Last week, RV rental and outdoor travel marketplace Outdoorsy released its 2020 Travel Trends report, noting that 2020 has been the company’s best year on record, with bookings increasing more than 4,500 percent throughout the course of the pandemic.
Along with reporting on its record year, Outdoorsy also offered up its 2021 RV rental predictions:
- RV and campervan rentals are poised to become America’s next “side-hustle sweetheart.”
“Due to an increase in RV sales and ownership, coupled with financial constraints and economic conditions, Americans will look to renting their vehicles as a steady source of secondary income.”
- Vanlife is the ultimate uniter – and it sees no age.
“Life on the road is just as popular with the millennial generation as it is with the baby boomer generation. In 2020, Outdoorsy saw over 100 percent YoY bookings growth across all generations. Everyone is attracted to the approachability and low learning curve of the vanlife lifestyle.”
- More people are stepping outside of their comfort zone.
“Which means they’re getting out of the house and stepping outside. This year, 90 percent of Outdoorsy renters were first-timers and the company expects this trend to continue. This new wave of travelers taking an interest in the outdoors will shape the future of Outdoorsy – and prioritize the protection of and access to the outdoors – for years to come. This new consumer mindset prioritizes trust, safety, cleanliness, and affordability.”
- Working-from-the-road RV use will surge.
“There will be more working on the road and RV use than ever before. This is certainly believable, considering that work can be found wherever you open your laptop. Access to WiFi will be crucial for travelers as they take their jobs anywhere there’s an internet connection. In Outdoorsy’s recent Renter Sentiment Survey, 75 percent of travelers said they feel the freedom of virtual work and learning make them more likely to take a road trip at ‘off peak’ times.”
- Campgrounds will be booked earlier.
“Due to overall new demand for outdoor recreational travel and activities, Outdoorsy predicts national park campgrounds will be booked earlier in 2021. These prime spots typically book out up to 6 months in advance for national park campsites (around March and April), but the company is predicting the booking curve to move up to February this year.”
- Visitors to state and national parks will skyrocket.
“With international travel still mostly off-limits, state and national parks will see more visitors and campers than ever before. It will be the outdoor travel industry’s shared responsibility to help protect these national treasures for years to come and help educate and promote sustainable travel and leave no trace practices.”