Essence: First-Time RVers Are Hitting The Road More Than Ever

The coronavirus may be running rampant in the United States. But for some, that won’t stop their will to go out and explore Earth’s natural wonders.

In the wake of the pandemic, RV companies have benefited from the public’s increased interest in road trips as the primary means of travel. In fact, RV rentals have increased by 650 percent as the coronavirus changes how Americans vacation. Over 25 million Americans have hit the open road in their recreational vehicle this summer in search of the ultimate vacation, making the RV the hottest travel trend of 2020.

And in case you thought “we” don’t RV, think again. Though a 2014 report by the Outdoor Foundation found that only 4 percent of campers were African-American, this number is slowly increasing. That’s mostly because of Black RV enthusiast groups that have found a sense of community on the road. Groups like the National African-American RV’ers Association (NAARVA), for example, are introducing the RVing lifestyle into communities around the country.

In fact, a 2017 report by Statista showed that America’s three largest ethnic groups (Black, Hispanic and Asian) are increasingly discovering the joys of camping — bringing the total up to 7 percent in just three years.

Check out the full article from Essence here.