolute favorite takeaway

What I loved most from the report was this nugget:

“Our research showed that parents who involve their children in every aspect of trip planning- from meal planning to destination selection to activity mapping- report improved journeys across almost every metric.”
Jennifer Young, Outdoorsy Co-Founder

Families who involved their kids in all of the trip planning saw these benefits:

An increase in positive attitudes
More helpful kids during the trip
Lower stress
Greater relaxation
More excitement
Kids more likely to disconnect from tech during the trip

This was one area where the report matched our experience perfectly, and it was really encouraging to see highlighted.

It’s always been important to us that we treat our kids’ opinions and preferences as at least equal to the parents’ when it comes to family decisions that affect them. Even if it involves discipline, we often leave it up to them to decide what consequences are appropriate when they’ve done wrong (i.e. deliberate wrong choices- not mistakes or accidents). And they usually seem to get it right.

Ready is ready to be done.

Somehow though, it took me way too long to apply that to our trip planning. Mostly because of logistics, I figured Joy and I were best equipped to plan travel adventures. But when we started feeling some light pushback, reluctance to do longer hikes, etc., from one of the kids, the lightbulb came on and we decided to let go of the reins.

Gracie on a happy little hike.

The shift in attitude and enthusiasm was almost immediate, and it’s been a clear and consistent contrast ever since. Since the kids plan the bulk of the itinerary now, we’re constantly being offered fist bumps and high fives or an affectionate arm around the waist, even if we’re hiking the same trails or seeing the same sights a parent would likely have chosen in the past. We hear a whole lot more laughter, and we’re all able to more fully appreciate the beauty we’re surrounded by.

Interestingly, only 27% of parents do include their kids in all aspects of the planning. Having been part of the 73% who didn’t, I can see how it ends up so lopsided. But man…let’s fix that for the whole family’s sake!

Betcha can’t guess my kids’ favorite bit

Thought I might get a hot take from the kids on some of the report’s findings (i.e., the part about parents being as bad as teens when it comes to screen time and not disconnecting enough).

Turns out they were more into the AI malskewery on the cover. Huh. Can’t be because of how much time they’ve spent messing with AI image (de)generation/mutilation tools while camping this year. Nope, surely there’s another explanation.

Thanks, Outdoorsy!

I’m really looking forward to seeing future versions of this annual report. The first edition was chock-full of insightful information about us as a whole, and I’m so glad it exists.

If you’re curious and want to see more, you can check it out here:
👉 2024 Generations in the Wild report 👈.