Millions of Americans Plan RV Trips This Thanksgiving and Christmas

More than 11 million Americans plan to go RVing during each of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods, according to the RV Industry Association's latest Winter Travel Intentions survey. An estimated 11.4 million Americans plan RV trips over Thanksgiving, while 11.2 million plan to travel by RV during the Christmas holiday period.

The findings highlight the continued appeal of RV travel as Americans seek affordable, flexible ways to gather with loved ones and explore new destinations this winter.

“Holiday travel should be about spending time with the people you love, not stressing over how to get there,” said Monika Geraci, RV Industry Association spokesperson. “RVing puts you in the driver's seat, with the freedom to bring your pets and presents, travel on your own schedule, and make stops along the way that turn the journey into part of the vacation.”

Additional findings from the survey include:

• Affordability drives travel decisions: Nearly two-thirds of RVers planning winter RV trips (63%) cite affordability as a leading reason for choosing RV travel.
• Pets are part of the adventure: 7 in 10 RVers (69%) plan to bring their pets on some or all winter RV trips, compared with 56% of other leisure travelers.
• Millennials embrace RV travel: Among Millennials planning winter trips outside the major holidays, 32% plan to travel by RV, matching the percentage planning to fly.
• Family gatherings bring RVers together: Half of RVers (49%) plan to attend family gatherings during RV trips over the next 12 months.
• Outdoor destinations remain popular: National parks and scenic wonders top planned winter RV destinations (49%), followed by family-friendly attractions (42%) and beaches or coastal destinations (41%).

The survey also found strong interest in winter travel to the Southeast, particularly among Baby Boomers, while Gen Z travelers show an affinity for destinations within a four-to-seven-hour drive from home.

Whether visiting family for the holidays or embarking on a winter getaway, RV travel offers the flexibility to bring the comforts of home along for the journey.

The 2026 Winter Travel Intentions survey was commissioned by the RV Industry Association and conducted by Cairn Consulting in October 2026. The online survey included 1,208 U.S. residents, with an additional oversample of 600 RVers for comparative analysis. The base sample was statistically balanced to reflect the U.S. population across key demographics, including age, gender, income, and ethnicity, and has a reported margin of error of ±2.74 percentage points. RVers are defined as U.S. residents who have taken a trip in an RV they owned, rented, or borrowed within the past 12 months.